Roland MKS-80


The Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter is a rack version of Roland Jupiter-6. It is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Roland between 1984 and 1987. It is the only of MKS series of synthesizers to have fully analog voltage-controlled oscillators. The voice architecture is almost identical to the Jupiter-6 synthesizer, the service manual states that "The module board of MKS-80 features the following in addition to that of JP-6, its brother module. 1) HPF. 2) Low boost circuit in the 2nd VCA. 3) DC supply current boost circuit (IC50)." The unit is fully capable of producing most of the Jupiter-6's signature sounds, in addition to many sounds unique to the MKS-80. In February 1985, Roland started producing a new revision of MKS-80, known as "Rev 5", that had no ties with any previous Jupiter's hardware, as it used a new generation of both Roland VCO's, VCA's and filter. The Rev 5 filter was also used in JX-8P, JX-10 and MKS-70 synthesizers.

MKS-80 Super Jupiter
MKS-80
ManufacturerRoland
Dates1984–1987
PriceUS$2,495
UK£2,200
JP¥348,000
Technical specifications
Polyphony8-voice
Timbrality2 part
Oscillator2 VCOs per voice
LFO2 (1 triangle/square/sawtooth/random, and 1 triangle)
Synthesis typeAnalog Subtractive
Filter24dB/Oct resonant lowpass,
non-resonant highpass
Attenuator2 ADSR, (VCA & VCF)
Aftertouch expressionyes
Velocity expressionyes
Storage memory64 patches
Effectsno
Input/output
Keyboardno
External controlMIDI

Features

The voice architecture of the MKS-80 is fully analog with 8 polyphonic voices with 2 voltage controlled oscillators (VCO) per voice, using the Curtis CEM3340 VCO integrated circuit. The unit also includes one voltage controlled filter (VCF) and one voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) per voice.

The MKS-80 has a 64 patch internal memory (8 banks of 8 patches each) along with an optional memory cartridge called the M-64C with room for another 128 (2 banks of 64 each). A full MIDI implementation is built into the MKS-80, with MIDI IN, OUT and THRU jacks positioned at the rear of the unit.

External Programmer

The MPG-80 is the optional programmer designed specifically for the MKS-80, providing direct access to the majority of the MKS-80's features. The MPG-80 connects to the MKS-80 via the Controller port using a special cable. When used with an MPG-80, the MKS-80's MIDI IN port is not used in favor of the MIDI IN on the MPG-80.

Factory Presets

The Factory Presets were created by Eric Persing and Dan Desousa

Confusion with Jupiter 8

In 1998, UK magazine Sound on Sound published an article about MKS-80. It contained a critical typo. Instead of referring to Jupiter 6, the comment about the rack version constantly referred to Jupiter 8, leading to serious confusion and even spreading myths across various online forums. However, once we read that article and replace numbers 8 and 6, the whole part of the article suddenly makes sense:

"The MKS80 delivered the entire Jupiter 6 wish-list and more, including a much larger memory and upgraded internal electronics. Now let's get one thing clear -- despite a few commentators postulating otherwise, the MKS80 had nothing to do with the Jupiter 8. Although there were ultimately to be two versions of the instrument (one with the Jupiter 6's Curtis oscillators, the other with custom chips developed by Roland themselves) both retained the architecture of the Jupiter 6, sounded identical to the Jupiter 6 and, apart from their many enhancements, were the rackmount module versions of the Jupiter 6.".

Notable users

References
  1. Widders-Ellis, Andy (December 1989). "Ray Lynch: Exploring the Structure of Music". Keyboard. 15 (12): 29. Lynch takes five in his home studio...Fostex E-16 tape deck...Yamaha TX7, Roland-550, Super Jupiter with programmer, and P-330...Macintosh and Oberheim Xpander above a Yamaha DX7II, AKG ADR-68k reverb above Fostex 4050 SMPTE generator/audio locator, Soundtracs MIDI mixing board.
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