Master EQ Setting For External Keyboards, Synths & Modules

If you are having a rough time mixing external synths with plugins, try a new master EQ setting on your external gear. Master EQ provides control over where frequencies are boosted or negated. Many digital keyboards have this setting. When mixing in your DAW the hardest problem is getting the bass right. Many patches you create may not be EQ'ed properly to fit in your mix. If you have a drum track playing in your daw and the bass is muddy or fatiguing, try this on your outboard master EQ...

Settings:

66hz-80hz -10 db or more on the Master EQ. This is a low shelf roll off.

This will allow space for your kick drum track (in your daw or elsewhere) to breath. Generally, you can leave this setting on with most patches and especially if you are playing a bassline on your external gear. The bass will no longer be muddy. Its subtle but the human ear doesn't need this information to deciper a bassline. If you are using analog gear you can press the EQ bass cut button on your mixer!

One reason to use this as your master EQ is to save time in case you forget to EQ bass out of a lot of patches. Then it can be switched on / off. There may be other Master EQ settings you want try, depending on what type of content you are producing. (For example, a cut in frequencies your vocalist normally sings).

Roland Jupiter-80 Second Thoughts On Lack of Sampling

After listening to the Jupiter-80 again I have to say I'm very impressed. One issue keeping people from liking it is the lack of sampling. I think Roland's reasoning is that the Supernatural sounds take place of any multisampling or single shots of everyday instruments. They went to a lot of trouble to program these sounds in a way that is not static like a sample, but flowing and dynamic. Also, If you are making your own sounds from complete scratch with all layers this machine is capable of, its going to be ridiculous to get into single shot or multi samples. I'm sure the idea is to build off what they have already provided for you. Compared to something like the V-synth GT or V-synth factory presets I think they've got better presets on the Jupiter-80. After listening to more demos, I think they have given you more than enough to start tweaking useful sounds.

One other thing to note was the possibility of layering an arpeggiator with other sounds. You can play a pad with a chord and automatically have a different arpeggiator cycling in the "background". I'm not sure what other roland equipment does this, but its very powerful. It sounds like you are playing an entire song with a few keys. The amount of layering on the Jupiter-80 can save a lot of time and sound very good.

The other problem Roland has on their hands is all the comments from analog purists. Jupiter-80 obviously is digital and getting a lot hate because it isn't like the Jupiter-8. It is still meant to be their top of the line keyboard. This is probably the most advanced keyboard they've ever made, lacking sequencer. From one perspective, the Jupiter-80 can sound much better than what the Jupiter-8 does. If you want your music to stay in the past, get something thats been available for 30 years. If you want to go to the future get the Jupiter-80.

Things I like on Jupiter-80:

- Layered Sounds + Arpeggiator.

- Super Natural Sounds & rom take place of sampling (save time)

- Color Scheme

- Sheer Power

More Jupiter-80

Jupiter-80 in french (skip to the end-ish)

Korg Monotribe

This might be fun for making patterns if the price is low. It looks to have the same ribbon controller as monotron. Thats very disappointing if you need a keyboard. There is no midi or usb so it does not fit in with other Korg gear. It looks to have a sequencer so I'm thinking standalone pattern use only.

Roland Jupiter-80 Pictures Leaked

http://forums.rolandclan.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=36971

Well it looks to be exactly like I predicted; A compliment to the V-synth (pianos/orchestral synth) and lacking features so it doesn't tread on Fantom G sales. (no sequencing & sampling).