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Introducing Orba 2 by Artiphon – Play any sound in the worldplay button

Introducing Orba 2 by Artiphon – Play any sound in the world

collapse expand iconDescription

The follow-up to Orba, Artiphon’s best-selling instrument, Orba 2 has everything you love about the original—plus some significant upgrades. Make songs in seconds with the most unique sounds in the world. Play through the built-in speaker or plug-in headphones. Pair wirelessly to the Orba app to customize your instrument and share your creations with friends. Take your music making to new heights with Orba 2, anywhere you go.

Play Any Sound in the World

Orba 2’s unique sounds include electronic synths, as well as more traditional and acoustic instruments. Its redesigned sound engine lets you play pianos, guitars, band instruments and more. You can conduct a string orchestra in the park—no strings attached, and no screens required.

Create Your Instruments

With the Orba 2 app, you can record any sound from the real world and instantly turn it into a playable musical instrument. For example, you could capture the sounds of the city on your walk—whether it’s turning a jackhammer into a percussion instrument, or capturing a tone from a street busker so you can play it yourself later.

Loop Songs in Seconds

Orba 2 has an integrated looper that allows you to record right on the device itself. Using Drum, Bass, Chord and Lead modes, you’ll be able to combine these sounds to create songs that are uniquely yours. Orba 2’s new quantizing feature will keep everything in time, so you focus on creativity and fun. And, since Orba 2 has far more memory than its predecessor, you’ll be able to make way longer songs—up to 128 bars.

Play with Gestures

Orba’s touch and motion sensors combine to capture even the most subtle micro movements. The playing surface features eight highly touch-sensitive pads, and Orba has nine core gestures: Tap, Press, Spin, Radiate, Tilt, Shake, Slide, Vibrato, Move and Bump. Each motion can control the onboard synth engine or your MIDI music software of choice. Simply by sliding a finger across the Orba 2’s surface, you’ll have endless fun blending and morphing these samples to achieve an infinite combination of sounds. You’ll never play the same note twice.

MIDI Control

Use Orba to control your MIDI-based software and hardware instruments (via USB-C or wirelessly via Bluetooth MIDI). Use Orba with GarageBand, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, FL Studio, as well as any MIDI-compatible mobile app. In addition, Orba is fully compliant with the new standard for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), making it capable of multiple independent note expressions.

Artiphon Orba 2 Synthesizer
Artiphon Orba 2 Synthesizer
Artiphon Orba 2 Synthesizer

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Eight capacitive-sensing pads respond to the lightest velocities
  • Accelerometer and gyroscope capture a range of multi-dimensional gestures
  • Onboard synthesizer and built-in speaker offer an immediate playing experience
  • Use the built-in looper to layer Drum, Bass, Chord and Lead parts
  • Connect to the cross-platform Orba app for more sounds, songs and settings
  • Connect via MIDI over Bluetooth or USB, and use MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) to play your sounds in dynamic new ways
  • Use the 1/8" output to listen on headphones, speakers and amps
  • Multicolor LEDs respond to the way you play
  • An embedded haptic engine offers vibration feedback
  • USB-rechargeable battery

collapse expand iconSpecs

I/O
  • USB-C (USB 2.0 class-compliant audio/MIDI)
  • 1/8" TRS headphone stereo out
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth LE MIDI
  • Speaker System
  • 3W built-in active speaker system
Battery
  • Lithium polymer battery
  • 1250mAH
  • 5 hours of constant playtime at 50% volume
Capacitive Touch-Sensitive Pads
  • 8 pads can be used with different gestures
  • Sound Engine
  • 4-part polyphonic synthesizer with subtractive and physical modeling synthesis
Compatibility
  • iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
Product Weight
  • 158 grams
Product Dimensions (Diameter x Height)
  • 3.14" x 2"
What’s in the Box
  • Orba 2
  • USB-C to USB-A cable
  • Quick start guide

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

3.27

11 Reviews

60%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Reviewed too soon.

