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Description
Step into a world of sonic nostalgia with the Oberheim OB-X, a revered classic that beautifully bridges the gap between vintage charm and modern sound design. Originally released as Oberheim's first polyphonic synthesizer, the OB-X became a staple in the 80s music scene, embraced by artists like Herbie Hancock and Depeche Mode. Today, it continues to inspire, offering musicians a vast palette of sounds that range from ethereal to downright gritty.
This synthesizer is not just a nod to the past; it's a reimagined powerhouse for today's creative demands. With up to 16 voice polyphony, the OB-X is engineered to deliver lush, complex textures and a seamless blend of analog warmth and digital precision. The intuitive design features vintage controls to introduce subtle analog imperfections, while modern enhancements like X-Modifiers expand your sound design possibilities exponentially. Whether you're crafting ambient soundscapes or driving electronic beats, the OB-X empowers you to sculpt your sonic signature with ease.
Explore over 400 production-ready presets from top-tier sound designers, or dive into the flexible preset browser to tailor your creations. With its monophonic, polyphonic, legato, and unison trigger modes, the OB-X adapts to any musical scenario, offering a dynamic and expressive playing experience. Complement your performance with built-in Chorus, Stereo Delay, and Reverb effects, and let your creativity soar.
Key Features:
- Authentic emulation of the Oberheim® OB-X
- Up to 16 voice polyphony
- Vintage knob for authentic analog imperfections
- Over 400 production-ready presets
- X-Modifiers for extensive modulation options
- Arpeggiator and chord mode with scales
- Built-in Chorus, Stereo Delay, and Reverb effects
- Fully-scalable UI with a powerful preset browser
- Monophonic, polyphonic, legato, and unison trigger modes
- Programmable Aftertouch and expanded Velocity controls for enhanced playability
Product specs
| Brand | Oberheim |
| Model | OB-X 61-Key 4-Voice Synthesizer, OB-X 61-Key 6-Voice Synthesizer, OB-X 61-Key 8-Voice Synthesizer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1979 |
| Categories | Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Analog |
| Key Size | Full Size |
| Keyboard Action | Synth Action |
| Number of Keys | 61 Keys |
| Polyphony | 4 Voices, 6 Voices, 8 Voices |
FAQs
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What is the polyphony of the Oberheim OB-X synthesizer?
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The Oberheim OB-X synthesizer comes in three versions, offering polyphony of 4, 6, or 8 voices, allowing for rich and complex chordal textures.
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Is the Oberheim OB-X an analog or digital synthesizer?
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The Oberheim OB-X is an analog synthesizer, known for its warm, rich sound characteristic of classic analog synths from the late 1970s.
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What type of keyboard action does the Oberheim OB-X have?
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The Oberheim OB-X features a synth action keyboard, which provides a smooth and fast response ideal for playing synth leads and pads.
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How many keys does the Oberheim OB-X synthesizer have?
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The Oberheim OB-X synthesizer is equipped with a full-size 61-key keyboard, offering a wide range for performance and composition.
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What are the standout sound characteristics of the Oberheim OB-X?
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The Oberheim OB-X is renowned for its lush, warm tones and powerful analog sound, making it a favorite for creating classic synth pads and leads.
Videos
RetroSound
Oberheim OB-X Classic Analog Synthesizer Sounds (1979)
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Oberheim OB-X.
Features and functionality
User experience
Comparisons
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Users noted the OB-X8 lacks effects and has a more complex programming interface compared to the OB6, which features built-in effects and a polyphonic sequencer.
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The OB-X8's voice panning/spread is highlighted for its classy and rich sound, contrasting with the OB6's electric vibe.
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The OB-X8 provides 8-voice polyphony, ideal for jazz chord voicings, and features 61 keys for a 5-octave range.
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Setup and maintenance
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Owners recommend Synthchaser resources for OB-X maintenance, including power supply and voice board component kits.
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Build quality
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Some owners note the OB-X8 has plastic knobs that don't feel premium, especially when compared to Moog synths.
