Sound designers, producers, and musicians in search of a quality FM synthesizer that's flexible and easy to use will be thrilled with the Korg opsix, an altered digital FM synthesizer that features a true 6-operator sound generator with a diversity of waveforms and operator modes that go far beyond the realm of standard FM. The opsix offers the editing simplicity of analog synthesis to control the power of the FM engine.
There are six sets of knobs and sliders on the opsix panel, each with bicolor LEDs, which help you quickly and clearly see the relationships between operators, whose roles change with each algorithm. Make direct changes to: the pitch and volume for carriers, brightness of the sound, and strength of the harmonics for the modulators. These controls give you sonic control over the unpredictability of FM just by subtracting and adding sounds as if you were using a mixer or drawbars. The opsix ships with a power supply and includes a free bundle of music software.
opsix Version 2.0
- Effect Operator: When using this mode, the oscillator signal and input signal are fed into one of 10 different effects, including Peaking EQ, Shelving EQ, Phaser, Short Delay, Comb Filter, Distortion, Drive, Decimator, Waveshaper, Punch.
- Noise Pink and Noise Blue have been added to the list of available oscillator waveforms.
- Aftertouch is now selectable as a control source for LFOs, EGs, and the Virtual Patch
- Aftertouch can now be recorded and played back via the motion sequencer.
- MIDI clock sync is now more accurate.
- New Sounds: There are 100 new preset programs and improvements to some of the original 250, resulting in 350 total preset sounds. To accommodate this new data, the default program order and favorites lists have been updated as well. To make them easier to find, they are now grouped by shared characteristics like octave and loudness.
Get Illuminated with the Operator Mixer
At the heart of every sound is opsix's Operator Mixer—a simple set of six faders and knobs that invite exploration. Each part lights up red to indicate a sound or blue for a modulator. Changing the position of these controllers opens up new soundshaping possibilities to breathe fresh life into your musical ideas. This straightforward hands-on workflow is part of what makes opsix so unique, just like the sounds it offers.
Direct Hands-On Control
- Whether you’re tweaking a preset or building a patch from the ground up, the six data entry knobs on the right give you quick access to the parameters you need and seamlessly sync with the large OLED display, giving you a clear, focused direction to your workflow. Coupled with the mixer, it makes creating fresh sounds super easy and, most importantly, fun.
- Select from a full range of analog-style filters, from the radical Korg MS-20 low-pass / high-pass filter to the powerful yet smooth Korg PolySix low-pass filter that gives your sound a vintage feel. There are also two- and four-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject filters, with resonance.
- There’s even a built-in spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope that gives you visual feedback via the screen on the music you’re making.
Six-in-One Synthesis
- Subtractive: Removing parts of the sound to get the sound you want; the most widely used synthesis. opsix uses up to six envelopes and multimodeled filters to achieve many cutting-edge and classic tones.
- Semimodular: Rerouting signal paths to change the sound. A spin through the Algorithms section will dramatically reshape the base sound by changing how the six mixer parts work together, and no patch cables are needed.
- Analog (Modeling): Analog-style controls and plenty of stackable waveforms take you from digital to analog-sounding in no time. Enjoy deep basses, crisp leads, thick pad sounds, fuzzy brass tones, and so much more.
- Waveshaping: Adding intentional distortion to the waveforms to achieve aggressive overtones that are either harmonic or inharmonic. This will help you achieve gritty, bitey tones dripping with character.
- Additive: Stacking waveforms and blending their harmonics is key to an expansive range of harmonious, dissonant, and tension-driven sounds. With six operators available, the complete FM experience is possible, including the ability to go back in time for classic sounds you have heard throughout recording history.
- Classic FM: Last but certainly not least, opsix’s highly flexible and powerful architecture starts with true six-Operator FM. As a result, it easily delivers signature sounds you have surely heard on thousands of hits from the ‘80s on through today, and with far more polyphony than other standalone FM synths available today.
Altered Reality
What started as a legacy synthesizer has evolved into something completely different. opsix is FM-based, but the similarities to classic synthesis end there. The Altered FM architecture delivers sounds across a vast spectrum, far wider than any single synthesis has been able to cover before, thanks to new sound components—new waveforms, filters, shaping, effects, LFOs, envelopes, modulations, and more—all translating to its broad assortment of sounds.
Powerful Effects Processing
opsix provides three blocks of 30 types of high-definition effects that you can use together to enhance your sounds even further. There's everything from a great mix of usable standard effects like chorus, phaser, delay, and compression, to world-class shimmering reverbs that will elevate your sound to the next level.
Polyphonic Motion Sequencing
- opsix features an incredible step sequencer that rivals groove boxes for flexibility and power. Press the Play button on any sound and experience the complexity of the sequences. Every Program has its unique sequence stored with it, or create your very own.
- You can record up to six notes per step and edit each note's velocity, gate time, and playback timing. Create long phrases or make subtle shifts in timing to emulate strums or drum rolls, something that’s not possible on a typical 16-step sequencer. The motion sequencer of the opsix also lets you record changes of up to six parameters, creating smooth motion changes in sound within a phrase or building rhythms that change dramatically with each step.
Monster Modulation Matrix
- The opsix’s modulation possibilities are genuinely mind-blowing. With six operator modes and 40 preset algorithms, plus the ability to create your own, opsix offers you dynamic sonic options.
- This synthesis is supercharged with the processors that come at the end of the signal chain. The MOD section works separate from the operators, with three EGs and three LFOs; and 12 virtual patches for a wide variety of routing possibilities. Use these features for a huge range of modulation, to create swirling soundscapes or add rhythmic motion to your sounds.
Throw the Dice
Use the Randomize feature if you're in the mood for unexpected sonic discoveries. Press the button marked with the Die icon to completely scramble the synth's parameters, generating new, unique sounds. You can use the Randomize feature for all parameters or just for the operators, the algorithm, or the sequences.
Free Librarian Software
The opsix Sound Librarian lets you view and organize data on an opsix connected to a computer via USB, and transfer sound data back and forth between the opsix and the computer.
Free Bundle of Music Software
The opsix comes with a diverse variety of music software from IZotope including: Ozone Elements, which lets you not only create songs but also master them using AI; Skoove which will help you improve your keyboard playing skills; and software synths from KORG and other brands. In other words, the moment you get your hands on this synthesizer, you'll have a variety of tools to help you take your music to the next level.
Special Crossgrade to opsix Native
- Korg has prepared a package for those who have the opsix to crossgrade to opsix native (software) at a special price. The user can obtain a coupon code via opsix librarian software, which allow them to purchase it at a special price of $49.99 from the KORG Shop. Users will be able to use opsix onstage and opsix native in a DAW, making it usable in various environments.
- opsix native is a plug-in version of opsix synthesizer with the exact same sound engine as opsix. Use it for different purposes, such as production on a DAW.