Artiphon Unveils Orba 3: A Groundbreaking, Handheld Synth with Built-In Sampling

Today, we’re so pleased to share our latest creation: Orba 3. Orba 3 is the latest generation of our portable handheld synths, and it's designed to inspire creativity and help you bring your musical ideas to life in fresh ways. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this version noteworthy.

The standout feature of Orba 3 is its built-in microphone, allowing users to sample their voice, sound effects, or any other audio directly onto the instrument—no additional cables or devices required. This advancement is designed to offer a more immediate and intuitive music-making experience.

Adam McHeffey, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Artiphon explained, “We’ve explored sampling within the Artiphon Connect app, and while users have enjoyed that, they’ve been asking for even more immediacy. We’re thrilled to finally deliver this feature, creating an instant and fun music-making experience.”

Orba 3 is more than just a standard sampler. The instrument’s four primary modes—Drum, Bass, Chord, and Lead—seamlessly integrate with this new sampling feature. In Drum mode, each pad can hold a unique sample, while in Chord mode, samples are automatically tuned to fit musical chords. This is made possible by a sophisticated sound engine that automatically crops, tunes, and perfects the audio. Users simply press the red “sample” button, make a sound, and Orba handles the rest.

For those unfamiliar with the Orba family, the device allows users to create loops, explore hundreds of sounds, and share their musical creations. Since 2015, Artiphon has been at the forefront of creating innovative instruments, starting with the INSTRUMENT 1. The company has received numerous accolades, including TIME’s Best Invention of the Year, NAMM Best in Show, and Fast Company’s Design Award. Artiphon’s products have also been featured on CBS, Vice, and other prominent platforms.

Max Engel, who joined the company in December of 2023 as CEO, remarked, “At Artiphon, we’re building connected instruments that enable anyone to experience the delight of building a musical moment. With the Orba 3, any sound you make or discover can instantly become part of a song. We’re excited to hear what our community creates with the latest member of the Orba family.”

Orba 3 is available now!