Studio Electronics Omega 8 User Manual
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Table of Contents
Section Page
Introduction 2
Voice Architecture 3
Features and Specs 3
Common Functions 4
Sound Programming / The Sections:
Multi / Midi 5, 6
Modulation 7
Programmer 8
Oscillators 8
Arpeggiator 9
Filter 9
Envelopes 10
Continuous Controller Assignments 11
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Introduction
Welcome to the Studio Electronics Omega series! The world’s first completely programmable
discrete analog synthesizer.
What to expect
Phat, Commanding, Dimension Building, TRUE ANALOG SOUND, in spine tingling stereo.
For entire songs worth of processing, use each voice’s auto triggering external input; and each
voice capable of having up to four selectable filters, that’s a lot of processing. Just the
beginning. Heaps of modulation, a user loving operating system, arpeggiating, and multitimbrality. Enjoy.
About Tuning
For the Omega series, we developed a very accurate, but not perfect, software routine of
computer corrected oscillator tuning. It looks at each note and corrects it to a pre-defined value.
The goal was to keep all 16 oscillators in near perfect tune over the wide range of the keyboard
but not so perfect as to eliminate the element of randomness, which is the nature, and beauty of
analog synthesis. There is to be expected some tempering at the very low and high pitch
ranges. Tune as needed.
The tuning of the filters is done in hardware and is not part of the accu-tune routine. You may
hear with each voice a very slight difference in timbre or tone; this is not wrong, or poor design.
On the contrary, we have chosen to be faithful and follow the chosen path blazed by our history
shaping predecessors, manufacturers of the classic mono/polyphonic analog synthesizers of the
past. It is precisely this slight variance from voice to voice that gives discrete and Curtis chip
based analog synthesizers their vibrancy and soul pleasing warm sound.
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Voice Architecture
Discrete Analog Hardware Per Voice
Two voltage-controlled oscillators
Up to four selectable voltage controlled filters (standard units come with the classic Moog, and
four mode Oberheim S.E.M.)
One dynamic gain stereo voltage controlled amplifier
One auto triggering external input
Software Generated Per Voice
3 multi stage exponential curve envelopes
3 low frequency oscillators
1 arpeggiator
Features
8 REAL stereo panning analog synthesizers each with its own auto triggering external input
Multi-timbral for layering, splitting, and channelizing with up to 8 separate parts
Audio frequency modulation, oscillator sync, multiple triggering, envelope inverting
Up to 30+ simultaneous modulations, numerous continuous controller assignments
Exponential polyphonic glide and dynamic sensitive auto glide
Midi transmission of front panel knobs and switches
256 patches in ROM, 256 patches in RAM, 128 Multi patches
Specs
Dimensions: weight 24 lbs, 4 rack spaces
Power requirements: accepts 90 - 250 volts AC 50-60 Hz (auto switching)
Individual stereo outputs: tip - right side, ring - left side, sleeve - ground
Operating System
The operating system of the Omega 8 is easy to use and simple to program. It gives the user
complete control of the numerous functions and features quickly and efficiently. The front panel
knobs give you instant access to all major parameters and the edit switches in each section
allow access to over 30 on screen edit pages. However, with the Omega 8 you are never more
than four button presses away from any edit page, quite unlike other synthesizers with multiple
edit pages. This allows in depth patch programming without the tedious routine of continuously
scrolling through on screen displays.
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