so what do you think about the Roland MKS 80?

[clusterchord]

i had a Rev4 MKS-80 w MPG-80, a frined had Rev5. i dont feel they sound the same at all, tho they can be made to get close on certain patches.

in short: Rev4 is a kinda like an velocity sensitive, lowpass-only, 8-voice version of Jupiter6. Curtis (CEM) VCOs and VCAs, Roland IR-based filter setup so it sounds very much like JP-6 and SH-101 when in LowPass. Does Not sound like JP-8 in 24dBLP. same expo converter, different filter circuit.

i really digged triangle and sync leads, slow pwm pad, velo-to-filter comping house sounds, incredible chewy unison bass, anything requiring hard, focused sound - like synthpop/trance/psy etc. it seriously sucked if u wanted warm/smooth i.e. strings/pads.

Rev5 has unique Roland IR vcos, same IR3R05 filter and VCA from JX series (8P/10/MKS70), and IMO it sounds much like those yet with better/bigger oscillators. my impression is it does silkstrings/brassy stuff very nicely. rounder, warmer, less focused than 4. in the end, none of them is "hybrid" in any sense compared ot oberheims or prophets. cept if u count software generated envelopes. i dont.


i know this aint xactly what Jazzpunk asked for, but here's my old Rev4 demos, and a few of Colins Rev5 demos too. hope itll shed some light:

MKS-80 Rev4 demo page

http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...ushStrings.mp3
http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...5_melloPWM.mp3
http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...PWMStrings.mp3

IMO one of the best polyanalog buys today, regardless of Revision. i let my go at the time, only to finance CS-80.

[perx]

Originally Posted by clusterchord

i had a Rev4 MKS-80 w MPG-80, a frined had Rev5. i dont feel they sound the same at all, tho they can be made to get close on certain patches.

in short: Rev4 is a kinda like an velocity sensitive, lowpass-only, 8-voice version of Jupiter6. Curtis (CEM) VCOs and VCAs, Roland IR-based filter setup so it sounds very much like JP-6 and SH-101 when in LowPass. Does Not sound like JP-8 in 24dBLP. same expo converter, different filter circuit.

i really digged triangle and sync leads, slow pwm pad, velo-to-filter comping house sounds, incredible chewy unison bass, anything requiring hard, focused sound - like synthpop/trance/psy etc. it seriously sucked if u wanted warm/smooth i.e. strings/pads.

Rev5 has unique Roland IR vcos, same IR3R05 filter and VCA from JX series (8P/10/MKS70), and IMO it sounds much like those yet with better/bigger oscillators. my impression is it does silkstrings/brassy stuff very nicely. rounder, warmer, less focused than 4. in the end, none of them is "hybrid" in any sense compared ot oberheims or prophets. cept if u count software generated envelopes. i dont.


i know this aint xactly what Jazzpunk asked for, but here's my old Rev4 demos, and a few of Colins Rev5 demos too. hope itll shed some light:

MKS-80 Rev4 demo page

http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...ushStrings.mp3
http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...5_melloPWM.mp3
http://www.babic.com/SYN/MKS80-V4/CC...PWMStrings.mp3

IMO one of the best polyanalog buys today, regardless of Revision. i let my go at the time, only to finance CS-80.

nice info... thanks! ;-)

[Aeonian]

this is a topic that everyone seems to have a different opinion of.
I have a rev4, one of the early ones with rev3 OS. I also have JP-8 and JP-6.
My opinion is that the Rev4..(or at least my rev4) sounds much more like the Jupiter8 than the JP6, despite its architecture. It has the same bright sparkly glissy tone, just lovely. I dont really like the tone of the Jupiter6 in comparison.
The rev4 is considerably more punchy/snappy than the JP-8, with the filter open a voice sounds identical to my Pro-one, and that is tough. Of course the sound thins out considerably compared tp the Pro-one once the filter is applied. Overall I my rev4 is better suited to Bass than the Jupiter8. The filter on the rev4 is not perfect, my main complaint being that it clips on high resonant settings, like the Jupiter6. What really stands out on the Jupiter8 above the rev4 is the lovely smooth envelopes, and overall gorgeousness and cuteness of the tone. Rev4 MKS is a bit more aggressive sounding, so while not a Jupiter8 has some things it is better suited to. Hope that makes sense-;

[analogbass]

Originally Posted by clusterchord

rounder, warmer, less focused than 4. in the end, none of them is "hybrid" in any sense compared ot oberheims or prophets. cept if u count software generated envelopes. i dont.

First of all, none of the Rolands new or old are warm. Not part of the Roland filter sound. Neutral at best, even the vintage stuff. Find and post a couple of clips that illustrate a warm Roland sound.

Second yes they are hybrid, not necessarily in terms of technology but in terms of the end product, the sound. That was the trend in the mid-80s, the synths of those days all went in that direction or tried hard to, thanks to the DX-7. Those who lived through that era remember it. Just as the other guy mentioned about the MKS being analog meets DX-7, which is very true as a rough description. Pretty obvious from those clips too BTW; most of the earlier vintage analogs wouldn't sound like that.

