The Super 6 is a 12-voice polyphonic binaural analogue-hybrid synthesizer with replaceable wavetables.
The anticipation for UDO Audio’s first synthesizer has built up exponentially since its unveiling at Superbooth 2019 in Berlin. Since then, the Bristol-based company has presented the product at Synthfest UK 2019 and at the 2020 NAMM Show in California, while allowing numerous distributors to share video demonstrations of the presets. Almost 15 months after Superbooth, the company announced this week that the units have left the warehouse.
Described as a new take on the traditional analogue synthesizer, the Super 6 is an analogue-hybrid unit featuring 12-voice polyphony, a stereo field-enhancing binaural setting, a ‘super-wavetable’ main oscillator and 49 keys. The two digital hardware oscillators are both capable of producing classic analogue waveforms like sine, triangle, sawtooth, and square, while the main super-wavetable oscillator also features a selection of 16 replaceable waveforms.
When Binaural mode is activated the 12 voices are twinned to form six ‘super’ voices—hence the name of the instrument. This mode essentially assigns the left and right channels their own synthesizer voices with the option to tweak the parameters of both channels independently to create the illusion of a wider stereo field. Two effects, 24-bit chorus and delay, are the alternative for adding width when Binaural mode is not activated.
The Super 6’s other parameters include analogue voltage-controlled filters, a VCA, multiple envelopes and LFOs that can be managed using a modulation matrix, a dedicated oscillator modulation section and an arpeggiator/sequencer. The sequencer 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 and the soundbank comes with 128 rewritable patches. The patches and sequences can also be managed via desktop software that works through a USB connection.
Other notable features are an external audio input, which can run any external source of audio through the Super 6’s whole signal chain, and MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) support. This will allow owners of MPE instruments to connect them to the Super 6 via the MIDI input and use expression for live modulation.
The Super 6 project was helmed by experienced synth enthusiast and technologist George Hearn and the team includes multiple renowned technicians and designers including Axel Hartmann, whose company Designbox is responsible for shaping the look and feel of many classic synths from the likes of Moog, Arturia and Waldorf.
Speaking about the Super 6, Hearn stated, “The result of years of hard work and many iterations of development, my mission with the Super 6 has been to harmonize what I love about archetypal electronic instrument design with modern, novel synthesis technologies that excel at generating spatially dynamic results.”
He went on to say, “The architecture leverages the vibrancy of a true-stereo analogue signal path, driving it with extremely high sample rate, spectrally versatile digital audio, and presents you with straightforward, expressive controls of superior mechanical build quality. I would love to see this instrument with the wear and tear of many years of use. Experiment, play, learn, and, hopefully, love it like we do!”
The Super 6 is available in both black or blue colour configurations at an RRP of £2,295.00 GBP (including VAT) via Hand in Hand Distribution in the UK and Alex4 Distribution in Europe. UDO Audio can be contacted directly for US-based orders at their email address, hello@udo-audio.com
For further information about the Super 6, visit UDO Audio.