Oberheim OB-X

The Oberheim OB-X is an analog polyphonic sound synthesizer.[1][2]

OB-X
Oberheim OB-X
ManufacturerOberheim
Dates1979–1981
PriceUS$4,595–US$5,995
Technical specifications
Polyphony4, 6 or 8 voices
TimbralityMonotimbral
Oscillator2 VCOs per voice
LFO1
Synthesis typeAnalog Subtractive
Filter12dB per octave resonant low-pass
Attenuator2 × ADSR; one for VCF, one for VCA
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionNo
Storage memory32 patches
EffectsNone
Input/output
Keyboard61-key
External controlCV/Gate

First commercially available in June 1979, it was introduced to compete with the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, which had been successfully introduced the year before. About 800 units were produced with moderate success before the OB-X was discontinued in 1981, replaced by the updated and streamlined OB-Xa. The OB line developed and evolved after that with the OB-8 before being replaced by the Matrix series.

The OB-X was used in popular music by Rush (on Moving Pictures and Signals), Nena, Styx member Dennis DeYoung (used frequently from late 1979 to 1984), Queen (their first synthesizer on an album), Madonna for her debut album, Prince,[3] a keen user, and Jean-Michel Jarre who used it for its massive "brass" sounds.

Specification

The OB-X was the first Oberheim synthesizer based on a single printed circuit board called a "voice card" (still using mostly discrete components) rather than the earlier SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) used in Oberheim semi-modular systems, which had required multiple modules to achieve polyphony. The OB-X's memory held 32 user-programmable presets. The synthesizer's built-in Z-80 microprocessor also automated the tuning process. This made the OB-X less laborious to program, more functional for live performance, and more portable than its ancestors.

The "X" in OB-X originally stood for the number of voice-cards (notes of polyphony) installed. It came in four, six, and eight-voice models with polyphonic portamento, and sample and hold. Even the 4-voice model was expensive at US$4,595. The entire range used "paddle" levers for pitch and modulation, Oberheim's answer to the "wheel" controls of the Prophet-5. Though these controls were never as popular as the standard pitch and modulation wheels, the philosophy was to mimic the motion of a guitar player bending the strings on their guitar. On most other synthesizers the pitch bend wheel was on the left, and the modulation wheel to the right of it; on the OB-X Oberheim placed them in the opposite relative positions. In addition to this unique configuration the polarity of the paddles was distinctive; the player would pull back on the pitch lever to bend the pitch sharp, and push forward to bend flat.

Albums and songs featuring OB-X

References
  1. Music Radar
  2. Music Radar
  3. "Oberheim OB-X". Guitarcloud - Prince Equipment Archive.
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdCLnQ-9ICo
  5. https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/greg-phillinganes-lecture
  6. "Dirty Mind". Guitarcloud - Prince Equipment Archive.
  7. "Controversy". Guitarcloud - Prince Equipment Archive.
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