Find out how you can control your Roland Jupiter-8 with MIDI using Kenton MIDI Retrofit Kits or MIDI to CV converters
The Jupiter-8 does not have MIDI or CV/Gate. It did however have Arpeggio Clock In and VCF Control 1/4″ jack sockets. Some Jupiter-8’s will have a digital interface: later ones had a 14 pin DCB connector, while earlier ones had an optional 20 pin OP-8 connector (the “OC-8”). Kenton offer a variety of options for your Jupiter-8:
- Fit a Kenton MIDI retrofit kit
- Use a Kenton Pro–DCB Mk3 to control your Jupiter-8 via the OP-8/DCB connector
- Clock the Arpeggiator
- Using the discontinued Pro-2000 to control your Jupiter-8 via the Pro-2000’s optional DCB connector
- Using the discontinued Pro-4 to control your Jupiter-8 via the OP-8/DCB connector
1 Fit a Kenton MIDI retrofit kit
This option offers the most comprehensive level of control.
You can fit a MIDI Retrofit Kit which will allow you to control the Roland Jupiter-8 directly using MIDI from your DAW, MIDI Sequencer or other MIDI controller. Fitted inside your Jupiter-8, our MIDI Retrofit Kit adds MIDI IN, OUT and THRU sockets.
With the Retrofit Kit you’ll have MIDI control of Notes, Pitchbend, Modulation, Filter cutoff, Volume, Portamento / Glide, Sustain. You will also be able to clock the arpeggiator using the MIDI clock.
Roland Jupiter-8 MIDI Retrofit Kit
2 Use a Kenton Pro–DCB Mk3 to control your Jupiter-8 via the DCB connector
You can control the Jupiter-8 using its OP-8 or DCB port with a Kenton Pro-DCB mk3. Using the Pro-DCB you can control notes and the filter cutoff, and clock the arpeggiator. You can also use MIDI program changes to change patches
Note: Early Jupiter-8s (serial numbers below 282880) did not have any digital interface, though there was an optional OP-8 connector (the “OC-8” board) that could be fitted. Later ones had a DCB connector. Make sure your Jupiter-8 does have one of these connectors.
Which products do I need?
The Pro-DCB Mk3 allows you to control the Jupiter-8 via its DCB connector, and also control the cutoff frequency via the Jupiter-8’s VCF Control jack. You can also use the Pro-DCB Mk3 to clock the arpeggiator. It comes with a 14 pin DCB lead, and 2 x 3.5mm to 1/4″ leads for VCF control and for clocking the arpeggiator.
Note that the Pro-DCB is a bi-directional DCB interface, allowing you to control other MIDI devices using your Jupiter-8 keyboard. You can also modulate the filter using the MIDI-syncable LFO built into the Pro-DCB mk3 using the mod wheel.
If your Jupiter-8 has the optional 20 pin OP-8 connector, you will also need this 14 pin DCB to 20 pin OP-8 DCB adapter.
Connecting the Pro-DCB Mk3 to your Jupiter-8
The Pro-DCB Mk3 comes with all the leads you need to connect it to your Jupiter-8:
| Pro-DCB Mk2 | Jupiter-8 | Using |
|---|---|---|
| 14 pin DCB connector | 14 pin DCB connector or 20 pin OP-8 connector | Supplied 14 pin DCB lead or Supplied 14 pin DCB lead and OP-8 to DCB adapter |
| Aux Out | VCF Control | Supplied 3.5mm to 1/4″ jack lead |
| Clock Out | Arpeggio Clock In | Supplied 3.5mm to 1/4″ jack lead |
Pro-DCB Mk3 Settings
| Output | Menu Item | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| AUX | 2 – AUX controller number | Set to the MIDI controller you want to use to control the filter cutoff |
| 3 – AUX Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| 4 – AUX Maximum Value | 90 (default) | |
| Clock | b – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| C – Positive/Negative Edge | Positive (default) | |
| D – Continue=Start | Set based on how your sequencer sends start messages1 |
Notes
1. Some sequencers, rather than sending a MIDI Clock Start message, send a Song Position Pointer = 0 message followed by Continue. In this case COntinue=Start should be set to ON
3. Clock the Arpeggiator
You can use one of our MIDI converters to clock the Jupiter-8’s arpeggiator using MIDI clock.
Which products do I need?
The following MIDI converters all have clock outputs, so can be used to clock the Jupiter-8’s arpeggiator:
You will need 1 x 3.5mm to 1/4″ jack cable to connect the converter to the Arpeggio Clock In socket on the Jupiter-8.
