UDO Audio Announces SUPER 6 Synthesizer

SUPER 6 – a new take on the traditional analog synthesizer as a 12 Voice Polyphonic Binaural Analog-Hybrid Synthesizer with Super-Wave Technology.

With some unique sound design functionalities, the UDO Audio SUPER 6 features FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) digital hardware oscillators coupled with analog filters and amplifiers.

As implied by the wording, when in BINAURAL mode the SUPER 6 features a true stereo path in which its 12 voices are twinned to form six ‘Super’ voices — hence the appropriate appellation of the instrument itself. Its L (left) and R (right) OUTPUT channels — and also the listener’s ears, effectively — are assigned a complete synthesizer voice. So, starting with the stereo OSCILLATORS, parameters of both channels of each Super voice can be controlled independently, in turn allowing users to create stunning stereo images. The effect on the sound ranges from subtle to extreme stereo movement and an enhanced sense of spatial positioning relative to conventional monaural signal chains panned at their output. Of course, the BINAURAL mode can be disabled for 12-voice polyphony.

DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) signal generation is employed by both oscillator cores. Though the SUPER 6’s OSCILLATORS are both capable of producing classic analog waveforms like sine, triangle, sawtooth, and square, DDS1 — the first oscillator — also features a selection of 16 waveforms that users can choose from. Furthermore, these 16 selectable waveforms are replaceable, allowing for a potentially unlimited sonic palette!

An analog voice architecture is applied elsewhere, with the SUPER 6’s main VCF (Voltage-Controlled Filter) being an analog 4-pole, 24 dB per octave, resonant low-pass affair using a classic — SSI2144 — polysynth filter design from Sound Semiconductor, a veteran team of musicians and enthusiasts with considerable experience in high-performance audio IC (integrated circuit) design. It is preceded in the signal chain by an analog voltage-controlled HPF (High-Pass Filter) that can either be OFF, FIX (fixed), or also TRK (track) the low-pass filter cut-off FREQ (frequency) for band-pass operation. An analog VCA (Voltage-Controlled Amplifier) section can further be used to shape the sound by adjusting and modulating the amplitude or loudness over time in time-honoured tradition.

The SUPER 6’s ENVELOPES can be routed to multiple destinations, including the DSS MODULATOR, the VCF, and the VCA. Each envelope features four ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release) stages, while ENV 1 also features a so-called H (Hold) stage, allowing users to delay when the attack stage starts after they have pressed a key, and LOOP mode. Mapping modulation routings using the modulation matrix provides users with an immediate approach, allowing them to route a modulation source to any modulatable parameter on the front panel.

The SUPER 6 furthermore features a flexible ARPEGGIATOR/SEQUENCER section with UP, DOWN, U&D (up and down), RANDOM, and SEQ (sequencer) MODE selection. Select SEQ and the SUPER 6 allows for the recording of up to 64 steps with programmable STEP, SLIDE, ACCENT, REST, and sequence LENGTH settings. Ultimately, users can STORE and LOAD up to 64 sequences in total.

Two 24-bit effects are also available for adding the finishing touches to SUPER 6 sounds — namely, a stereo DELAY that can be modulated and synced to the ARPEGGIATOR/SEQUENCER or to an external clock, and a classic-style dual-mode stereo CHORUS, routed in series with the CHORUS coming first and the DELAY being last in the audio signal path.

The SUPER 6 is available — in both black or blue color configurations — at a recommended retail price of £2,295.00 GBP (including VAT) via Hand in Hand Distribution (https://www.handinhand.uk.net) in the UK and Alex4 Distribution (https://www.alex4.de) in Europe. Elsewhere, UDO Audio can currently be contacted directly for the USA: hello@udo-audio.cor

For further information about the SUPER 6, UDO Audio website

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