Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll On The Korg ARP 2600

Korg shared this short video, featuring Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll sharing his thoughts on the ‘quite psychedelic and rave-y’ ARP 2600 FS.

Hartnoll has been a 2600 user since 1993. “We used 2600 a lot on the albums In Sides and Snivilisation, (particularly) on the track Kien Trink Wasser. It starts quite orchestral then jumps into a big bass drop, which was the 2600. The original is all over those albums, sometimes more subtly”.

Hartnoll describes Korg’s ARP 2600 FS as a “fresh, sparkly, clean hardware dirty ARP – straight out of the box”.

Korg notes that the video was filmed ‘back when life was normal, pre isolation’.

18 thoughts on “Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll On The Korg ARP 2600

    1. I think it’s great that people who can afford it support artisanal and innovative stuff.

      That said it did grate when Ty on the Sonic State podcast gave a 10 minute anti-Behringer rant and then in the next breath started talking about his Korg 2600. It’s better to recognize that people produce music on different budgets and in different worlds, and different parts of the industry can coexist.

      1. I viewed the same podcast and Ty has some very strong feelings against Behringer which I happen to share, however for me personally it is not what Behringer does, rather the manner in which they do it. Uli’s behaviour and cringe worthy (and gag reflex inducing rationalisation) antics are the primary issue. I am not keen on copying the colour scheme and motif of the works of others either yet that is another issue entirely.

        I will concede that Ty is a bit tone deaf.

    2. I guess with that logic, Steinway should stop making pianos, Yamaha should stop making professional saxophones, etc etc. I think it’s cool that Korg is making them again…not that I can afford one, but that’s my issue not Korg’s. I’m happy with my Minilogue XD and my Arturia 2600V.

  1. it would be cool if they put these back in to production, i know a lot of people missed the limited run. excited if they are going to do the smaller version too.

  2. I’ll probably get the Behringer 2600. The Korg version is unavailable and is too rich for my blood even if it could be obtained.

    1. Thing is, the Behringer version doesn’t have the keyboard. That keyboard is like half the synth, and it has features that I wish the Korg Prologue had. There is a vibrato delay, which is an envelope and VCA dedicated to that LFO. The momentary switch for the portamento is a really great idea. Plus the keyboard is pressure sensitive. It’s really a pleasurable experience to play the instrument.

      And the ARP 2600 does scream, “I’m an instrument! Play me!” When mine arrived, I sat for about 15 minutes just sweeping the tuners and filter back and forth, listening to the changes. The FM and ring mod are on tap with sliders, as well. It’s really great to work with sliders that have such a big sweep, with the VCOs going from pop-pop-pop to dog whistle.

      The 2600 can also be expanded, as it’s 1V/oct, 0-10V. So standard European Eurorack voltages, and then some longer patch cords, and a design 50 years old is rocking with 2020 gear.

      For synth design, I really don’t think there’s been much forward progression over the decades. The ARP 2600 keyboard should be just basic, not something that I see as being advanced.

      (The ARP 2600 was $2500 back in the day, so adjusted for inflation it would be over $13,000. Something to think about.)

  3. Quite sad to see owners of original 2600 that bought the Korg reissue, leaving many non-original owners without the opportunity to finally get one. Sometimes the synth world really is the law of the jungle, full of greedy people…

      1. If Korg gives me one, I’ll make a demo video talking about the awesomeness of their 2600 reissue.

        I’ll also let Korg use my name in advertisements at a reduced rate for what I typically charge for endorsements.

  4. Well,
    I’m not anything close to being rich. But I did go mightily in debt and order one of these. it’s been a dream for years. But when old 2600s are selling for $9,000+? Nope.

    As I have pointed out elsewhere, this Korg ARP is not anything like over priced. There is are clones out there that are the same, or even twice as much, and you don’t get the keyboard and road case.

    Ulinger Rainbow Sparkle Princess 2600? Nope, not for me thank you. Not after that distasteful Cork Sniffer thing. There are lot’s of other companies to support. If I can NOT BUY only one synth in 2020, it will be all of the one’s Uli makes.

    1. I bought a new 2600 in 1980 for $2,000 US, considering what the 2600FS has in it that mine didn’t, and the price adjusted for inflation, yeah, Korg’s price is reasonable.

  5. I was at glastonbury festival in the late 90’s setting up some hippy sculpture. Orbital were at the height of public popularity. As we drove past their soundcheck the whole car would start to vibrate as we crested each little hill and then fade as we dropped back down again. Magic!

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