The ARP Odyssey: Keyboard Performance Redefined
Capable of producing everything from melodic leads to other-worldly sound effects, the Odyssey was a staple in rock and jazz for decades. Having earned its "classic" status, it has recently made a dramatic comeback to thrill a new generation of musicians.
Electromotive: The Odyssey
Here's an excerpt from Electromotive: the Story Of ARP Instruments, a comprehensive documentary created by Alex Ball in 2020. This section of the film focuses on the Odyssey, its sonic potential, and the people who made it real.
ARP Story Brochure Odyssey (1974) by ARP InstrumentsThe Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
The Odyssey was ARP's primary lead/solo synthesizer. It was designed for musicians who wanted more control than the preset-oriented Soloist could provide, but didn't want the large size and patch cables of the 2600. Over its 8-year lifespan, the Odyssey went through three versions. The changes between them were sonic, cosmetic, and functional – to the point where musicians of today often consider the Odyssey to have existed as three distinct instruments.
ARP Odyssey Specs (1972) by ARP InstrumentsThe Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
This 1972 brochure outlined the Odyssey's feature set. It could play two notes, which was almost unheard of at the time (a similar keyboard would be added to the 2600 later), but there was no touch sensor under the keys, a limitation on rapid note expression that ARP wouldn't address properly until much later.
This 1972 brochure outlined the Odyssey's feature set. It could play two notes, which was almost unheard of at the time (a similar keyboard would be added to the 2600 later), but there was no touch sensor under the keys, a limitation on rapid note expression that ARP wouldn't address properly until much later.
Odyssey Mk I
The Odyssey Mk I was released in 1972. Like the 2600 before it, it featured a front panel with an easily-followed audio path, but added slider controls capped with multicolored rubber tips for quick visual reference. Its keyboard was duophonic – playing two notes would assign one oscillator's pitch to each. It used a filter with a somewhat brighter sound than later models, and early units didn't have any way to interface with other synthesizers if desired.
Odyssey Mk II
The Odyssey Mk II (1975) was largely similar to the Mk I aside from its updated black-and-gold livery. It featured connectors for interfacing with other synthesizers, and a different filter with a deeper and punchier sound. Like the Mk I, the Mk II largely relied on grabbing front-panel controls to articulate sounds while soloing; its only easily-accessible left-hand controls were an ordinary knob for pitch bending and a slider to control portamento (a smooth change in pitch between notes).
Odyssey Mk III
In 1978, the Odyssey Mk III was released. It was decked out in the dramatic (and easier-to-read) black and orange livery of the entire ARP lineup at that time, and introduced an innovative concept called Proportional Pitch Control (PPC). Three fingers of the left hand rested on three soft pressure-sensitive pads, which could produce up and down pitch bends and vibrato in a very expressive way. PPC proved very popular, and was available as a retrofit on older ARP keyboards.
This video by YouTuber JohnnyDexterGoss is a basic walkthrough of everything the Odyssey can do, demonstrated on an original Mk I model.
GForce Oddity Software (2015) by GForceThe Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
GForce Oddity: The Odyssey Goes Virtual
During the decades after ARP (the company) left the scene, ARP (the synthesizers) became a rare, sought-after, and costly brand. People wanted that sound and couldn’t get it… until Dave Spiers of GForce Software created an Odyssey that could be played from a computer.
Oddity and its successor Oddity2 were created using a software technique called physical modeling, where software imitates the electrical interactions of real circuits to create sounds nearly identical to the original hardware. These virtual instruments can run on any computer, and can be expanded with modern features.
In this screenshot of Oddity2, you can see that it has an extra LFO, a built-in delay effect, recallable presets… and it’s fully polyphonic. An Odyssey that can play chords – the dream of ARP’s Centaur VI project, come true at last.
This little video from synth dealer Perfect Circuit shows off the different sounds of the three filters in the Korg ARP Odyssey. This is the currently shipping version, which looks like a Mk III; when first released, the Korg was available in all three "looks" with identical features. However, no matter what the new Odyssey looks like, the unique sounds of all three versions are available at the flick of a switch... as you'll see and hear for yourself.
In this video of famed jazz musician Herbie Hancock performing his song "Chameleon" live in 1975, the Odyssey steals the show at the end of the song, with Herbie coaxing everything from melodies to spacy sound effects from the small but powerful ARP synthesizer.
Herbie Hancock discusses the Odyssey in an interview given to Korg during the introduction of the new models in 2015. He discusses learning to use it for his legendary album Head Hunters in 1973, and how its design encourages experimentation while allowing the user to stay in control.
ARP ODYSSEi
As a crowning touch to its reimagining of the Odyssey, Korg released ARP ODYSSEi in 2016. This app runs on iPhones and iPads, and accurately recreates the classic Odyssey sound. It can be played from the device's screen, or controlled by an external keyboard, providing professional-sounding synth tones that fit in your pocket. From stage rigs to computers to modern re-imaginings to smartphones – once again, the Odyssey has conquered the world.
Story by Mike Metlay and editorial contributions by Rich Formidoni, Mary Lock and Dina Pearlman; The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
