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Roland MKS-80
| Category | Electronic (polyphonic analog synthesizer) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Classification | sound module |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q7360330 |
Overview
The Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter is an eight-voice rack-mount polyphonic analog synthesizer released by Roland in 1984. It carries the Jupiter family voicing — two oscillators with sync, a 24 dB low-pass filter (later revisions added a 12 dB option), two envelopes, and an LFO — into a 3U rack form, and adds full MIDI implementation. The unit was sold either by itself or paired with the MPG-80 dedicated hardware programmer, which restored the live tweakability that the rack format had given up.
Origin & History
The MKS-80 sits in the lineage that runs from the Jupiter-4 and Jupiter-8 through the Jupiter-6, and is generally considered the last of the true Jupiter analog instruments before Roland transitioned to the digital D-50 in 1987. Two voice-card revisions exist: the early units used the same SSM-style chips as the Jupiter-8 era, while later units used Roland’s IR3R03 voice IC. Both versions remain prized on the second-hand market.
How It’s Played
Without the MPG-80 the unit is edited from its small front panel using parameter selection and value entry — workable but slow for live use. The MPG-80 places one knob per parameter on a shallow desktop unit and connects over a dedicated cable, turning the MKS-80 into a fully hands-on synthesizer. Two MIDI channels can be assigned to upper and lower voice banks for split or layered performances.
Cultural Significance
The Super Jupiter was favoured by film composers, fusion players, and pop producers in the mid- to late-1980s for its ability to deliver rich layered analogue sounds through MIDI sequencing. It is featured on many recordings of the era and remains a reference rack analog polysynth.
Related Instruments
- Roland JX-8P – contemporary keyboard polysynth
- Roland Juno-106 – simpler analogue sibling
- Roland XP-50 – later sample-based workstation
- Oberheim OB-8 – contemporary US analogue rival
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 – classic polysynth lineage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MKS-80 the same as a Jupiter-8?
It shares the family voicing but is a separate design with full MIDI and a different chassis.
What is the MPG-80?
A dedicated hardware programmer that gives one knob per parameter to the MKS-80.
How many voices does it have?
Eight.
