I’m glad Roland finally did this, as it was one of the primary reasons why I invested in a System 8 (even though it hadn’t been announced when I bought mine). The Jp4 is a very unique classic poly synth, that doesn’t sound like any other Roland synth. It was also prominently used on many of my fav albums of the late 70’s and early 80’s. You can hear it all over the first two Duran Duran albums, as it was one of Nick Rhodes most prominent synths back then.
Wow... thats a first! Thanks :) I'm quite taken aback and a little emotional... what an excellent start to my day :) I didn't even know you could do that.
If you didn't know, they're all available in software and sound the same, in the Roland Cloud Manager look for 'Legendary' synths this is where the ACB emulations are like this one, the 'Zenology' software is different.
The Jupiter 4 plugin will most definitely feature in my future Vintage Sounds Collection projects. Incidentally, the 1978 factory 'Bass' preset was used by The Human League on 'Dreams Of Leaving', and the factory 'Voice' preset was used by Depeche Mode on 'Any Second Now' and 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'
Hey Starsky, THANK YOU for all of your efforts and videos. They are very entertaining and a wonderful and helpful resource! Any chance of a Cherry Audio Mercury 4 vs. Roland Cloud Jupiter 4 VST shootout or comparison?
@@angellexar2142 Huh? My ask was for a comparison between the Cherry Audio Mercury-4 (that I own) and the JUPITER-4 Software Synthesizer, which requires a paid level of Roland Cloud subscription (which I do not have) and if you want to purchase it a la carte, it is probably $150. Both options seems unsavory. If you mean a hardware JP-4, that is impossible for me. Even the System-8 plug-out hardware option is not likely to ever happen for me. So, yes, it would be lovely for Starsky to do a shootout (like so many other shootouts that he has already done here).
@@angellexar2142 I also own the Mercury-4 and was disappointed that he didn't even give a brief comparison between the two. As Eric said, the JP-4 is really expensive and the Mercury-4 is excellent and affordable. Is it really that unreasonable to want to know if it's worth paying the $150 or not?
This just made my week... Now they just have to build the Jupiter 6 as a model, and I think that System-8 prices will sky rocket, as people will realise the immense power of this synth, which IMHO (and having owned a 4/6 and 8 plus about 200 other synths on and off over the past 35 years), is truly one of the best (System-8)
It lists a lifetime key as $199 - there's also supposed to be some "Analog Polysynth Collection" bundle of lifetime keys coming soon I think, I've seen a product shot of it
Ikr this guy somehow has future software installed, even so much so he could make a video of it and release video before product came out lmao huge fail
As the owner of all 4: Roland Jupiter 4 > UVIs Saturn 4 in JP legacy > this VST > CA Mercury 4. Just my opinion. Edit: this is just based on sound and obviously UVI will be up there since it’s sample based. The last 2 are close, but Roland is just ahead.
Yeah I think that would be the result of any comparison tbh which is why I’m not jumping to make one. They take so much time and I think we all know the answer. I suppose the scale of the difference is what’s interesting.
Nice video cheers. As a System-8 owner, it’s nice to see Roland are still supporting it, regardless of what the synth is. So happy I haven’t yet made my play 4 life selections this year. Begs the question though why the JD-800 and D-50 aren’t System-8 compatible unless they’re solely focused on the ACB stuff for the green machine and the X series get everything. Sounds great too.
Great video...and interesting software synth, if a bit expensive. I was wondering how accurate a copy it is... Circuit Mod seems to create voice variation.. which should fatten the sound. Does the sawtooth waveform have the correct curved steps ? An oscilloscope in the DAW will show it. This is a big part of the sound, along with a very accurate 50% square wave. Roland seem to have missed the fact that the S&H is clocked from the arpegiator and is not part of the LFO, and it has its own dedicated VCF mod slider (VCF MOD).
@@planetmullins you seem ignorant that AMSynths has made various Eurorack modules based on this circuitry, so it's valid to bring up such details in a technical discussion. ACB is all about circuit simulation, so we obviously expect it to have very close behaviour to the originals. It's good to know if Roland missed anything, as it can be given as feedback and if a blue moon arrives on a Friday the 13th maybe they will take that feedback onboard for a revision..
