| Roland Jupiter-4 | |
|---|---|
 Roland Jupiter-4 Compuphonic | |
| Manufacturer | Roland |
| Dates | 1978 - 1981 |
| Price | US$2,895 GB£1,810 JP¥385,000 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 4 voices |
| Timbrality | Monotimbral |
| Oscillator | 1 VCO + 1 sub-oscillator per voice |
| LFO | 1 triangle/square/sawtooth/reverse sawtooth |
| Synthesis type | Analog Subtractive |
| Filter | 1 resonant lowpass, 1 highpass |
| Attenuator | 2 ADSR |
| Aftertouch expression | No |
| Velocity expression | No |
| Storage memory | 10 presets/8 user patches |
| Effects | chorus |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 49 keys |
| External control | None |
The Roland Jupiter-4 (JP-4) was an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1978 and 1981. It was notable as the company's first self-contained polyphonic synthesizer, and for employing digital control of analog circuits (termed compuphonic by Roland), allowing for such features as programmable memory, voice assignment modes, an arpeggiator, polyphonic portamento and others.
Priced at US$2,895, it was dramatically cheaper than other polyphonic machines from its competitors (such as the Yamaha CS-80, Korg PS-3300 Prophet-5 and OB-X). While it didn't sell as many units compared to the competition, its primary design was such that it could be an accompaniment to organs, complete with an option for a music sheet stand to be fitted.[1] Its future successor in 1981, the Jupiter-8, would go on to sell many more units and make Jupiter a recognized brand.