OM-200M/250M/300 – MIDI out Qchord – MIDI in & out
The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument introduced in 1981 by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation.[1] It allows users to play distinctive harp-like arpeggios produced through an electronic strum plate, simulating the experience of playing a stringed instrument. Originally conceived as an electronic autoharp,[2] the Omnichord found popularity due to its portability, unique timbre, and kitsch value.
The various Omnichord models feature a touch plate that the user strums, organ-like chords, preset drum rhythms and auto-bass line functionality. A grid of buttons allow the user to select major, minor, and 7th chords to be triggered by the strum plate, chord buttons and bass-line accompaniment.
Production ceased with the OM-300 model in 1996.[3] In later years, it underwent a resurgence in popularity due to renewed interest in vintage electronic instruments.[4] A new model, the OM-108, was released in 2024.[5]
History
Suzuki Omnichord OM-27
The development of the Omnichord started with a request from an overseas sales company[which?] to make an electronic musical instrument like an auto-harp.[citation needed] Suzuki started with the Tronichord 'PC-27', renamed the Portachord on some units, followed by the first Omnichord 'OM-27', which featured improvements to the interface, such as the chord buttons.[4] The OM-27 and PC-27 and were both released in 1981, but the latter never reached full production.[4][6]
The OM-27 was capable of playing 27 chords, and early models required a rubber plectrum to play, though later models featured an updated strum plate. The OM-27 was a commercial failure,[6] so Suzuki released the OM-36 and OM-84 in 1984, also called the System One and System Two, respectively.[6] The naming convention was originally meant to convey the number of chord types the model can produce, with OM-36 prototypes only able to play 36 chords; however, the OM-36 and OM-84 production models can both play 84 chord types. The OM-84 was the first model to feature an onboard Chord Computer, a feature that allowed the user to record a sequence of chords which could then be played back as accompaniment.[7]
In 1989, Suzuki released the OM-100 and OM-200M, which replaced the OM-36 and OM-84, adding updated sounds, an angled strum plate for more comfortable playing, and an optional strap for standing performances.[8] The OM-200M additionally introduced a MIDI output port, allowing the user to control other MIDI-equipped devices using the Omnichord.[8] The OM-150 and OM-250M offered refreshed sounds,[9] and the OM-300 released in 1995 offered the features of the OM-250M but with further updated sounds.[10]
Suzuki released the Qchord QC1 in 1999; it features more modern versions of the original Omnichord's features such as PCM sampled sounds, and more rhythms.[11] The Qchord additionally features both MIDI input and MIDI output ports. In February 2023, Suzuki announced a new Omnichord model to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the company,[12] called the OM-108, available for pre-order and shipping sometime in mid-2024.[5]
Omnichords feature preset rhythm patterns with tempo and volume control, as well as an auto-bass line feature, which the player can combine to use as a musical accompaniment. The Omnichord's most unique feature is the Sonic Strings strum plate, that allows the player to 'strum' arpeggios like a guitar.[13] Several later models of the Omnichord added MIDI compatibility, a greater selection of sounds for the Sonic Strings, vibrato, and chord memory, called Chord Computer.
The Omnichord was primarily designed as an accompaniment instrument instead of a melody instrument,[13] an ideal way to accompany a singer with basic rhythms and the ability to easily play chords[14] with little music theory knowledge.
The most basic method of playing the instrument is to press the chord buttons and swipe the strum plate with a finger in imitation of strumming a stringed instrument. The strum plate may also be touched in one place to create a single note, or touched rhythmically to produce rhythmic patterns.
The Omnichord has three main sound generators:[15]
A percussion section that plays rock, waltz, slow rock, Latin, foxtrot and swing rhythms, with adjustable tempo and volume.
A chord generator providing different triad and seventh chords, either as organ-like chords or walking bass. The original OM-27 was only capable of playing 27 different chords, but later models allow 84 different chords.
A Sonic Strings section producing an arpeggio or isolated notes from a chosen chord over a 4-octave span, played using the touch strip. The notes played on the touch strip are always in tune with the chord button currently selected.[16] Later models featured a selection of different voices for the Sonic Strings, including vibes, brass, organ, guitar and banjo.[13]
Later models feature a chord sequencer in a Chord Memory section that would allow the user to record up to 51 chords in sequence and play them back automatically or via a footswitch.[13]
Notable uses
Suzuki Omnichord OM-200M
The British duo Eurythmics used chords and Sonic Strings from an Omnichord OM-27 on their 1982 single "Love Is a Stranger".[17] The Canadian producer Daniel Lanois has used Omnichords throughout his career; he used one on "Deep Blue Day", from the 1983 album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Lanois, Brian Eno and Roger Eno, saying: "It mimics strings and has a little built-in bass element: almost one-stop instrument that provides a whole sound of an entire band. We found that by recording this thing and slowing it down, we were able to get this very beautiful, deep, jukebox sound."[18]
Lanois later used an Omnichord on U2's "Trip Through Your Wires" from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree,[19] co-produced with Eno. It was plugged it into the Edge's echo effects amplifiers to create the organ chords and "jangling" sound in the background. Lanois referred to the Omnichord as a "toy instrument" with a "beautiful bell-like sound".[20] He has also used Omnichord in his solo work, such as his 1989 debut album, Acadie.[21] Eno played an Omnichord in a live performance of "Miss Sarajevo" with U2 and Luciano Pavarotti in 1995.[22]
↑ Prendergast, Mark (September 1987). "The Magic of Daniel Lanois". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom: SOS Publications Ltd. p.42. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
