Korg to release ARP Odyssey

[Jabberwalky]

Portamento footswitch?

[tim gueguen]

As an electrical engineer I often stated that reissuing old analogs was unlikely due to cost, then Korg made me eat my words with the MS20 mini. Of course 35 years ago the price of an MS20 was only $800...it was a budget synth even then.

However let's consider what Dave Smith said at a NAMM 2014 roundtable: monosynths with no digital control are simple to build. Adding MIDI is trivial if you provide limited functionality like the MS20 mini (just note on and off). Leave off a keyboard and you've simplified it even more. That's why we are seeing a huge number of modular mfrs, it's very low-tech...a circuit board and basic sheet metal work and you're done. There's already a guy offering to build you a TTSH for $3000, far less than a vintage 2600 costs.

So it's possible that other mfrs might get into doing reissues if Korg continues to be successful at it.

Yeah, it's one thing to reissue a mono, especially one of the first designs like the Odyssey, which used relatively common components. But a lot of the "why don't they reissue stuff" talk has been about later designs that used custom ICs and so on, and polysynths especially. Recreating something like the Prophet 5 would take a lot more work, especially since it would probably be some mix of 1978 tech and 2014 tech. You want to reproduce the sonic characteristics, but you're presumably not going to use the Z80 processor that ran the originals. And the question has always been whether you can recreate the ICs used in those instruments at a price that wold allow for profitable production.

Ultimately it comes down to whether you can make a profit, which is what the big guys are in it for. Korg apparently is making enough of a profit with its current analog line for them to take this risk, But it will be a good while before anyone knows if the Odyssey reissue makes them money.

[commodorejohn]

I have always taken the view the odyssey first time round sold well and was popular so why re make it, someone mentioned what about a polymoog well that's not a bad idea as it was blown away by better synths at the time a fate not with the odyssey.

Why remake? Gee, I dunno, maybe because the originals are expensive, long out of warranty, generally in need of at least a tune-up servicing upon purchase, and don't have MIDI?

You want to reproduce the sonic characteristics, but you're presumably not going to use the Z80 processor that ran the originals.

Really no reason not to use the Z80, it's still massively popular for embedded systems, cheap, low-power, and available in a wide range of microcontroller configurations. (Now, reproducing the Prophet's audio components is indeed another matter - but man, the Z80 is one of the most popular small-applications CPUs in history...)

[monolith]

Well I own all three versions of the now vintage Arp Odyssey and each one is unique on its own, I see looking at the input mainly positive response to the new one due for release later this year is anyone telling me with all the money and minds at korg they cant bring out something new for once , it seems not I feel here I see annoyance that the vintage ones are in number alive and well and popular even I I type and already my words are outdated.Grow up korg or pack up and stop ripping people off mindless morons in the 21st century

Yeah you're right, Korg has never brought out anything new, the Oddy and the MS-20 Mini are the only products that they sell.

I don't understand why you post here when you have nothing of value to add.

I just happen to know someone who works for korg so I will give them a call about this new exciting release.

Damn.. Look out! Are you gonna tell him to 'Grow up korg or pack up and stop ripping people off mindless morons in the 21st century' ???

That'll show him! Maybe Korg will halt production when they learn of your disapproval?

[Aaron2]

im not so easily blinded and sold by new products as some I just happen to know someone who works for korg so I will give them a call about this new exciting release.

Why, so you can berate them for coming up with such a terrible, terrible product idea?

[D-Collector]

David Friend, founder of ARP instruments and occasional supervillain. Will the new ARP be any good?





OF COURSE !!!

[Bitexion]

im not so easily blinded and sold by new products as some I just happen to know someone who works for korg so I will give them a call about this new exciting release.

Why, so you can berate them for coming up with such a terrible, terrible product idea?

That poor Korg janitor or receptionist will surely get his hands full now!

[Kenneth]

I think its safe to assume the circuit boards will not be the same likewise the slider function I have always taken the view the odyssey first time round sold well and was popular so why re make it, someone mentioned what about a polymoog well that's not a bad idea as it was blown away by better synths at the time a fate not with the odyssey.

