Omnichord OM-108

[satya]

Suzuki has confirmed that the new Omnichord, which it announced last year, will be called the OM-108, and will be released in July 2024.

A set of chord selection buttons is set to the left, and a strummable touchstrip enables you to play them (as well as individual notes from the chords). There’s a definite ‘can’t go wrong’ vibe here, and you can choose the flavour of your chords with the major, minor and seventh buttons, also dialling in sus4 and add9 variations where appropriate.

The OM-108 uses analogue circuitry to emulate the sounds of the classic OM-84 models (you can actually start it up in a dedicated OM-84 mode and use its presets) but there are new tones, too. You can beef up your sound using the layering options, and the rhythm section has been updated with new drum beats.

If you’re purely interested in playing melodies or basslines, you can turn the chord buttons into a playable keyboard (a handy overlay gives you a visual guide to which note is which), and you can play the OM-108 as a drum pad, too. MIDI Out means that you can also use this Omnichord as a creative controller for your other gear. 

 

[Nick Blanc]

Take that Korg! They are out there releasing a plethora of stuff, only to be absolutely PULVERIZED by this uppercut of a workstation. Did I mention it's a looker too? 🤩

[Bridget Murphy]

The layering options for beefing up the sound, along with an updated rhythm section featuring new drum beats, add depth and variety to the musical possibilities. The transformation of chord buttons into a playable keyboard for melodies or basslines, coupled with the drum pad functionality, makes it a multifaceted instrument suitable for different playing styles.