Roland JP-8000 Analog-Modeling Synthesizer

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"The JP-8000 Music Synthesizer has been designed using a first-of-its-kind Roland Analog Modeling sound source, combining the fat, powerful sounds associated with vintage analog synths with the flexibility of digital technology and MIDI. Like the classic Roland analog synths of the past, the JP-8000 sports a collection of 38 front-panel knobs and sliders for powerful real-time control, opening a brand new world of sonic possibilities. Innovative "Motion Control" feature memorizes all sequential slider and knob movements, ensuring that a great real-time "tweak" will not be lost. "Analog" synth functions like oscillator sync, ring modulation, -12/-24 dB filtering, cross modulation, an assignable ribbon controller and powerful pitch bend/modulation lever make the JP-8000 a very powerful synthesizer for live and studio use!

Overview
The Roland JP-8000 was released in early 1997 to compete with the other analog modeling synthesizers of the period such as the Access Virus, Clavia Nord Lead the Korg MS2000B and the Yamaha AN1x. These were the early Virtual Analog Synthesizers (VA synths) that were released in the mid to late 1990's. While the functionality, sound, and architecture of the JP-8000 differs from these other synthesizers, it shared the same purpose of recreating the unique sound and functionality of classic analog synths. The JP-8000 was viewed at the time as the modern incarnation of the classic Roland Jupiter-8, from 1981. It sought to reproduce the warm tonalities and sheer analog power of its older, bigger brother, of course with a modern slant, adding all kinds of features, from motion control, to RPS, to the fabled Super Saw oscillators and old-school controllers such as an arpeggiator and an assingable touch response ribbon control.


The JP-8000 had several features that differed from other analog modeling synthesizers of the time. Most notably, Roland's unique oscillator types ("Feedback" and "Supersaw") and the use of sliders instead of rotary encoders (knobs) to edit patch parameters. The Supersaw in particular was the reason why the JP-8000 was particularly successful as a main keyboard (along with the Virus) in the dance music market, especially for Trance. Just like the TB-303 had done for Acid Techno, the JP-8000's Supersaw leads were characteristic of a certain type of Trance that can be roughly called "Anthem Trance", where a melodic, powerful lead based on a Supersaw patch provided the hook and melody throughout the song.


The Supersaw
The Supersaw is a special waveform originally created by Roland for their JP-8000 and JP-8080 line of analog modeling synthesizers. The idea behind the Supersaw is to emulate the sound of more than one sawtooth oscillator using just one oscillator. The waveform is described as a freerun oscillator and its shape is produced from 7 sawtooth oscillators detuned against each other over a period of time.

Since production of the JP-8000 ceased, several companies have incorporated "Supersaw-like" oscillator algorithms into their hardware and software synthesizers."


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