Let’s be clear: Korg’s ARP Odyssey remake is a thing of beauty. But it’s now also available as an app … one with awkward spelling that’s nonetheless rather awesome looking. Meet ARP ODYSSEi. (Hey, that “i” has been on the beginning of words for eons now. Maybe it wants to flip to the other side.)
ODYSSEi is a modeled version of the ARP Odyssey. And it’s a bit like an “Odyssey+”.
It’s got the three filter types and drive from the new 2015 Odyssey reboot (the hardware).
But iOS brings other features:
- Voice assign mode – with chord playback
- Arpeggiator with programmable steps
- Audiobus
- Inter App Audio
- AU support (works in GarageBand)
- Works inside Korg’s Gadget app (via Lexington)
- Distortion, phaser, chorus/flanger/ensemble, EQ, delay, reverb effects
- MIDI, including Bluetooth MIDI
- Touch controls: a virtual keypad and X/Y pad with scale function
The arpeggiator features analog-style steps you can program – which also makes this functional on an iPhone.
There are 100 presets from the revision 3 (2015) Odyssey, plus 50 each of the first and second revision models as in-app purchase.
And of course that comes with cute retro skins. (Would I buy the different in-app preset packs for the different skins, even if I didn’t plan to use the presets? Yup. Guilty.)
Watch:
And here’s a test from the awesome thesoundtestroom:
Now, one surprise: it requires iOS 10. And more recent-model iOS devices are supported, though that still covers a wide gamut.
US$19.99, this month only.
I love that it works in Gadget. That makes it more interesting, weirdly.
More generally asked – can you produce sounds with this guy, you can’t do with the 20 other great synths already available in the store yet? I mean – with hardware, the synth just “feels” so different, because of its decent design (sliders instead of knobs, certain filters), but on iOS you won’t feel that difference. For me the demo’s sound – well, like a good emulation of a subtractive synth. Does it have a certain twist, feature or quality in sound, that are worth spending another 20€ on a new iOS emulation of a classic subtractive synth?
Odyss-Ei reads Ulysses Egg in German.
Sweet! The Odyssey was my first synth and the center piece of my studio along with the Arp sequenver, Roland 808 and a Revox tape machine.
How come they didn’t call it APP Odyssey?!
Just a wee note; it doesn’t require iOS 10.
I’m running it fine on iOS 9.3.
It sounds good. I’ve had a go of a Karp odyssey briefly and it seems to sound similar. Couldn’t really tell you how accurate it is though, my experience with the hardware is limited and brief.
I’m finding the interface similarly confusing too, so that’s accurate.
How does it run as an AU on iPad? The reason I purchased the app is for that functionality, but it doesn’t appear as an AU in GarageBand, only inter-app audio. Am I missing something?
I came here wondering the same thing, but I haven’t bought it yet. Tell me it works with GarageBand!?
Does anyone know the limitations of MIDI and CC with this app??
I am on the verge of buying it but only if I can custom map my controllers so there is some physical control, getting closer to the feel @olivergreschke:disqus seems to be partially concerned with.
The website offers this info:
Performance via external MIDI keyboard
Control change support
Core MIDI
Virtual MIDI
Bluetooth MIDI
This makes it seem that it will do what I want, but I don’t want to spend the money to find out that I can actually only control 1 or 2 CC values, like filter cutoff/resonance via (very limited) “control change support”.
Thank you in advance!
to anyone that was also curious, CC list:
http://www.korg.com/us/support/download/manual/0/732/3486/