Still My Favorite Mono Synth // Korg's Arp Odyssey

[@MOOTANT1]

This is the best-looking synth of them all. It would not have looked out of place on the old TV Show Space 1999

[@CentaurusRelax314]

'Nailed it.' Perfect reference.

[@JorbLovesGear]

The space 1999 soundtrack is occasionally part of my dj set 😅😅😅

[@_P_M_]

Yeah, Space 1999 had that look. Good one. I like the black and orange one because it's soooo 1978, My house growing up had wood paneling and burnt orange carpeting the Rev3 has that vibe. Can't decide if I want to buy one though.

[@simoncardie9371]

I love the sound of the Odyssey. It's my favourite synth to just experiment with. Sonically wonderful!

[@orchidsvoid]

This synth is gorgeous in white!!!

[@thesesmallboxes]

Nice tour! I remember lusting (as a broke teen) for the 2600 and Odyssey when they hit the store. I love how the Odyssey filter wraps its waves in soft cotton!!

[@rachelar]

Got an Axxe?Solus? I had an Odyssey, used it to lust after a girl. Now watch "how to make 70s p*rno music " by Alex Ball

[@ktreier]

My first synth 44 years ago was an ARP Odyssey. My 2nd was a Moog Prodigy. They complemented each other very well. I wish I had never sold my original Odyssey. Now I own the Behringer clone which is pretty close.

[@VintageSynthesizerSolutions]

The Odyssey is SO unique sonically... so gritty, so dirty, so raw! Love it!

[@macronencer]

Nice run-down, thanks! I really like your trick of applying S&H to the synced oscillator.

[@unclemick-synths]

Arp Odyssey is the theme of the day. Korg's kit was in my news stream this morning! The Behringer version is on my wishlist but hasn't hit the top yet.

[@bmuhamad]

Wow, beautiful. Almost as classic sounding as the older Moog sounds. Thanks.

[@eriklucasmusic]

Almost?

[@bmuhamad]

@@eriklucasmusic Yes, my understanding is, the R.A. Moog Company (later known as Moog Music), debuted in 1964. Original production models spanned from 1965-1981.

[@MilesAwayOfficial]

Great overview dude! I've always wanted to check out a hardware Odyssey, I've got a 2600 M but its interesting how different it sounds than this thing.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers, thanks Miles. 2600 M is something I really want to try, just like the odyssey I love what it represents. I know they're similar in circuit design, but the way you interact with them is so different...some day!

[@SPAZZOID100]

The Odyssey is a scaled-down 2600.

[@christianholmstedt8770]

This is actually one of the best videos showcasing the Odyssey. I don't have one but I do have the free VSTi from Elektrostudio (2009'ish release) but never got into exploring it deeper because I simply didn't get it. This video is inspirational. Thx a ton.

[@donnodoncare4161]

For Leads and Bass, it's hard not to fall in love with this Synth. I have the soft versions of this (Korg & Arturia Arp 2600), and it's easy to see the advantage of the hardware version, it's so tweakable. But having an MPK249 midi controller, I hope to learn how to map some of the more useful switches to avoid the mouse tweaking. Great video Jorb, love the work you do on this channel!

[@maddietourmaline46]

It's exciting that it's so faithful to the originals - the only feature I wish I had in my old Rev. 3 is the multiple filter selection. I also love that they didn't try to force in the old knob control for pitch bend from the original Rev. 1 because once I got used to the pads they work pretty well. I think the rubber piece is a little looser in the reissue. Makes me really happy to see this synth celebrated and I'm glad we get to enjoy this old tech as if it was brand new!

[@wingoshack]

Arp Odyssey is the sound of Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters, that's what it always reminds me of...

[@magicseadog8674]

His book is an awesome read, highly recomend.

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

The Odyssey is a instrument who can sing if you find the sweet spot . It’s a beautiful instrument

[@watchaddicts1213]

Sounds very lovely, Great synth

[@brian-baker]

Something about this setup and say, the SH-101 is so nice. It's limited enough to make you really rinse every element for all it can do.

[@musiclover25lives72]

What a great summery at the end of this video.. Really wraps up the full circle of where we are at today with Synths ;) Another excellent video Jorb.. Hope your starting to feel better, health is wealth..

[@looseburdens4259]

Hey Jorb good video as always, I dig the more laid-back, conversational tone indispersed with musical interludes your videos have. Do you rate the Behringer Odyssey as a way to get that same Odyssey sound with full size keys?

[@alexfletcher9915]

Great info here! Arp Jam and Lead Patch portions are amazing!

[@INADRM]

The note priority is my favorite part of it. Lean into writing basslines with melodies.

[@thedarkestrainbow]

I have the same one as you. I love it. Still wanna pick up one of the mini keyboard versions, because I too love gear.

[@JorbLovesGear]

I would like to have a fullsize one in the white faceplate, but I recognize I really don't need it.. Hahaa

[@Matt-Horizon]

Me too, it's my favourite mono now! Sold it once, and now got it back and will never sell it again. I love the arp Odyssey, the only thing i don't like, is not having a midi through output. Makes me want to get a arp 2600 aswell for experimental sounds. and the odyssey for bread and butter sounds. By the way, my amp envelope fader is a bit noisy, any idea what could couse this?

[@deanisplemoni]

Just noticed the vintage (style?) Casio watch too. Very nice.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Pairing an ARP Odyssey with a Yamaha CS10 for leads or bass always puts a smile on my face.

[@suitandtieguy]

NO LONGER A EURORACK COMPANY! I LOVE YOU!

[@JorbLovesGear]

Of course! Bigger things ahead 😁😁😁

[@TheMachinesWon]

Great video! I have the B2600 and I love it but am envious of the 2 and 4 pole options as well as the looping envelopes.

[@magusreaver]

I love my b2600. I want the B-Odd to go with it.

[@tommy.countach]

i just got mine! i love it :) thanks for the trick connecting cv out to cv in, just what i needed

[@thebreathalyzer]

Great video, thank you so much for sharing!

[@unclemick-synths]

I watched this again. I think the Odyssey just got a lot closer to the top of my list! 😎

[@boogiefunkproductions2368]

After the first 3 notes I thought we were getting a synth national anthem 😂

[@JorbLovesGear]

LOL next time

[@sleepingpillzzz]

Arp Odyssey looks like very inspiring instrument

[@suitandtieguy]

The tabletop Oddy is probably the best thing Korg has made since the Kronos. I'm totally not an ARP guy, I have the only ARP i ever wanted, the Pro/DGX, but the cultural importance of the Oddy is indisputable, and that whiteface tabletop version you have is absolutely the only other ARP i've ever wanted. (I just can't figure out a reason to own one, other than to play Chameleon all day long.)

[@macronencer]

I'm probably a lone voice in the wilderness here, but I don't get people's excitement about the white livery. Give me black-n-gold! Actually... give me a 2600M instead, I think that's the one I have my sights on. Not that I don't love the Odyssey, of course. It's a proven classic, and my teen years would not have been the same without the sound of Billy Currie. :D

[@TheDavidPoole]

One of the best Odyssey solos is Ultravoxs' Billy Currie on Gary Numans live cover of "On Broadway" from around 1979\1980. Well worth a listen. For those of you that don't appreciate the subtle nuances of Numans vocals 🤔 the solo begins after the vocal ends.

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

Don’t forget John Foxx his work with a Odyssey he used it everywhere.

[@TheDavidPoole]

@@ChromosomeSyndicate metamatic was an amazing album. One of my favourites to this day. The Odyssey seems to catch the colder, dystopian sound more easily than the Model D does to my ear. That's what I love about it.

[@Dolle_Man]

Why is the ARP Odyssey Module sold out? I would love to get the white module, why is this only available second hand, and not brand new? Does anyone knows?