[analogbass]

Originally Posted by Aeonian

this is a topic that everyone seems to have a different opinion of.
I have a rev4, one of the early ones with rev3 OS. I also have JP-8 and JP-6.
My opinion is that the Rev4..(or at least my rev4) sounds much more like the Jupiter8 than the JP6, despite its architecture. It has the same bright sparkly glissy tone, just lovely. I dont really like the tone of the Jupiter6 in comparison.
The rev4 is considerably more punchy/snappy than the JP-8, with the filter open a voice sounds identical to my Pro-one, and that is tough. Of course the sound thins out considerably compared tp the Pro-one once the filter is applied. Overall I my rev4 is better suited to Bass than the Jupiter8. The filter on the rev4 is not perfect, my main complaint being that it clips on high resonant settings, like the Jupiter6. What really stands out on the Jupiter8 above the rev4 is the lovely smooth envelopes, and overall gorgeousness and cuteness of the tone. Rev4 MKS is a bit more aggressive sounding, so while not a Jupiter8 has some things it is better suited to. Hope that makes sense-;

Evokes the adage "opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one" lol. I've compared them directly, the mks doesn't sound anywhere near identical to a pro one.

Punchier than a JP8 no, snappier yes.

An MKS may sound closer to an 8 than a 6, but they're still quite different so i'm not sure what the point is.

[jonnypowell]

Originally Posted by analogbass

First of all, none of the Rolands new or old are warm. Not part of the Roland filter sound. Neutral at best, even the vintage stuff. Find and post a couple of clips that illustrate a warm Roland sound.

Wow!!??

Have you actually ever heard a JP-8?
I've owned many MANY vintage synths and it si the warmest I've heard.
I have no idea what your interpretation of warmth must be..

[DivineChemical]

Originally Posted by jonnypowell

I have no idea what your interpretation of warmth must be..

That is such a relative term. The JP-8 was all over Micheal Jackson's Thriller album, and that album definitely exudes a lot of warmth to my ears, but I guess it's brittle and fragile to others.

[synthcity]

I love my rev 4 MKS 80! Never played a rev 5, so can't make any comparisons. I do know that I am unable so far to get a really fat string sound out of it- the kind I've heard on records with a Jupiter 8.

I use it for bass, pads, percussive stuff and atmosphere. It is tight and smooth, very refined sounding. It does bite, yet is round. Reliable and holds tune well.

Other comments about the mpg 80 are helpful as I don't have one and have long thought about getting one. For the money, I think I'll live without one . . .

Tweaking from the front panel is tedious. When I have a lot to do, I program and keep track of patches with Unisyn.

Related question: anyone have experience with a ram cartridge called "Symphony" 128 S64? It has 4 banks, a protect switch and led. Banks switchable with two dip switches. I am unable to write to it, but it does not give me errors when I try to save a bank and even shows patch and tone data. I know it works with the JX 10 and MKS 70. Anyone?

Thanks

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by synthcity

Other comments about the mpg 80 are helpful as I don't have one and have long thought about getting one. For the money, I think I'll live without one . . .

Yes I find the MPG80 very good.
You are right about the extra cost though.
The biggest downfall of the MPG is it's lack of a quick response to small increments of adjustment.
With mine anyway you have to move the slider a certain amount before the MPG wakes up. This makes tiny incremental filter adjustment impossible in real time.

[vixapphire]

Originally Posted by analogbass

Exactly; analog combined with digital, a nice hybrid. Anyone wanting to hear an mks can easily do so by listening to Madonna's music around 1984-85; Open Your Heart, Into the Groove, Who's that Girl and Isla Bonita are all mks on bass and other sounds. Same thing for Information Society late 80s.

YouTube - 80´s CLASSICS MADONNA ISLA BONITA VIDEO

YouTube - Madonna Who's That Girl

YouTube - Information Society - Walking Away

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xd6vTJePVuY


As far as which version is "better", it's an endless debate; i find that most of the different revs whether it's mks, mini or prophet really don't sound that much different, minor differences. Better to decide based on other factors.

no kidding? i always figured that "open your heart" era madonna was all dx basses. never really thought about it much, but now that you mention it...

[sleestack]

the mpg-80 just sdoesn't sweep. So it jumps to the new value. Its midi. Miidi sucks. I wish it was never invented, They should have just built smarter CV

[HomeProducer]

I don't know ...

the MKS 80 sounds very "electronic" to me. Also the VCOs and the filter sound thinner than on a Juno 60. I am proud to have it but never use it. The warmth is missing. I cannot imagine that a JP 8 sounds similar. For an analogue synth, MKS 80 sounds very digital or edgy .

Is there something wrong with my unit that it sounds as it sounds? The unisono mode also does not appeal, too raw and not organic for my taste. Try the prophet 08 in unisono mode!

[reverse]

check this nice demo between REV4 and REV5.
to me REV 4 is way better than REV5. (fat, loud and clear)
Let me know your opinion...
Thanks

same presets /

REV4/ http://coyote14.club.fr/MKS80/MKS80%20rev4.mp3

REV5/ http://coyote14.club.fr/MKS80/MKS80%20rev5.mp3

enjoy!