Unveiling the Artifan Orba 2: Addressing the Shortcomings of the Original Music Production Gadget

Table of Contents

• Introduction to the Artifan Orba 2
• The Orba 2's Improvements Over the Original
• Using the Orba 2 for Beatmaking and Looping
• Connecting the Orba 2 to the App
• Sampling and Sound Design Capabilities
• Conclusion: A Niche Tech Curiosity with Room for Improvement

Introduction to the Artifan Orba 2

The Artifan Orba 2 is the sequel to the company's original, quirky Orba music production gadget. In this blog post, we'll dive deep into the Orba 2, exploring its capabilities, improvements over the original, and areas where it still falls short.

The Orba is a unique device that blends elements of a drum machine, synthesizer, looper, and groovebox into one compact, orb-shaped unit. It floats somewhere between these different categories, offering a touch-sensitive radial keybed for playing drums, synths, and melodies. The Orba responds to your touch in various ways, including velocity, position on the keys, and even rotation and tilt of the device itself.

What is the Orba?

The Orba is a peculiar cross between a handheld drum machine, synth, looper, and groovebox. It occupies a unique space, not quite fitting neatly into any single category. At its core, the Orba is a touch-sensitive orb that you can use to play sounds on a radial keybed. Depending on the selected instrument, you can trigger drums, synthesizers, and melodies. The Orba responds to your touch in several ways, making it an expressive controller. It's sensitive to velocity, the position of your fingers on the keys, and even the rotation and tilt of the device itself. As you play, the Orba provides haptic feedback, vibrating in response to your input. This tactile sensation adds to the unique playing experience.

Overview of the Orba's Capabilities

The Orba can function as either an expressive MIDI controller or a self-contained music-making device. When connected via USB-C or Bluetooth, the Orba can control external software and hardware. Alternatively, you can use it as a standalone instrument, leveraging its built-in synthesizer engine and basic sampling capabilities. One of the Orba's key features is its looping functionality. You can build up beats and melodies directly on the device by recording loops and layering them together. The Orba includes quantization options to help you stay on the beat, which is a significant improvement over the original model.

The Orba 2's Improvements Over the Original

The Artifan Orba 2 addresses many of the shortcomings of its predecessor, making it a more refined and capable device. One of the most significant improvements is the addition of built-in quantization, which was sorely lacking in the original Orba. This feature makes it much easier to stay in time when creating loops and beats, especially considering the unique playing experience of the radial keybed.

Another notable enhancement is the ability to load custom samples onto the Orba 2. The original model was limited to its factory-installed sounds, but the Orba 2 allows you to import your own audio files and use them as synthesizer patches. This opens up a world of creative possibilities, as you can now shape and manipulate your own sound sources.

Using the Orba 2 for Beatmaking and Looping

One of the primary use cases for the Orba 2 is beatmaking and looping. The device's radial keybed and intuitive interface make it a unique platform for quickly sketching out beat ideas and melodies.

To get started, you can set the tempo by tapping it out on the Orba 2's center button. Then, hold down the same button to manually select an instrument or cycle through the available options. With your sound chosen, press the center button again to start recording a loop. The Orba 2 will begin capturing your input, and you can play your drum pattern or melody. When you've completed a full revolution of the loop, the recording will stop automatically.

The built-in quantization ensures that your notes will snap to the nearest beat, making it easier to stay in time even with the unusual playing surface. If you make a mistake, you can erase the loop by shaking the Orba 2 or re-recording a new loop over the existing one.

Once you have your initial loop recorded, you can switch to a different instrument and layer additional elements on top. The Orba 2 allows you to build up a complete beat or musical idea by recording and layering loops across multiple instruments.

Connecting the Orba 2 to the App

While the Orba 2 is a standalone device, many of its advanced features and sound customization options are accessed through its companion app. The app is available for both smartphones and computers, and it connects to the Orba 2 via Bluetooth or USB-C.

Using the app, you can browse and select from a library of factory presets, quickly changing the sounds used by the Orba 2's various instruments. The app also provides controls for adjusting the tempo, key, and quantization settings. You can even clear individual loops or adjust the volume and effects directly from the app.

The app integration is generally smooth, with the occasional quirk or glitch. For example, some users have reported issues with the app freezing or causing the Orba 2 to crash and reboot unexpectedly. While not ideal, these issues seem to be relatively rare and may be related to specific device or platform configurations.

