Vintage Synth Explorer

Oberheim • OB-X

The first of the OB series Oberheim synths, this is a classic analog synthesizer available in 4, 6 or 8 voice configurations. It featured a 2 pole VCF lowpass filter with its own ADSR, a VCA with ADSR, a flexible LFO section, polyphonic sample and hold, polyphonic portamento and 32 patches of memory. Although it has been over-shadowed by the bigger and more popular OB-Xa and OB-8 synths which offer more flexible programming, the OB-X still holds its own. Capable of lush analog synth sounds comparable to the Sequential Prophet 5 but at a reasonable price. The OB-X also gives you Polymod functionality, something that the OB-Xa and OB-8 do not have. This synth is definitely worth checking out. It has been used by Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Cirrus, Depeche Mode, Queen, Supertramp, Kenny Kirkland, Jean-Michel Jarre, Japan, Tangerine Dream, Rush, Simple Minds, Chicago, Styx, Ultravox and dozens more!

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Rob

Posted 414 days ago

This synth was definitely used for more than the bass on Madonna's Holiday. The liner notes mention the bass was played on a Moog, and that the OB-X was used on the song. Just listening to the song, there are plenty of synth sounds and string sounds, all of which had to be done by the OB-X. What a synth!

Moogbass

Posted 436 days ago

(To the best of my knowledge) the OBX was used on Madonna's "Holiday" (bassline), Nena's "99 Red Balloons" (bassline), Rush's "Tom Sawyer" (glides), Styx's "Too Much Time..." (intro), much of Missing Person's popular songs ("Words, Destination Unknown, Walking in LA"), and Van Halen's "Jump" (even though the OBXa is in the video, I believe the OBX was used for the studio track). So, the sound of this synth is more common than many people think. The bassline for "Holiday" is a woofer killer! I have the four voice with extra cards if someday I want to tackle expanding it. I replaced the fake wood sides (laminate) with real walnut. Looks OBXa class with this simple mod.

aXL

Posted 440 days ago

Not only was this synthesizer used by Queen, but it was the first synth they used on an album (they had "No Synthesizers" written on every album up until The Game).

Vit

Posted 452 days ago

I would really like to hear more mp3 demos of this synth! The only one mp3 file which is featured here isn't telling much. Thanks in advance!

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