x0d's Reviews

Semi-weighted keys...

Ahh... the synth that everyone loves to hate. I refuse to sell mine, just to make plebes cringe! =)

In all honesty, I only bought this synth to have a semi-weighted MIDI keyboard controller for less than $300. In that respect, it's the most solid-built one that I could find at the time, in that price range.

As for the sound, eh... I expected it to be lackluster, and it pretty much met those expectations to a tee. The step sequencer is useful if you don't have one, I suppose. I would use the TB-03 to sequence it, more often than not, and that did provide some incentives to use it for sound, but rarely do I find myself doing that.

The keys are nice, and the machine itself is built solid (like a tank). I do like the wood side panels, too, but I can understand the haters on this one.

Seriously underrated.

I purchased the Rev.3 module some time ago and love it.

I owned an Arp Axxe years ago, and was considering buying one again on reverb, as there was a certain sound that I just missed from it.

I always wanted an Odyssey, though, and was stoked (but very skeptical) when these were released. After much consideration and price comparison, I decided to give the KARP Odyssey a go, instead. I figured if I didn't like it, I'd just flip it and go buy that used Axxe that I still want, but as soon as I got it and plugged it in, no way was I going to let this thing go.

The (overall cheesy) youtube demos of this thing, really do not do this any justice at all!

While MIDI sequencing via whatever your favorite MIDI sequencer is, is fine and all... sequencing this via a step sequencer (ala TB-03/TB-303, Elektron A4, or some eurorack module) using cv/gate, really brings out the life of these. The cv/gate out is also awesome for chaining other synths to your incoming patterns to create a chorus. If you're making techno or similar styles of music, you really should not underestimate this synth.

Using the Elektron A4 MKII as a sequencer for this, for example... is very nice. The A4's arpeggiator feature to CV/Gate out, really adds another layer of life to this that I can only compare to a Jupiter 8. While it's not a Jupiter 8 by any means, you really can get some very similar sounds, if sequenced and patched accordingly. Lots of fun! =)

Fader Quality between these and the original Arp Odyssey...

While it is true that the faders on these Korg remakes are not quite as 'solid' as the originals, the sound makes up for it. The original Arp Axxe and Odyssey variants often suffer from shoddy/sticky contact issues after years, and those can create scratchy noise or other problems which generally require servicing.

Hopefully these 'less solid' faders won't suffer the same fate years from now, but only time will tell. I don't know when Korg will stop making these, but I suspect they'll be discontinued not too long from now, so it might be a good time to grab one (new), while you can.

Not the same as the original, but for the price...

I owned a TB-303 for many years. I miss the original one, but at the current prices, this is fine.

Pros:

1) USB+MIDI+CV/Gate - Very handy for hybrid (digital/analog) sequencing, especially in ableton with multiple VSTi and external MIDI or CV/Gate devices. In ableton, for instance, you can have layers of VSTI or MIDI instruments playing the same pattern for an orchestral chorus of synths.

2) The 'Tune' knob throws CV pitch changes to keep any receiving synth in-key with it. This was not something the original TB-303 did, nor is something I've ever really seen praised or mentioned, but is really kinda cool.

Cons:

1) No DIN Sync.

2) The sound on this is NOT even close to the original when you get into the higher frequency cutoff and resonance ranges, but you can work-around that.

3) The built-in fx are a joke, let's just be honest. If you don't have anything else at your disposal, then I suppose they're tolerable, but eh.

One of my biggest regrets was selling mine.

I purchased mine for $500, back in 1995. Many years, good times and fun live performances on this. Wish I hadn't sold it when I did, but luckily I did (before having a house fire and losing whatever gear I had left).