Super 8 is very much similar to Gemini, 2 binaural voices less and not full contol over the two layers. It costs “only” 300 Euro less and is a little smaller and lighter.
I am not sure if that product makes sense, I do not understand why they did it, might be cannibalizing sales figures from Gemini (take away customers from Gemini), which will not help UDO in total. As a rival to Polybrute 12 it is not really featured enough.
I would have understood a Gemini desktop with the Super 8 UI concept, but not the Super 8.
Anyone has an idea? Would you buy the Super 8 instead of the Gemini? Why?
I guess, Gemini prize must be increased soon to keep enough distance between both synth.
Maybe they are struggling to reach their market target with the Gemini ; I suppose the super 8 gets nearly the same hardware, which reduce R&D costs, still being (a little bit) less expensive.
The Super 8 might be an opportunity to expand the sales then.
The Super 8 press release just confirmed the price :
Price (RRP)
€ 3,749
£ 2,995
$ 3,699
Finally, with such similar prices, I’m struggling to understand how the S8 and SG can coexist in the UDO catalogue.
Unless effectively the SG price rises when the S8 is released…
This would be less of an issue if the super actually sounded different, do people think it does or is it the exact same as the gemini? From hearing it first I thought something about the super 8 sounded much more like a Roland Jupiter or something, maybe a Juno, but I can be sure its not just my mind playing tricks on me.
I want UDO to be successful, but yeah I gotta agree. I don’t really understand who this is for, it’s got the same large footprint as the Gemini at nearly the same price but a lot less controls.
And I’m glad we’re finally getting our super 6 bug fixes that have been promised for 2+ years but I’m sorry it’s still crazy that it took this long, and we’re not even getting any new features like wave morphing even though they claim that they are building these instruments on the same platform so they can share features across the lineup.
It seems like unfortunately UDO just doesn’t really have the capacity (or the engineering ability? Not sure what the issue is) to do very much development so they’re releasing the Super 8 not because it’s the most compelling instrument but because it’s the best they could cobble together without doing a bunch of new work.
I really like the clean look of the 8 (and am not too bothered about a ribbon controller). With pass-through mode on sliders (forthcoming) and a visual indicator of slider position of the switched-to layer via the LEDs (hopefully added at some point) I might even prefer this over the SG.
I asked George about it when I talked with him at Superbooth and he said it was going to be implemented. I think there’s also a Sonicstate video interview where he says this.
I also can’t understand what they did here!
If i would now want to buy an SG, i wouldn’t even think about the S8. The direct access to both layers is so much more worth than those 300/500€!
I just hope they did a good research and sell enough devices to stay successfull!
From what I’m seeing here in Europe, the Super 8 seems priced at €3499 while the Super Gemini has gone up in price slightly and is now €4199.
With the Super 6 at around €2699 it seems like it does sit nicely in between the two. I do agree lots of people would probably jump for the Gemini if the are considering the S8, which is actually a pretty common sales tactic (upselling).
I’m considering the S8 for the cleaner look. I have a Prophet 10 and Super 6 atm. I usually reach for the Super 6, but prefer the P10 tone. The S8 sounds really good and I can hear the difference compared to the S6. I’m considering selling my current synths and just grabbing the S8. Less options is better for me right now. No ribbon, but I can add one np. I’m working mostly in modular and using orchestral instrument vsts. I’m usually slapping an Ozone Imager on the P10 to mimick the binaural thing, but that seems like a major degradation of the sound. For some reason I think the S8 will do better than the SG. It looks better for one.
I’m honestly totally torn on which synth to purchase. I had originally wanted a Super 6, but then the Gemini came out and I decided to wait (and save up). By the time I had the funds, the Super 8 is released.
The Gemini seems like the most fully featured option, although the Super 8 looks less busy. I am on the fence about being overwhelmed by all of the controls on the Gemini, vs being regretful that I don’t have dedicated controls for each layer of the 8.
And then I question if I should just keep it simple (and save some cash) and get the 6. This lineup indeed is making it hard to choose!
After the announcement of the S6 keyboard upgrade kit I pulled the trigger on S6 keyboard, as lack of PolyAT was something that held me back from purchasing it initially.
However, there’s something truly ballsy about the bare surface of the S8 that is driving me towards it. Can’t get it out of my head. Objectively I still think the white S6 keyboard is the best looking synth there is, like, in the world (the panel is nicely distributed with controls with no negative/dead space, gorgeous interstellar space ship color scheme and I personally love how the keys pop up from the body looking at sideways, and it’s uniform color scheme all over unlike Gemini/S8 with the dark bottoms).
I’m a very visual person, and to me S8 looks like an instrument with the strongest identity. It’s something that after seeing it you will remember. Also controlling both layers with one set of controls is not a problem - doing it constantly with Novation Summit and no issues there! I’d say get the S8.
EDIT: Just bought the S6 and pre-ordered the polyAT keys couple days ago, I seriously need to stop selling the S8 to myself. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t…
In my case, I clearly have to say, I love to create my own patches and I do often just try if the movement of a knob or fader makes the sound better or more interesting or changes the sound dramatically, creating unforeseen new sounds. I would say, this is more possible with full access to both layers. Creativity is not limited so much. But that is only my experience and personal preference.
Part of the reason we made the Super 8 is to make an instrument with reduced “visual load”. For many, they are comfortable with a large array of control like a late 80s ghetto blaster but for others it’s overwhelming. Also the size does matter and although Super 8 is the same length and mainly just shallower it really makes a difference to handling and feel. It’s amazing how cars that are only a few cm bigger in all directions feel so much bigger for example. I like them both, and I think if I’m mainly studio and have the space I’d go Gemini, and if I had a smaller studio, planned to move it around or play live, the Super 8. You do get used to the flipping layers and o think we will make a voice upgrade available in the future. I’m also trialling a standalone ribbon for the Super 6 that we may make available later
Wow, a standalone ribbon is a great idea. I’m actively selling my Super 6 for the Super 8, so hopefully, the ribbon works with the 8 as well. I like the clean look of the 8. It’s not a money thing.