Great video , may i ask something , whne you plugout the plugin , what we listen too is system 8 , i supppose but audio going threw audio interafce or routed to plugin ? Is he plugin cpu hit goes down when plugged out ? Infos i struggle to find . Thks for your lovely work !!
If you're playing it on the system 8 then the CPU isn't used on the computer (only minimum). The idea is to create patches and store tones on the computer then upload to the synth (plugout) and you can then disconnect the synth and use it as a standalone instrument. So you can play the S8 like any external MIDI instrument and turn off the plugin at that point.
@@StarskyCarr Lucky indeed, i got it for only $700 a few years ago at a used instruments store. The insides & outside still in mint condition, early BA662 version, zero damage to the wood ends, plastic O-ring covers still on the knobs, music sheet metal stand still attached to the top, and with original 70's Roland-logo hard case. My JP4 is in even better complete condition than the one in the Roland museum in Hamamatsu. I went and compared.✨Yeah ❤️JP4🙌🌞✨
@@IanWaugh he says so because it's true.. Jupiter 4, Jupiter 6 and Jupiter 8 are all their own distinct synths not supersets or "extra voice card" versions of one another
@@Wagoo Yes. But I guess my overriding question is - are they sufficiently distinct from one another to warrant use of more than one? To put it another way - are there any diistinctive sounds that other synths can't produce? Or, perhaps to get more gritty - put one of these in a mix and could anyone really tell which one it is?
@@Wagoo The System 1M is a polysynth as well. It has 4 voices like a Jupiter 4. At least the System 1/1M engine has. Missed opportunity if Roland haven't made the plug out compatible with the System 1 or 1M.
@@bcm70 yes I know but historically Roland haven’t supported any polysynth plugouts on it unfortunately. 1/1M has 2 of the older ESC2 quad core ARM SoC vs the 3x quad core BMC chips in the System-8. So if they dropped the output from 96khz to 48khz they should be able to support 4 voices of Jupiter-4 + FX. Without FX even 8 voice might be possible. 1/1M also in theory could do an 8 voice Jupiter-8 at 48khz for example, as the JP-08 boutique only has one ESC2
@@Wagoo I think you're quoting the guy that pulled down the System 1 a few years back where he said that they could get more polyphony out of the System 1 if they dropped the sample rate. However you can already do 4 voices + fx using the onboard System 1 synth engine on the synth now. So there's no need to drop the sample rate for the 4 voice Jupiter 4. I do agree that Roland haven't shown any desire to support anything but modelled mono synths to date. However, they haven't previously released another 4 voice ACB plug-out that I'm aware of either.
@@bcm70 that assumption completely relies on the speed of a core in an ESC2 chip being able to run ACB at 96khz for the *Jupiter 4* circuit layouts.. which were obviously designed to target a _faster_ ARM core (the newer BMC chip). The native System-1 engine obviously can handle 4 voices at 96khz, but who can say to the complexity of that engine? It's not entirely based on a real synth, it does sound great and feel like ACB.. but it's also not the full engine from the System-8. Do you see the issue here? That's why I suggested dropping down to 48khz to compensate for the speed difference between an ESC2 and BMC chip. We know the Jupiter-8/JX3P/Juno 106 will run at 48khz on an ESC2 with 1 voice per core
Maybe if Vince Clarke make some presets, this JP4 will sound really nice, or really close to the original. For now, sound tiny like other Roland Cloud synths...
Another well done overview. For some the whole plugout thing makes sense in certain situations? (Personally, I do not get the appeal at all, but to each their own) To me the only interesting thing Roland has done in a LONG time is the SE-02 and that only because of who they teamed with. I take that back; the Malekko modular stuff was also a great collaboration. If that is your thing the Mk2 SP404 is also well done I understand. Other than those bright spots there has been no gas in that tank for decades.
The plug outs are fantastic for system 8 owners. Being able to slap 3 roland classics in there makes it a pretty insanely capable "I want the roland classics but don't want to take them on the road/don't have the money, so instead I'll have them all for the price of one plug out synth" kinda deal
I’m glad Roland finally did this, as it was one of the primary reasons why I invested in a System 8 (even though it hadn’t been announced when I bought mine). The Jp4 is a very unique classic poly synth, that doesn’t sound like any other Roland synth. It was also prominently used on many of my fav albums of the late 70’s and early 80’s. You can hear it all over the first two Duran Duran albums, as it was one of Nick Rhodes most prominent synths back then.
