REVIEWS
UDO Super 6 £2,195
UDO’s Super 6 is already making a big noise in synth world! Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman goes supersonic…
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CONTACT WHO: UDO WEB: udo-audio.com KEY FEATURES 49-key Fatar keybed with velocity and aftertouch. MPE capabilites. FPGA-based engine with DDS oscillators. SSI analogue LPF and HPF. Two envelopes; one with looping, two LFOs. Mix control with split/crossfade. Digital delay and chorus. DIMENSIONS: 830 x 350 x 90 mm. WEIGHT: 8 kg
THE PROS & CONS
Stellar build quality, direct and intuitive interface
Sounds unique, from classic poly-fodder to future soundscapes
Future-proofed with wave import and (as yet unlocked) MPE capability
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Quality like this does cost more
Some will lament lack of screen for patch naming
Travel of the modbender is a bit shallow and stiff
I
first got to play the Super 6 prototype last October at a synth show and also had the pleasure of talking to UDO’s friendly founder, George Hearn. Back then, even with some features not implemented, I already got a great vibe for this machine and it was also great to be able to talk with such a passionate synth expert about his first UDO product. Just over a year later it’s great to see the pandemic hasn’t deterred UDO from finishing and refining the Super 6 and getting it out into the wider world.
With its UI and look designed by legendary industrial designer Axel Hartmann, the Super 6 is certainly beautifully laid out, with hints of Juno/Jupiter-6 and Teisco’s rare 110F. It definitely has a moody, industrial air to it, both in terms of look and feel and the layout draws you in, to explore its inner depths. The Super 6 is currently available in two colours; blue and gun-metal grey, again adding to this industrial vibe. The all-metal case feels tank-like in construction and the attention to detail is spot-on with clear pane labelling and curved wrap-around end panels – I would have no hesitation throwing this synth around on tour!