Roland JP-8080 - Omnisphere HW

Ratings

Control of Omnisphere
Panel Layout
Ease of Use
Build Quality

The JP-8080 is a virtual analog synth Roland made in the mid-‘90s. It has become a modern classic, mostly because it introduced the Supersaw sound, which pretty much defined Trance music. The panel is really good, you have a lot of hands-on control: 2 Oscillators, access to multiple Filter types, 3 Envelopes, and a nice FX section. It can also record the motion of the knobs and short sequences that can be assigned to individual keys, which can all be sent via MIDI to Omnisphere. Unlike the JP-8000, the JP-8080 has audio inputs for processing external audio and a vocoder. They are somewhat expensive on the used market, but it’s a very good choice as an Omnisphere controller.

Roland JP-8080 Strengths:

Intuitive Layout
Parameter Sequencing
Multiple Filter Types
Effects Controls

Roland JP-8080 Details:

Used Price	Around $1,200
Number of Keys	N/A
Keyboard Type	N/A
Size of Controls	Medium
Special Features	Parameter Sequencing External audio processing Vocoder
Dimensions	20.3” × 11.5” × 4.5”
Weight	9.73 lbs
USB Powered	No
Pitch Bender	No
Mod Wheel	No
Sends Aftertouch	No
Sustain Pedal Input	No
Expression Pedal Input	No
Ribbon	No
Non-Functional Controls	Volume Morphing controls External Input controls
Arpeggiator	Yes
Sequencer	Yes
MIDI Messages	CC, Sysex

Omnisphere Sections Controlled by the Roland JP-8080:

Independent Layer Control	No
Number of Oscillators	2
Number of Wavetables	6
Number of Envelopes	3
Number of LFOs	2
Filter Types	LPF Juicy 12dB LPF Juicy 24dB HPF Juicy 12dB HPF Juicy 24dB BPF Power 12dB BPF Power 24dB
FX Units	Analog Chorus Analog Flanger Analog Phaser Chorus Echo Formant Filter PRO-Verb RetroPhaser Retroplex Stompbox Modeler Studio EQ
Soundsources	No
Mod Matrix	No
FM	Yes
Ring Mod	Yes
Waveshaper	No
Unison	Yes
Harmonia	No
Granular	No
ORB	No
Arpeggiator	No

Setting up the JP-8000

Setting up the JP-8080