This page about Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice is a stub. You can help improve it:
Pricing and availability
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Dive into the world of classic analog synthesis with the Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice. This legendary synthesizer is a testament to the pinnacle of 1970s sound engineering, offering musicians a rich tapestry of tonal possibilities. The FVS-1 is renowned for its distinct sound character, thanks to the four independent SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) voices. Each voice is fully programmable, allowing for lush, polyphonic textures that evoke the warmth and depth of vintage analog circuits.
Crafted with precision, the Oberheim FVS-1 provides a versatile platform for sound design, making it a favorite among seasoned synthesists and enthusiasts of retro gear alike. Its interface is intuitive, featuring a series of knobs and controls that invite hands-on experimentation, perfect for those who thrive on creating unique soundscapes. Whether you're crafting ambient pads, punchy basslines, or soaring leads, the FVS-1 stands ready to deliver with its powerful architecture.
This synthesizer is not just a piece of equipment; it’s a piece of history, embodying the spirit of innovation that defined an era in music production. With its classic design and robust build, the Oberheim FVS-1 is a true collector’s item, offering both aesthetic appeal and sonic excellence.
Key Features:
- Contains four independent SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) voices
- Fully programmable, polyphonic analog synthesizer
- Classic 1970s design with intuitive controls
- Suitable for creating a wide range of sounds, from ambient to aggressive
- Ideal for vintage sound enthusiasts and professional musicians alike
Videos
Perfect Circuit
Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice Vintage Analog Synthesizer Overview
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice.
Comparisons
-
Vermona Perfourmer offers a similar experience to FVS-1 with independent voice controls, albeit with a different filter sound.
Source
Software and compatibility
-
G-force OB-E VST impresses users, particularly when used outside DAWs, offering a compelling virtual alternative to the FVS-1.
Source
Features and functionality
-
Deckard's Dream shares a twin resonant low and high pass 12dB/oct filter architecture that is somewhat akin to the FVS-1.
Source -
Studio Electronics Omega 8 and CODE synths come with SEM filters, providing a sound closer to the FVS-1.
Source -
The synth's unison mode is praised for producing intensely rich and satisfying sounds, making it a favorite feature among users.
Source
User experience
Value and pricing
-
Availability is a challenge, with some users suggesting alternatives like OB6 or OBX8 for those who prioritize modern features over vintage authenticity.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
"My studio was called Pi West, and the initial bank of keyboards there when John and I started out working together were the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev3, a Prophet 10, an early ARP Quadra and two ARP Avatars — one Avatar was integrated with a Sequential Circuits Model 700 programmer — an ARP Sequencer, an Oberheim Four Voice, and an Emulator 1 sampler. I also had the Linn LM1 drum machine, which drove our main arpeggiator, the ARP Sequencer, using clock pulses."
In this scan of a Keyboard magazine feature, Steve Porcaro mentions using an Oberheim 4 voice for the slide-ups in Michael Jackson’s "Human Nature".
"Zawinul did not stop at the Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes electric pianos he used in the 1960s. By the late 1960s he was extending his sonic palette with effects like phase shifters, Echoplexes, wah-wahs and ring modulators, and when synthesizers came on the market he was among the first to buy one (the EMS Putney). The list of synthesizers he has used since then — among them the ARP 2600, Rhodes Chroma, Oberheim Four-voice and Eight-voice, ARP Quadra, Sequential Prophet 5 and Prophet T8, Korg Trident, Oberheim Xpander, Korg VC10 vocoder, Emu Emulator, Casio CZ101, Korg DW8000, DSS1, DSM1 and M1 — reads like a synth museum's treasure list."
from Contemporary Keyboard Magazine, July 1977:
"When did you start getting into the polyphonic synthesizer?
Well, as I said, I just got the Oberheim recently. I tried out a bunch of them—the Oberheim, the Polymoog, the new Yamaha unit that will be out soon. All of them are great; but so far I like the Oberheim best, so I'm working with it"
In the article she clearly states: "Neben einem Oberheim Four Voice habe ich mich dort sofort in den ARP2600 verliebt." The Oberheim is also referred to in other articles...
In this video a pair of Oberheim FVS synthesizers can be seen as a part of Michael’s set-up live with the Doobie Brothers in 1977.
In this music radar article, it mentions Mays originally used an Oberheim Four Voice while with the Pat Metheny Group.
In this video you can clearly see him using a FS-1. He also has 4 additional SEM’s to the left to create an 8 voice.
"There's also the Oberheim 4-voice which is a wicked sounding synth. Each voice has two oscillators, and it sounds like it looks really - you can blow holes in walls with it! The main riff on 'Timebomb' features one of those."
Phil Oakey of The Human League is listed as using the Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice synthesizer in the Sounds article dated August 12, 1978, featured on The-black-hit-of-space.
Album Usage
The Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice has been featured on the following albums:
Thousand Leaves (Live)
Masahiko Satoh (2025)
Hurry Up Tomorrow
The Weeknd (2025)
Live In Paris '79
Supertramp (2011)
TimeBomb
808 State (1992)
Paris
Supertramp (1980)
Breakfast In America (Remastered)
Supertramp (1979)
Prince
Prince & Prince (1979)
For You
Prince & Prince (1978)
The Grand Illusion
Styx (1977)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Oberheim FVS-1 Four Voice, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursMore Oberheim Synthesizers
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Synthesizers
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
IitisleeannGear IQ 1371
-