Roland • MKS-80 Super Jupiter
The MKS-80 is basically a refined Jupiter 8 in a module. It is called the Super Jupiter and it is very fat and very analog! Its great sound is due in part to the classic analog Roland technology in its filters, modulation capabilities and a thick cluster of 16 analog oscillators at 2 per voice. It comes in a 2 space rack-module - no keyboard here. Tons of editing capabilities, although editing is tedious. It's got all the classic sounds of the Jupiter synths and so much more. An excellent choice for ambient drones, pads, blips, buzzes and leads.! It is used by Hardfloor, Astral Projection, Vince Clarke, Vangelis, Pet Shop Boys, and Snap. Use the MPG-80 for easier and more traditional slider control when editing the MKS-80.
1. this is not a rackmount version of the Jupiter-6
2. this is not a rackmount version of the Jupiter-8
3. it does not have a multimode filter which the Jupiter-6 does have but not the Jupiter-8
4. it does offer the dual layer mode like the Jupiter-8, but not the Jupiter-6
5. it does not have the arpeggiator of the Jupiter-6
Basically it is it's own synth using similar VCO/VCF/VCA components of the Jupiter series analog synths, but missing some features while introducing others.
It was great for bass but I unfortunately fell for the hype that it was a rack-mount JP8 - it is not. I couldn't coax a good string sound out of it or brass for that matter. Sonically I found it a very strange tone colour and don't miss it at all. Lucky for me I sold it at the height of "analog stamp collecting" and made some serious bucks!
Stable tune, but so noisy on outputs, i own also a jupiter 8 and this toy isnt a jupiter 8 rack version, and i played the jupiter 6, i can say its an half way beetwin the jupiter 8 and 6! (the missed 7).
Still looking for the mpg80, har dto find at good price in europe.