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Use cases and applications
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The OB-X8 is favored for studio environments due to its size, while the OB-6's compactness suits live gigs.
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Value and pricing
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The OB-X8 is described as a "collector level luxury item" with a price point significantly higher than the OB-6.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 7 Ratings
Artist usage
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This video, from Old Grey Whistle Test, 1980; Richard can be seen playing the OB-X at 1:35 into the video.
"We get hardware mainly from America and Japan and the instruments are adapted by our engineers to our specifications. I have a number of keyboards including the OB-X, PPG Wave Computer 1 & 2, various Arp equipment, and four custom built sequencers made in Germany. I also play guitar and I use various instruments including Fender and Gibson. I don't really need to use guitar synthesisers as we have the keyboards. I like to work with the Roland MC-8 Micro Composer and TR808 drum machine. These are some of the instruments I use regularly, although we do have links with most of the synthesiser producing companies who supply us with new equipment from time to time."
"The best string sound is a composite one. We'll use a sound from the OBX, then combine it with the Prophet 5 and the DX7. No one company makes a perfect programme. I prefer real people, but the synthesisers can definitely do things that real people can't. We can smooth out a string section. We'll take a string section with 12 strings, and put our MIDI'd-together string sound and we can pump that out to sound like 28 strings. The Mishima soundtrack is a good example. That's a small section, maybe 18 strings, but you listen to it, it's gorgeous."
In this Instagram post, we can see conclude that Jimmy plays and is using the Oberheim OB-X on a Metric record. The post states "Do not attempt to come between this man and his Obie".
Youth professes an affection for analogue keyboards and a strong dislike of FM synthesis. "I don't like modern keyboards too much. I leave them to jingle writers. Those modern sounds are so associative of those advertising images that I prefer to stay well away from them. But of course they end up using your music anyway [laughs]." The only modern keyboard which has his approval is the Roland JD800, because of its "analogue versatility. It's hands-on, direct communication with the machine, rather than numerical, mathematical communication. You can change the sounds very quickly. One of the most important things with equipment is how much time they take to use and program." Hence the presence of keyboards like Alpha Juno 2, Juno 106, Oberheim OB-X (MIDI), SH101 + MCV, Korg MS1, Proteus, Proteus World, plus of course the JD800 in the main studio in the basement. There are also the well tested TR808 and 909, plus Akais S1000 and S1100.
Albums which use OBERHEIM OB-X : • Magnetic fields > Les Chants Magnétiques / Magnetic Fields Part 1
Les Chants Magnétiques / Magnetic Fields Part 2 Les Chants Magnétiques / Magnetic Fields Part 4
According to the "equipment list" found on Church Studios, owned by Epworth, one of the things listed is the Oberheim OB-X synth.
In this early Killing Joke live concert Jaz is playing an Oberheim OB-X synth. Though Jaz has been the main keyboardist of Killing Joke through their whole career, Jaz only played keyboards live in the early years, from 81 to 84, then Dave Kovacevic started to play the keyboards parts live, so Jaz can focus on the singing and being the frontman. If you watch other live videos from those years, he's playing the same synth, so this should have been his main synth both live and in studio in those years (I'm pretty sure he used it also in 85' 'Night Time').
Album Usage
The Oberheim OB-X has been featured on the following albums:
The Box Of Delights (Original Television Soundtrack)
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop & Roger Limb (2018)
Rendez-Vous
Jean Michel Jarre (2015)
Syro
Aphex Twin (2014)
Night Time
Killing Joke (1985)
Mishima
Philip Glass (1985)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics & Dave Stewart & Annie Lennox (1983)
Nena
Nena & Nena (1983)
Moving Pictures (2011 Remaster)
Rush (1981)
Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack)
Queen (1980)
The Game
Queen (1980)
Double Fantasy
John Lennon & John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1980)
Pieces Of Eight
Styx (1978)
Rock 'N' Roll
John Lennon & John Lennon (1975)
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 OB-X, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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