The Omnichord Rides Again
For musicians looking for fresh sounds or those looking to have some sonic fun, the Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 is your instrument. More than 40 years since its first release, the Omnichord is back and better than ever. In 1981, this little electronic instrument achieved cult status around the world for its ease of use, portability, and idiosyncratic tonal capabilities. Sweetwater highly recommends the OM-108 Omnichord to those looking for an exciting instrument that’ll play right out of the box — no musical training required. All you need to do is press a chord button and slide your hand along the harp sensor, or strumplate, and trigger a corresponding arpeggio. Conversely, Sweetwater producers have found the OM-108 Omnichord as a go-to for adding off-the-beaten-path textures to tracks. It offers 10 options for both rhythm and voices; many of which bring back beloved retro '80s vibes. Built-in speakers, battery power, line-out for an external amp, and a MIDI out round out the awesome capabilities of the enduring Omnichord!
Related Videos: Omnichord OM-108
Analog circuitry and retro voicing
The OM-108 Omnichord may sport some new duds, but this incarnation features many aspects that are a blast from its colorful past. Suzuki designed the OM-108 with analog circuity to accurately reproduce the sound of the previous OM-84 model, while the voices of “omni 1” and “omni 2” directly reflect the classic sound of the OM-84. Apart from that, there are eight strumplate tones to explore like harp, organ, guitar, banjo, and more! Omnichord fanatics may recognize the celeste, harp, and piano from previous models while the FM piano tone — a defining electric piano sound from the 1980s — debuts in the OM-108. All other sounds are produced using PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation).
108 playable chords and more
When experimenting with sound, users will be sure to try their hand at layering voices. The OM-108 once again takes inspiration from the OM-84 and offers a voice layering function so that a Main Voice can be layered with a Sub Voice. These are easily controlled with corresponding volume knobs. Also offering sus4 and add9 chords, there’s an entirety of 108 playable chord types in the OM-108 (hence the name). For even more variety in the Omnichord’s capabilities, tap the blue Keyboard button and the chord buttons will transform into a 20-key playable keyboard with available octave shift up and down. Chords and melody, it's all here folks.
Expanded possibilities in Omnichord rhythms
The Omnichord OM-108 represents an all-in-one music creation device that packs 10 built-in rhythms along with its simple chord-playing structure. Though they share rhythm names with previous models, these have nevertheless been updated to reflect current patterns. Not to mention, a trap beat for Hip Hop has been added to the roster. Press the OM-108’s Keyboard button again and dive into drum pad mode. This mode sets up the chord buttons and strumplate for the creation of captivating beats with retro drum kits. For even more rhythmic possibilities, try the included retro ’80s voicings from the OM-84.
The ultimate travel companion
The OM-108 is the perfect travel companion for anyone desiring musical enjoyment on the road, in the studio, or at home. Its built-in speakers, headphone output, and battery-powered option prepare it for performance at a moment’s notice. What’s more, a helpful Real Time Control option allows users to change chord and rhythm playback during performance. Sweetwater’s excited to offer the latest addition to the Omnichord family!
Suzuki OM-108 Omnichord Features:
- The electronic instrument released in 1981 — now back and better than ever
- 10 voices including celeste, harp, guitar, banjo, and more
- Voices included from previous Omnichord models
- 10 rhythms included with a previously unheard trap beat
- 108 playable chords with the ability to play sus4 and add9 chords
- Made with analog circuitry to capture the retro vibe of the originals
- Real Time Control for switching chords and rhythms during live play
- Included sound of OM-84 drum kit
- Incredibly portable with built-in speakers and headphone output
- MIDI output is great for recording and performance
- Powered via battery power or AC adapter
