Fantom G8 VS Jupiter 80

[c24kgold]

I currently own a Fantom G8 and would like some help in deciding if it would be advantagious to switch to the Jupiter 80.
I play in a 12 piece band and my main areas of playing is Brass, Strings, Woodwinds (Orchestral Sounds) and Clavinets. I play some Electric Piano and Organ as well. Are the above sounds that much better for live applications to be worth while changing. Since we have a large band and 3 other of the musicians are keyboardists, I don't use the sampling features of the g8. I've also never made use of the sequencer features. I was interested in the Jupiter since it was more of a live application keyboard instead of a studio keyboard as the g8 is. Also, I currently own the ARX Brass and Ep cards.
Are those sounds as good in the Jupiter?
I do like the 88 key ivory feel of the g8, but I'm willing to change if the sounds are that much better.
The synth side of the Jupiter 80 would be almost of no use to me.
Thanks!

[ozy]

I do like the 88 key ivory feel of the g8.The synth side of the Jupiter 80 would be almost of no use to me.

IMHO, keep the G8, based on the above two issues and based on the price loss you would suffer in selling the used fantom g8. The former counts for 70%, the latter for 30% of my answer.

jupiter80's keys are definitely "synth-like" (the GOOD, old roland synth action, plenty of consistence, but synth nonetheless). It's not a quasi-weighted like the kurzs or some unmentionable scandiavian waterfalls. It's a quick synth keyboard,

and

the only sounds I found really powerful and new in the Jupiter are the "supernatural+VA" section.

Brass are nice, but I tested the hype about the famous "legato trumpet" which shows off in all demos, and it's nowhere what I expected, not it is so different from the ARX series.

EPs are very good, but again: if you are a piano player accustomed to "ivory", you'd get theoretically good sounds, on a keyboard which doesn't valorize them.

My two cents.

Now, the resident Fanboy will post exactly the opposite recommendation, so... my preemptive shot is: test the keys for yourself, on the sounds you will use the most. You'll possibily find I have been too harsh about brass, I am almost certain you'll agree on EPs+keys.

[Devnor]

Brass, strings and woodwinds are light years ahead of anything in Fantom G. While not a tweakers delight, the EPs are quite useable. Good luck.

[c24kgold]

Thanks for your comments. The ivory keys are the largest downside to changing to the Jupiter and that is one of my dilemnas. However, if the sounds are exceedingly better than it would be worth it. I have played on synth keys before and I don't mind returning to it. When I mentioned about the synth side of the Jupiter being unusable, I meant the synth sounds not the keys. I don't mind using the synth keys for quick brass stabs and strings which those 2 are my main areas of playing. I'm just not sure about for the clavinets. I'm sure I would get used to it.

I have only played the Jupiter at a Sam Ash for about a half an hour and my first impression was sort of disappointing. However I was very familiar with it and I have come to find out since then that the Jupiter has more editing features than the fantom. Meaning that it's not like the Fantom to where the patches are pre-mixed and balanced. It seems that with the Jupiter you can get right down the really nitty gritty of the tones and create your own patches from scratch. The sounds I was listen to on the Jupiter where just raw sample data that had no mixing or effects added to them.

Some features I like of the Jupiter is the Behaviour Modeling and the Live Touch Screen Drawbars for the Organ.

I like how Roland has not only the Sampled the individual notes of the instruments in the Jupiter, but have sampled the tones in between each note as well. Like how a violinists bow passes from one string to another and the slight bending from one note to another that a flutist can perform.

Concerning the price, I have an opportunity to acquire a New Jupiter 80 for $2800 which with my G8 being expanded with 2 ARX cards and a custom made heavy duty hard shell case I will be able to come out ahead in the exchange. However, it is not worth the saving of the money if I'm going to be downgrading by picking up the Jupiter.

Again thanks for your comments and I would really appreciate it if I could get more replies from others that have had an opportunity to thoroughly try each board. This is a major decision for me and I would like all of the input and opinions that I can get.

