ARP Omni

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Omni by ARP Instruments, Inc.
Synthesis type: Analog Subtractive
Polyphony: 49:Viola, Violin, Polysynth
1:Bass/Cello, Bass Synth
Timbrality: 3
Filter: yes
Attenuator: Omni 1: AR
Omni 2: ADSR
LFO: 1
Keyboard: 49-key
Velocity sensitive: {{{velocity}}}
Aftertouch: {{{aftertouch}}}
External control: CV/Gate
Memory: 3
Onboard effects: Chorus, Phaser
Produced: Omni 1:1975 - 1977
Omni 2:1977 - 1981

The ARP Omni was a simple electronic keyboard which produced preset string sounds. It was ARP's best selling keyboard.

The Omni, ARP's best-seller, was an analog synthesizer with preset Orchestral String sounds. It had polyphonic Violin and Viola waveforms as well as monophonic Bass and Cello waveforms. It was split into 3 sections: Strings, Synthesizer, and Bass synth - all simultaneously available. It had traditional and simple VCA, VCF, and LFO controls for contouring the sounds as well as a chorus that thickened the string sounds. The Omni had two oscillators per voice as well, but there was no program memory. It was a revolutionary electronic instrument in its time.

[edit] Notable users

Joy Division, Kansas, Kraftwerk, Modern English, Tangerine Dream, Jonathan Cain of Journey

[edit] External links