Oberheim OB-SX

Last updated
OB-SX
Oberheim OB-SX.jpg
Oberheim OB-SX - taken from Guitarcloud
Manufacturer Oberheim
Dates1980 – 1983
Price US$2,995
Technical specifications
Polyphony 2, 4, or 6 voices
Timbrality Monotimbral
Oscillator 2 VCOs
LFO 1
Filter VCF with envelope
Aftertouch expression No
Velocity expressionNo
Storage memoryPreset sounds –
  • 24 (early units)
  • 48 or 56 (later units)
Input/output
Keyboard 48-key
External control
  • CV/Gate (early units)
  • "Oberheim System" digital interface (later units)

The Oberheim OB-SX was a preset-based polyphonic analog synthesizer by Oberheim, designed to be a smaller and more live performance friendly version of their OB-X. [1]

Contents

Specification

The OB-SX featured the same VCO/VCF/VCAs as the OB-X and the voice card had a similar design to the OB-Xa. The main differences between the OB-SX and the OB-X is the removal of some knobs (replaced with a few realtime filter and envelope controls), the ability to save patches in a ROM, and the keyboard being cut from 61 keys to 48. [1] The OB-SX had an auto-tune button to automatically tune all of the oscillators using a microprocessor.

The OB-SX came with 24 presaved patches that were programmed by keyboardist Todd McKinney, with additional programming by Mike Christopher, Geoff Farr, Marcus Ryle, and Daniel Sofer. However, users could purchase and swap out the ROM with a new one containing different patches. Oberheim also allowed users to send in OB-X program cassettes to their factory, where they would make a custom ROM using the cassettes. [2] [3]

In later units of the OB-SX, Oberheim added compatibility with their DSX, a pre-MIDI digital interface dubbed the "Oberheim System", so users could program and play sequences on multiple Oberheim synths with a universal controller. [1]

Sales

During its production years of 1980–1983, the OB-SX had a retail price of US$2,995 (US$11,429.63 adjusted for inflation). [2] [3] Compared to the cheapest of the OB-Xs, which cost US$4,595 (US$19,907.45) in 1979, it was about a US$1,600 cheaper alternative. [4]

Notable OB-SX users

Hardware re-issues and recreations

In the 1980s, the German company Electronic Engineering Hoffmann (EEH) released the Syntec Banana, which was a cross between the OB-SX and the OB-Xa. [9] [10]

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. [11] [12] [13]

In 2024, GForce Software released the OB-EZ, a plugin synthesizer that used the appearance and layout of an OB-SX, but the color scheme and engine of the Oberheim 8-Voice. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Oberheim OB-SX | Vintage Synth Explorer". www.vintagesynth.com. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  2. 1 2 "Retro Synth Ads: Oberheim OB-SX "We call it..." ad, Contemporary Keyboard 1980". Retro Synth Ads. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  3. 1 2 Anthony, