ARP Omni-2 Demo

[09prizefighter09]

at 5:16 i thought u where gonna play the soundbite when Metroid gets an upgrade to his weaponry .

[UltimateVenom]

joy division used one of these, i don't know what songs. probably the bass on heart and soul

[LouisvilleTorn8o]

Did Garry Right use this on Dream Weaver? Sounds like the same synth.

Also, I didn't know that the chorus speed was adjustable on an Omni.

[officialmikethompson]

@LouisvilleTorn8o He may have used the earlier one. This is an Omni-2. The chorus is not adjustable, that's the LFO.

[sleestack808]

pretty good bass sound

[youkay]

1:20 to 1:52 is magic

[FlametopFred]

a great underrated keyboard. Poly synth that wasn't obvious. But also cheap in that frustrating way ARP built everything. Mine actually churned out smoke on stage when a keyboard contact came out and flew up into the power supply. Audience thought it was part of the show - to see smoke coming from the keyboards. Drummer laughed and laughed and laughed.

[shipiboconibo]

Wow, love the sounds around 3:00!

[forgottencinema]

Does this sound the same as an Arp quadra does it have the same synth section?

[prosoloist]

This makes me feel like getting mine fixed. I have an original Omni and an Omni 2. Thanks for the demo and the suggestions on capacitors, etc

[mattah111]

Need to learn the strings now to Joy Division's Love will tear us apart:-)

[hotlanta71]

the synth is good for ARP synth bass ala Chameleon and maybe some stuff like in Frankenstein

[sleestack808]

why are these ALWAYS broken?

[officialmikethompson]

Short answer? Lousy capacitors that almost always need to be replaced. Other than that it's just made with some real fragile components that are easy to damage if you're not careful. But every one of these will suffer from the capacitor problem at one point or another.

[sleestack808]

is it easy to learn how to diagnose which capacitor is broken and replace it?

[officialmikethompson]

yeah, find the key that is bad (sustaining) and know which key it is (14, 15, etc) then count the blue tantalum caps that span across the two main boards and count the same way (bottom to top) and replace that cap that corresponds to the key. Read a schematic though; don't take that answer as a qualified way to do it!

[FlametopFred]

@sleestack808 - - was major difference between ARP and Moog. Moog used more rugged parts, pots, sliders. ARP ... had great ideas but cheaped out on the production.

Other set back was the epoxy shroud that ARP cloaked all their "inventions"

Still a nice sound .... derived of course if you recall from the Soiina / Eminent 310 organs (aka Jean Michael Jarre sounds).

[ToastedOmond]

Should I buy one of these for about 200 bucks. BTW does this have any Moog sounds? Is the cut off freq. powerful? PLZ RESPOND!!!!!

[officialmikethompson]

For 200 bills I'd go for it; mine cost me $500 (not a great deal) and I had to completely overhaul it. Does not sound like a Moog, and the synth section is strange because of the way the envelope triggers. Best used for strings and chorus phaser.

[lookingbill1]

@ToastedOmond The Arp Synths had no fat sound that's associated with Moog. The Omni 2 is really good for layering strings (orchestral) sounds.

[lookingbill1]

@ToastedOmond if you want to compare the Moog has a more masculine sound while the Arps sound is more feminine.

[arpquadra]

brilliant and you play great.

[Madrrrrrrrrrrr]

Wicked demo man!

[briabba123]

big elo fan I know they used this on some of their albums also I think ABBA used this as well I am also thinking that Donna summer used this as well

[flateric4you]

seems like fun

[ClassicTVMan81]

How about The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star"?

[AnalogAudio1]

that was a Solina String-Ensemble

[clebrane]

I have always wanted to hear this just straight up and you have done it for me. Thank you. I definitely want one now. Also, Prince used this alot a well.

[officialmikethompson]

No problem- I was surprised myself that no one had an Omni demo on the tube!

[hindsighter]

Mine had the same capacitor problem before it died. Sadly missed.

[oS2006DE]

This is why I'm learning how to do synthedit. Paraphonic synthesis still has uses!

[meowzer999]

Yeah and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" might be the most glowingly-brilliant creative use of string-synth in any pop song, ever

[Thalassa77]

Hello, I've posted this video on switchedonsynthesizer.blogspot . com

[footinmouthindustrys]

joy division used this

[officialmikethompson]

Love Will Tear Us Apart :) Yeah....

[footinmouthindustrys]

i was thinking more of decades by joy division, but ok.

[officialmikethompson]

Oh, ok I had never heard that one before (not a huge Joy Division fan) but I just did and yes, that documents the Omni synth sound very well.

[footinmouthindustrys]

i thought it would

[argonnj]

You're lucky to find one in such good shape. Good luck.

[polyneux74]

Good Go! Glad to see someone post a video on the Omni II and show off some of its versatility. Lovley Demo

Thanks a million!