Jun Murakami – Synth-80 v1.0.23 for WiN

The world’s only and best JUPITER, which accurately reproduces the legendary MKS-80.

MKS-80 SUPER JUPITER

A legendary synthesizer, produced for a short period starting in 1984. Often overshadowed by popular keyboard instruments like the JUPITER-8, this 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer not only boasts exquisite sound but also a remarkable feature: almost all of its parameters can be controlled via MIDI.

This was an exceptional rarity for a purely analog synthesizer of that era, making the MKS-80 an ideal subject for research in the field of software synthesizers. In other words, it’s easy to create measurement programs that will play notes over and over again, automatically changing parameters and recording the results for later analysis. For this project, I wrote over 100 specialized automated measurement programs covering all the MKS-80’s circuits and parameters.

This long-term and detailed analysis of the MKS-80 (version 4) was conducted in parallel with the software development. I pushed the audio processor’s tuning to the limit, relying on my ear, which I’ve developed over many years as a composer and music producer. As a result, when you load the same patch on both devices and play them simultaneously, it’s virtually impossible to tell which patch was created in software and which in hardware.

From the delicate filter characteristics to the noise generators with subtle nuances created by the integrated circuits, the sonic texture, recreated with meticulous attention to detail, takes hardware emulation to new heights.

A simple, uncluttered user interface

This synthesizer was developed with a different concept from general-purpose software synthesizers with extensive modulation matrices. Its main goal is not simply to replicate hardware, but to give you a sense of how simple and engaging sound design can be. This goal is realized in a simple user interface that strips away all unnecessary parameters and embellishments and displays all parameters on a single screen.

This philosophy was influenced by the Synth1 from Daichi, a fan of mine, and the simple name follows suit. A feature that only software can offer beginners is that hovering the mouse over a parameter highlights the corresponding module, making the signal wiring—which module connects to which—clear at a glance.

Not a lightweight synthesizer, but a powerful sound

Due to complex modeling down to the smallest details, this synthesizer—in exchange for its sound—doesn’t boast low CPU load. Please don’t judge it solely by the browser version on this page. Be sure to install the demo in your DAW and try it out there. In return, we promise sound worthy of the price.

The built-in effects are so sophisticated that you’ll want to use them separately. In fact, the Synth-80’s effects panel can be isolated and used as a standalone audio effects plugin. Chorus, especially important for synth sounds, is available in four completely different models:

Synth Chorus

An emulation inspired by the built-in choruses of synthesizers like the Roland JUNO-60/106, with its own distinct character—including a rotary sound when notes are played simultaneously.

Studio Chorus

An emulation of the legendary Roland Dimension D chorus. Its low-frequency algorithm blends with any sound, creating a natural and sophisticated sense of sonic width.

Pitch Chorus

A chorus inspired by Eventide synthesizers, creating sonic width using delay lines tuned to two slightly different pitches.

Digital Chorus

A chorus with the most parameters, allowing you to fine-tune a wide range of elements to achieve exactly the texture you need.

Additionally, reverb with completely different Hall, Plate, and Room algorithms, as well as a compressor using the ZeroComp algorithm unchanged, provide powerful support for sound design.