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Oberheim OB-8

Polyphonic analogue synthesizer

Summary

Polyphonic analogue synthesizer

Field	Value
image	Oberheim_OB-8.jpg
image_caption	The Oberheim OB-8
synth_name	OB-8
synth_manufacturer	Oberheim
synthesis_type	Analog Subtractive
polyphony	8 voices
timbrality	Bitimbral
oscillator	2 VCOs per voice
filter	Switchable 12dB/oct or 24dB/oct resonant low-pass
attenuator	2 x ADSR (one for VCF & one for VCA)
left_control	Pitch
Modulation
lfo	3
keyboard	61-key
velocity	No
aftertouch	No
memory	120 patches
12 splits
12 dual
ext_control	CV/Gate
MIDI
Cassette
Computer
interface
fx	none
dates	1983 - 1985
price	US$4395

The Oberheim OB-8 is a subtractive analog synthesizer launched by Oberheim in early 1983 and discontinued in 1985. As the fourth product in the OB-series of polyphonic compact synthesizers, the OB-8 was the successor to the OB-Xa. About 3,000 units were produced.

Specification

The OB-8 features eight-voice polyphony, two-part multi-timbrality, a 61-note processor-controlled piano keyboard, sophisticated programmable low-frequency oscillation (LFO) and envelope modulation, two-pole and four-pole filters, arpeggiator, external cassette storage, MIDI capability and 120 memory patches, 24 bi-timbral patches, and used the Z80 CPU. The musician's interface also consists of two pages of front panel programmable controls, left panel performance controls and a set of foot pedals and switches.

Notable OB-8 users

Jack Antonoff
Art of Noise
Daft Punk
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Nik Kershaw
The KLF
Pet Shop Boys
The Police
Queen
Steve Roach
Simple Minds
Soul II Soul
Prince
Van Halen

Hardware re-issues and recreations

In May, 2022, the Oberheim OB-X8, a new 8-voice analog synthesizer with the voice architecture and filters of four classic Oberheim models: the OB-X, OB-SX, OB-Xa, and OB-8, along with functionality and features not included on the original models, was announced. The new synthesizer is manufactured by Sequential in partnership with Tom Oberheim.

References

Mullenpublished, Matt. (2023-08-22). "Jack Antonoff on vintage gear, analogue synths and Taylor Swift's Midnights: "The Oberheim OB-8 was the star of that album"".
(September 1998). "Oberheim OB Series". Sound On Sound.
"Recording Random Access Memories {{!}} Daft Punk".
(13 September 2019). "The Making of Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814"".
"The Official Nik Kershaw website: Drum Talk".
Sting. "Interview: INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN (1985)".
(2016-10-11). "From Harpsichord to Synthesizer and beyond: an introduction to Queen Organology".
(2022-06-21). "Structures From Synthesis: An Interview With Steve Roach".
Gale, Dave. (2018-01-03). "Vintage Rewind: Oberheim OB-8 - The Spirit Of The 80s".
Tudahl, Duane. (November 2021). "Prince and the Parade and Sign O the Times Era Studio Session: 1985 and 1986". [[Rowman & Littlefield]].
Rogerson, Ben. (2022-05-10). "Superbooth 2022: Oberheim is back with the OB-X8, an analogue love letter to its '80s synths".
Willings, Sam. (2022-05-11). "Superbooth 2022: Tom Oberheim's OB-X8 lands, carrying on the OB legacy from 1979 with help from Dave Smith".
"Oberheim OB-X8".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

oberheim-synthesizers analog-synthesizers polyphonic-synthesizers z80 synthesizers

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