Behringer ODYSSEY Analog Synthesizer

Product Information

ODYSSEY

An ultra-affordable homage to the legendary ARP* synthesizer of the ’70s and beyond with all the features of the original and then some including: dual VCOs; 32-step sequencer with onboard storage; arpeggiator and world-class Klark Teknik FX that boast reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects, the ODYSSEY lets you conjure up virtually any sound with incredible finesse and ease. With its 37 semi-weighted full-size keys, pure analog signal path based on authentic VCO, VCF and VCA designs from the ’70s, the ODYSSEY is sure to become your favorite keyboard. Owning the ODYSSEY is like having your own personal time machine, enabling you to embrace the past – or make your imprint on the future!

True to the Original

Great care has been taken in engineering the ODYSSEY, including the true to the original analog circuitry, legendary VCO, VCF and VCA designs, all of which combine to make it easy to recreate the classic sound performance. This highly-focused attention to detail is what gives the ODYSSEY its ultra-flexible sound shaping capability, which covers everything from super-fat bass and lead tones to stunning effects – and all the way out to the otherworldly sounds of your imagination.

Big, Fat Tones

The inspired synthesizer tracks laid down in the 1970s are etched in the annals of progressive rock, disco and synth-pop music forever, making them truly classic in every sense of the word. The ODYSSEY lets you recreate all of that magic – or design incredibly fat and original sounds that will make you a legend in your own right!

Versatile Oscillators

ODYSSEY’s 2 voices are the product of dual analog Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs), which each provide your choice of: sawtooth, square/pulse with pulse-width modulation, or sine/square wave LFO for sculpting the perfect sound. This amazing flexibility gives you the tools needed to be your creative best.

Versatile VCF

The very heart of ODYSSEY’s sound is its highly-flexible Voltage Control Filter (VCF), which includes faders for: Frequency; Resonance (0 to self-oscillation); and High Pass Filter (HPF) Cutoff Frequency. A feature missing from the original is a new 3-position switch, which lets you choose the VCF filter you prefer from all 3 iterations of the famous synth: 2-pole MKI (4023); 4-pole MKII (4035); and 4-pole MKIII (4075), plus a Drive switch to add a touch of edge to your sound.

The Envelope, Please...

ODYSSEY features two easy-to-use Envelope Generators, AR (Attack and Release) and ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release) with 2 and 4 faders, respectively to help you craft incredible sounds. Switches are provided for ADSR Gate/LFO Repeat, AR Gate/LFO Repeat or thirdly, Keyboard Repeat/Auto Repeat – which provides a wide range of performance options.

Onboard Sequencer & Arpeggiator

ODYSSEY’s sequencer allows you to program up to 32 steps of notes and rests and save them as a pattern. You can record, save and recall up to 64 patterns, all of which can be stored in the 8 banks, each holding up to 8 patterns. Your sequences can be played either in Keyboard mode, where you create and store the pattern, or in Step mode, which allows you to interact while composing the pattern. The onboard Arpeggiator features 8 patterns (you can use just by playing a chord, which the arpeggiator then sequences through your selected pattern. Both the sequencer and arpeggiator in the ODYSSEY are fun, mesmerizing and totally addictive...

Klark Teknik – The Reverb that Made History

Klark Teknik is recognized worldwide as one of the most prestigious British audio companies, with a 40 plus-year pedigree, and even a TEC Lifetime Achievement Award to back it up. The Company has designed and manufactured products for world-class artists, and their legendary DN780 reverb processor is considered by leading audio engineers around the world as the industry standard. Check out their website to learn more about Klark Teknik’s legendary heritage.

Behringer is proud to incorporate custom-engineered Klark Teknik effects into their products. Featuring a wide range of world-class presets to choose from including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects, Klark Teknik created the 24-bit, studio-grade effects engine for Behringer – to give your performance that truly professional finishing touch.

Controls & Connectivity

We just can’t help ourselves – like you, we’re gear-heads, too. For those who want the numbers, ODYSSEY has 35 sliders, 25 switches and 3 pressure-sensitive buttons, all laid out in a highly-intuitive format that puts the joy back into your music creation. Input and output connections include: MIDI In and Out over USB/MIDI DIN; Pedal; Portamento Footswitch; Low and High Outputs; External Audio In; CV In and Out; Gate In and Out, and Phones with a dedication Volume control.

More is Better!

In addition to the great sound-sculpting features already mentioned, ODYSSEY has still more to offer. There’s the pink/white noise generator with sample & hold plus lag processor; Portamento, which lets you sweep seamlessly over time from one note to the next, creating smooth-as-silk transitions that few other instruments can emulate; and the 3 pressure-sensitive buttons for pitch and modulation control that provide a total hands-on performance. ODYSSEY is the ideal tone-making machine for creating sounds that run the gamut – from mild to wild!