[@JorbLovesGear]

It was limited edition several years ago

[@Dolle_Man]

@@JorbLovesGear Dang it, I should've bought it back then, I can buy the Behringer version, but I would love to include the module version. I have the feeling second-hand gonna be even more expensive then buying it new because the aren't avalaible anymore

[@jasonbeatty831]

Always wanted this, but it was out of my price range and bought a used Novation bass station II instead and that thing was my WORKHORSE for years….

[@neonblack211]

I want an oscilloscope like the one in this video so bad

[@JorbLovesGear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZnJfnWMisRpqrM

[@archaios4357]

This may not be relevant for your controller but may help a few people out there with regard to the annoying note priority issue: I'm waiting on the Odyssey module but I have the 2600M for a while and the low-note priority drove me crazy. I'm using a Keystep 37 as a controller and I realised that if I use chord mode on the controller to manually select a single note as my "chord" then any key press automatically overrides the lower (or higher) note and thus plays just like most modern synthesisers even if you're holding a lower key and hitting something higher. This should be exactly the same with the Odyssey as the controller is always sending the last MIDI note that is triggered. I assume that any MIDI controller that allows you to set your own one-key chords will give the same results so do play around with yours if you think this is an option :)

[@alreadystillagain]

Played an Odyssey for the first time ever a few weeks ago and loved it--instantaneous Berlin School/krautrock vibes. Also, I just picked up a TT-78 and it's fantastic! Really cool, kinda under-the-radar drum machine.

[@rdean150]

The sync and ring mod on this thing sound fantastic!

[@billypilgrim1]

I love mine so much that I want to get a second one in case something happens to the original.

[@WVLFRVN]

I wish to make a hellscape with this.

[@GeorgeL909]

At least with a digital recreation, I can vouch that it's perfect for that. Deep booming low end, detunable oscillators, pitch bend, and best of all, sample and hold, you'll be creating hellscapes in no time. Just missing a little bit of reverb, but frankly anything will work well enough, from a generic plugin to a decent guitar pedal if you mix the wet and dry signal.

[@WVLFRVN]

@@GeorgeL909 yup, I heard the first sound and was like 😏

[@WVLFRVN]

Also, take your pick of reverbs in my studio, I have so many 😂

[@skyreadersociety6183]

same here, still love the rev1.

[@spacebraincircuits1358]

me 2! really enjoyed this, thanks!

[@astrosonra6314]

Hi Jorb! love this video and the atmosphere in there, question: Could I use some of your improvisations in this video? are they royalty free? :)

[@JorbLovesGear]

sure, go crazy!

[@astrosonra6314]

@@JorbLovesGear Thank you very much!

[@stevenbatke2475]

Great synth and video, Jorb! I have a Bodyssey version, still learning about this synth and love it lots. But, is there a way to delay the lfo? I know it can be manually performed, just wish there was a way to set it specifically. I guess I’m a sucker for it on the Juno 106.

[@cosmicaddress7851]

it's my favourite monosynth too. (out of Moog Sirin and Behringer Model D). I wish the Arp had a 440 Hz test tone for tuning (use my Model D for that) and the PPC is rubbish, but otherwise it's such a great sounding and inspiring synth. I especially like the drive circuit and the 3 switchable filter models.

[@st0rmchild]

I have the rev 3 module. What a beautiful synth.

[@tuuretalvi6315]

If i want to get 4 of them, where could i find a rack/stand for that? Looking for an alternative for perfourmer which i find a little too simple with 1 osc only.

[@baylorburbidge5900]

Great Vid! What is the little screen that monitors your wavelengths called? it so cool and retro looking!

[@BlackMan614]

I agree. However, it wasn't until I got a Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl that it really took off... which exposes the issue you talked about - XLR only. I had to build a cable XLR - unbal 1/4" to use the pedal. Low output not hot enough to drive a pedal.