Have you ever heard of punctuation? Jesus Christ....

[Cumulus]

Wow.

It sure sucks that Korg is bringing out some great analog products.

I'm sure this won't have a good piano preset.

[Swayze]

Well I own all three versions of the now vintage Arp Odyssey and each one is unique on its own, I see looking at the input mainly positive response to the new one due for release later this year is anyone telling me with all the money and minds at korg they cant bring out something new for once , it seems not I feel here I see annoyance that the vintage ones are in number alive and well and popular even I I type and already my words are outdated.Grow up korg or pack up and stop ripping people off mindless morons in the 21st century , come back Logan string melody all is forgiven.

Haha, just sell your synths to someone who will use them for what they were intended for... Music.

Agreed. What were you planning to do with all those synths bochelli beside rip people off in the future? Wouldn't they still be morons (as you put it) for paying top dollar for YOUR synths. It sounds like you're scared that with all these re-issues it won't be long before your vintage synth nest-egg is worth a fraction of what it once was. Better sell em all while you can. I'll take 2

[phesago]

as much as bochelli is a d**k for waving his "synth d**k" about, vintage pieces will always be worth a considerable amount.



BUt in all seriousness, this is always cool. I like synths, and synth related things. If forced to be w/o a noodling device or be given one i generally dislike, I'll take the one i dont care for and make the best of it.



It seems to me that all this senseless bitching about synths, happens to be 1st world privilege. Be happy you have the slightest clue how to use one, nonetheless able to afford one.


Hate to be a downer on all fronts, but be thankful for what you have(both physically and hypothetically).

[Stab Frenzy]

I don't think he even has any of the synths that he says he does, judging by the way he writes he's a 15 year old shut-in just trying to troll us all. I know I shouldn't reply but I get sucked in sometimes.

BUt in all seriousness, this is always cool. I like synths, and synth related things.

QFT

I've never seen an Odyssey before (don't think there are many of them at all in Australia) and kind of expected that I never would see one or play one, especially with their reputation for being a bit fragile. Korg making a reissue is really, really, really, really cool! I don't care if it's got mini keys or korg semi-mini keys or full sized keys or is V/oct or Hz/V or whatever. Maybe I'll never buy one and never play one, but it's so cool that people will be able to.

It would be really amazing if a 2600 came next, but I'm mostly hoping Korg get into the modular game. Apart from the fact that they could make some really amazing Euro modules having the format get picked up by a mainstream company could increase sales volumes for all the manufacturers which could bring down costs with economies of scale.

Even if none of that happens (it's a pretty far out scenario, but who knows?) it's still an amazing time to be into synths.

[commodorejohn]

It would be really amazing if a 2600 came next, but I'm mostly hoping Korg get into the modular game.

PS-3300. Come on, Korg. You know you want to.

[Steve Jones]

I don't think he even has any of the synths that he says he does, judging by the way he writes he's a 15 year old shut-in just trying to troll us all. I know I shouldn't reply but I get sucked in sometimes.

BUt in all seriousness, this is always cool. I like synths, and synth related things.

QFT

I've never seen an Odyssey before (don't think there are many of them at all in Australia) and kind of expected that I never would see one or play one, especially with their reputation for being a bit fragile. Korg making a reissue is really, really, really, really cool! I don't care if it's got mini keys or korg semi-mini keys or full sized keys or is V/oct or Hz/V or whatever. Maybe I'll never buy one and never play one, but it's so cool that people will be able to.

It would be really amazing if a 2600 came next, but I'm mostly hoping Korg get into the modular game. Apart from the fact that they could make some really amazing Euro modules having the format get picked up by a mainstream company could increase sales volumes for all the manufacturers which could bring down costs with economies of scale.

Even if none of that happens (it's a pretty far out scenario, but who knows?) it's still an amazing time to be into synths.

If you are ever in Sydney drop on by and you can play all of the vintage synths you like, Odysseys included.

[Stab Frenzy]

I may just do that.