Is Behringer still on a journey to the Jupiter-8?

09 Dec 2022 by Robin Vincent |

4,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

· Source: Behringer

Behringer mysterious PCBs · Source: Behringer

Behringer Jupiter-8 tease · Source: Behringer

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The Behringer forges appear to be firing up again with some PCB teases that suggest the Jupiter-8 (Bupiter-8?) is not far off.

This is an update to my original post back in July 2021 (below), where a render of the internals of a synth Behringer was working on was clearly that of the Roland Jupiter-8. Now we have real-life PCBs to look at, which matches up pretty well with the classic polyphonic synthesizer.

: Behringer mysterious PCBs · Source: Behringer

: Behringer mysterious PCBs · Source: Behringer

: Behringer mysterious PCBs · Source: Behringer

It will be interesting to see what emerges. It’s also encouraging to see the wheels turning again at Behringer and maybe they will emerge from the chip shortage with a whole bunch of synths. As ever, we’ll have to wait and see. Maybe the proposed April shipping date of the Pro-800 will be a good way to judge if Behringer can deliver on all the promises.

Original post from 30th July 2021:

Behringer’s latest Facebook post teases a layout for what appears to be a clone of Roland Jupiter-8, probably one of the most requested synths that fans want to see them do.

Jupiter-8?

Of course it’s a Jupiter-8, the PCB layout with controls, buttons and sliders is a dead giveaway and plenty of the comments on the post agree. Although plenty of other comments seem to be unhappy that it’s not the particular synth they wanted, or have lots to say on how it should be changed, augmented or added to – Behringer fans are a funny lot.

All of the synth controls and keyboard controls are pretty much bang on the layout of the Jupiter-8. The buttons do vary a little with the noticeable removal of the patch selection buttons which, presumably, will be taken care of on the display where we can see an additional encoder and a pair of extra buttons.

Behringer Jupiter-8 tease · Source: Behringer

It will be interesting to see how this develops and how many years away the finished product may be. It’s a couple of years since we saw the “finished” UB-Xa Oberheim clone and still no sign of a delivery date. And since then we’ve seen prototypes of the PPG Wave, RSF Kobol, VCS3, PRO-800, Polysix, CS-80, and MS-5 all in a more advanced state than this one with no information on when they’ll be available. And that’s not counting the drum machines. So when starting a journey, as they put it, it seems that the first steps are easy. But it’s the last ones that take the longest.

More information from Behringer

Behringer Facebook post.
More from Behringer.

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15 responses to “Is Behringer still on a journey to the Jupiter-8?”

Joe B says:

30 July 2021 at 14:35

A Jupiter with no cloud account needed, count me in. Including a bit of modern tech or JP-6 features are OK too. I’m hoping for a desktop option unless they go all in with AT & release velocity 🙂

Nothing I Won't Do..... says:

19 August 2021 at 21:59

And a JX, a real one, with everything on it, and 16 voice! It might happen, and it might cost under a 1000!

captain says:

31 July 2021 at 01:08

If you’re UB-Xa beta tester it’s delivered already to your door.

Matthew Janovic says:

1 August 2021 at 02:06

lol

David says:

31 July 2021 at 12:44

“Behringer fans are a funny lot”
Not as funny as the on-line whining crybabies.
Go Behringer.

Matthew Janovic says:

-1

1 August 2021 at 02:05

I would love to be a Beta tester as I played an original when it came out, I know what they sound like.

JX or Jupiter? says:

3 August 2021 at 17:16

I’ve got a little JP-08, and though it’s only 4 voice and it’s ACB it does give you a good idea of what the Jupiter 8 can do. I love the sound of it, but I’ve never been keen on the sliders, and actually prefer the JX. That said, the Jup 8 is a great synth, and the Behringer clone will probably outsell the other J8 clones easily.

David says:

7 August 2021 at 16:11

Behringer is bringing back every great Analog synth ever. It’s like they are getting us ready for the new musical revolution or next great music era. God demands analog and is blessing all through behringer!! Now let’s make it Happen y’all!!!!

fissily says:

22 September 2021 at 03:56

Yeah
They are not even able to actually release the announced RD9….

Roland says:

14 February 2022 at 20:19

Lots of amazing synths in the pipeline……but few synths actually released. Behringer is just teasing people but how many synths have they really released and how long do we have to wait for all these releases? I mean the list goes on and on. oberheim, prophet 900, solina, jupiter 8 and I probably forgot quite a few. The news rate of new synths for the future is like fifty times bigger than the actual release rate. common, behringer!

Vincent Vice says:

9 December 2022 at 13:19

Well, TBH Roland, while Roland is quicker with announcements and following up with shipments, they mostly rehashes their legacy IP via the Cloud and Zencore. So all they need are generic system boards with different control surfaces to run these engines / models.
Whereas for B, we are talking about analogue craftsmanship (a skill Roland lost) along with adapting vintage designs to a modern BoM.

L says:

10 December 2022 at 15:23

Yesssss baby!!! Uli, make the Elka Synthex and the Alesis Andromeda A6 clones!

circuitbender says:

14 December 2022 at 00:43

wouldn’t Saturn 8 most likely be the name if they’ve already planned
to do a mini 1 voice unit? I just hope that like artists (some of which learn by duplicating techniques of masters) behringer develop and hone their own style/skill set. perhaps maybe even discover a new form or type of synthesis.
companies doing digital hardware repacks aren’t threading any NEW grounds. therefore it’s highly unlikely something NEW would be discovered replicating their own old circuits, besides perhaps making them more efficient. that usually means adding effects, more voices and mini sequencer? not expanding on the engine or modulation matrix (like more and sync’able LFO’s).