Unleash Your Imagination

When it comes to not just pushing envelopes but creating them, ODYSSEY gives your imagination its voice – and it’s so very affordable. When modern performance calls for classic analog sound – it calls for the Behringer ODYSSEY!

Visit your dealer to experience the stunning ODYSSEY, or get yours online today. MUSIC never felt this good!

A Brief History of Analog Synthesis

The modern synthesizer’s evolution began in 1919, when a Russian physicist named Lev Termen (also known as Léon Theremin) invented one of the first electronic musical instruments – the Theremin. It was a simple oscillator that was played by moving the performer’s hand in the vicinity of the instrument’s antenna. An outstanding example of the Theremin’s use can be heard on the Beach Boys iconic smash hit “Good Vibrations”.

Ondioline

In the late 1930s, French musician Georges Jenny invented what he called the Ondioline, a monophonic electronic keyboard capable of generating a wide range of sounds. The keyboard even allowed the player to produce natural-sounding vibrato by depressing a key and using side-to-side finger movements. You can hear the Ondioline on Del Shannon’s “Runaway”.

Storytone Piano

Designed by famous piano manufacturer Story & Clark in association with RCA, the Storytone piano debuted at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Hailed as the world’s first electric piano, the Storytone is prized by musicians and collectors alike for its realistic piano sound – only 500 or so were ever built.

Mellotron

Finding a high level of acceptance in the 1960s, Harry Chamberlin’s Mellotron was an electro-mechanical keyboard that generated sounds by playing back pre-recorded tape loops. Although tempermental and prone to pitch and mechanical issues, the Mellotron was used extensively by many U.K. artists. Classic tracks from the Moody Blues “Days of Future Passed”, the Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever”, and the Rolling Stones “She’s a Rainbow” are prime examples.

Attribute author: By Buzz Andersen from San Francisco, California, United States Mellotron | NAMM 2007

Arp 2600

Manufactured by ARP Instruments, Inc., the Arp 2600 was one of the most successful synthesizers to come out of the 1970s. They were ideal for players new to the synth world, and allowed patches to be changed via switches or 1/8" audio cables. The list of recordings and artists that used the venerable Arp 2600 reads like a veritable Who's Who of rock, pop and jazz, and includes The Who, David Bowie, John Lennon, Depeche Mode, Edgar Winter, Frank Zappa and Herbie Hancock – to name just a few. An Arp 2600 was even used to create the voice of the Star Wars character R2-D2.

Attribute author: The original uploader was Kimi95 at Italian Wikipedia - http://www.vintagesynth.com/arp/arp2600blue.jpg e http://www.vintagesynth.com/arp/arp.php, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7708499

A Passion for Keyboards

Our founder, Uli Behringer has a deep passion for keyboards. Born in the small town of Baden, Switzerland in 1961, Uli grew up in a musical family where his mother taught him to play the piano at the tender age of four. His father was a scientist who built a massive organ in the family home and taught the young lad all about electronics. So at the age of 17, Behringer built his first synthesizer – the UB-1. Later, while attending college to seek a degree in audio engineering, Uli put his electronics knowledge to use, building his own equalizers and signal processors to fill the gap left by the university's inability to provide enough proper studio gear. Word soon spread about how good his products were, and he began building gear for his friends – the Behringer legacy had begun. The rest, as they say, is history...

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

Sequential Circuits introduced the Prophet 5, which was the first analog 5-voice polyphonic synthesizers to provide onboard memory storage of all patch settings for instant recall. The great-sounding Prophet 5 revolutionized the synthesizer world and, in spite of its rather expensive price tag, became one of the most successful synths of all time. Designed by Dave Smith and J owen, the Prophet 5 was the keyboard of choice by a very long list of performers that includes Peter Gabriel, Philip Glass, Journey, The Cars, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Pink Floyd, and countless others.

Image attribution: original uploader was Felix2036 at Dutch Wikipedia derivative work: Clusternote (Sequential_Circuits_Prophet_5.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Which brings us to 1977...

Yamaha CS-80

In 1976, Yamaha released their CS-80 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer, which provided velocity-sensitive keys and aftertouch that worked on individual voices. The analog instrument featured a ribbon controller, which allowed the user to perform polyphonic pitch bends and smooth glissandos. Composer Vangelis used the CS-80 extensively in the Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire soundtracks. The CS-80 also provided the bass line heard in the BBC 1980 series Doctor Who theme song.

Image attribution: Pete Brown from Gambrills, MD, USA (DSC00539) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons