Choice Polybrute or Ob 6 or Prophet 6 ?

[vitocorleone123]

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2. Think different.

That’s a solid choice. Both sound beautiful.

I’d probably keep the OB-6 and get the SE-3X or Midimini, myself, if I had the funds to put toward it.

[vitocorleone123]

Every time I use my OB-6 I fall in love with it again. If I could only have one hardware synth it would be the one. Just spent several hours making and playing new presets over the last couple days.

I do have my eyes on the 3rd wave desktop to compliment it, but it’s rather expensive, so may go with an e7 in the end.

The key is to listen to a lot of synths online and, regardless of what they are, focus on the ones that carry you away, give you goosebumps, make you close your eyes and listen, or make you sit up at attention. If the Polybrute, P6, or OB-6 do it for you, go for that one. If not, move on.

Features generally aren’t the primary reason to buy a hardware synth. The sound, the user experience, and then the features. That’s how I think of it. Exceptions always exist, such as if you’re a pro sound designer and need something to fill a gap or for a specific production.

Side note: I went with the e7. Compliments the OB-6 well.

[zerocrossing]

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2. Think different.

I GASed hard for an Omega or CODE 8 for the longest time. By the time I could afford one, I’d become so used to polyphonic aftertouch that there was no way I’d drop that amount of cash on something that didn’t work with my controller. Amazing sound, though. Seriously the best modern polyphonic synth.

The price tag is shocking. I didn´t even consider the 8, but immediately liked the sound of it I heard in some demos. I was lucky to find an Omega 2 for sale and it was an adventure to chose it.

You know how it is, words can´t really tell - but I´m very very pleased with it and glad that I did it. Everything that comes out of it just sounds "better" and sits right in a mix. I lately made som Kicks with it and wouldn´t even consider 080s from the TR anymore.

Yeah, the tone from Studio Electronics synths is second to none, IMO, but the price is steep. Their ATC-1 was recommended to me, and it was one of the first analog synths I bought during my return to hardware phase in the 00s. As soon as I found the ATC-X for sale (the ATC-1 with Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters and a distortion effect) I snagged it.

Anyway, as I said, if between then and now I hadn’t become hooked on polyphonic aftertouch, there’s no doubt that I’d own one of their 8 voice polys. They actually made some noise about adding it, but then never did. Not sure why. The only polyphonic hardware synth I kept that doesn’t support it is the Analog Four, but that’s almost more like 4 monos in a single box.

In my opinion, limiting yourself to products with polyphonic aftertouch is like limiting yourself to blonde women. It misunderstands the character and also mature models

Not really. There’s very few things that I really want that don’t have it, and the Studio Electronics sound is so fat that it’s fine as a monophonic instrument. There’s quite a lot of variety in my studio and I’m not having any problems finding great sounds.

[Constructed Identity]

I played the OB-6 a couple days ago, sounds fantastic. Weird button-press way of getting to patches but it is well-made for sure.

[HAL76]

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2. Think different.

That’s a solid choice. Both sound beautiful.

I’d probably keep the OB-6 and get the SE-3X or Midimini, myself, if I had the funds to put toward it.

Thanks. I did so because of the character of the O2 and the qulity of its sounds. That's what I missed with the OB-6 from day one. And as I said already I´m really glad I did so, so I might need 3HE more space here for the SE3 in 2025

[HAL76]

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2. Think different.

I GASed hard for an Omega or CODE 8 for the longest time. By the time I could afford one, I’d become so used to polyphonic aftertouch that there was no way I’d drop that amount of cash on something that didn’t work with my controller. Amazing sound, though. Seriously the best modern polyphonic synth.

The price tag is shocking. I didn´t even consider the 8, but immediately liked the sound of it I heard in some demos. I was lucky to find an Omega 2 for sale and it was an adventure to chose it.

You know how it is, words can´t really tell - but I´m very very pleased with it and glad that I did it. Everything that comes out of it just sounds "better" and sits right in a mix. I lately made som Kicks with it and wouldn´t even consider 080s from the TR anymore.

Yeah, the tone from Studio Electronics synths is second to none, IMO, but the price is steep. Their ATC-1 was recommended to me, and it was one of the first analog synths I bought during my return to hardware phase in the 00s. As soon as I found the ATC-X for sale (the ATC-1 with Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters and a distortion effect) I snagged it.

Anyway, as I said, if between then and now I hadn’t become hooked on polyphonic aftertouch, there’s no doubt that I’d own one of their 8 voice polys. They actually made some noise about adding it, but then never did. Not sure why. The only polyphonic hardware synth I kept that doesn’t support it is the Analog Four, but that’s almost more like 4 monos in a single box.

In my opinion, limiting yourself to products with polyphonic aftertouch is like limiting yourself to blonde women. It misunderstands the character and also mature models

Not really. There’s very few things that I really want that don’t have it, and the Studio Electronics sound is so fat that it’s fine as a monophonic instrument. There’s quite a lot of variety in my studio and I’m not having any problems finding great sounds.

