ARP Synthesizer
ARP (Alan Richard. Pearlman) SYNTHESIZER — ARP + Octave
| ARP (earlier under the name of „Tonus“) | ARP SYNTHESIZER ARP Trigger info: gate pulse in/out 8-10V GROUND to positive. EDP gate pulse out: ‚S-Trig‘ (like moog and some korgs) and 9V GROUND to positive. Rhodes Chroma go here… |
| ARP | ARP Synth overview / überblick.. |
| the big one..ARP 2500 with another wing 1970 made.. all modules are located in the middle, no need for patch cords (well only a few) the rest can be done by a special bus system..on top: all inputs on the bottom: almost outputs if you set the bus to the same number they are on the same bus and can be routed together that way or modulate.. the sequencer is 10 step x 3 rowsabout the digital sequencer on top: This unit is one of a kind. Not made by Arp. Made by David McLey, of David McLey fame. (thanks to Kevin „synthfool“ Lightner for info..) the filters are quite special, there is a function called keyboard percussion using the resonating filter to be used for that, you can also set the notch on the main filter, there are envelope mmodules with LPF attached, dual ADSR , VCAs and double VCOs | ARP 2500 I don’t believe there are too many of these digital sequencers made:  the 2500s S/H and VCO (dual) module..   below: instead of patchcords use the matrix!  3 lines for analog sequencing..  the additional wing  |
| THE ARP 2600 the semimodular synthesizer 19703 VCOs and an LFO in the Keyboard it can also trigger the Envelopes. there are 2 ENVs, 1 ADSR 1 AR and a nice reverb spiral/spring hallthere are 4 versions (3 shown on the top pic here) there left red/black one and the white/grey/black ones are quite common, the right one is a very rare.. anyway the ARP 2600 modules are encapsulated and can not be opened by anyone, but there are ppl able to to so like achim lenzgen from synthesizer service, germany / namedy. I’d strongly assume those modules are encapsulated like this because ARP „lended“ the moog filter cascade, anyway it sounds a bit more „uncoloured“ or less „typical moog“ – some ppl say it is more „acoustic“ in a way.. it’s hard to tell – in words!.. some arp2600: thanks to robert schweizer for pic deutsche trigger info ARP: is also an ARP product but as you can see ARP died before but the Chroma has been released by rhodes!!.. want to see it? go here: | ARP2600  ARP2600 pic by/thx to Rob Schweizer   |
| ARP made about 300 Avatars, it’s the „guitar synth“ version of the odyssey and is more close to the 2600 (so does the odyssey) than you might think of.. it is the same features as ody. but it has more jacks for modular access. in fact you can simply add those to you odyssey,too!the Avatar is a good transition product between the 2600 and the 2800 (odyssey).. |  |
| ARP Sequencer 1601it was cheap and has 16 steps.. quite a lot at that time for that money compared to a moog 960 .. DAF did a lot with this one..the faders on all arp synths are a bit „rough“.. it had a quantizer on board, which makes it easy to set notes with continous sliders.. |  |
| ARP synthesizer (Alan Richard. Pearlman) ARP Odyssey 1972 / ARP Avatar 1977 .. DAF and Conny Plank (known for producing Can,Kraftwerk, DAF etc.. in Düsseldorf/germany) used it (with a korg MS20) .. it has fast envelopes and was some sort of competition for the minimoog.. it had indeed more features than the mini. there have been versions with 12dB/oct LP-filters, later versions were equipped with 24dB/oct filters!! also the color has changed (white and black). also the tune potentiometer is only one option: other versions had 3 white „proportional switches“ 2 OSCs and an LFO, S/h (lag time but no sample time slider as on the roland sh5) also a non VC-able HPF is there like on some rolands. versions: the first version odyssey I was 12dB/oct, white and „golden“ versions, after that also „golden“/black was the 2810 (odyssey II) first with pitch knob, later with propotional control pitch like the one here on the pic on the right, the later III model was equipped with 24dB/oct LPF and golden/black design, later models known as odyssey III were black with orange letters. ARP had internal numbers for the odyssey series since the filter module changed and the proportional control and pitch knob.. also good for percussive sounds..want to mod your „ody“? CMS offers a modification (same for the avatar, which is in fact an odyessey without keyboard): there are a lot of mods possible with the ody/avatar , even for DIY: accellerate/slow down speed of the lfo, speed up the envelope, add inverted envelope (it’s already there!! you only need a switch to route it), filter mod (3 resistors and one condensator to change here.. to widen the filter freq range), bridge the hpf or reduce it’s bypassed „bass killing“ effect, and more waveforms to route (cms also offers to convert some waveforms and adds a 12dB/oct filter!). and all modularized by adding nice jacks for outside communication. if you are in love with your soldering iron, it can be done in 1hour. but there is CMS, if you don’t dare to to that yourself. octave made the „cat“ that is very close to the odyssey (and went to court!) strangely the VCO waveforms are switched at the mixer section.. most illogical? no this price goes to the yamaha cs30 where you need to forget all concepts of synthesizer panel designs ;) (anyway the cs30 is hammer for it’s capabilities)
| click on the images to enlarge them!!..
