Image: Kimi95, CC BY 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
ARP Omni
| Category | Electronic (string synthesizer) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | synthesizer, synthesizer model |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q3388017 |
Overview
The ARP Omni is a polyphonic string synthesizer with bass and synth sections, introduced by ARP Instruments in 1975. It was designed to give a single keyboard player access to lush ensemble strings, simple polyphonic synth pads, and a monophonic bass voice — a complete backing-section in one instrument. Both the original Omni and the slightly revised Omni 2 were widely used during the late 1970s and early 1980s in pop, prog, and film music.
Origin & History
ARP launched the Omni to compete in a burgeoning market for “string machines” pioneered by Eminent and Solina. The Omni’s combination of strings, polyphonic synth, and bass made it more flexible than rivals that delivered strings alone. The Omni 2, released in 1977, refined the original with improved sound circuitry. Production continued until ARP’s collapse in 1981. Surviving units are common on the vintage market and remain in studio use today.
How It’s Played
The Omni is played from a 49-key keyboard divided into bass and treble zones. The bass section provides a single voice below the split point; the polyphonic strings and synth voices respond to chords played in the upper zone. Faders control the level of each section, and a basic ensemble effect adds the characteristic chorus-thickened movement to the strings. The instrument has no patch memory — sounds are dialled in at the panel and adjusted live.
Cultural Significance
The Omni’s strings are a recognisable element of late-1970s and early-1980s recording, appearing on tracks by Joy Division, the Cars, and many film and television scores of the era. The instrument’s role in the development of the studio pad — that lush, sustained bed of sound underlying so much commercial music of the period — is well documented. Today the Omni is collected for its specific tonal flavour, distinct from later digital string emulations.
Related Instruments
- ARP 2600 – ARP’s flagship modular semi-modular synthesizer
- ARP 2500 – ARP’s larger modular system
- ARP String Synthesizer – an ARP sibling instrument
- Novachord – early polyphonic electronic instrument
- Roland Juno-106 – contemporary polysynth
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Omni a true synthesizer?
It includes synthesizer sections, but its primary identity is as a polyphonic string machine.
What’s the difference between the Omni and Omni 2?
The Omni 2 (1977) refined the original’s circuitry and sound; both share the same overall feature set.
Can it play chords on the bass section?
No — the bass voice is monophonic.