[@MusicWizard85]

Cool demo. It sounds great! I've been considering the 2600 M as my first analog synth or (for a lot more $) a Prophet 10. For now my digital synths get the job done.

[@ncapone87]

I have both and if I may offer my opinion, I would go with the Prophet 10. Not only is it polyphonic, but nearly every parameter is midi-controllable so you could do some crazy stuff with it that you couldn't do on vintage Prophet 5s

[@MusicWizard85]

@@ncapone87 Thank you for your feedback. I really love what I've heard and seen from the P10. Considered a Prophet X or Prophet 6 but the 10 sounded better to me.

[@ncapone87]

@@MusicWizard85 I also have a 6 and it has some features that are really cool: sub osc, effects, arpeggiator/sequencer, wave morphing, HPF and all the parameters are midi-controllable as well. You can get most of the way to the 10 but fewer voices overall.

[@DangerAmbrose]

Hey Jorb, can you do a comparison between your Odyssey and the WayOutWare Odyssey plugin on the MPC?

[@JorbLovesGear]

To me, nobody is going to be choosing between them , they arent competing really so I dont see the value... The mpc plugin sounds great, and to me the big draw is having a control layout that gives you the same options as the odyssey, so that leads you to the same / similar sonic results. Less so that the core sound is identical, way less important.

[@ManCalledMif]

7:47 hey jorb. Looks like you could use a female XLR to 1/4”TS cable?

[@JorbLovesGear]

Absolutely! I just havent got any around.

[@ryhrtjnr]

Would love if this have patch memory

[@JorbLovesGear]

I would love that honestly

[@SPAZZOID100]

It would change the entire synth.

[@gauche9999]

you're right my odyssey and the ms20 mini wild out. I love my moogs but the new korg stuff has been great since the monotron. i still want to try that 2600m. I've only touched one of those once.

[@MarceloSimoni]

When are you planning to get this into the Deepming 12? haha

[@JorbLovesGear]

Probably won't ever happen now... Unfortunately

[@jamesprisciandaro3144]

How would you describe the difference in sound between this and the 2500?

[@AlekseiDroganov]

There are many ARP ODDYSEY synths, which were made by KORG. Which exactly model is this? Thank you Jorb

[@JorbLovesGear]

There's just one version of the desktop module, it's 86% size

[@AlekseiDroganov]

@@JorbLovesGear Oops! Mistake😅

[@michaelpierce3264]

really like the sound even more 70’s than moog cause moog is eternal!

[@raz_van__]

Hi, my name is Jorb, in this is my Korg :D

[@EUZRMUSIC]

When I think of the white face odyssey, I think of the gorgeous sound Steve Miller got out of it.

[@nicholasrichardson102]

going to assume the difference between type 3 vcf's are down to fixing the filter error. arp had a design flaw in the value of their vcf's and it causes them to not pass much audio above I believe it was 6khz, a lot of people had this fixed on their machines (odyssey's and 2600's) as do much vcf clones of the post lawsuit vcfs.

[@nicholasrichardson102]

funny though, the reissues left the error in, as do the behringer clones Iirc

[@tedstahl3794]

Indeed! Shout out to Suit-and-Tie-Guy! I bought the Post-Lawsuit-Filter at Knobcon in 2019. LOVE IT!!! Great job bringing the love for the KARP Odyssey, Josh!

[@_P_M_]

Good video! Is the MIDI strictly just note on/ note off or will it respond to controller info?

[@JorbLovesGear]

I believe note on/off and pitch bend is everything

[@baddriddimworkshop]

this after noon, i'm tryimg out my ODYSSEY FS in combination with my brand nu T-REX BINSON ECHOREC (dubwise, using the mixer for fb with internal setting switched to wet only). Maaan i'm in heaven. but just to say btw, i'm not far fopr starting my korg odyssey mod to get it to be semi modular (to work in combination with a ttsh/2600 witch when you check functions, is imo a better idea than using two 2600's...), once done i might share the technique and offer to do it for ppl...

