to buy or not to buy?

[cocomo joe]

Hello guys..new here,but not exactly in synth land.

I have the following prob..I'll try to explain.
I noticed the origin a long time ago when it came on the market,but did'nt gave it a second thought because of the money involved.
Now I can buy the module for a reasonable price..sort of..for a now old piece of kit..and I'm considering it.
Reading through some threads on this board I became aware of some horror stories about build quality and lack of developement.

As far as I understand many of you are concerned of continuation will happen..or not.
Now..I'm a Korg man..I've seen all of the symptons before with the Oasys debacle..a 7k set back and empty promises.
So..I have no desire to let that happen to me twice..though the O is still going strong hardware/software wise..today.

My question therefore is..how many of you users are confident about the hardware?
When I buy new..how long do you think it will last?
I'll take everything else for granted..even if the machine will be abandoned soon..as the O is abandoned as well but still rocks.

I have some money to spend right now and I like to buy the machine,but I hesitate to do so.
Please let me know your thought about it.
Thank you.

[goldenanalog]

Even if all future os revisions was announced deceased tomorrow, I would have no regrets about having invested in (IMHO) one of the greatest synthesizers of all time.

Consider the (2) peers/competitors that the Origin has:

1) Solaris: John Bowen and Creamware redux. Ship times have been extraordinarily long for some of the runs; and:

2.) Access: Started years ago with a simpler analog-type emu in DSP model based (reportedly) on the SCI Prophet 5, and evolved over many years into the VI platform.

Arturia started with software emulations running on a PC, then both ported and 'broke' those models with the Origin-it took world-class 'cahones' to tackle that feat; please understand by comparison that the vast majority of synth companies simply build on and repackage previous generations of their existing ip and hardware.

[goldenanalog]

There *are* problems, true; but the feeling that I get is that we get ignored for a while, and then Arturia gets back to us.

My O keyboard was purchased on eBay after a particularly harrowing experience that the previous owner suffered; the 3rd and me-purchased keyboard was directly overnighted from France to the Seller at great cost (after factory testing - it may even have been their in-house proto and/or trainer) in order to 'make it right'....I wouldn't let go of it for *anything*

[goldenanalog]

.... and, according to the Seller: the 3rd and final Origin that he sold to me had about (3) hours of his use on it.

So: I guess it comes down to asking yourself if you want to invest in a somewhat risky but one of a kind synthesizer - I honestly think that in spite of issues that one may or may not be able to live with, it is it's own thing - I really can't honestly compare it to anything else currently on the market - a company would have to be somewhat crazy to do what Arturia has tried to do (and I would argue mostly succeeded albeit with some rather glaring caveats)

[cocomo joe]

Thanks for the reply G.A

I know the history of Arturia and how they came up to the hardware..it's aclassic aproach to develope from S.W..they all do that.
What I really like to know is the H.W quality of the module..for example,my Oasys is build like a tank..been carried around from gig to gig
without giving a shrink,8 years old now without anything ever broken..apart from one led on the mixer section.

So..Ihope to see the same behaviour from the module,but I'm not certain of that,if I buy I get a 3 year warranty to put my mind at ease.
Price = 1899,- euro's now I think it's a good deal,and Imight order soon.

About the unique approach of the Origin combining modules etc..playing programs or patches and multies I'm used to that playing karma for years.
There the magic word is G.E's and actually it is above and beyond the origin handle.
But that's the very reason I want to get the Origin..to mix and match the two together,and see how this works out.
Anyway..If anyone here can give further comment on H.W quality of origin it's much appreciated.
Thank you.

[JacksonP]

Hi Cocomo Joe,

I have two Origins: Desktop for gigging and Keyboard at home. Origin is my major tool for music making: It's great to program and very powerful synth in all respects.

About build quality: It seems very clear to me that those knobs are the weakest part of Origin. Even my quite new Origin Keyboard is having problems especially with its "Big Knob". And when you read this forum, you'll see that I am not alone. Big Knob issue is very unfortunate because this knob is the most important one. Another thing is that Origin is very difficult to fix anywhere else than in France. Depending where you live, you may need to send your unit to other side of the world because of one simple malfunctioning encoder. This may drive you crazy if it happens… And if you run out warranty period this can cost a lot and be also risky. I had my Desktop in service in France and I had to wait 3 months or something.

All this been said, I love my Origin(s) and really hope the best future for this great instrument.

Maybe Arturia could finally end silence about Origin and reveal us what is future of this instrument. Are we still going to see some development and can we expect to have service when something goes broken with our Origins?

