UDO Audio - DMNO ON

DMNO ON brings UDO Audio's eight-voice, two-part analog-hybrid DMNO into a compact desktop format. We've been completely mesmerised by the keyboard version of DMNO already — its sound, the unusual way its two synth sections interact, and that rather spectacular industrial design (just look at that thing!). The desktop version looks every bit as fantastic, retaining the complete synthesis engine of the original, sans the keyboard and its dedicated performance controls. Instead of two separate synth-control panels, you get one shared set of knobs and sliders to operate them both.

Underneath, however, you'll still find two independent four-voice synth sections, each with a pair of FPGA-based super-waveform oscillators and a per-voice analog Dynamic Multi-Core Stereo VCF. These filters can be configured in parallel, series or stereo, while binaural mode gives the left and right channels independent voices and modulation, trading half the polyphony for much more elaborate stereo movement. Eight Play Modes determine how the two sections interact, from conventional splits and layers to alternating or randomly assigned voices. Cascade mode goes further, feeding the audio output of DMNO 1 into DMNO 2's oscillator mixer as a complex sound source. It's an unusual architecture, and one that gives DMNO a rather unruly side beyond its lovely, more conventional polysynth sounds.

The new ON system also introduces expandable controls. Add the optional ONM-1 Synth Control and you get a second set of synthesis controls, recreating the dual-panel arrangement of the keyboard DMNO. The forthcoming ONM-2 FX Control takes a different approach, adding dedicated knobs for the onboard effects and three-band EQ, plus an LED parameter display. Up to two expanders can be connected using screw-locking D-Sub cables, with no additional power supplies required. The base unit already includes the arpeggiator, 64-step sequencer, extensive modulation options, analog and digital connectivity, and a built-in 24-bit USB audio interface. And, happily, that gorgeous glass vacuum fluorescent display is still there — for those curious about the technology, here's a lovely little primer on VFD displays. There's even VESA mounting for positioning it on a monitor arm. UDO clearly put some thought into making this a proper desktop instrument, and the result is a beautiful bit of design. We liked the original an awful lot, and this one makes a very convincing case for going without the keyboard.

Features:

• Eight-voice polyphonic, two-part multitimbral analog-hybrid desktop synthesizer
• Two independent four-voice synth engines with a shared control panel
• Expandable ON system supporting up to two optional ONM control modules
• Optional ONM-1 Synth Control adds a second dedicated synthesis panel
• Forthcoming ONM-2 FX Control adds hands-on effects and EQ control with LED display
• Plug-and-play expansion via screw-locking D-Sub connections, no additional power required
• Two FPGA-based super-waveform oscillators per synth engine, with complex waveforms, sync, cross-modulation and noise
• Per-voice analog Dynamic Multi-Core Stereo VCF with parallel, series and stereo configurations
• Multiple filter types, including lowpass, highpass, bandpass, allpass and phase shifting
• Binaural mode with independent left/right modulation and detuning (four-voice polyphony)
• Eight Play Modes: Single, Dual, Split, One-Two, Rotate, Random, Chaos and Cascade
• Three envelope generators, two LFOs and extensive modulation matrix
• MIDI-syncable arpeggiator with Smart Hold and onboard 64-step sequencer
• 32-bit DSP effects with delay, reverb, chorus, multi-mode distortion and three-band EQ
• 256 performance memories and 256 individual patch memories
• High-contrast glass vacuum fluorescent display (VFD)
• Stereo external audio input with variable-gain preamp, envelope follower and gate detector
• Stereo main outputs, assignable stereo auxiliary outputs and headphone output
• Built-in 2-in/2-out, 24-bit USB audio interface
• DIN MIDI In/Out/Thru and USB MIDI
• Two user-assignable CV outputs and two gate/clock outputs
• VESA-compatible mounting and flip-up rear feet