[@JorbLovesGear]

Would love to see that detailed, how to add patch points

[@baddriddimworkshop]

@@JorbLovesGear easy bro, check the 2600, the check the switches on the ody; it's just like these were designed to be modded. i you go for the easy way you can just replace the sitches with jack slot, you might need to cut and drill an alluminium board to put over the wholes so it stays clean... there is a vid of a guy repairing, or at least opening the korg ody m kb, it's a easy as stealing a sucker to a baby if you can soler cables to spots properly... i have written more detaiols about this in recent yt comments on several channels these last days, ifg you check my comments here and there you should be able to get more details ans some argumentation on why (as i have a ttsh), imo, function wise, it's better to use a 2600 in combination with a modded ody than two 2600's. Once i've donew mine if you likwe the result i could do yours. in fact i'm pretty shure i will get extra work with thias idea, especially for the korg M's imo... yours is perfect you can put you jax in the front, i'm making an external box with a special connector, then i'll put it behing the ody fs witch is exactly the width of the ttsh, so i'm gonna make a nice instalatyion with jack row in front of me but with passing in front of controls... i'm working on a new channel project (well done not just to demo the stuff i desigm and sell), this project will defo be shownm there but if you want some info feel free to ask. a hakko suker might ber usefull if one goes fopr removiong the switches (that's tyhe easy way as no extra circuitry will need to be added)

[@compucorder64]

One of the biggest synth regrets I have was selling this exact white desktop fella. (much more than I regret ditching Waldorf XTK, Machinedrum UW, Prophet 6, Mono Evolver Keyboard and Moog Voyager). The only other thing I regret selling as much was the Roland SH-101 when I was a teenager, especially because it cost me £100. But apart from the relative value, I'd take an Odyssey over an SH-101, most of the time. Maybe the the original MFB Tanzbar, though drum machines are a bit more functional.

[@IsshmanGarcia]

@Jorb So you tune VCO to whatever note/sound you want, then if I press a C on keyboard it will be a C? Im confused. So the tuning of the VCo is for the "sound/pitch" only, then the keyboard is a regular tuned keyboard?

[@JorbLovesGear]

They add their values together, is one way to think of it. So I press c, then tune the fader to c, and as I move up or down the keybed, it adds/ subtracts in semitones. If I tuned it to something other than c, I would still be adding or subtracting semitones, it's all just voltages.

[@IsshmanGarcia]

Thank you.

[@EvilDragon666]

Absolutely terrific sounding synth, always was, still is. Hampered by PPC pads...

[@samplethesilence202x]

Jorb, did you do any post processing after recording? I bought a keyboard version Korg ARP Odyssey in 2016 and quickly determined the tone did not resemble any vintage Odyssey I had ever played. The new model almost sounded like software, especially in the midrange. The vintage ones were pitch drifty, the brass very distinct, the ringmod potentially very aggressive and low resonant sounds had a nice pleasnt midrange. Most importantly the vintage compelled one to perform. This new one feels like work to get a lively sound to make music with or even get freaky-deeky. I've about given up on it, but was wondering if you did anything else to the signal. Maybe not all Korg models sound the same.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Just a limiter on the synth, and light compression on the master. Nothing that would radically change your perception of it.

[@samplethesilence202x]

After some more messing around, I think the problem for me is gain staging. Filters II and III have alot of loss in amplitude with resonance up. I'm back to using the XLR out with satisfaction of the tone. The vintage Odyssey has of course more instability and spectral non-linearities, but the ARP clone is still good. Thanks for making this video, it was inspiring!

