Jupiter 6 Vs Proph 08

[knolan]

I own a Jupiter 6 and I love it. It's rock solid, got buckets of options and capability, absolutely classic Roland sound. I have a prophet T8 too and love it - but find that because of the lay out of the control surface I tend not to experiment as much with it as I do with the J6. The J6 overflows with buttons, knobs and faders that just invites you to use them and experiment. Can't comment on the 08 - but you will not be disappointed with Jupiter 6 if you get a good quality one.

[spock]

What he said I love mine. The Europa mod is fantastic, and brings it into the 21st Century
Then of course you'll want some nice effects too...

[Alphacode]

Definitely go with the Jupiter, The Prophet 8 was the worst synth after the Evolver that i ever got and i got many synths in the past.

It has a very slim sound and is very uninspiring.

[plikestechno]

It was a rev5 so maybe this is a stretch...

It's a pretty big stretch. The Jupe 6 is more like a rev 4. not rev 5 MKS-80. The rev 5s use the filter chips from MKS-70s which I agree has a much more tame, but still great sound. There are also other sound shaping options on the Jupiter 6, especially with Europa, that you cannot do on the MKS-80.

I don't find my Jupiter 6 tame at all. It has way more balls than the Prophet T8 (not 08, T8) that I finally gathered up the guts to sell off and ship. Don't miss it whatsoever and will never grab another Prophet (old or new) again. Unless a rev2 Prophet 5 fell into my hands for cheap LOL. I liked the capabilities of the T8 but could never get into its sound and it's worth a lot so out it went.

I think the Jupiter 6 has been compared to the Jupiter 8 for too long and people are finally getting into what the Jupiter 6 does best. It is the ultimate techno, electro machine IMHO. Reminds me of having six SH-101s but with many more options.

I'd run and buy that Jupe 6 as fast as you can if it's on sale for cheap. Someone else will grab it if you don't and great synth deals are getting fewer and more far between these days.

[calaverasgrande]

I'd go for the Prophet over the Jupiter.
I love the sound of old Roland. But not so much the maintenance.
I also do not like getting too reliant on gear that can't be replaced easily.
Mostly because of several major thefts and 2 house fires, I've learned to value gear for what it does not it's cool factor.

OTOH I do agree that some older synths do seem to just have a better timbre to the Oscs, and the line output often has a certain 'magic' that give it a beefier sound.
I'm not certain, but I would not be surprised if some of the old upper tier Rolands have discrete opamps and/or transformers on the line out. This combination is pretty well known to impart 'heft' or what the kids call 'phat'.
Or maybe not?

[Bitexion]

Well this video ignited my GAS for a JP6 for sure..love this guy. Make sure to turn on subtitles.

[IronPizza]

Just by watching the videos, to me the Jupiter looks like a super fancy DX7 while the Prophet sounds really full and seems to have a bit more grit to it. I kinda want to try these synths now.

[commodorejohn]

Man, if the Jupiters weren't as pricey as they are I'd be all over that...

And yeah, Ujiie is just the best. He always looks like he's having a total blast.

[synthparts]

Man, if the Jupiters weren't as pricey as they are I'd be all over that...

Jupiter-8s are "pricey" but Jupiter-6s are still a good bargain.

Too bad in that demo vid he doesn't mention the 2 things that separate the JP-6 from all the other Jupiters - the ability to combine waveforms on both VCOs and the multimode LP/BP/HP resonant filters.

[zoomtheline]

I prefer the look of the JP6 to the JP8 It's like a Decepticon while the JP8 is an Autobot.

JP6


JP8

[commodorejohn]

Jupiter-8s are "pricey" but Jupiter-6s are still a good bargain.

Oh? Last I saw they were up to $2500-3500 on eBay...

[Rezisehtnys]

I remember not too long ago when they were a tad over a grand, everything was cheaper. Then people who saw an investment opportunity got involved and ruined everything, oh well.

[Walter Ego]

Man, if the Jupiters weren't as pricey as they are I'd be all over that...

Jupiter-8s are "pricey" but Jupiter-6s are still a good bargain.

Too bad in that demo vid he doesn't mention the 2 things that separate the JP-6 from all the other Jupiters - the ability to combine waveforms on both VCOs and the multimode LP/BP/HP resonant filters.

Yeah--it's the most powerful synth I've ever played (though I haven't played a JP-8). You can punch in all the waveforms in VCO 2 simultaneously, and 2 waveforms in VCO 1, if I recall correctly. Not much to compare that to. It feels like you're playing a electrical storm, but in a very musical way. Among other things, it excels at sharp stabbing sounds. It has an enormous filter sweet spot. I have a Juno 60 now, and it can do a few of the things that a JP can do, but has no split mode and only one VCO.

One of my favorite things to do with the 6 is set the LFO on VCO 2 at a low rate so it detunes slowly against the VCO 1--do this in Unison mode and detune away to your heart's content--it's a very musical and useable detune that just sounds absolutely massive; whether in the upper range or in an arpeggiated bassline with the cutoff frequency set low and the LFO modulating the cut as well. It's all incredibly easy and intuitive as well; nothing hidden, just grab them knobs and go at it. Magic.

I've never played a Prophet '08, but I've never heard a demo of it that compares to the Jupe 6 in terms of that feeling of raw power.

[Walter Ego]

^^^
Mega-derp. I don't think you can do the LFO'd VCO thing in Unison mode. Oops. That would not make any sense.

[CfNorENa]

I have a Juno 60 now, and it can do a few of the things that a JP can do, but has no split mode and only one VCO.

DCO