2015 KORG ARP ODYSSEY TAKES CENTRE STAGE WITH RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP FOR UK PREMIERE
An audience of over 200 high profile music and technology press and media, artists, record producers and even a Dalek turned out at London’s Phonica Records to celebrate the UK Premiere of the eagerly awaited 2015 Korg Arp Odyssey, that took centre stage for an exclusive live performance by the legendary Radiophonic Workshop.
Following impressive DJ sets from ERB N DUB and Sharooz to showcase the latest Korg hardware, and an outstanding Takamine acoustic performance by Nikki Murray, guest presenter Matt Berry introduced Radiophonic Workshop.
The world's most celebrated electronic music specialists for over 50 years took to the stage to unleash the awesome power and stunning sounds of the 2015 Korg Arp Odyssey throughout a mind-blowing set, bringing the event to a rousing crescendo, with a finale performance of their iconic Doctor Who theme.
From Abba to Zappa, the ARP ODYSSEY dominated the sound of the 1970s, changing the musical landscape and fortunes of a who's who of rock and pop royalty. The ARP ODYSSEY featured on hit after hit plus TV and film themes including ‘Dr Who’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’.
Now after more than 40 years in the wilderness, the ARP Odyssey has been revived for the 21st century by pioneering music equipment manufacturer KORG, to inspire a whole new generation of electronic music-makers.
The 2015 KORG ARP ODYSSEY not only retains the classic appearance and features of this iconic synth, but also boasts compatibility with the latest digital music technology.
To find out more, for authorised dealers, latest news and regular updates please visit the dedicated UK website www.arpsynth.com/en. Product images can be downloaded from www.korguk.com/pressroom
ENDS
ABOUT THE 2015 KORG ARP ODYSSEY
Background
ARP synthesizers are loved by countless musicians for their innovative sound. The many classic models produced from the 1960s to the 1980s had an enormous impact on the subsequent history of synthesizers, and thus on the history of music, so that ARP continues to be remembered as one of the great synthesizer brands.
The ARP Odyssey is a duophonic unit with two VCOs, most notable for its sharp sound and the versatile sound-creating possibilities that were not easily available on other small synthesizers of the time. Odyssey featured a rich array of sound-generating potential not provided by other companies.
The ARP Odyssey's signal path designed by David Friend and other ARP engineers had a major impact on later synthesizer manufacturers. It became the standard for subsequent eras, influencing even the polyphonic synthesizers and digital synthesizers that were to come later.
After it went on sale in 1972, the ARP Odyssey continued to undergo improvements. There were three versions divided by their date of production. The white model 2000 produced during 1972—1974 is known as the Rev1, the black model 2810 produced during 1975—1976 is the Rev2, and models 2820—2823 with their black panel and orange printing produced during 1978—1981 are called Rev3. The main difference between these models was their design and their connection jacks, but also in the filter circuit that has such a great impact on the sound; this meant that different models of the ARP Odyssey would produce sounds of differing nuances.
The ARP Odyssey was acclaimed for its tight sound and its sound-creating versatility, and was used by many musicians including Herbie Hancock, George Duke, John Lord, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, and YMO. It is responsible for many songs that remain historical classics, as well as for giving birth to new types of music.
ARP synthesizers, reborn for today
In 2015, KORG has brought back the ARP Odyssey for today. With the advisory assistance of David Friend, the co-founder of ARP Instruments, KORG has completely reproduced the original circuitry for artists looking to recreate classic sounds and explore new ones. Together the engineers at KORG and Arp were able to nail the sound and feel of the original. Every detail has been carefully considered to stay true to the quality of the original, down to the sophisticated semi-hard case.
- Complete reconstruction of three generations of circuitry, with the
founder as advisor.
- The distinctive synthesis of the ARP Odyssey has been reproduced
from the circuit level up.
- Filters of all three generations are provided
- Portamento behaviors of both Rev1 and Rev2/3 are provided
- An evolved ARP Odyssey that preserves the basic design of the
original.
- Compact body, highly operable sliders, and a slim keyboard that's
easy to play.
The ARP Odyssey has been downsized to 86% of the original ARP Odyssey. Carefully selected parts are used in the familiar slider section, providing an operating feel that's even smoother than the original. The keyboard uses a 37-note slim keyboard that features lighter weight and excellent playability. While making the instrument more compact and easier to use, we have also paid attention to ensuring that the mini-keyboard is uncompromisingly "playable." Although the keyboard has 37 keys, the transpose function lets it cover a broad range of seven octaves.
The new DRIVE switch
In order to deliver a more powerful analog sound, a DRIVE switch is provided as a new function. Turning this switch on makes the VCA distort, generating a rough and raw sound.
Added connectors such as MIDI and headphone output
The ARP Odyssey brings the specifications up to a modern standard. In
addition to a MIDI IN connector and USB-MIDI port, we've added a
headphone jack with adjustable volume. The XLR output jacks which had
been unbalanced have been changed to noise-resistant balanced outputs.
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