[@PaulGBass]

Scheck it out... Oh schorry, wrong Schannel... Was thinking of Bob and his eating channel

[@ianchattam9368]

eargasm at 25 minutes in

[@JorbLovesGear]

Same

[@FM-kl7oc]

Hi Jorb, I read that the desktop module has a LFO retriggering hardware bug that completely stops the LFO. Is this only a problem when using the external I/O to circumvent ADSR retriggering? Or are there other instances when the LFO stops? Also, do you think Korg is likely to re-issue the desktop module in Rev 1 finish? I've been trying to find a Rev 1 in either key or module forever, but used units never seem to pop up for sale in my country.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Oh is that just the desktop module? I didnt know that was specific to this version. For me, it was with a midi keyboard in, i honestly dont remember if it did it with the CV / gate. I dont think theyre going to make more desktops honestly, but wish they would too

[@mateiradumusic]

I just recently got one, same white model - is yours going out of tune like every 5 minutes? I find out that it is always out of tune in the morning when I come in the studio and the heating was off. IT's VCO so that's the way?

[@dadonutslvl90]

Free gear? Jorbs gear for us all!

[@SR-ih1be]

Yeah, it's amazing

[@JorbLovesGear]

and it always will be

[@danvandal4127]

Even in module form, it seems huge.

[@JorbLovesGear]

It is big, and the module is 86% size

[@SPAZZOID100]

It’s not

[@terrybrown106]

If you're leaving the country, it would be great if you can get your hands on some good gear there and do some good reviews on it.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Trying to get some things figured out while I'm there, absolutely

[@terrybrown106]

@JorbLovesGear if you're a synth junkie like me,then I know you will. LOL. I've been on a shopping spree lately where I've been getting super cheap deals on some really great keyboards. An Access Virus TI2 for $1,700, Roland JDXI with patch cable, keyboard stand, and USB cable for only $325, Roland System 8 for $1,400, and Akai Timbrewolf for $250, and Ensoniq TS12 for $325.

[@Jauly]

Your desktop Rev1 really looks like a FS desktop, or do you have that small hands..?

[@JorbLovesGear]

😭Not particularly small. Did they make a fs desktop? I think all the modules are the smaller dimension

[@BarbieChaite]

with a 400 Euro echo, everything sounds great...

[@mufti-day]

Out of interest what brings you to NZ?

[@JorbLovesGear]

Me and some homies just wanted to be somewhere different, and see somewhere beautiful

[@mastaboog749]

This is coming out as a DIY kit right? I thought I read that some where. Definitely something i would like to do.

[@nickangel6596]

No talking, talking, special talking here ;)

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@nickangel6596 what

[@johndjameson]

I love the Odyssey. Just wish the module weren’t absolutely enormous

[@SPAZZOID100]

Huhh? The FS keyboard version is 2 x it’s width.

[@voreshbo7031]

I 450 euro cheap used?

[@JorbLovesGear]

I think thats good?

[@dr8627]

i have a bad habit of just buying gear and not reading at all, i own way too many mono synths

[@troublesomecorsair]

Great synth. Playing with just the tuning and audio mixer kept me under for days.

[@magicseadog8674]

I wish the new reissue kit had a white panel like this, the orange and black is very ugly

[@SPAZZOID100]

Disagree

[@edcollins9377]

That's no ARP Odyssey ... it doesn't have a keyboard.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Ever heard of the Avatar?

[@Seoras111]

Nice walkthrough, but not a mono synth as you advertise your video. As most synthesizer enthusiast will know this instrument is a two note paraphonic synth and that is quite different from being a mono synth.

[@strykermoonfall2220]

You make it sound like the Behringer version doesn't exist. Lame.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Literally I forgot

[@magusreaver]

He's using the Behringer DM right under it. So i doubt it was a conspiracy level omission.

[@cougarman8]

Your comment and accusatory tone is lame.

[@henryhill92]

Behringer boys very sensitive

[@strykermoonfall2220]

Cool, yeah, maybe just prepare a little better next time.

[@Thusila234]

ITS IS SO WIERD BE-KAS IT IS NUT FO SEEL

[@rudiger86]

Nice rig