Reverb Machine Omni | Electronic Autoharp For ABleton Live
Omni is a sampled Omnichord for Ableton Live, containing all the sounds of the classic Suzuki Omnichord and several sounds from the modern Q-Chord. The original Omnichord OM27 was released in 1981, and was loved for it’s charming 8-bit sound and the ability to strum it like an auto-harp. Famous users include Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, David Bowie, Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois, Gorillaz, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Jim James of Morning Jacket.
Although the strummed SonicStrings are the most utilised feature, the Omnichord also provides the player with organ-style chords, auto-bass patterns and drum loops, allowing the player to emulate the sound of a full band. There are many different ways of playing the Omnichord, and I’ve aimed to make this Ableton Live Pack as diverse as possible. I sampled my old, beaten up Omnichord OM36 and six sounds from my Suzuki Q-Chord. The strummed instruments mimic the Omnichord with complete accuracy, and allow you to create fully adjustable strummed arpeggios for use in your own music.
OmniStrum
The OmniStrum instruments replicate the harp-like strums that can be played with the Omnichords strumplate. I’ve used Live’s MIDI effects to create the arpeggios, meaning they can be played at any speed, and I’ve also replicated the way that the Omnichord plays different chords with different arpeggio patterns, so every arp strum plays just like the Omnichords.
As well as arpeggio speed, the note sustain length can be adjusted just like the real Omnichord, and I’ve also added a tone function and an adjustable range knob that takes everything up or down an octave. Chorus, vibrato and reverb make up the effects, and the Analog setting adds subtle imperfections to the instrument that make it sounds more real. The sounds are classic, guitar, piano, harp, flute, synth and vibes.
The OmniOrgan instruments play the chord backings the Omnichord produces to accompany the strums, they can either be played alongside the OmniStrums instruments, or on their own. I’ve also included OmniOrgan PF, which is the OM36 run through an Eventide PitchFactor pedal, creating some really dense harmonies – one of my personal favourite tricks!
OmniBass and OmniDrums provide the rhythm section element of the Omnichord; with the former playing auto-bass patterns, and the latter triggering lo-fi drum loops. The bass patterns match the chords of the OmniStrum and OmniOrgan instruments, and can be used to provide bass accompaniment, and both instruments automatically adjust to Live’s tempo.
Includes
320 24bit WAV Samples
7 Strum Patches
7 Chord Types
7 Keys Patches
10 Auto-bass Patches
2 Organ Patches MIDI Strum Device
Requires Ableton Live 9.7 or later (all editions)
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