Connecting the MIDI converter
Use the following output on each MIDI converter:
| MIDI Converter | Output |
|---|---|
| Pro Solo Mk3 | Aux 2 or Aux 3 |
| USB Solo | Aux3 |
| Modular Solo | Clock 1 or Clock 2 |
| Pro-2000 MkII | Clock Out |
| Pro-DCB Mk3 | Clock Out |
| Pro-KADI MkII | Clock Out |
MIDI Converter settings
You will need to set the Clock Divide Ratio, Clock Polarity and Continue = Start parameters on the MIDI Converter.
The MIDI Clock runs at 24ppqn (pulses per quarter note). The Jupiter-8 will play one note per pulse, so you will need to set the Clock Divide Ratio to play notes at your desired speed (see below).
Clock Polarity should be set to positive. Some of our converters have a dedicated polarity setting, others use Maximum and Minimum Values to set the polarity.
Continue = Start should be set based on how your sequencer sends start messages. Some sequencers, rather than sending a MIDI Clock Start message, send a Song Position Pointer = 0 message followed by Continue. When turned off, Continue messages will only be treated as Start if immediately preceded by a Song Position Pointer = 0 message.
The table below explains which parameters to set on your MIDI Converter:
| MIDI Converter | Parameter | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Solo Mk3 using Aux2 | P30 – Aux 2 Controller | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 |
| P31 – Aux 2 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 2 Maximum Value | 50 | |
| P60 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P70 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro Solo Mk3 using Aux3 | P30 – Aux 3 Controller | [CL1] Clock Divider 1 or [CL2] Clock Divider 2 |
| P31 – Aux 3 Minimum Value | 0 (default) | |
| P32 – Aux 3 Maximum Value | 50 | |
| P60 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P70 – Clock 2 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default) or Off | |
| USB Solo | P44 – Aux 3 Controller | [CLK] Timing Clock or [CL i] Timing Clock (inverted) |
| P41 – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P92 – Continue = Start | On (default on later verions) or Off | |
| Modular Solo | P70 – Clock1 type or P80 – Clock2 type | [cLn] Clock normal |
| P71 – Clock 1 Divide Ratio or P81 – Clock 2 Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below | |
| P73 – Clock1 voltage or P83 – Clock2 voltage | [ 05] +5v output | |
| Pro-2000 MkII | H – Clock Pulse Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| I – Clock Polarity | +ve (default) | |
| J – Continue = start | On or Off (default) | |
| Pro-DCB Mk3 | b – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| C – Positive / Negative edge clock pulse | Positive (default) | |
| D – Continue = start | On (default) or Off | |
| Pro-KADI MkII | b – Clock Divide Ratio | Set to appropriate ratio – see table below |
| C – Positive / Negative edge clock pulse | Positive (default) | |
| D – Continue = start | On (default) or Off |
The following table describes how to set the clock divide ratio to achieve your desired note length:
| Note Length | Divide Ratio | PPQN |
|---|---|---|
| Crotchets (quarter note) | 24 | 1 |
| Crotchet triplets | 16 | |
| Quavers (8th note) | 12 | 2 |
| Quaver triplet | 8 | |
| Semiquaver (16th note) | 6 | 4 |
| Semiquaver triplets | 4 | 6 |
| Demisemiquavers (32nd note) | 3 | 8 |
| Demisemiquaver triplets | 2 | 12 |
4. Using the discontinued Pro-2000 to control your Jupiter-8 via the Pro-2000’s optional DCB connector
Which products do I need?
If you already have a Pro-2000, you can control your Jupiter-8 using the optional DCB Port for Pro-2000. Note that the DCB port for the Pro-2000 is OUT only, in other words you can play the synth using MIDI, but cannot convert DCB back to MIDI.
If your Jupiter-8 has the optional 20 pin OP-8 connector, you will also need this 14 pin DCB to 20 pin OP-8 DCB adapter.
3.5mm to 1/4″ jack cables (1 or 2 if required)
5. Using the discontinued Pro-4 to control your Jupiter-8 via the DCB connector
Which products do I need?
If you already have a Pro-4, then you need only cables. The Pro-4 came equipped with a DCB port as standard. Note that the DCB port on the Pro-4 is OUT only, in other words you can play the synth using MIDI, but cannot convert DCB back to MIDI.
Click here for a DCB cable for the Pro-4
If your Jupiter-8 has the optional 20 pin OP-8 connector, you will also need this 14 pin DCB to 20 pin OP-8 DCB adapter.
Click here for 3.5mm to 1/4″ jack cables
Solving MIDI Clock Problems
If you have issues with clocking the arpeggiator, please refer the troubleshooting guide here: Solving MIDI clock problems.