the proportional control: |
| Chroma | is also made by ARP but was sold by Rhodes.. see extra page for the Chroma |
| ARP Axxe ARP Solus are both smaller one-osc versions of the Odyssey.. there are 2 versions (as always with arp): the golden and the orange/red on black..Axxe: VCO – 1 LFO, 1 VCF (lpf) + S/HSolus: 2 VCOs with PWM by LFO, 1 LFO and 24dB/oct LPF filter, one ADSR env. nothing special but possibly an alternative choice.. made in 1975 | ARP Solus the ARP Solus Versions  the Axxe |
| ARP Modules for Educational Use click to watch.. |  |
| big brotherkind of expander , looks like the sequencer (the one on the left side), 1 VCO, 1 LFO 1975 |  |
| the big one is the Rhodes Chroma | it has its own sectio: Rhodes Chroma |
| ARP quadra ARP omniomni: a sting ensemble like sline string or comparable.. sounds nice.. but really 4 sounds only ;) quadra: some „all in one“ synth with string section.. from todays view more „exotic“.. the synth section is not really „sophisticated“ has mono bass synth, duophonic lead synth and poly string, one ADSR & 24dB/oct LPF.. a „full“ orchestra kind of live synth those days,… but not really for making astounding sounds now ;) |  |
| the ARP Pro DGX Series.. & omni (middle) pro dgx: 1 VCO, 1 LFO, nothing special.. 37 keys (top)omni: 4pole lpf, lfo, „waves“ are violin, cello,.. SDSR (omni 2) – 1977 including memories now.. |  |
| Solina Strings, well known from some Tangerine Dream classic albums, the String machine is polyphonic, has some envelope like contour and knobs for cello, violin etc..a lot of good string synths came from italy, another one came from the netherlands.. some where simply bought from more known companies..on top Explorer I very simple – 1974, 1 VCO, LFO 1, ADSR VCA |  |
| this is NOT an ARP product but imo it was best to place it here.. Octave.. | |
| Octave (Octave Plateau)Cat.. (not stupid) some sort of copycat ;) hmm, odyssey? or.. 2 VCOs with 1 SubOSCs each (!)what? it’s about the same as the odyssey II / III, but it has 2 (two) suboscillators and you could blend those waveforms (instead of just switching like on the odyssey).. so it may still be a good alternative.. with the so called SRM update it could be played „duophonic“..so see this as an alternative choice.. there has been a smaller version „the kitten“ with just one VCO but both were forced to stop production. copyright reasons.. PICS: more about Octave’S founder and inventor Carmine Bonanno. |     |
| Octave Plateau, later (86) Voyetra / Turtle Beach -Voyetra eightus-made quite exotic analog synth with digital memory.. 8 voice2 VCOs, saw,tri,pulse, sub 2x ADSR envs 1 filter lpf white noise 2 LFOs, one with delay there was a voyetra one also,but monophonic. |  |
