Orbit
The Dance Planet
Overview The Orbit is a 32 voice multi-timbral sample based synthesizer module that contains a unique set of Dance orientated sounds. It has a most cool burnished gold finish. Although the Orbit is now out of production, if you want the same sounds and more - buy an Xtreme Lead. It has the Orbit sample banks within it.
Expansion The Orbit stacks up with 8 MB of 16-bit samples in ROM. There is no expansion capability. The samples were created by E-mu Systems as well as UK based Control Synthesis (makers of the TB303 clone - the Deep Base 9).
Filters The usual 32 6-pole resonant digital filters, which can be morphed from one type of filter to another, are fitted . E-mu Systems have coded up 17 different filters (the most popular from the Morpheus) and stored them in ROM.
Beats Mode The Orbit Beats Mode has 100 drum loops which have been programmed by some of the world's best programmers. The drum loops are not static samples that lock you into only one tempo and sound set - they are sequenced drum parts that can play any of the sounds in Orbit. This means you can change the tempo of a beat without changing the pitch, you can change any or all of the sounds triggered and you can route any or all of the sounds through Orbit V's powerful synthesis functions.
Configuration The Orbit module implements a classic analog synthesizer - digitally. There are two "oscillators" called Primary and Secondary Instruments. They each can replay any of the 16 -bit sampled waveforms. The waveforms are replayed first via a simple low pass tone control, then via the Z-plane filter, and finally via a digitally controlled amplifier (DCA) and stereo pan. The amplifier is modified by a dedicated AHDSR envelope generator. There are also two independent LFO's, an auxiliary envelope generator (DADHSR), and 2 Function Generators which can be patched into the Instruments, Filters or DCA. There is also portamento, and cross fade between the two Instruments. Up to 8 sounds can be layered on each key.
Verdict The Orbit is aimed squarely at the Dance market with an appropriate set of samples and a good digital filter. In Version 2 guise you get the improved Beat features, which all adds up to a good second hand module.
Upgrades
Original Orbit owners could upgrade there module to Version 2 for $100. The upgrade was well worth while and part # 9095 gave you:
- A new OS EPROM
- A new Preset EPROM
- A new manual
- A V2 front panel sticker
Version 2 Features
- There are 128 new presets, which show off some of the programming possibilities opened up by the Orbit's synchronised LFOs.
- LFO's sync to tempo clock (to a range of note values, from double whole notes, via triplets, all the way to 32nd notes).
- You can change the Beats tempo and the relative timing of anything using the LFO's
- The Beats mode provides 100 (an extra 40) preset sequences which produce drum patterns when played back using the special patches.
- Provision of Beat patterns via MIDI.
- Beat Transposition control via MIDI SysEx messages.
- Non instrusive Beat mode, which means you can exit Beat mode and leave a pattern playing, so that you can select a new patch for accompanying the beats.