In addition to its amazing sounds and performance features, the Jupiter-80 can also serve as a great MIDI controller for other devices. There are 2 main ways to accomplish this - using the 4 internal parts (Perc, Lower, Upper, and Solo), or using the EXT part in each Registration. Each method has its advantages and one may make more sense for your particular setup and style of performing.
Using the 4 Internal Parts (Perc, Lower, Upper, Solo)
By default, these 4 parts are set to operate on specific MIDI channels (this can be changed in the system settings if you like):
- Perc = MIDI Channel 4
- Lower = MIDI Channel 2
- Upper = MIDI Channel 1
- Solo = MIDI Channel 3
If you do not turn the Ext MIDI part on, these MIDI channels will be transmitted out whenever you have the appropriate Part activated (Part On/Off button is lit). All of the split settings you set up in the Registration are also used by the outgoing MIDI messages, so this method allows for you to easily turn on and off internal and external parts and set up layers and splits. Program change and bank select messages are sent out for the corresponding sound that you have selected in the Jupiter-80, so this method does not allow you to send a different PC and Bank Select message for your external sounds.
Using the EXT Part
Using the EXT part gives you more control over your external MIDI devices. To get to this page:
1. Tap "EDIT" in the display, next to the Registration name.
2. Tap "EXT PART" in the lower right hand part of the screen.
This section is off by default, but if move the switch on the upper part of the screen to "External" you will see that you now have access to all 16 MIDI channels and can select the Bank Select, Program Change, Level, Key Range, and more for each channel. Once you active this section, the internal parts of the Jupiter-80 will no longer transmit out on their assigned channels (as described in the above section), so you will need to make all of your external MIDI settings here. This method allows you to separate your external MIDI devices from the 4 internal parts of the Jupiter-80 so they could have different key ranges, octave settings, level settings, and more. This method also allows you to more easily select the sounds in your external MIDI devices separately from the internal sounds of the Jupiter-80
Since all of these settings are saved in a Registration, you can have completely different setups that can be switched between very quickly.
As you can see, the Jupiter-80 not only has world-class sounds and performance features, but also is a very flexible full-functioned MIDI controller that can be used in several different ways.