I can totally understand that. There are better options for investing money than spending it for synths that just collect dust.

Just interested ... which HW synths do you have?

[cryophonik]

I actually just put my OB-6 on the market. It was always my least favorite of the Sequential “6’s” and, between the OB-X8 and TEO-5, the OB-6 was in no-man’s land in my studio, so off it goes.

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2.

I’ve had my SE-1X Angel Dust/Nova edition (upgraded to 3X) for years and it’s a fantastic mono synth! The Omega/CODE8 has always been one of my dream synths and I’ve considered an Omega 2 a few times, but in the end I’ve just decided that I don’t really know what I’d use a 2-voice poly for - dual monos? Arps? 2-note pads or plucks? Just curious how you plan to use it?

[HAL76]

I actually just put my OB-6 on the market. It was always my least favorite of the Sequential “6’s” and, between the OB-X8 and TEO-5, the OB-6 was in no-man’s land in my studio, so off it goes.

I have just exchanged my OB6 against the studio electronics Omega 2.

I’ve had my SE-1X Angel Dust/Nova edition (upgraded to 3X) for years and it’s a fantastic mono synth! The Omega/CODE8 has always been one of my dream synths and I’ve considered an Omega 2 a few times, but in the end I’ve just decided that I don’t really know what I’d use a 2-voice poly for - dual monos? Arps? 2-note pads or plucks? Just curious how you plan to use it?

That is a good question. A two voices mono synth is mainly a learning field for me I think.

But I´ve had lots of fun with a MonoPoly that I had for some months (four OSC) and really enjoy the two boards architecture of my MKS-80. I´ve learned that four Oscialltors and two filters are better than two OSC and one VCF if you want to achieve special results.

I mainly want to use it in dual stacked mode for having e. g. a lower and an upper part of a sound. But it also has a unison mode.

Unfortunately I have no manual so discovering and understanding these functions is really a learning field.

There are some cognitive dissonances because e.g. an SE-3 would have had three OSC and four filter types and so on. But I think you shouldn´t judge synths you do not know just from their specs. They all have their pros and cons and for me having the flexibility two layers with 2 OSC + Sub each and also two filters offer is the more interesting and uncommon solution for sound design.

[Uncle E]

Has anyone compared the Roland SE-02 to the larger Studio Electronics? Also, it's probably a long shot but I wonder if an SE-02 can be used to control an ATC-1.

[zerocrossing]

I GASed hard for an Omega or CODE 8 for the longest time. By the time I could afford one, I’d become so used to polyphonic aftertouch that there was no way I’d drop that amount of cash on something that didn’t work with my controller. Amazing sound, though. Seriously the best modern polyphonic synth.

The price tag is shocking. I didn´t even consider the 8, but immediately liked the sound of it I heard in some demos. I was lucky to find an Omega 2 for sale and it was an adventure to chose it.

You know how it is, words can´t really tell - but I´m very very pleased with it and glad that I did it. Everything that comes out of it just sounds "better" and sits right in a mix. I lately made som Kicks with it and wouldn´t even consider 080s from the TR anymore.

Yeah, the tone from Studio Electronics synths is second to none, IMO, but the price is steep. Their ATC-1 was recommended to me, and it was one of the first analog synths I bought during my return to hardware phase in the 00s. As soon as I found the ATC-X for sale (the ATC-1 with Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters and a distortion effect) I snagged it.

Anyway, as I said, if between then and now I hadn’t become hooked on polyphonic aftertouch, there’s no doubt that I’d own one of their 8 voice polys. They actually made some noise about adding it, but then never did. Not sure why. The only polyphonic hardware synth I kept that doesn’t support it is the Analog Four, but that’s almost more like 4 monos in a single box.

In my opinion, limiting yourself to products with polyphonic aftertouch is like limiting yourself to blonde women. It misunderstands the character and also mature models

Not really. There’s very few things that I really want that don’t have it, and the Studio Electronics sound is so fat that it’s fine as a monophonic instrument. There’s quite a lot of variety in my studio and I’m not having any problems finding great sounds.

I can totally understand that. There are better options for investing money than spending it for synths that just collect dust.

Just interested ... which HW synths do you have?

Elektron Analog Four

Elektron Analog RYTM

IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro X

DSI Prophet 12

Mutable Instruments Ambika

Studio Electronics ATC-X

Melbourne Instruments Nina

Sequential Prophet 6

Arturia PolyBrute

[zerocrossing]

Has anyone compared the Roland SE-02 to the larger Studio Electronics? Also, it's probably a long shot but I wonder if an SE-02 can be used to control an ATC-1.

Doubtful. The architecture is very different.

[vitocorleone123]

Has anyone compared the Roland SE-02 to the larger Studio Electronics? Also, it's probably a long shot but I wonder if an SE-02 can be used to control an ATC-1.

Almost every function on the SE-02 is mapped to MIDI, so, if you're talking MIDI control of an ATC-1, it'd come down to what's controllable on the ATC-1 via MIDI.

