JP-08 – The Missing Manual
The minute I illustrated and re wrote up the missing manual for the JU-06 available with some patches hoping to encourage people to get deeper into their Roland Boutique modules, people began asking me to produce something similar for the JP-08 and the JX-03. I love a good technical illustration, and I really love a deep read of a vintage synthesizer manual, so I’ve produced the missing manual, a user’s guide to the JP-08.
It’s the same basic idea as before – Take the leaflet that comes with the Boutique synth and all of its specifics, and combine it with the language for sound design from the original manual for the classic synthesizer, and then illustrate it. I’ve done just that, and so be aware that the language in the original Jupiter-8 manual is a little dated. I love it… but it may not be as direct and straight forward as you might have expected. That said, all the functions, key combinations, utilities, effects, and the sequencer operations are clear as a bell. I’ve even got lovely midi charts, and patch note pages for your patch programs, and for you bank arrangements too.
Don’t be dissuaded, there’s a lot there. Reading this manual will help to understand how the LFO functions, and how interesting it can be to Modulate the VCO, as well as what a weirdo blast it can be to combine VCO’s in different ways. I think if you read up, and follow along your JP-08 will really surprise you.
A USER’S GUIDE TO THE ROLAND JP-08
THE MISSING MANUAL
DOWNLOAD
PDF FORMAT – Version 0.01D Updated 13 January 2018 (minor midi cc correction)
I have also included a bank of patches for you to play with in order to see how easy patch sharing can be, and also to discover how amazing this chorus feature is.
SUNSHINE JONES – JP-08 DEMONSTRATION PATCHES
[BANK 8 PRESET 1-8]
DOWNLOAD
COMPRESSED ZIP ARCHIVE
[BANK 8 – PATCH 1] JUPITER STRINGS (no chorus)
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 2] JUPITER STRINGS (chorus 1)
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 3] STELLA PAD
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 4] JUPITER E PNO
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 5] SAMPLE & HOLD CHORD/BASS
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 6] JUPITER HI HAT
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 7] JUPITER NOISE SNARE
Listen
[BANK 8 – PATCH 8] JUPITER KICK
Listen
JASON WILLIAMS (aka Velocette) – JP-08 PATCHES
[BANK 7 PRESET 1-8]
DOWNLOAD
COMPRESSED ZIP ARCHIVE
[BANK 7 – PATCH 1] IR3109 Chords
[BANK 7 – PATCH 2] Endless
[BANK 7 – PATCH 3] Random Malfunction
[BANK 7 – PATCH 4] Ghidora
[BANK 7 – PATCH 5] Rubber Ducky
[BANK 7 – PATCH 6] Singles & Doubles
[BANK 7 – PATCH 7] Trill
[BANK 7 – PATCH 8] Late Bloomer
[Bank Specific Settings] Enable Glide (DUAL + C1 and DUAL + C2) for best results
Please be sure to backup your existing patches before writing to memory.
In the BACKUP folder the patches are numbered differently. Rather than Bank 1-8, they are named for their sequential placement in the midi program change protocol
ex: JP08_PATCH01 – JP08_PATCH64.
NOTE – Be sure you backup JP08_PATCH57 – JP08_PATCH64 and PATTERN BQ_PTN7 and BQ_PTN8 BEFORE you begin this exercise.
In accordance with the new, clearly written manual on page 10, follow these instructions to backup your sounds before you begin.
1. Power up the JP-08 holding the PATCH 2 button
2. Connect a USB cable between the JP-08 and your computer
3. A little drive should apprear on your desktop named JP-08
4. Within this drive you will find two folders:
1. BACKUP
This contains all your sounds and sequences
2. RESTORE
This is where you drop files in order to load them into your JP-08
5. Create a backup folder for your sounds, and drop them all onto it and copy them over to your desktop.
This is in case something goes wrong, or it get’s all messed up, or weird, you can always just go back.
HOW TO COPY THE NEW FILES TO YOUR JP-08:
1. Follow the procedure above for mounting the JP-08 to your desktop.
2. Copy the contents of the BANK 8 folder you downloaded from me into the RESTORE folder.
3. Eject the JP-08 drive
4. On the JP-08 Module – Press MANUAL
Lights will bllink and things will happen.
