Oberheim OB-Mx
The OBMx is a modern synthesizer module with an audio path that is entirely analog. It has an intuitive and powerful interface which makes it easy for anyone to program their own unique sounds. The OBMx claims to deliver the classic Oberheim and Minimoog sounds while being completely programmable and midi compatible.
One historical point is that the OB-Mx is, at present, the last synthesizer designed by Don Buchla. Buchla has sort of disowned this unit, though. Its filters are actually pretty bad. They don't manage to emulate either the 2-pole Oberheim or 4-pole Moog filters In fact they sound notoriously thin and tweezy. The so-called 'Oberheim filter' provides 12 dB/oct low, band or hi pass filtering, with resonance. And the 'Minimoog filter' uses a meatier 24 dB/oct low-pass filter.
The OB-Mx was one of the few real analog synths, however, available with completely modern features. And because it comes from Oberheim, you can expect great sounds, design, and features. The OB-Mx is highly user upgradeable. Out of the box the OB-Mx comes with one two voice expansion card which contains the two oscillators, 4 multistage envelopes, 3 LFO's, and filters. Up to 6 of these cards can be easily installed sufficiently adding to the phattness of this synth and its capabilities. Unfortunately, the high cost of extra voice cards also made a fully-outfitted OB-Mx a very pricey proposition when put up against other more commonly-available digital instruments of its time. It has been used by Nine Inch Nails, Sneaker Pimps, Apollo 440, DJ Spinna, and U2.
- Demos & Media
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Video 1 - See and hear it in this YouTube Demo!
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 2 voice (expandable to 12)
- Oscillators - 2 per voice; Triangle, Sawtooth, Pulse Width waveforms
- LFO - 3 LFOs (triangle, sawtooth, sample/hold)
- Filter - 2 filters per voice; Resonant 12 dB/oct Oberheim type filter with low, band, hi pass and a 24 dB/oct Minimoog low-pass filter section
- VCA - 4 multistage envelopes per voice
- Keyboard - None
- Memory - 256 patches, 256 performances
- Control - MIDI (12 parts)
- Date Produced - 1994
- Resources & Credits
Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.
Additional information provided by DAC Crowell.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.
It isn't perfect, nothing is, but everyone is different in what they want from a synth.
After many years with the thing (in fact, this goes for all my synths) I really can't say what it isn't good at. My brain doesn't work like that. If I can't get what I want from it, I move onto another synth (but often en-route I've found a few more inspirational sounds in the Obie and gone off in a synthy tangent).
I agree everyone should try before they buy........but doesn't that go for everything?
I couldn't recommend it as an "only synth" (who would?), but my goodness it is fun, tactile, powerful and inspirational!