[ozy]

Brass, strings and woodwinds are light years ahead of anything in Fantom G.

You better listen to the sounds youself, because my light-year-o-meter didn't blink when playing the "trumpets" patch. But "light-years" have probably become subjective, so you better test for yourself before undergoing such a major trade.

[mojkarma]

It seems to me that c24kgold is not sure whether to buy the jp80 or not and he asks for some additional support from the users in the sense of "buy it, it sounds terrific".
Aside from different opinions regarding the sound, I'd suggest to take additional time, find a shop and give the keyboard a second listen. Try the sounds you mostly need again. If you are sure that it sounds so much better than what you already have, then buying it will be an option. If you buy it just because people here convince you that it sounds great and you personally don't like it so much, you'll just throw your money out of the window.
It sounds to me as you don't really need the jp80 and you are not so much impressed but you have the typical gear lust thing and need a push from other people to justify a purchase which you don't need really.
I agree with ozy here regarding the sounds. Definitely, the acoustic sounds on the jp80 sounds very very good. I have the arx brass card in my fantom g. The solo sounds are great. But for playing brass combo riffs, I still prefer the sampled one. They simply sound better to my ears and do a better job in a typical pop/rock style then using the brass combo patches from the arx card. Also, in a dense mix, be it the stage or studio, a lot of those nuances on different SN acoustic sounds simply get lost if they are not played as a solo and the band is in the background.

[c24kgold]

It seems to me that c24kgold is not sure whether to buy the jp80 or not and he asks for some additional support from the users in the sense of "buy it, it sounds terrific".

It sounds to me as you don't really need the jp80 and you are not so much impressed but you have the typical gear lust thing and need a push from other people to justify a purchase which you don't need really.

Thanks for your comments mojkarma. These are the types of replies that I'm looking for. No I'm not just wanting to "buy" the latest just because it is new. I love my G8 and really would not like to change. I wouldn't look forward to having to completely relearn a new board, especially when we perform shows all over Florida every 1 -2 weeks.

Though I do appreciate Devnor's comment, I have been hearing that sort of review all over the web. And I would rather get some more info than "light years ahead of anything in the Fantom G".

I know that you can't just go on other people word, because every musician performs different genres of music. I play in an oldies cover band of the 50 60s era. If you would like more details than visit our site at www.c24k.com. We also perform a few songs from the 70 - 90s era as well. Mostly Pop & Rock. No hard stuff.

I have been reading review from major source companies (Sound On Sound) and they say that most people that first play the Jupiter have preconceptions and until they get past those they will never experience the true potential of the board.

Now I realize that those are just words. I would rather just go in and play a jupiter for several hours and settle my own decision, but I live almost 2 hours away from a music store and I was only able to try it out for a short time because I happened to have a job nearby. I work in construction. So I'm wanting some more input from people that have actual experience with the board .

From mojkarma comments I can safely say that he is a "Fantom Lover", same as I. However, I have already owned a Fantom for a long time (had the X8 before I bought the G8) and know it pretty thoroughly inside and out. I would really appreciate comments from people that have a more non biased opinion. That have played both board side by side and give a more equal review.

Right now I'm leaning more on the side of keep my G8, but I am open minded and I'm not the "old school don't like change" sort.

I'm also thinking of keyboard value as well. When the G8 was released, it dropped the value of my X8 through the floor. The release of the Jupiter has not harmed the value of my G8. One of my decision factors is that it might be a good idea to switch to the Jupiter, since I can purchase it for the same value as my G8. Then if later down the road they come out with a new Fantom, I would change back in a heartbeat. I wish they had made 4 slots for expansion instead of 2. Also it is strange that they have not made an Orchestral card, like the SRX series. And they claim that this late in the game they will probably come with a new keyboard instead of create new cards.

Thanks again for all the comments. Please keep posting away, negative or positive.

