ACME Synthworks, the developer of XP60, is currently working on a Roland Jupiter-8 clone that is already 95% finished.
A year ago, the German developer ACME Synthworks introduced the XP60 project. A clone and further development of the legendary Oberheim XPander polyphonic analog Synthesizer. Since the news broke, there’s been no further news about the project.
Perhaps this is because the developer is working on a second project in parallel. ACME Synthworks has announced a Roland Jupiter-8 clone that is already 95% finished.
ACME Synthworks Roland Jupiter-8 clone
According to ACME Soundworks, it is the world’s first Roland Jupiter-8 clone. Strictly speaking, that’s not true, because Black Corporation already has a Roland Jupiter-8 clone, or in the developer’s words, a replicant, on the market with the ISE-NIN.
They even released a synth voice based on a single ISE-NIN voice card for Eurorack. However, if one goes by the logic that a clone must be technically identical to the original, then the claim could be true.
The German developer says that his clone has the original architecture with eight discrete voices and a circuit that follows the original Jupiter-8 design. Also onboard is a reproduction of the 14-bit interface board.
A large portion of the circuitry has been implemented in SMD to simplify assembly and improve manufacturability, while the VCO section is through-hole. Chip-wise, everything is the same as the original. The ACME version uses IR3109 and BA662 chips for the filter section.
Even though you can easily design envelopes digitally today, the developer decided to implement them in analog form using different ICs, preserving the original behavior.
The first early sounds from the Jupiter-8 clone prototype are already available.
It is unknown in what form ACME Synthworks will market the Jupiter-8 clone. This could be a finished, ready-to-use instrument or a DIY project. This project will certainly take some time.
Until then, we can look forward to it with interest. It’s definitely great that more Jupiter-8-style synths are coming onto the market.
More information here: ACME
please Work with Uli 😎
My personal opinion is that it sounds very blunt and uninspiring.
Perhaps my ears are spoiled these days by countless software plugins that truly inspire and bring rich, lushes sounds and not trying to emulate old synths from yesterday.
BTW; I do have Arturias Jup-8V which sounds great but to be honest never used it in any of my my songs…
Translation: I’ve always thought that the despised and underrated Korg Prologue 16 is superior to a Roland Jupiter 8. These days, there’s no point in cloning a Jupiter 8… unless you want one now because you’re overcome with nostalgia for not having been able to own one in the ’80s due to its exorbitant price.
Siempre he pensado que el despreciado y subestimado Korg Prologue 16 es superior a un Roland Jupiter 8. Hoy por hoy no tiene ningún sentido clonar un Jupiter 8… a no ser que quieras tenerlo ahora porque te invade la nostalgia de no haberlo podido tener en los 80s dado su elevadísimo precio.
I really don’t understand what the big hype is about a Jupiter 8 anyhow I would like to see the Korg SIGMA replicated would sell like hotcakes.
yeah, it is and was Hyped to death thanks to the Internet. Most people never played one(i only saw one, never played one 🙂 Like the Juno 106, which i have bought 10 years ago and then realizing that i Like the jx3p much more. but that one was Not Used ny so many famous Artists thats why…
Why clone anything? You need oscillators, filters, envelopes, lfos, mod matrix, every synth is done on the same basis. Why not make a synth that has better polyphony, better controls, more advanced features and lower price?
thats what Behringer did with the deep mind and still, more people will buy The Juno Clone i guess…
Let them enjoy the clone, honestly I don’t want to marry anybody’s joy. I just feel we are running in circles when it comes to analog synths.