Back in 1975, this little monosynth arrived as ARP's clever answer to folks wanting that signature Odyssey bite without the full price tag or panel sprawl—a single-oscillator powerhouse that punched way above its weight.
At its heart sits one beefy VCO pumping out mixable sawtooth and pulse waves (with PWM), feeding into a punchy 24dB resonant low-pass filter and VCA, both shaped by a versatile ADSR envelope. An LFO with sine, square, and random waves modulates pitch, pulse width, or filter cutoff, while sample-and-hold adds unpredictable flair; portamento glides from 0.01ms to 1.5s per octave. The 37-key (three-octave) keyboard feels sturdy under your fingers, with early Mk I models sporting a compact black-and-gold finish, wooden side panels, and a pitch-bend knob or single PPC pad—later Mk II versions went orange with leather cheeks and dual PPCs for more expression. Clocking in at 23.5 by 14.5 by 6.25 inches and 15 pounds, it's road-ready with CV/gate/trigger I/O, pedal inputs, and a mono audio out for easy integration.
Players have long praised its raw, angular ARP tone for killer bass lines, leads, and FX—simple controls make it a joy for beginners, yet pros like Herbie Hancock and 808 State squeezed magic from it. Sure, the single voice and slowish LFO keep it focused rather than flashy, but that's part of its timeless charm.
