UDO Audio Super 6 Desktop (blue) SE (Used)

12-voice polyphonic binaural analog hybrid synthesizer

• Compact. Flexible. Ergonomic.

• Binaural analog signal path

• Massive modulation without menus

The Super 6 Desktop is UDO Audio's 12-voice, polyphonic, binaural analog hybrid synthesizer recreated in a compact, hyperflexible chassis.

A harmonious marriage of state-of-the-art FPGA hardware digital oscillators and voltage-controlled analog technology. It is flexible, powerful and refined, with splendid analog tone. Rich, evolving textures are easily derived from the unique super-wavetable core and can be shaped and manipulated with the binaural analog signal path and flexible modulation.

Inspired by the classics, built for today

The Super 6 is an instrument born out of a long-standing passion for synthesizers. In designing the Super 6, we wanted to create an instrument that seems familiar at first glance, but offers new and exciting opportunities when delving deeper. The layout and aesthetics are an homage to some of the classic synthesizers that have inspired us for many years-the instrument's features and capabilities bring these ideas firmly into the 21st century.

Binaural analog signal path

In binaural mode, the Super 6 presents a true stereo signal path in which the twelve voices of the instrument are twinned to form six stereo "super" voices. As a result, the left and right channels-and each of the musician's ears-are assigned its own full synthesizer voice. The parameters for both channels of each super voice can be controlled independently, facilitating the musician in creating rich and unique stereo images. The effect varies from subtle to extreme stereo motion, creating a greater sense of spatial positioning than "conventional" monophonic signal chains panned at their output.

The super-compact Super 6 Desktop

Offering the flexible and immediate control, the beautiful analog sound and unparalleled build quality of the Super 6, but in a more compact package. The Super 6 Desktop is a full-featured 12-function Super 6 analog-hybrid vocal synthesizer housed in a newly designed all-metal chassis. The Super 6 Desktop also includes ergonomic features such as VESA mounting compliance, optional rack ears (7U) and sturdy flip-up feet, as well as a huge 24-voice Super 6 polychain option (in a future update).

Massive modulation without menus

Enormous flexibility at the player's fingertips through simple controls and a carefully designed front panel. Going deeper, there is an intuitive and immediate modulation system based on performance area switches. For those who want to go further, every panel control can be targeted to modulation, all simultaneously and all with unique amounts.

Analog voice architecture

The Super 6's main filter is a 4-pole, 24-dB-per-octave analog resonant low-pass filter that uses a classic Sound Semiconductor (SSI) polysynth filter design. It is preceded in the signal chain by a voltage-controlled high-pass filter that can be off, fixed, or can also track the cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter for band-pass operation. The Super 6 also contains an analog amplifier section that can be further used to shape the sound by adjusting and modulating the amplitude or volume over time.

Super voices: what is binaural?

Binaural refers to the twin synthesizer signal paths. In binaural mode, each channel "ear" has a full synthesizer voice. You can de-tune and phase the left and right oscillators, amplitude and filter (and indeed other parameters) relative to each other. Varying from subtle to extreme, this unique feature allows you to experiment with the "width" of the sound and creates a better sense of 3D positioning than conventional mono signal chains panned at the output. It has in this sense 6 "Super voices" each using two "conventional" voices, thus "Super 6".

Technical Specifications

DDS 1 (Oscillator 1)

• FPGA-based Super-wave oscillator core sampled at 50MHz with a centroid oscillator and six sister oscillators that can be dynamically de-phased in the stereo field
• Waveshapes: sine, sawtooth, square, triangle, noise and 16 user-downloadable alternative waveforms
• Alternative DDS 1 waveform format:
  • Normalized, single-cycle waveform with 4096 points
  • 16-bit signed integer format samples
  • Bandlimited at sampling frequency/8 (Nyquist/4). If 4096 Hz is your sampling frequency, then 512 Hz is the upper limit of your passband.
  • Binary file with no header data and file extension .ws6

DDS 2 (Oscillator 2)

• FPGA-based algorithmic oscillator core sampled at 50MHz
• Waveshapes: sine, sawtooth, square, triangle, noise, pulse
• Can be hard-synced to DDS 1
• LFO mode
• Sub oscillator mode (can be activated when in LFO mode)
• Pulse waveform with variable pulse width and PWM

