Studio Electronics Omega 8

This beast is so easy to use - don't need any manual for this beauty..!

Mine is the 8-voice version, expanded with 8 CS-80 filters and customized Charcoal Grey front and blue LCD - It Rocks..!

This is the best sounding analog synth around. It has an incredible fat, punchy and warm sound that just thrills you. Running it thru my Yamaha SPX2000 multi-effect gives me the ultimate sound I need.

It has been rock-solid with the new OS 2.5.

Greg is the best - pay my respect to that guy..!

Omega 8 is expensive but keep in mind that you get a handcrafted "build by order" analog synth like nothing else.
I have had Virus Ti, Andromeda A6, Clavia G2, SuperNova 2...etc. and they won't come near the Omega 8's potential. Of course these other synth have their strengh in them selves, but nothing like the Omega 8.
My current setup is : Omega 8, JP-8080 and Motif ES7.

This is brand new, latest rev. Omega 8, incl. 8x midimini sinewave + discret opamps, 8 x Yamaha CS 80 filters + ARP2600 and TB303 optional filters.
Optional sound preset card 3.
No manual.
High-end analogue synth.
Modest polyphony to modern standards.
No effects.
Some functions quite usual on modern VA synths missing here.

8 voices poliphony + 5 filters, all classics. Effects not provided at all here. It's pure blood and flesh.
My is already fully expanded, huge box full of PCBs, it's real thing, transistors, caps, nothing less than pure analogue path.
MIDI works OK now, I heard some stories about bugs, but didn't face any problem.
Well, I use it only as sound machine so don't know if it posses some other functionality deeper in OS.

Good to death.
Last great synth and to me better than anything produced on Earth, anytime, at any price.
It took some time for SE to refine the machine, but as it is now I really can't say anything less than excellent in terms of sound and that's compared to other monsters I had chance to owe and play in my studio, as several Prophets, Moogs, Arp 2600, Roland Jupiter 8, even much beloved CS80.
Omega can deliver deep, wide, hoooge, raw or smooth, but always very organic analogue sounds. Free of noise, somehow even too clean compared to old boxes.
I don't agree that it's closer to good VAs (Virus) than to old RAs (real analogues). It is real analogue without artefacts.
CS80 filters are must have, as well as, midimini option, sound is even rounder.
If I need reverb I connect it to venerable Lexicon 224 via tube DI, boy, does it sound as hell???
I think whoever heard it on good studio monitoring system was shocked by sonic palette.
This is reference synth.
Second to none.
Period.

Frankly, I don't know.
I'm in Europe and if something happenned it will be BS.
I would never gig with this, there are cheap VAs to do the gig job.

They are slow as justice, but friendly and supportive.

There are several icons I could not live without.
Omega 8 is among them, so naturally I would get it again and again.
It's wrong conception that due to price it's synth for rich snobs. Actually it's much cheaper than real analogues of their time.
Well, for price of fully loaded Omega 8 (and how do have it of not fully loaded?????) one can buy Triton rack + Motif rack + Virus rack + Moog Voyager rack + Polyevolver rack - all the best contemporary offerings together with some change left for decent preamp and speakers or hundreds of excellent polphony vs humble EIGHT.
Here we are, that cannot be compared. Can one make hit without Omega? Definitely, it will not bring nearer to that target, but joy of playing this beast is similar to playing Martin, Paul Reed Smith, Rhodes, Hammond and other classic instruments. This is real thing and it means high price is small part of equation.

im using software version 2.4. The presets are disgustingly phat, but they all sound the same.. for example, if your in ROM B... patches 1-7 will sound alike... then 7-13 will sound alike and so on.... Editing patches is dumb easy... i dont have a clue as to how to program synths but the interface is extremely intuitive... The manual is bare... i havent even read it yet... If you know how to program synths, u will be in heaven. if your like me and dont know how to program synths, then you will become discouaraged... For the type of music I do (hiphop), a two voice version would of done me justice..

I currently have the 5 voice version. As far as I know, there arent any effects, and you wont need them. The omega has a ton of filter cards that can be purchased at the studio electronics site... There is an appreggiator thing on here, I just dont know how to use it yet... I give this category a 9 for the simple fact that Im still a newbie and dont know all the features....

Oh my.... sounds? Are you serious? Seriously, theres nothing out there that can touch it IMO. And im only referring to the sounds I messed with in the presets, I havent even begun tweaking...

On another note... (like the user below explained) I agree that the omega has way more bass than the moog. However, the omega doesnt have that "funky" bass of the moog that I like...

When just using the presets, the omega just has a real hard bass, squelcy at times and with a hard thump. On some of the presets, The bass on the omega hits so hard, you can use them as drums, no lie... but the omega, IMO, doesnt have a musical taste to it...

The moog on the other hand has bass, but it also has that funky musical flavor to it...I believe the moog better suits the music I do (hiphop), whereas the omega leans more towards hiphop music that has a ton of bass (southern and western rap musicans)... If I only knew how to play bass and program synths I would be able to easily get the omega sound to fit my type of music.

But, Rather than buying an actual moog, I just simply use the software version.... I run all my VST's thru my mackie mixer and EQ them so they dont sound so transparent...

once I learn how to really program synths, I just may be able to get the sounds I like...

So far so good... when turning the knobs to fast, the machine has frozen on me for a few seconds... There were some known issues back in the other OS's but marc and greg are always listening, so theres no problems...

U get one on one support from anyone in the St. Regis family. Even their mother....

Lost or stolen? that could never happen.. this baby will never leave my home... But if I were to get another synth, it would def be the moog rack.. I currently own an Emu virtuoso 2000, MV8000, Electrix filter factrory, Mackie mixer, Maudio 88 keyboard, and I just ordered a nord lead 3 rack... although im thinking of switching it with a motif es rack... I already have tons of VST's and the omega for my bass.