[MethodicMind]

I had a Juno Gi. One of the Juno Gi selling points was that it have Fantom G quality sounds (same engine? without expansion).

I trade my Juno Gi to get a JP80. Maybe I can tell a little about the differences. Since you have ARX Brass and Ep cards expansions I can't talk about that and I will consider (at least for now) that there not much differences in there.

With this in mind, JP80 have better strings and woodwinds (by the way, the Flute is amazing in JP80!) than your Fantom G8. JP80 synths are also much better, but looks like you will not use them. I love mix mix acoustic sounds with synths sounds, JP80 is amazing with that, you should try that!

If you "really really" wanna have sounds that are closer than a real orchestra in general, I think JP80 can offer that for you. And you have a pretty good "bonus" with the possibility of mix Synths + Acoustic.

The problem is that you will have to trade your hammer action keys. That difference will be brutal if you like your keys. I will not be surprised if Roland release a workstation with hammer action keys in two years with the JP80 "engine" inside.

I think is better for you wait until you can try JP80 properly. Don't rush, unless you don't care for your hammer action keys.

JP80 is not able to change a patch (registration) while keeping the sound you were playing (I forgot the technical name for that). You should consider loosing that also since you play live.

[mojkarma]

JP80 is not able to change a patch (registration) while keeping the sound you were playing (I forgot the technical name for that). You should consider loosing that also since you play live.

I think Roland calls it patch remain. I'm quite surprised to hear that the JP80 doesn't have this feature!

[c24kgold]

Thanks!
These are the type of comments I'm looking for.

Thanks MethodicMind for the info on Patch Remain. That is a feature that would be sorely missed. I just assumed that all boards after the G8 would have that.

I might start trying to mix acoustic/synth, thanks for the tip.

[Bruce Lychee]

JP80 is not able to change a patch (registration) while keeping the sound you were playing (I forgot the technical name for that). You should consider loosing that also since you play live.

I think Roland calls it patch remain. I'm quite surprised to hear that the JP80 doesn't have this feature!

Completely wrong. Jupiter absolutely does have this feature.


OP. As a former owner of the G8 and current owner of a Jupiter, I think based on your needs you would be very happy with the Jupiter if you can adapt to the semi-weighted synth action. I primarily play on weighted keys and have little trouble adapting to the excellent action on the Jupiter. I think your band will appreciate the sonic differences between the two and you will enjoy the focused functionality as well. If you told me you were a one man techno band that liked to rely on lots of sequences and one key presses, maybe not, but the Jupiter is a great player's board that I think would fit in perfectly with your needs.

[Bruce Lychee]

I like how Roland has not only the Sampled the individual notes of the instruments in the Jupiter, but have sampled the tones in between each note as well. Like how a violinists bow passes from one string to another and the slight bending from one note to another that a flutist can perform.

From what I understand, only attacks are sampled and the rest is modeled. As I noted above, patch remain is also on the Jupiter. I'm not sure why the other Jupiter owner said otherwise.

[MethodicMind]

JP80 is not able to change a patch (registration) while keeping the sound you were playing (I forgot the technical name for that). You should consider loosing that also since you play live.

I think Roland calls it patch remain. I'm quite surprised to hear that the JP80 doesn't have this feature!

Completely wrong. Jupiter absolutely does have this feature.

Not mine JP80. When I hold a node or chord and change registration, the sound also change.

[c24kgold]

Thanks for the update on the Patch Remain.

I thought it seemed weird that they would take that away.

[MethodicMind]

As I noted above, patch remain is also on the Jupiter. I'm not sure why the other Jupiter owner said otherwise.

I noticed whats wrong.

The patch remain only works if I change a Liveset. If I change the whole registration it doesn't work

I think this is good enough for live performance since is pretty easy to change a Liveset in a registration, even when playing live.

Saying that JP80 doesn't have patch remain is a mistake, sorry.