How does it compare to the Mercury 4?
The arpeggiator deserves it's own mini video. :) I had never noticed the Chord mode!! So cool.
Just read the filter sweep / takedown reply and dropped a 5 :)
Wow... thats a first! Thanks :) I'm quite taken aback and a little emotional... what an excellent start to my day :) I didn't even know you could do that.
System 8 is probably the best emulation of these classic Rolands I've ever heard. This one sounds sooooo good.
If you didn't know, they're all available in software and sound the same, in the Roland Cloud Manager look for 'Legendary' synths this is where the ACB emulations are like this one, the 'Zenology' software is different.
@@WH3 ooooh cool ty! I have Zenology, will have to check out the legendary!
Agreed. Best sounding of all their VST's so far.
Ooo. I've been loving the Cherry Audio Jupiter 4, and this is going to be so much nicer. I'm a big fan of ACB.
Sounds legit! Many of these ACB versions are really quite impressive.
A boutique version would be interesting...
The Jupiter 4 plugin will most definitely feature in my future Vintage Sounds Collection projects. Incidentally, the 1978 factory 'Bass' preset was used by The Human League on 'Dreams Of Leaving', and the factory 'Voice' preset was used by Depeche Mode on 'Any Second Now' and 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'
Which arpeggiator for DOL ?
@@offworldnetwork The song starts with factory 'Bass' arpeggio sound.
Now you say it about DOL, I can hear it!
Good to know, thank you.
Brilliant demo of the synth. Takes me back!
Human League "Seconds" for a great example of the Jupiter 4 unison 2 mode
Crossing my fingers for a ACB Jupiter 6 next
I know. I’d love one in the System 8
Hey Starsky, THANK YOU for all of your efforts and videos. They are very entertaining and a wonderful and helpful resource! Any chance of a Cherry Audio Mercury 4 vs. Roland Cloud Jupiter 4 VST shootout or comparison?
God, just buy a JP-4 if you love it enough.
@@angellexar2142 Huh? My ask was for a comparison between the Cherry Audio Mercury-4 (that I own) and the JUPITER-4 Software Synthesizer, which requires a paid level of Roland Cloud subscription (which I do not have) and if you want to purchase it a la carte, it is probably $150. Both options seems unsavory. If you mean a hardware JP-4, that is impossible for me. Even the System-8 plug-out hardware option is not likely to ever happen for me. So, yes, it would be lovely for Starsky to do a shootout (like so many other shootouts that he has already done here).
@@angellexar2142 I also own the Mercury-4 and was disappointed that he didn't even give a brief comparison between the two. As Eric said, the JP-4 is really expensive and the Mercury-4 is excellent and affordable. Is it really that unreasonable to want to know if it's worth paying the $150 or not?
Sounds great man.
This just made my week... Now they just have to build the Jupiter 6 as a model, and I think that System-8 prices will sky rocket, as people will realise the immense power of this synth, which IMHO (and having owned a 4/6 and 8 plus about 200 other synths on and off over the past 35 years), is truly one of the best (System-8)
Amazing update! I wish we'd still be able to just buy our plug-out though
It lists a lifetime key as $199 - there's also supposed to be some "Analog Polysynth Collection" bundle of lifetime keys coming soon I think, I've seen a product shot of it
@@Wagoo Hopefully there will be a discount for those who already have lifetime keys
Seems it isn't available currently
I have the system 8 but I'd love a boutique with 4 voices. Finally the ACB limitation that also works and makes sense.
Jup 4 has EIGHT VOICES if you wish. Fantastic synth!
Now we need ACB versions of the Jupiter-6, Alpha Juno, and JX-8P.
Hey Mr.C how about a Roland / Cherry Audio jp4 comparison?