[cocomo joe]

Hello Jackson...

Yes..the knobs are something that can break easely.already read your horror story about it sending it to France,and the long wait for return.
Did'nt know about the big vital knob yet..can only hope it'll NOT happen to me..if it does ( I live in Holland ) I could deal with it fast..I hope.
I took the plunge today and bought it..delivery next friday..got a nice deal 1750 euro's..don't know how much that is in u.s.d.

So..after hearing about what could go wrong with the machine,I ended up with some..prepair for the worst and hope for the best..mind set.
Maybe I'll keep it in de studio for ever,or get a good case for the road.
But first of all I'll be very busy getting to know the module hands on for the rest of the month..can't wait.

Thanks for your answer.
Cojoe.

[rcmusic]

congrats with your purchase, origin is really an amazing synth, the sound is really excellent IMHO

[cocomo joe]

thanks for the congrats..It's good to hear a positive comment about the machine.
About sound quality..I have no doubts..even through tube vids it sounds very good.
But after reading about all those technical issues..I'm worried about what I actually bought.
A shiny disaster or a wonderfull new way to create and combine things.

I considered the Electron A.4 a nifty device as well..but it's just not the same as the origin.
In the end what it can do is just a more up to date behavior compared to what the korg tribes already could do 10 years ago.
I still have the tribes and they still rock.

I truly want to give the Origin a chance..that's why I bought it..I knew the risks..but life is not without risks..innit?
Again..I hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Like many of you I figure it's a great machine..it looks beautifull and I hope I don'nt have to return it after just a few hours.
Reading through the posts here that happened already to some peeps here.

In short..I need a bit of luck with the specific unit I guess.
Anyway..thanks for the thumbs up.
Cojoe.

[cocomo joe]

Well..it's here.
I was actually able to start it up right out of the box..lol.
Had version 1.2.5 on it and I played around with the presets..demos are truly underwhelming..not the way to present the thing.
Programs.. some good..some better..most of them below par..building material.
Multi's same story..some good..some better..all in all not a lot.

Updated to version 3.05 for the templates and factory presets etc..
Went smooth..no issues with the proces and the soft..took one hour.

Connected to other kit..some serious madness possible there..no doubt.
Origin responds well on midi out from Oasys both in program and combination mode.
Combined with Omnisphere /stylus/trilian on the home machine it goes together very well also.
Sound is good but does'nt match my daw settings at all..only 44.1-24bits..not up to par.

Overall first impression is good..a beautifull machine but from years ago,and it shows in several ways.
Nevertheless..I'm glad to have it ,now I must start programming..not my greatest hobby.

I very well understand why certain peeps prefer a Kronos over an Origin these days.
Korg wins..hands down.
I'm glad to have both now.
cojoe.

[cocomo joe]

A pity..you folks have nothing to say apart from so callled lady gaga fanboi posts.
I would say this board is >> dead<<.
And as far as I'm concerned...gone..
I tried my best.
Bey.

[hermitnerd]

I'm always puzzled when I see comparisons between Origin and Kronos... Two different animals, both brilliant. Origin is a massive fully modular synthesizer for people that have a taste for the subtleties of MiniMg, Jupiter 8, CS 80, SEM etc. characteristics. Kronos is a powerful all-in-one workstation with several different synth modeling engines. I'd love to own one but if I make another big purchase it would be something like the Bowen Solaris, because of my personal synthesis preferences. If Korg added  a modular synth to the Kronos I might be more tempted.

As far as the slow forum activity... I really wish there was more activity too - especially SHARING PATCHES!!

[cocomo joe]

Well..
I still have my Origin and it performs pretty well..no dead knobs so far.
The synth as it is..is great.I can't find anything else to compare with it.
So..it is now dropped,but I still believe it's some unique synth.
Well worth to have,and keep.
That's what I want to say in favor of the now (old) Origin synth.
After all..I don't regret paying good money for this beast.
It's just a great pity it was never developed to capacity.
Really..this synth deserved a lot more.
But..I'll keep it untill it dies.
And even beyond that..just to show to mankind what was there at one time.
So..for me it's Origin forever.
The very best of Arturia but left behind for other..newer products.
Money talks..as always.

[hermitnerd]

The synth as it is..is great.I can't find anything else to compare with it.
Really..this synth deserved a lot more.
But..I'll keep it untill it dies.
And even beyond that..just to show to mankind what was there at one time.

Well said.

[pstnotpd]