volcarock's Music Gear Setup

One way ahead, I'm thrilled! Duophonie expands a synth many times over classic monosynths, but in turn.

An original Odyssey I had not under my fingers, so I can give no exact information about authenticity of the "original sound", but on the basis of good comparison video on the Web, you can convince yourself that even ARP is in it, where synonymous ARP draufsteht. However, I can compare it to my familiar MS-20 mini, Juno 60, Waldorf Pulse and other synths.

The box rocks in the truest sense of the word and is a treat as well as haptic! Although many complain about the 86% keyboard, I like this compromise as with the MS-20 mini .. Due to the slightly smaller design, the device does not seem so bulky and also finds a good place in project studios. Alternatively, you can play it via MIDI with your favorite keyboard or sequencer.

Plastic is also the housing tray. The front with the metal plate looks stable, tidy and thanks to numerous faders also clear. The big advantage over rotary encoders is, on the one hand, that you can see the sound based on the fader position and, on the other, you can operate up to 4 faders simultaneously with 4 fingers while playing with the other hand on the keyboard.

The general processing quality should match that of the MS-20 mini, which is the current mid-range standard. Nice that the rear audio output next jack and XLR is available. Also implemented in jack are the inputs "Pedal" and "Portamento Footswitch". I have not yet used the rear trigger and CV inputs / outputs - due to the lack of analogue sequencer.

The supplied case is convenient for safe transport, but at the beginning it is unpleasantly steamy.

The 2 oscillations, each saw tooth and rectangle (both with variable pulse width) sound wonderfully organic, even with completely open filter. Much "nobler" than the MS-20 mini and less static than, for example, the DCOs of my Juno 60. Noise is filtered and unfiltered. And to boost the output or raise the level, a drive switch is available. The only drawback of the oscillators, as in the original, there is no screening for the exact pitch, only one fader for coarse and one for fine tuning and a two-octave switch. For this reason, my old guitar tuner is connected to the Odyssey by default.

Although technically more or less on the level of the seventies, there are endless possibilities to create and modulate different sounds like FM, Ring or Sample & Hold. Something unusual for me is that the modulation sources are set at the modulation target. I particularly like the syncsounds, which sound much more supple than those of my Waldorf pulse.

The ADSR Envelope is fast enough for most applications, the stripped-down AR a little more lame. The LFO could, as in the original, have a slightly larger area. Alternatively, Oscillation 1 can also be used as an LFO. Since there is unfortunately no way to synchronize the LFO externally to the tempo, sensitivity and endurance is required for tempo-based settings. I assume that this is easier to do with an original Odyssey with a slightly larger travel path.

I really like the LP filters. All 3 filters of the different original versions were implemented, whereby I personally like the 12dB from Rev1 best. It sounds warm, fat and thins the least. The HP filter is rather rare in my use, but handy for bassless such as HiHats.

The PPC (Proportional Pitch Control) are somewhat unusual at the beginning. With a little practice, however, they can be wonderfully used for expressive play. Vibrato and Bendigs up to a whole tone up or down work flawlessly. Anything beyond that requires more intensive practice. But it's fun and a welcome change from the usual pitchwheel.

The nice thing about a duophonic synth like the Odyssey, it suits my playing style as a guitarist very much. Chord melodies with intervals, but also very "e-guitar-like" sounds like Sync can be implemented wonderfully. In general, thanks to the possibilities of Mouluations and Duophonie an enormous record of different sounds is possible. I like to use the Odyssey for strings and pads just as much as for percussives, FX, sick organ sounds or just big fat basses and nice singing leads.

CONCLUSION Beautiful new analog synth world, who would have thought that 10 years ago. We are spoiled for choice between the new MS-20, Prophets, Moogs and Oberheims and this wonderful ARP Odyssey.

In any case, the Korg ARP Odyssey is an incredibly versatile and playfully unique duophonic synth that has now been reissued in a slightly smaller version but with a simple midi and all 3 filter revisions. Once you have decided on it, you only have the choice between three different design models.