Sampling and Sound Design Capabilities

One of the Orba 2's most intriguing features is its ability to load custom samples and use them as synthesizer patches. This functionality expands the device's sonic palette beyond the factory-installed sounds, many of which can be less than inspiring.

To load custom samples, you'll need to connect the Orba 2 to your computer or smartphone via USB. Unfortunately, you cannot transfer samples wirelessly over Bluetooth. Once connected, you can browse your local file system and select audio files to send to the Orba 2.

The Orba 2 will attempt to turn these samples into playable patches, applying basic synthesis parameters like filter cutoff and vibrato. However, the implementation is not without its quirks. For example, samples may have an abrupt cutoff at the end, rather than allowing the sound to ring out naturally.

While the sampling functionality is a welcome addition, it's not entirely frictionless. Loading a large library of custom samples requires some upfront effort, as you'll need to batch-load samples while tethered to a computer. The process could be more streamlined, but it's a step in the right direction for expanding the Orba 2's sound capabilities.

Conclusion: A Niche Tech Curiosity with Room for Improvement

The Artifan Orba 2 is a unique device that sits somewhere between a synthesizer, a limited sampler, and a looping groovebox. It's a hyper-portable and gimmicky gadget, but also a cool and intriguing one. While the Orba 2 has made significant improvements over its predecessor, addressing issues like the lack of quantization and limited sound customization options, it still feels somewhat unfinished.

One of the most glaring omissions is the inability to export or save your musical ideas created on the Orba 2. Artifan has promised that this feature is coming in a future firmware update, but as with any product, it's best to wait until promised features are actually implemented before making a purchase decision. As it stands, any beats or melodies you create on the Orba 2 are trapped within the device unless you find a way to record them externally.

Despite its limitations, the Orba 2 has a certain charm and appeal. It's a niche tech curiosity that encourages users to approach music-making from a different angle. While it may not be a polished, professional-grade tool, the Orba 2 can be a fun and casual gadget for sketching out song ideas or experimenting with unconventional music production techniques.

If you're intrigued by the Orba 2's unique concept and don't mind its rough edges, it could be an interesting addition to your music-making arsenal. Just be aware of its current limitations and keep your expectations in check. The Orba 2 is a work in progress, and only time will tell if Artifan can continue to refine and expand its capabilities to make it a more compelling and well-rounded product.

FAQ

Q: What is the Artifan Orba 2?
A: The Artifan Orba 2 is a unique, handheld music production gadget that combines a drum machine, synth, looper, and sampler into a compact, orb-shaped device.

Q: What are the main improvements over the original Orba?
A: The Orba 2 now includes built-in quantization, the ability to load custom samples, and connects to a companion app for easier sound selection and parameter adjustments.

Q: How do you make beats and loops on the Orba 2?
A: You can tap out a tempo, hold down the middle button to record, and play on the radial keybed to create drum patterns and melodies. The Orba quantizes the input and allows you to loop and layer different elements.

Q: How do you change sounds on the Orba 2?
A: You connect the Orba 2 to the companion app, either via Bluetooth or USB, and select from the factory sound library or load your own custom samples.

Q: Can you export your musical ideas from the Orba 2?
A: Currently, the Orba 2 does not have a feature to export or save your musical ideas. Artifan has stated that this feature is coming in a future firmware update.

Q: What are some of the limitations of the Orba 2?
A: The Orba 2 is still a bit unfinished, with features like song export missing. It's also somewhat niche, catering to casual music idea sketching rather than full-fledged music production.

Q: Is the Orba 2 worth considering?
A: The Orba 2 is a unique and intriguing gadget, but it's still a niche product with some limitations. It may be worth considering if you're interested in a portable, gimmicky music device for casual idea generation, but it's not a complete production tool.

Q: What are some of the strengths of the Orba 2?
A: The Orba 2 is highly portable, offers a unique and expressive playing experience, and allows for quick and easy beatmaking and looping. It's also a refreshing and innovative take on a music production device.

Q: Can you use the Orba 2 as a MIDI controller?
A: Yes, the Orba 2 can be used as a MIDI controller, either via USB-C or Bluetooth, to control other music software or hardware.

Q: Does the Orba 2 have its own internal synth engine?
A: Yes, the Orba 2 has its own built-in synth engine, allowing you to create sounds and melodies directly on the device without the need for external software or hardware.