Behringer Odyssey Analog Synthesizer

True to the original analog circuitry

Behringer meticulously engineered the Odyssey’s analog circuitry to be true to the original, using vintage-style voltage-controlled oscillator, filter, and amplifier designs that make it easy to re-create the coveted sounds of the ’70s. This painstaking attention to detail is what gives the Odyssey its prodigious sound-shaping ability, which covers everything from ultra-fat basses and searing leads to stunning otherworldly effects. We think of the Odyssey as a time machine that lets you harness the analog punch and power of the past — to make the music of the future.

Massively fat sounds

The Behringer Odyssey lets you re-create the magic of classic synth tracks that drove prog rock, synth pop, and disco in the 1970s. From its introduction in 1972, the Odyssey immediately became the go-to instrument for squelchy basses, industrial effects, shrieking leads, and more. It brought a number of innovations to the budding synth insurgency — and this Odyssey nails them all. First of all, the Odyssey is duophonic — which means you can play two notes at once. Odyssey’s two voices are the product of two analog VCOs, each with a choice of sawtooth, square/pulse wave with pulse-width modulation, or sine/square wave LFO. You can create insanely fat bass lines with the Odyssey. Want proof? Check out Herbie Hancock’s classic track “Chameleon” from his 1973 Head Huntersalbum. Odyssey also has oscillator hard sync, which lets you create the type of visceral “tearing” sync sounds famously used by The Cars on their 1979 hit “Let’s Go.”

Modulation à go-go

The Odyssey gives you generous modulation options, including two envelope generators, an ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) and an AR (Attack, Release). To allow for an even broader range of performance options, switches are provided for ADSR Gate/LFO Repeat, AR Gate/LFO Repeat, and Keyboard Repeat/Auto Repeat. Another feature is Sample & Hold (S/H), which allows you to modulate your pitch and filter settings using a variety of waveforms. The S/H section also includes the Output Lag slider, which generates a glide effect between voltage steps, effectively rounding off the edges of the LFO waveform.

When you set the LFO to be triggered via the keyboard, it gives you a cool auto-wah effect on every note you play. And using Ring Modulation in conjunction with oscillator sync or the wealth of pitch modulation available, you can create all manner of thunderous, clangorous, and totally magical musical mayhem. There’s also a pink/white noise generator and Portamento, which lets you sweep smoothly from one note to the next for silky transitions — another classic synth effect.

Plentiful hands-on controls and connectivity

For the ultimate in hands-on vintage synth-style tweakability, Odyssey’s roadworthy all-metal chassis is equipped with 35 illuminated, dimmable LED sliders, 25 switches, and three pressure-sensitive buttons for pitch and modulation control — all laid out in the classic arrangement that helped make the original Odyssey synthesizer a legend. Input and output connectivity includes MIDI I/O over USB and DIN connections, sustain Pedal and Portamento footswitch jacks, Low and High Outputs, External Audio In, CV (Control Voltage) I/O, Gate I/O, USB/MIDI, balanced XLR and 1/4″ Main outputs, and a 1/4″ Headphones Out jack with a dedicated Volume control.