Arp Odyssey with one large problem

[cactusleaf]

I'm brand new here. Hello everyone. So, I just bought an Odyssey, and oscillator 1 is static in pitch and won't respond to the keyboard or the gigantic octave switch. However, it reponds to both tuning sliders and the other modulation sliders (S/H, ASDR, etc.). Osc 2 and almost all other functions are fully responsive. It's freaking me out and it sucks hearing the same one note from every key from osc 1.

Anyone else ever have this problem? Any diagnosis suggestions? Big big thanks everyone.

[dan p]

Call your local keyboard tech and see if thecan help.

[cactusleaf]

Haha yeah I was afraid of that. Guess I'll have to spend more money.

Still if anyone has seen this problem before, maybe some insight could be shed.

Anyone know of any arp forums or synth forums I could check out?

[SeanBlack]

Mine does the same thing (half the time) lol. Great unit but needs a Hellavalota work as well.

[alexp]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

+1

Can't really do much else.

Call an arp specific tech. Those things can develop strange problems that a lot of "general" synth guys cant deal with.

[Jazzpunk]

One of these shops can probably give you an idea of what's going on with your Oddy;

CMS - service and upgrades for ARP's

"KURTS AMPS & KEYBOARDS"

[Lasermonkey]

Unless a hard-to-find component has gone u/s, the Odyssey is actually quite straightforward to service. When I bought mine, it only made a high-pitched whine. I managed to fix it. The circuit diagrams (schematics in the US) are readily available to download from the internet and even if you're not circuit-savvy, it will be a big help to any tech. If you're not happy wielding a soldering iron, leave well alone!
If you can tell me which model the Odyssey is, I might be able to narrow down the area in which the fault lies.
Good luck!

[amino]

I have serviced a few Odysseys. What pitch is VCO1 stuck on?

If it's an error on one of the PCB's I can only imagine that it's a bad solder joint, a loose connector or maybe the Audio switch is failing. Or the V/Oct trimmer. There are some resistors involved, but they rarely fail.

A more common problem is the keyboard. Sometimes a key might be stuck (or at least its J-wire) so when your playing a key you're actually using the Odyssey's duophonic capabilities and only controlling VCO2, BUT if that was the case VCO1 should at least react to the Transpose Switch and if you let the ADSR control the VCA and turn up with sustain you should hear VCO1 without playing any keys.

[cactusleaf]

Amino I was thinking the same thing about possibly a key being stuck, which would keep the two VCOs separated. It didn't make sense though since all the keys worked for osc 2. Also osc 1 could be heard with the VCA all the way up like you described.

Then I was thinking about the fact that the switch that drops VCO 1 into sub-audible range also disconnects it from the keyboard. So I jiggled the switch until VCO 1 STARTED RESPONDING AGAIN. I guess it was simply a dirty contact or whatever in that switch. Lots of my sliders also need to be pushed in a bit to get them to work. So, problem solved, for free.

Thanks for your help you guys. I'm still going to find an ARP tech somewhere nearby if I can. I'm a half hour from NYC so it shouldn't be a problem.

PS: THIS ARP ODYSSEY IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

[amino]

Originally Posted by cactusleaf

PS: THIS ARP ODYSSEY IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

Yes they are, aren't they?

Which version did you get? I like the old ones with the 4023 filter best. I used to have two, but one had to go. I haven't even bothered putting CV/Gate-connectors in the one I have now. If a synthesizer has a keyboard, it's meant to be played as it is. That's my motto.

[teknosmoker]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

One of these shops can probably give you an idea of what's going on with your Oddy;

CMS - service and upgrades for ARP's

FWIW - I've contacted CMS a couple of times in the past via email (most recently a couple of weeks ago) to do work on my Odyssey (which is still back in the USA) and never received a single response from them...

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by teknosmoker

FWIW - I've contacted CMS a couple of times in the past via email (most recently a couple of weeks ago) to do work on my Odyssey (which is still back in the USA) and never received a single response from them...

Good to know, thanks!

[Doktorfuture]

May be too late, but I recommend everyone to stay away from Kurts Amps and Keyboards. I had a 10/10 terrible experience with the Jerk.

It's from a few years ago on the AH list. I won't bring up the experience here publicly, because it'll just depress me. Just stay away from that loser. Terrible business practices and lies.

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

One of these shops can probably give you an idea of what's going on with your Oddy;

CMS - service and upgrades for ARP's

"KURTS AMPS & KEYBOARDS"