I really wish I had the moog rack. The omega is excellent, its just that Im not familiar with programming subtractive synthesis.. im too lazy to learn right now.. i just wanna dive in... ahh...

os2.3.. very stable...
although tweaking when using the arpergiator sometimes causes a multi to crash (and ive only had it for a week_
presets rawks.. lovely..
Editing is easy, a couple of button presses and your their.
Manuals bare, but gives you all you need to know.. Need to know a bit about subtractive synthesis..

currently a 4 poly but going to upgrade very soon, and doesnt need any effects. Can uprade as mentioned above, but now theirs a cs80 motm filter for it.. SMOOTH
midi implementation full. Sequencer still buggy but sounds lovely

All i can say about the sounds from this synth is that ANY noise you make sounds nice. It works well with all types of music, im mainly electronica and it does the job perfectly. Reacts to velocity and aftertouch.

Havent had long enough to decide how dependable it is yet.
1 major flaw (imo) is not being able to save an edited patch whilst in a multi.. But the SE lads plan (hopefully) to change this.

support excellent. 1 of the main reasons for buying this synth. Theirs maybe still some outstanding problems, but studio electronics are hopefully here to stay and theyre pretty devoted to getting things right.
Great to deal with such devoted guys

I love this synth. And it still only has 4 voices in it for the moment.
Its hard to compare this synth with older vintages, at times it has so much more. Could be likened to an mks80, but id never swap.

In a vintage synth studio, with Oberheim, Moog, Sequential, Roland, Chroma, MOTM etc etc, Omega 8 is still one of the best and more user friendly synth. Some operations need the display, but it's impossible to lose the right way. I'm playing with the last os version, and I don't have any crash, only some stuck notes when I change the patch and I'm playing a chord. The manual is only for professional guys: if you don't know anything about synthesis, you are out.

Check studioelectronics for data infos. Mine is six voices with TB and ARP filter for two cards. Arpeggiator is very simple, the MIDI implementation is good and you can work very well with DP

This baby rocks!! I have a lot og analogue gera, I played also an Andromeda 6 and everything about VA, but when I need a bass line with punching bass frequency, Omega 8 is the right choice (after, pheraps, the SE1). More bass than Mini (the Mini envelope is still the best for percussive timbres), slush, fat, big etc etc. You have to love american R&B, Hip-Hop, Smooth Jazz to love this baby, but if you live in Europe could be not very happy if your best synth is Korg MS20 or Clavia. Excellent noise ratio and dynamics

This is my preferred synth in my over 50 synths setup. I buy it new, because it's impossible to find it used. It's one of the best analogue synth on the earth.

The guys of Studio Electronics are great. One question one answer and a lot of useful information. Write them and you will have the right answers for everything.

You need money for this baby, a lot of money, but if you are very serious with your musical works, Omega 8 is a worth in your setup. I'm still selling a lot of little analogue expander after I bought mine. And I'm very very happy. Try it with an API preamp and you will be in paradise!!

I just downloaded 2.0 operating. The multi-timbral possibilites of this are mindblowing. I sqeezed on Beezers' pouch and he began to squeek when he heard this beast! I don't know, it pretty much sums up the history of analog synths, and then some! it is extremely versatile, offering minimoog warmth and stacking voices...Christ till the cows come home!
I would like it a bit more dirty, perhaps that would be the 303 filter they offer, (another nine hundred bucks.) The presets are completely ill here. i don't know, there's this one that sounds like some baby alien crying in it's nest, and you can tweak it!
also the velocity patches are brilliant, everything is well thought out.
and now the multi-timbral turns everything upside down. this thing is so so sick right now, and it only gets better.

8 voice polophony, big ol purple box! EFFECTS! HUH? you don't need any. midi is complete. for an analog synth, the midi in this let's just put it this way, there's more midi in this than most digital synths offer.

sounds classic, let's just say Stevie own's this shit right?

there's a few bugs left, sometimes all the voices just get stuck, and ya gotta shut it off. Oh well

i have talked with studio electronics many times, theys good at everything

Never would i ever sell. this is the end of the line for my synth collection

Version 1.8, Presets are interesting yet too many of the same sounds fill this up, (not a problem cause you can save your own sounds over the ones you don't need.) This synth has a real oberheim feal, it takes it to another level though.

8 voice analog rack. For analog this is it! All you really need is encased in this blue machine. Midi is extensive, no effects (big deal) you don't need them! oscillators up the yazoo, and good envelopes. I have yet to air this thing out with a big amp but when it happens shit gonna fly! Also, the multi mode still isn't done, Hey what's up Greg?

Anlaog monster, too many of the same sounding patches though. Some real fuct sounds, good sound effect patches, twisted demonic things too...Flat out Thick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in unison mode (Think shitloads of oscillators stacked up forever.)

Sometimes it does weird shit, but overall i think it is getting better and better. There's a ghost in my machine!

These guys are truly great at customer support. It's a one on one basis

It's a gem, would be extremely hard to replace as i had to sell my house to get it!!! You really can't compare it to anything out there, it's a true one of a kind.

Good. You must use the display for indepth editing of envelope, modulation and lfo

8 voice of polyphony, indivudual output and input for external signal. Two kind of filter: moog and oberheim. Three powerful oscillator

BEAUTIFUL. The Rolls Royce of analogue synth, the definitive synth of my setup, the synth that stop the research of vintage synth

Current OS (1.2) very instable after 2 hour of work. I must off the unit.

THE BEST SYNTH I HEARD IN TEN YEAR!