The Super 8 from UDO Audio is a modification of the highly acclaimed Super Gemini with the timeless look of a Jupiter 6. The sound generation is the same as that of the Super Gemini, but the Super 8 only needs one set of controls for sound generation. The keyboard synthesizer with its impressive user interface is 16-voice polyphonic and 2-part multitimbral, meaning that two sounds can be played simultaneously. The hybrid sound generation with binaural voice architecture consists of two high-resolution digital oscillators, an analog filter and VCA as well as two excellent-sounding effects. The robust and high-quality instrument is equipped with a velocity-sensitive 61-key keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and is easy to use and a joy to play, and not just because of its numerous controls. But the Super 8 sounds like no polyphonic dinosaur of old: modern analog and noble digital at the same time, but also a bit British in the best sense of the word. The many controllers and playing aids, the well-scaled parameters and the sound generation as a whole create an unusually expressive synthesizer with plenty of potential for cinematic sounds.
Sound architecture
Each layer of the Super 8 has two high-resolution digital FPGA oscillators that provide sine, triangle, sawtooth, square and Noise. In addition, the first oscillator contains 64 wavetables and oscillator 2 is equipped with pulse width modulation. With the DDS modulator, the pitch modulation can be set for one or both oscillators and the waveforms can also be animated. Instead of the lowest octave position, oscillator 2 works as a sub-oscillator with a sine or square waveform. Hardsync or ring modulation is also possible in the other octave positions. Cross-modulation covers the FM sounds at oscillator level. An analog 24 dB lowpass filter with a downstream 6 dB highpass filter and a switchable two-stage drive is used to process the rich sound spectrum. The VCA, which can be modulated by an LFO in addition to the envelope (tremolo effect), is just as analog. The signal path is rounded off by the two high-quality 24-bit stereo effects Delay and Chorus. The Chorus can be switched in three stages in Juno style and gives the sound a soft, subtly wafting cloud. The Delay can run either freely or synchronized to the MIDI-Clock and is also suitable as a real-time looper thanks to the freeze function.
Playing aids, sequencer & presets
In addition to the good keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, the arpeggiator with the usual playback modes up to four octaves or the polyphonic step sequencer, which stores 16 patterns with a length of up to 64 steps, can be used to enter notes. Both can of course be synchronizedto the MIDI clock and share a time signature. In voice mode, the voices are assigned across the board for each layer; mono, legato, Unisono and two poly modes cover everything. If required, binaural voice distribution can be switched on for very dynamic and lively voice distribution in the panorama. The maximum polyphony of 16 voices comes into its own in the two poly modes, depending on Patch and playing style. Double multi-timbrality opens up new possibilities, which are covered by the keyboard modes Single, Dual and Split. In single mode, one of the two layers can be played on the entire keyboard. In dual mode, both sounds are played in layers at the same time, while in split mode, for example, you can play a Bass with your left hand and a surface with your right hand. The Super 8 has 256 presets for storing and recalling your own sounds. There are also a further 256 memory locations for performances, which contain the assignment of patches to the Upper and Lower parts, keyboard modes etc. If you prefer to work with the controls, simply press the Manual button and the sound you hear will match the current settings and behave like an analog synthesizer without presets.
Modulations & controllers
LFO 1, which even extends into the audio range and can be used as a third oscillator, two ADSR envelopes and the comprehensive modulation matrix with eight entries that can be stored in Patch provide plenty of movement in the sound for each layer. LFO 2, which functions more as an extended vibrato LFO, is available for both layers. How strongly and where it acts is controlled by the underlying faders and ultimately triggered with the joystick.
Connections
As far as the connections are concerned, you'll find everything you could possibly need at Studio: MIDI In/Out/Thru and USB MIDI for note and data exchange with the DAW and other MIDI instruments, four pedal inputs for volume, expression, Sustain and DelayFreeze as well as three stereo outputs for the mix output and the two layers.
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