5. When the lights stop blinking the screen should say OK.
6. Power cycle your JP-08
7. Press PATCH 8 and PATCH 8 (for PATCH 88)
Play the C1 note on your keyboard. This should be the kick patch I gave you.
Refer to the legend above to see what I was attempting to create, and enjoy, modify, or discard these patches. They are yours to do with what you will. The idea here was not to style you out with some heart stopping freebies to make me look cool, but rather to engage you with your own equipment, and show you just how easy it is to save, backup, and share patches for these amazing little synthesizers. I hope you dig it, and are already planning a huge patch swap in the very near future.
Enjoy the manual. I hope this helps you get to know your JP-08 from a new perspective, and you get deeper and deeper into it and more sound and joy out of it.
LOVE
32 Comments
Thanks so much! This looks great
Looks great!
As much as I like the current Roland products, I hate their newspaper folded crap they substitute as a manual. It’s the only thing I dislike about the whole Aira range….the documentation.
Wow! That didn’t take long at all! Thank you so much!
Thank you ! Must have been a lot of work. Thx so much for taking the time!
Well done! This will be VERY helpful and is truly appreciated.
I love the JU-06 one and was hoping you would make one for the JP-08. Didn’t expect it so soon. Thanks!
Awesome
Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you Sunshine!
Have one coming for my brand, the JX-03?
@ Edward Piercy – Yes. JX-03 is planned.
This edition is to be updated on Monday.
The JP-08 is missing the hidden chorus feature and it seems I didn’t swap the “chorus” for the “dual” button in at least one operation.
So there’s a revision coming.
Great job!
I don’t have one, but this makes me want to get one.
Great work, thanks so much!
yowza
Amazing
Hey, Sunshine! Would be awesome to get your opinion how close is the JP-08 in sound and performance is to the Jupiter-8 considering size and voices?
@Shane – Well… if i had to choose i would choose the Jupiter-8 in a heartbeat. no regrets.
That said, i personally destroyed a Jupiter-8 trying to tour with it back in the 1990’s and i would NEVER do that again.
but we could spend the afternoon tossing the JP-08 onto the highway and taking bets about which truck was going to run over it, and when we were done we could head to guitar center and buy another one!
These boutiques delight me because they democtratize the synthesizers which have passed out of reach of the people making music and touring at the ground level.
I love my JP-08. it sounds great and it fits into my book bag.
but if you could get your hands on a jupiter 8 instead… You should.
Thank you, sir! Would, of course, love a real Jupiter 8. It would look very nice next to my Jupiter 6 :) – Needed to know from someone who knows the sound quality of the original vs the boutique. Again, thanks! ps – Have my eye on the TR-09
Democratize! Amen, brother!
Thank you, Sunshine! You’ve always been so kind and helpful to the community.
Sweet synth gods, thank you Sunshine!! Your manual couldn’t have come at a better time! I’m just now doing a deep dive on the JP-08 to integrate it better within my setup.
Really liking the tone and style in which it’s written. Thank you for an easy to read manual that is truly for the users.
Excellent! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
What a legend!
Thank YOU!!
Brilliant ! Thx so much. highly appreciated
Thanks Sunshine. Didn’t even know there was a hidden chorus until I read this, programmed the controller and WOW! In S T E R E O
And get posting those patch banks! Download mine and you get a free Rubber Duckie…
JP-08 sounded great…but the original manual and fiddly button combos made me sell it. I will consider it again now!
Chido vato que buen aliviane ese. La negra. Thnx.
If only Roland could make manuals like this! Bravo!! I should show you my old D5 manual. So cringe-worthy. ;-)
Your generosity is much appreciated – thank you
Just Got one of these as a Christmas present, I couldn’t believe how poor Roland’s original manual for the jp08 is and how great your is!. The ‘hidden’ chorus feature is a revelation too.
Thank you for your efforts, hope you get some credit from Roland for filling the gap in their documentation together with the gratitude of all users!.