GForce Software Axxess £33
Recreating a classic (though not very obvious) ARP synth with characteristic aplomb. Andy Jones gets Axxess all areas…
In the future, when our children will (or at least should) be taught synth history, the ‘ARP’ name will undoubtedly make at least one appearance. The Odyssey will definitely take its place as the 1970s alternative to the Minimoog, it’s a screaming Rolling Stone to the Minimoog’s calmer, more rounded Beatle. The 2600 also deserves a place – the much loved semi-modular as used by everyone from Depeche Mode to Stevie Wonder. But the ARP Axxe?
Probably not. This was an oddity (sorry) in that it was basically a cut-down Odyssey, featuring one oscillator. In fact, it featured pretty much one of everything else – filter, LFO and envelope generator – so it could have been considered very much as the cheaper ARP. Not so much an Odyssey, then, more a trip around the corner to your local shop.