UDO DMNO 8-voice 2-part Hybrid Synth
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Constructed Identity Constructed Identity https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=288890 - KVRian
- 1347 posts since 29 Sep, 2012 from Minnesota
Yea, the video sounded great. Multiple architectures are where it’s at for the future of synths as far as I’m concerned.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 12240 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
Sounds great. I wonder if they’ll release a desktop version. Maybe they’ll announce it at Superbooth next month.
Logic Pro | LUNA Pro | OB-X8 | Prophet 6 | OB-6 | Rev2 | TEO-5 | Pro 3 | SE-1X | Minitaur | Deepmind 12D | Slim Phatty | TR-1000 | Analog RYTM mk2 | Digitakt 2 | TD-3 MO | TD-3 | Maschine+
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- KVRAF
- 8731 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
It interests me more than their previous synths, but nothing I've seen sets me on fire. Definitely capable of more, so an improvement for sure.
Pros:
1. versatile filter
2. Sounds like decent drive capabilities
3. 2 synths-in-one could be useful
4. Looks nice
Cons:
1. Seems to be Obie based, doesn't wow me. I wouldn't dismiss Obie filters but also a bit ho-hum
2. 2 synths mainly aimed at that silly binaural obsession. I still don't get it or want it. Also means the 2-synth thing limits them to 4 voice each. OK but not amazing.
3. Starsky reckoned not much menu diving, but it looked like a lot to me. Not sure if the features vs complication equation wins.
4. Also don't like the screen. It's not a huge step up from the worst of some of those nasty 90s S&S synth screens. There are so many better options for screens nowadays. They almost went for the cheapest-looking one they could, just to get a retro look but probably spent shitloads on it. Not quite a complete deal-breaker, but badly affects usability IMO. Big fail.
Overall, I'd probably rather have this than an actual Obie. Problem is I don't really want an Obie. Guess I'm not the target market.
Pros:
1. versatile filter
2. Sounds like decent drive capabilities
3. 2 synths-in-one could be useful
4. Looks nice
Cons:
1. Seems to be Obie based, doesn't wow me. I wouldn't dismiss Obie filters but also a bit ho-hum
2. 2 synths mainly aimed at that silly binaural obsession. I still don't get it or want it. Also means the 2-synth thing limits them to 4 voice each. OK but not amazing.
3. Starsky reckoned not much menu diving, but it looked like a lot to me. Not sure if the features vs complication equation wins.
4. Also don't like the screen. It's not a huge step up from the worst of some of those nasty 90s S&S synth screens. There are so many better options for screens nowadays. They almost went for the cheapest-looking one they could, just to get a retro look but probably spent shitloads on it. Not quite a complete deal-breaker, but badly affects usability IMO. Big fail.
Overall, I'd probably rather have this than an actual Obie. Problem is I don't really want an Obie. Guess I'm not the target market.
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Korg Supporter Korg Supporter https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=386399
- KVRAF
- 1923 posts since 4 Oct, 2016
I heard that the filter is a clone of the Roland IR3109 chipkritikon wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2026 9:31 pm It interests me more than their previous synths, but nothing I've seen sets me on fire. Definitely capable of more, so an improvement for sure.
Pros:
1. versatile filter
2. Sounds like decent drive capabilities
3. 2 synths-in-one could be useful
4. Looks nice
Cons:
1. Seems to be Obie based, doesn't wow me. I wouldn't dismiss Obie filters but also a bit ho-hum
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- KVRist
- 359 posts since 30 Apr, 2001 from Australia
Went to my local music shop and recorded a clip of the DMNO while I went through the filters.
Original audio was 1 hour long, but I edited it down to 18 mins....
Dry and unprocessed
Should give a good cross section of the filter types and character.
Both clean and saturated. Sometimes overdriven/clipped sounding on the VCA side.
Oscillator 2 to filter FM towards the end
https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/udo-dmn ... r-showcase
Another noodle I did yesterday at the music shop
Playing both sides in 8 note poly mode
Dual sawtooths, 2 and 4 pole Low pass filter with moderately high resonance. 2 Pole at the start.
Wish it had free run mode for the oscillators, which would make the sawtooths swim more
https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/udo-dmn ... ole-filter
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Impressions -
The presets didn't do anything for me, it's the kind of synth that's better just to go manual mode and craft your own patches.
