I will not get too detailed in the description of this synth because you can find all the essential information on the net. This is the first polyphonic synth firm Roland, released in 1978, along with the Prophet 5 This goes beyond the level of modulation capabilities, it has a 5-octave keyboard better, polyphony 5 ways, more memories, which is why he met a well above the Jupiter 4 success.
But there are still some aspects that I like on Jupiter 4:
- It has stereo outputs (the Jupiter 8 and 6 do not have this)
- It has a very fast LFO (up to 80 Hz)
- There are many twelve o'clock kits that provide non-negligible improvement (more memories, complete control via MIDI, etc ...)
- The chorus is just beautiful, it adds a delicious spatial aspect to the sound without distorting it as the Juno 60, in short, a subtle but effective chorus.
- Envelopes that "slamming" well, giving very dry low, or percussive sounds.

Otherwise I love the possibility of applying a small delay to the LFO, the ability to assign the VCO, VCF or VCA seam, which allows for very expressive sounds, despite the lack of aftertouch when is played via the keyboard.

UTILIZATION

This is what should look like a polyphonic analog synth. Rotary and linear knobs, a clear layout, memories to record sounds that have been programmed. One might criticize the lack of LCD screen as on other synths, but for my part I think it is what makes it so easy to use.

SOUNDS

The second machine presets Roland SH-2000 after that I also had a few years in my sonic arsenal. The names just below the multi-colored buttons are anything but representative of the pre-stored by Roland in the 70's.

But not buy a Roland Jupiter 4 for play only presets. As Jupiter 4 4 VCO are rarely perfectly matched (even after calibration), there almost always has a slight drift oscillators thickening the sound dramatically. Even without using the stereo chorus (called "whole" on the JP4), a simple sound based on a PWM modulated by a slow LFO, and it already gets very large sheets. You can always still add the sub-oscillator and the chorus if it was not to be enough.

Personally, I think the Jupiter 4 excels in tablecloths, low (in unison mode), leads, and even with the FX LFO which provides relatively close to a ring-modulator sounds.

The VCF is worthy of Roland SH period, very musical, almost a little "moogish" depending on the setting of the resonance.

I also have a Roland SH-2. Playing the Jupiter 4, I often feel it is almost 4 Roland SH-2 used only with a VCO and sub-oscillator.

I also owned a Jupiter 6, I sold there about 5 years. The possibilities were fabulous on JP6, but I had more trouble with noise. I always found that the Jupiter 6 sounded more aggressive, more incisive with a strong presence of medium frequencies, while the Jupiter 4 has a more vintage much rounder character.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm lucky to have that Jupiter 4 (with MIDI kit IO, which allows among others to edit the presets, adding 64 memory locations, additional LFO, etc ...) for 2 years now. As mentioned above, I had a Jupiter 6, but I sold it. For cons, the Jupiter 4 is not ready to leave.

I like it especially for its grain noise, sound thickness that we seem to get by with only one VCO voice, his famous chorus that blows a little, its very musical and well VCF copper, and recently also for its reliability .

I like a little less, the keyboard prone to double contacts and lack of polyphony (4 votes only).

The quality / price nowadays is not very reasonable. While it was costing about CHF 3,000 (just over 2,000 euros) when it was released in 1978, which was in for a few hundred francs it a few years ago, the price is there quickly climbed to 1,200 - 1,500 Euros, depending the state of the instrument, and even more when he has a twelve o'clock kit worthy of the name.

But I think I would do without hesitation that choice, so it has an engaging personality and an incredible sound.