Jun 20, 2026 | Ryuichiro Yamaki
This is the fourth video in a series introducing the plugins I regularly include in my composition templates; today, I’m featuring the Cherry Audio Mercury-6.
The original Jupiter-6 is the synth used by Yasuyuki Honda of the band GRASS VALLEY—a group I absolutely loved back when I was in high school. For that reason, I actually prefer the "6" over the more famous Jupiter-8; it produces a slightly more aggressive sound. It’s one of those synths I’ve always told myself I’d get someday, yet somehow I still haven't actually bought it.
Ryuichiro Yamaki is a Japanese producer, composer, arranger, sound designer, vocalist, keyboardist, track maker, and remixer whose work is rooted in R&B, Hip Hop, Funk, and Synth Pop.
He has produced, composed, and arranged music for numerous artists including Namie Amuro, Airi Suzuki, TVXQ, Ensemble Stars! (Knights), Manaka Inaba, Fumiya Fujii, EXILE, and Daichi Miura. In addition to his extensive work in Japan, he has collaborated with artists across Europe, creating music that transcends genres and borders.
Yamaki began his professional music career in the early 1990s as a keyboardist and programmer, contributing to PC games, console games, and multimedia CD-ROM projects. Since the late 1990s, he has established himself as a composer and producer in the Japanese major music scene. In 2010, he founded his independent label and production company, W4M Recordings, through which he continues to develop and produce emerging artists while releasing his own works.
In 2018, he co-founded the duo RYPPHYPE with longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Spam Kasugai. Serving as the project's vocalist, Yamaki actively collaborates with featured singers and continues to release digital singles.
As a sound designer, Yamaki has created factory presets and official demo tracks for synthesizer and audio software developers including UVI, KORG, and Baby Audio. He has produced official demo music for UVI instruments continuously since 2011 and currently serves as the sole UVI endorser in Japan. He also provided sound coordination for a portable headphone amplifier released by Deff Sound.
Known for his sophisticated sound, groove-oriented production style, and meticulous attention to detail, Yamaki's work has earned recognition across both major and independent music scenes, as well as within the synthesizer industry.
In addition to his music career, he is active as a writer, contributing articles and reviews to magazines, books, and music production publications, including Sound & Recording Magazine.
Yamaki also serves as a Director of the Music Publishers Network (MPN) and as Vice Secretary-General of Public In Third (PIT), where he works to support creators, improve the music industry environment, and promote intellectual property rights.
山木隆一郎 / Ryuichiro Yamaki
Blog : http://www.studiow4m.com
Twitter : http://twitter.com/yamaki74/
Instagram : http://instagram.com/yamaki74/RYPPHYPE
Twitter : https://twitter.com/RYPPHYPE
Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/rypphype/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/RYPPHYPE/