Not appearing in my Roland Cloud Manager for download as yet... ? UPDATE: It's now available thanks! ;)
Ikr this guy somehow has future software installed, even so much so he could make a video of it and release video before product came out lmao huge fail
I think a lot of people would be interested in a comparison review between Roland’s ACB ‘Jupiter 4’, and Cherry Audio’s ‘Mercury 4’ VST.
As the owner of all 4: Roland Jupiter 4 > UVIs Saturn 4 in JP legacy > this VST > CA Mercury 4. Just my opinion. Edit: this is just based on sound and obviously UVI will be up there since it’s sample based. The last 2 are close, but Roland is just ahead.
Yeah I think that would be the result of any comparison tbh which is why I’m not jumping to make one. They take so much time and I think we all know the answer. I suppose the scale of the difference is what’s interesting.
Nice video cheers. As a System-8 owner, it’s nice to see Roland are still supporting it, regardless of what the synth is. So happy I haven’t yet made my play 4 life selections this year. Begs the question though why the JD-800 and D-50 aren’t System-8 compatible unless they’re solely focused on the ACB stuff for the green machine and the X series get everything. Sounds great too.
The System-8 focuses more on analog synth emulation.
Great video...and interesting software synth, if a bit expensive. I was wondering how accurate a copy it is... Circuit Mod seems to create voice variation.. which should fatten the sound.
Does the sawtooth waveform have the correct curved steps ? An oscilloscope in the DAW will show it. This is a big part of the sound, along with a very accurate 50% square wave.
Roland seem to have missed the fact that the S&H is clocked from the arpegiator and is not part of the LFO, and it has its own dedicated VCF mod slider (VCF MOD).
It does. Now stop talking and make some albums.
@@planetmullins you seem ignorant that AMSynths has made various Eurorack modules based on this circuitry, so it's valid to bring up such details in a technical discussion. ACB is all about circuit simulation, so we obviously expect it to have very close behaviour to the originals. It's good to know if Roland missed anything, as it can be given as feedback and if a blue moon arrives on a Friday the 13th maybe they will take that feedback onboard for a revision..
@@Wagoo After complimenting OP on the genius video you have something negative to say. I personally find that hilarious. lol.
crazy price now on ebay 5grand paid 400 or 500 quid 4 mine from an old music shop years back in amazin condition
Can’t wait for a system 8 mkii which can load every plug out 😂
would love to see one anytime soon :D
Great video , may i ask something , whne you plugout the plugin , what we listen too is system 8 , i supppose but audio going threw audio interafce or routed to plugin ? Is he plugin cpu hit goes down when plugged out ?
Infos i struggle to find .
Thks for your lovely work !!
If you're playing it on the system 8 then the CPU isn't used on the computer (only minimum). The idea is to create patches and store tones on the computer then upload to the synth (plugout) and you can then disconnect the synth and use it as a standalone instrument. So you can play the S8 like any external MIDI instrument and turn off the plugin at that point.
are going do a comparison vid with the mercury 4?
Great now make a comparison cherry audio Mercury -4 vs. Roland cloud Jupiter 4. That will be interesting to see what you do
Nice.. Will now go play with my original Jupiter-4
Show off 😂😂 lucky you 👍
@@StarskyCarr Lucky indeed, i got it for only $700 a few years ago at a used instruments store. The insides & outside still in mint condition, early BA662 version, zero damage to the wood ends, plastic O-ring covers still on the knobs, music sheet metal stand still attached to the top, and with original 70's Roland-logo hard case. My JP4 is in even better complete condition than the one in the Roland museum in Hamamatsu. I went and compared.✨Yeah ❤️JP4🙌🌞✨
@@gula_rata Lucky lucky find! I hope Roland makes a Boutique version for plebs like me that can't afford the original Jupiter 4.
@@gula_rata does it sound like this plugin?
Hey Starsky - Love Roland gear but call me a heathen or luddite - why would you want this when you have a J8 in the System 8?
Because the Jupiter 4 and 8 are two different synths with completely different unique sound character.
@@ironinquisitor3656 Ok, if you say so... 😊
@@IanWaugh he says so because it's true.. Jupiter 4, Jupiter 6 and Jupiter 8 are all their own distinct synths not supersets or "extra voice card" versions of one another
@@Wagoo Yes. But I guess my overriding question is - are they sufficiently distinct from one another to warrant use of more than one? To put it another way - are there any diistinctive sounds that other synths can't produce? Or, perhaps to get more gritty - put one of these in a mix and could anyone really tell which one it is?