[cryophonik]

Has anyone compared the Roland SE-02 to the larger Studio Electronics?

I had an SE-02 for a while and, sound-wise, it was pretty comparable to my SE-1X within its range, but its range was very limited compared to the SE-1X in terms of oscillator shapes, envelopes, LFOs, modulation sources and destinations, etc. The only major feature had that the SE-02 had and the SE-1X lacked was the sequencer, which I never used anyway. So, it was a pretty easy decision to sell the SE-02, but I still think it’s an excellent bargain for someone who wants the SE sound on a budget.

[HAL76]

The price tag is shocking. I didn´t even consider the 8, but immediately liked the sound of it I heard in some demos. I was lucky to find an Omega 2 for sale and it was an adventure to chose it.

You know how it is, words can´t really tell - but I´m very very pleased with it and glad that I did it. Everything that comes out of it just sounds "better" and sits right in a mix. I lately made som Kicks with it and wouldn´t even consider 080s from the TR anymore.

Yeah, the tone from Studio Electronics synths is second to none, IMO, but the price is steep. Their ATC-1 was recommended to me, and it was one of the first analog synths I bought during my return to hardware phase in the 00s. As soon as I found the ATC-X for sale (the ATC-1 with Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters and a distortion effect) I snagged it.

Anyway, as I said, if between then and now I hadn’t become hooked on polyphonic aftertouch, there’s no doubt that I’d own one of their 8 voice polys. They actually made some noise about adding it, but then never did. Not sure why. The only polyphonic hardware synth I kept that doesn’t support it is the Analog Four, but that’s almost more like 4 monos in a single box.

In my opinion, limiting yourself to products with polyphonic aftertouch is like limiting yourself to blonde women. It misunderstands the character and also mature models

Not really. There’s very few things that I really want that don’t have it, and the Studio Electronics sound is so fat that it’s fine as a monophonic instrument. There’s quite a lot of variety in my studio and I’m not having any problems finding great sounds.

I can totally understand that. There are better options for investing money than spending it for synths that just collect dust.

Just interested ... which HW synths do you have?

Elektron Analog Four

Elektron Analog RYTM

IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro X

DSI Prophet 12

Mutable Instruments Ambika

Studio Electronics ATC-X

Melbourne Instruments Nina

Sequential Prophet 6

Arturia PolyBrute

My Solution was to give my OB-6 away for it. And the best about it: the guy that sold the Omega was the first one I asked if he wanted to switch and he said yes. Don´t know who really made a good deal. You can´t buy no Omega-2´s here.

[zerocrossing]

Yeah, the tone from Studio Electronics synths is second to none, IMO, but the price is steep. Their ATC-1 was recommended to me, and it was one of the first analog synths I bought during my return to hardware phase in the 00s. As soon as I found the ATC-X for sale (the ATC-1 with Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters and a distortion effect) I snagged it.

Anyway, as I said, if between then and now I hadn’t become hooked on polyphonic aftertouch, there’s no doubt that I’d own one of their 8 voice polys. They actually made some noise about adding it, but then never did. Not sure why. The only polyphonic hardware synth I kept that doesn’t support it is the Analog Four, but that’s almost more like 4 monos in a single box.

In my opinion, limiting yourself to products with polyphonic aftertouch is like limiting yourself to blonde women. It misunderstands the character and also mature models

Not really. There’s very few things that I really want that don’t have it, and the Studio Electronics sound is so fat that it’s fine as a monophonic instrument. There’s quite a lot of variety in my studio and I’m not having any problems finding great sounds.

I can totally understand that. There are better options for investing money than spending it for synths that just collect dust.

Just interested ... which HW synths do you have?

Elektron Analog Four

Elektron Analog RYTM

IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro X

DSI Prophet 12

Mutable Instruments Ambika

Studio Electronics ATC-X

Melbourne Instruments Nina

Sequential Prophet 6

Arturia PolyBrute

My Solution was to give my OB-6 away for it. And the best about it: the guy that sold the Omega was the first one I asked if he wanted to switch and he said yes. Don´t know who really made a good deal. You can´t buy no Omega-2´s here.

Well, that's just an example of how there are no best synths, just synths that are best for realizing a particular artist's vision. To me, a two voice synth can't replace a 6 voice, no matter how much better I think it sounds, but it definitely could be a great addition. It sort of renders the OP's question moot. The PolyBrute, OB-6 and Prophet 6 are all fine synths with different characters and feature sets. I have the PolyBrute and the Prophet 6, never got an OB-6, though I think it's an equally good choice to the Prophet 6. The Studio Electronics sound will always have a place in my studio, so for now the ATC-X does a great job of that and gives me Moog, ARP, SEM and 303 filters, so I have a kind of hardware "Diva" of sorts, though only one set of 2 Moog cloned VCOs. If it ever dies, I'm not sure what I would do. Maybe I would hunt down an Omega or C.O.D.E. Maybe not. I sort of feel like I'm at a place where winding down on hardware synths is good.