Kinda sterile if you just do straight dry mono patches, without any heavy filtering
The output/VCA of each of the two synths will overdrive at past 2'O clock position. The volume will stay fairly constant past this point and it gets more ragged and compressed sounding
Saturating the individual oscillators, when the Overdrive light starts to light up will kill the resonance pretty quickly. It's almost like on/off switch, instead of gradual like you expect.
Especially on the type 1 (bass compensated) filter modes.
You get a more creamy sound here, but lose all the resonant bite
Resonance can get pretty cutting, wet and Rolandy when the oscillator levels are lower. More so with type 2 filter mode, where applicable, as not all filter types have this switch - only the stereo 4/2Pole Low pass
The combo decay/release of the envelope is pretty annoying. If you hit SHIFT to length the release, and then adjust the decay after turning off SHIFT, it gangs the decay and release together and you have to readjust the release again....!
I can see why they did it like that to make it more like a Minimoog/SEM, but it's so annoying
There is a switch that allows the Modulation of the Roland style joystick to stay open, then using the slider above it to control the depth. Still not as a good as a mod wheel though.
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Overall, lots of fun filtering in arp mode.
It sounds better in stereo mode but that kills the polyphony down to two each side, and I was mostly using 1 side, so not an option for polyphonic play....
I just don't think it's worth it for the price it's sold here for what I will get out of it.
If you combined these filters with a Nina, then that would be ideal
One negative I noticed was that headphone volume also controls the main output volume.... that could be pretty annoying in many situations
Original audio was 1 hour long, but I edited it down to 18 mins....
Dry and unprocessed
Should give a good cross section of the filter types and character.
Both clean and saturated. Sometimes overdriven/clipped sounding on the VCA side.
Oscillator 2 to filter FM towards the end
https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/udo-dmn ... r-showcase
Another noodle I did yesterday at the music shop
Playing both sides in 8 note poly mode
Dual sawtooths, 2 and 4 pole Low pass filter with moderately high resonance. 2 Pole at the start.
Wish it had free run mode for the oscillators, which would make the sawtooths swim more
https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/udo-dmn ... ole-filter
----
Impressions -
The presets didn't do anything for me, it's the kind of synth that's better just to go manual mode and craft your own patches.
Kinda sterile if you just do straight dry mono patches, without any heavy filtering
The output/VCA of each of the two synths will overdrive at past 2'O clock position. The volume will stay fairly constant past this point and it gets more ragged and compressed sounding
Saturating the individual oscillators, when the Overdrive light starts to light up will kill the resonance pretty quickly. It's almost like on/off switch, instead of gradual like you expect.
Especially on the type 1 (bass compensated) filter modes.
You get a more creamy sound here, but lose all the resonant bite
Resonance can get pretty cutting, wet and Rolandy when the oscillator levels are lower. More so with type 2 filter mode, where applicable, as not all filter types have this switch - only the stereo 4/2Pole Low pass
The combo decay/release of the envelope is pretty annoying. If you hit SHIFT to length the release, and then adjust the decay after turning off SHIFT, it gangs the decay and release together and you have to readjust the release again....!
I can see why they did it like that to make it more like a Minimoog/SEM, but it's so annoying
There is a switch that allows the Modulation of the Roland style joystick to stay open, then using the slider above it to control the depth. Still not as a good as a mod wheel though.
---
Overall, lots of fun filtering in arp mode.
It sounds better in stereo mode but that kills the polyphony down to two each side, and I was mostly using 1 side, so not an option for polyphonic play....
I just don't think it's worth it for the price it's sold here for what I will get out of it.
If you combined these filters with a Nina, then that would be ideal
One negative I noticed was that headphone volume also controls the main output volume.... that could be pretty annoying in many situations
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- KVRist
- 359 posts since 30 Apr, 2001 from Australia
It just cost way too much for what it offers, but it is a lot of fun, if a bit confusing to use
If they come out with a pure poly version of this, with a Poly AT keybed, ribbon controller and modwheel, plus proper ADSR, I would be more interested
If they come out with a pure poly version of this, with a Poly AT keybed, ribbon controller and modwheel, plus proper ADSR, I would be more interested