Suzuki Omnichord/Qchord

[BigRedX]

I've been interested in these ever since I saw one at a music trade show in the early 80s.

Having done a bit of research it appears that there are lots of different models, but I can't find anywhere that has a run down of all the features and differences between the different versions.

I'm looking for a model with MIDI out which apparently the latest version the Qchord has, but do any of the older models also have MIDI? I don't need massively complicated MIDI facilities - note values plus note on and offs will do me.

Anyone got one or know any more about the various individual models?

[chaypup]

You've probably seen this, but from the analogue heaven site:
[quote]i've owned the om27, om84, and currently have the om200m with midi. the
27 was great for it's warmer analogue-type sound and the ability to
press and latch 2 or more rhythms together and get a blend. the buttons
seemed to have a quicker response than later models as well. the 84 i
didn't care for. it felt sluggish compared to the 27. i'll probably
never sell the 200m because of the midi out. it sends on 3 channels,
bassline, chords, and strumplate. there are some limitations. no midi
channel for the percussion section, so as a controller, you're stuck
with the onboard sounds and rhythms(the sounds i happen to like, the
rhythms get old fast but processing helps). you can also assign your
drum machine to the bass channel to layer it with the omni sounds.
biggest drawback is it sends no midi clock, only note on/off. i find the
omni great for wacked out versions of your favorite tunes. the other
night i came up with a rendition of "brain damage" that i just couldn't
stop playing. good songwriting tool. reggae works well with it.
attention getter in performance as long as you don't play it all night.
the strumplate and a good tube driver will provide a thick rippin' power
chord like you've never heard. i don't really know which are digital and
which are analogue. the om200 sounds are all pretty warm. the
qchord(omni successor) is for sure digital. i'll likely get one of these
at some point because they send on more channels, but they too have
limitations. although the q has midi in and out, you can't use them both
simultaneously. not sure if it sends midi clock. i checked out the
reviews on harmony central, but couldn't really tell from what was there.
if you join the qchord yahoogroup, the moderator is a helpful swell
fella. i think he knows the omnis too.
here's a circuitbent omni:
[url="http://www.klangbureau.de/Omnicon_E.html"]http://www.klangbureau.de/Omnicon_E.html[/url]
[/quote]

[chaypup]

Apparently the 200m was the first to have midi.

[BigRedX]

Thanks for that!

The apparent lack of MIDI clock synchronisation on the 200m worries me a bit as from what I recall the arpeggio functions were one of the cool things about them. Might have to actually check out a Qchord before taking this any further.

MIDI implementation always seems to be a bit hit and miss on musical products like this that are designed as stand-alone items for largely non-musical consumers, but which weirdos like me can see as potential MIDI controllers in a more "professional" MIDI set up.

Edited June 16, 2013 by BigRedX

[tedmanzie]

friend of mine collected a few of these, i think he's got at least three. he brought them along to my studio once and they were great! let me know if you need more info and i'll ask him.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1371424985' post='2113870']
friend of mine collected a few of these, i think he's got at least three. he brought them along to my studio once and they were great! let me know if you need more info and i'll ask him.
[/quote]

That would be great. I'm interested in the ones with MIDI as I'll mostly want to using it as a controller for other sound sources.