Arp Odyssey II
The instrument
The ARP Odyssey, introduced in 1972, is a duophonic analog synthesizer that has earned legendary status in the world of electronic music. Designed as a more affordable alternative to ARP's 2600, the Odyssey quickly gained popularity for its versatile sound and robust build. It became a favorite among musicians and producers for both studio work and live performances. The Odyssey's portability and intuitive interface made it accessible to a wide range of users, contributing to its widespread adoption. This model is the 2811 of the Mark II series, released in Black and Gold colors between 1975 and 1978.
Over the years, it was used by prominent artists such as Abba, Chick Corea, 808 State, Tangerine Dream, Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Jethro Tull, Astral Projection, Chick Corea and Vangelis, solidifying its place in music history as a pioneering synthesizer.
Details
The ARP Odyssey has two oscillators (VCOs) with sawtooth, square, and pulse waveforms, plus a noise generator. It can operate monophonically and duophonically. The Odyssey includes a resonant low-pass filter and a high-pass filter, with ADSR and AR envelope generators for amplitude and filter control. It features an LFO for vibrato and tremolo, sample-and-hold, ring modulation, and a portamento slider. A pitch bend knob and ribbon enhance expressiveness. It has a 37-note keyboard and went through revisions: Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III, each adding features like CV/Gate control and different filters.
Contrary to previous models like the 2800 series of Mark I version, the model 2810 of the Mark II series includes a pitch bender in addition to the rotary knob to control the pitch height. The following MK II version, the model 2811 included a set of CV/Gate + Trig connections.