@@IanWaugh yes absolutely, they are distinctive different synthesizers
Does this also work on the System 1M ?
Probably not as it's a polysynth. Promars is closely related and works on 1M though
@@Wagoo The System 1M is a polysynth as well. It has 4 voices like a Jupiter 4. At least the System 1/1M engine has. Missed opportunity if Roland haven't made the plug out compatible with the System 1 or 1M.
@@bcm70 yes I know but historically Roland haven’t supported any polysynth plugouts on it unfortunately.
1/1M has 2 of the older ESC2 quad core ARM SoC vs the 3x quad core BMC chips in the System-8. So if they dropped the output from 96khz to 48khz they should be able to support 4 voices of Jupiter-4 + FX. Without FX even 8 voice might be possible. 1/1M also in theory could do an 8 voice Jupiter-8 at 48khz for example, as the JP-08 boutique only has one ESC2
@@Wagoo I think you're quoting the guy that pulled down the System 1 a few years back where he said that they could get more polyphony out of the System 1 if they dropped the sample rate. However you can already do 4 voices + fx using the onboard System 1 synth engine on the synth now. So there's no need to drop the sample rate for the 4 voice Jupiter 4. I do agree that Roland haven't shown any desire to support anything but modelled mono synths to date. However, they haven't previously released another 4 voice ACB plug-out that I'm aware of either.
@@bcm70 that assumption completely relies on the speed of a core in an ESC2 chip being able to run ACB at 96khz for the *Jupiter 4* circuit layouts.. which were obviously designed to target a _faster_ ARM core (the newer BMC chip). The native System-1 engine obviously can handle 4 voices at 96khz, but who can say to the complexity of that engine? It's not entirely based on a real synth, it does sound great and feel like ACB.. but it's also not the full engine from the System-8.
Do you see the issue here? That's why I suggested dropping down to 48khz to compensate for the speed difference between an ESC2 and BMC chip. We know the Jupiter-8/JX3P/Juno 106 will run at 48khz on an ESC2 with 1 voice per core
Maybe if Vince Clarke make some presets, this JP4 will sound really nice, or really close to the original. For now, sound tiny like other Roland Cloud synths...
..or maybe if I make some presets ;) nice idea
@@StarskyCarr Yeah, nice. Making solid basses and leads will be nice, and some organics reso arps! Thanks.
Another well done overview. For some the whole plugout thing makes sense in certain situations? (Personally, I do not get the appeal at all, but to each their own) To me the only interesting thing Roland has done in a LONG time is the SE-02 and that only because of who they teamed with. I take that back; the Malekko modular stuff was also a great collaboration. If that is your thing the Mk2 SP404 is also well done I understand. Other than those bright spots there has been no gas in that tank for decades.
The plug outs are fantastic for system 8 owners. Being able to slap 3 roland classics in there makes it a pretty insanely capable "I want the roland classics but don't want to take them on the road/don't have the money, so instead I'll have them all for the price of one plug out synth" kinda deal
I quite like the MC707 and the boutiques are cute toys to play with.
He spent the whole review on saw wave. Square/pulse is the star of the show with this synth.
Not really sure that "pullout" is the appropriate word here, lol! Especially when discussing "meaty" sub-tones...
Lol its not even on website yet and already you have a video ready, hmmmmmmmm
being dependent on the cloud sucks !!!!!
I used to own a real Jupiter4 and I don't remember it sounding this fat~
Haha I’m the same. I wasn’t impressed by mine at all and sold it for £100. My synth chops are more refined now though.
@@StarskyCarr Same here~ I sold mine for $400usd years ago cuz it sounded horrible~
That sounds weak, compared to the hardware. Im not convinced by Roland's emulations of their own gear.
You A/B it against your real J4?
@@vaiman7777 Yes.
@@thegroove2000 Post a quick A/B please? Just use 2 or 3 original patches from each.
@@vaiman7777 Clean out your ear canals.
@@vaiman7777 UVI over 30gigs.