DDS MODULATORS

• LFO and envelope modulation of DDS 1 & DDS 2 pitch
• Selectable ½ Super or full Super mode for DDS 1
• Sister oscillator detune spread control for Super waves
• Pulse-width control for pulse waveform
• LFO and/or ENV 1 can modulate the sister oscillator detune spread for the Super waves and the pulse-width for the standard waves
• DDS 2 to DDS 1 cross-modulation for deep FM Sounds

AUDIO INPUT

• Stereo audio input that feeds through the VCA, VCF and effects section
• Gate triggering of envelopes and LFO 1 based on audio input level with a variable-gain input stage

LFO 1

• Main LFO with low and high-frequency modes, rate adjustable from 0.05 Hz to 20 kHz
• Left-right phase control for stereo effects, harnessing the binaural sound engine
• Can be free-running or reset on note press
• One-shot mode allows LFO 1 to act as an additional envelope
• Keyboard tracking mode for high-frequency LFO (useful for FM sounds)
• LFO 1 can be mapped through the DDS 1 or DDS 2 audio path in either fixed or tracking high-frequency modes for use as a drone or a third oscillator
• Can be synchronized with the sequencer and arpeggiator as well as an external clock

MIXER

• Adjusts the mix-level of DDS 1 and DDS 2 audio signals
• When in X-Fade mode, adjusts split point on the keyboard of crossfaded DDS 1 and DDS 2 (or audio input) signals

VCF

• The SSI2144 reprises the SSM2044 of legacy chipmaker Solid State Micro Technology, which many believe to be the best-sounding analog synthesis filter IC ever produced. Based on Dave Rossum's patented classic improved ladder topology, the SSI2144 allows rich tonal characteristics that showcase the very best attributes of subtractive synthesis.
• Analogue 4-pole low pass self-resonant filter
• Two levels of overdrive
• High pass filter with fixed frequency or linked to low pass filter for a bandpass response
• Selectable keyboard tracking modes with filter autotune for accurate keyboard tracking
• Modulation by ENV 1 and/or ENV 2, LFO 1 and DDS 2

VCA

• Analogue VCA with selectable fixed or variable envelope (ENV 2) modulation
• LFO 1 modulation
• Dynamics control for selectable velocity sensitivity

ENV 1

• Invertible Hold-Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release, mappable through modulation matrix
• Looping mode with selectable keyboard tracking for use as an LFO or FM source

ENV 2

• Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release, multiple destinations

MODULATION MATRIX

• Intuitive modulation matrix with pre-defined destinations and also mapping to a wide range of front panel controls
• LEDs give clear feedback on mappings and modulation depths
• 20x audio-rate modulation computation

ARPEGGIATOR/SEQUENCER

• MIDI-syncable, multi-mode arpeggiator with smart-hold
• MIDI-syncable 64-step sequencer with programmable note, rest, slide, accent and length tracks
• LFO 1 and delay controls can be locked to the arpeggiator/sequencer clock
• 16 rewritable memory locations for storing sequences

EFFECTS

• Dual-mode stereo chorus using 24-bit 192 kHz processing
• Syncable and modulatable stereo delay with 24-bit 192 kHz processing

PERFORMANCE

• 128 rewriteable patch memories with 64 factory patches and 64 empty slots for user patches
• Superior build quality, easy access buttons, sliders, knobs and a menu-free interface

IO CONNECTIONS

• MIDI in, out and thru on DIN connectors
• USB IO for MIDI and patch, sequence and waveform management
• Audio input for stereo ¼" jack
• Main left and right outputs for unbalanced ¼" jacks
• High-quality stereo headphone power amplifier

INTEGRATION

• Easy file upload and download of patches, sequences and waveforms via simple USB 'memory stick' type interface with no extra drivers or applications required
• Easy OS upgrade over USB

DESKTOP SUPER 6 FEATURES

• A full featured Super 6 Analog Hybrid 12-Voice Synthesizer in a bespoke, compact, portable, all metal desktop chassis
• Ergonomic features such as VESA mount compliance, optional rack ears (7U) and robust flip up feet, offering versatile integration into your studio
• Large format, high quality potentiometers and switches for unparalleled tactile feel and exemplary lifespan
• Additional features such as drift control, independent control of analog Highpass filter, pan spread control, advanced envelopes and polyphonic aftertouch
• Polychain option (with Super 6) and MPE operability in future update