I apologize. Tried to figure out how to change my initial review. This is actually an awesome midi. Took me a while to get the hang of it, and yes it's a huge upgrade from the original. The built in quantization tool makes it much more functional while on the go.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

2

Not worth the money

I don't understand the thought process in creating an instrument and then limiting how it can be used. It has severe shortcomings due to its flawed design. There is no way to modify the notes you actually want to play. You are stuck with the chord voicings and scales designed into the "patches". This even holds true to the midi notes output via USB / MPE. They track the notes assigned by the patch. Yes, you can use the app to change the root note or switch between major and minor but that is severely limiting. To me, this is not useful for anything other than a "toy" which is not how it is priced. If more thought was put into the software application design, it would be much more useful as the hardware works well. But after speaking with support, there are no plans to do so.

Filters

Best Uses

  1. Learning3
  2. MIDI3
  3. Travel3
  4. Concerts1
  5. Electronic Music1

Cons

  1. Poor Action2
  2. Poor Instructions2
  3. Unrealistic sound2
  4. Difficult to Use1
  5. Limited Sound Selection1

Describe Yourself

  1. Experienced7
  2. Child1

Pros

  1. Portable7
  2. Responsive / Good Action6
  3. Easy to Use5
  4. Pre-programmed music4
  5. Touch Sensitive Keys4
  • I am very happy with the Orba 2

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted3 months ago

    bySteven

    fromNew York

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    This is a great hand held synth. I got this for my father who is a life long musician who has lost some mobility in his hands. This awesome device lets him make music again in a fun and convenient way. The purchase from guitar center was easy and it came on time. Great experience all around. #sweepstakes

  • Seriously? Still no Bluetooth Headphone Connectivity?

    2

    submitteda year ago

    byBruce

    fromPortland

    Hard to believe it's the 2nd iteration of this instrument and your engineers haven't figured this out yet? Zero lag is NOT rocket science!

  • Extremely Flawed

    1

    submitted2 years ago

    byTroy

    fromflorida

    I bought the original, because it was 69.00 1/2 hour into testing. Recording will not work consistently, Pleay back has issues. Metronome disappeared. DONT BUY

  • Tons of fun

    4

    submitted2 years ago

    byEthan

    fromAlbuquerque, NM

    This MIDI controller is way more powerful than I originally thought. It has over 5 minutes of recording capability, tons of different settings on the Computer Application (Which is super easy to set up via micro USB cable) and the gesture modes are incredibly responsive. Used daily.

  • Orba 2 does not sync with multiple devices

    1

    submitted2 years ago

    byJinger

    fromScottsdale, AZ

    I bought this for my son and unfortunately it did not work as advertised. It did not work on my Samsung tablet, Samsung Galaxy, Google pixel phone or my Windows laptop. I went back and forth with the company through email, troubleshooting for days. Nothing worked. The idea of the product is pretty awesome and my son LOVED it. He was pretty sad when I had to return it. I am honestly VERY unhappy with the company. Falsely advertising the syncing capabilities, just to find out its an extremely faulty product and does not live up to the hype as per their website.

  • Better than I thought

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted2 years ago

    byJose

    fromArizona

    Submitted as part of a sweepstakes

    The rumble alone makes it unique, I have a ton of synths already but nothing like this, the plastic doesn't feel cheap either

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collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • asked byAlex

    fromTucson, AZ

    Same question as Marie, what's the difference between this model and the last. Question couldn't be more clear…

    Same question as Marie, what's the difference between this model and the last. Question couldn't be more clear…

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Probably not much in terms of features. It has a new sound engine and quantization. It helps it sound not so mechanical.
  • asked byMarie

    fromFairfax Va

    What's the differences from the first model to the second one?

    What's the differences from the first model to the second one?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    I’m very sorry. Your question is not clear. Please call us at 855-770-3373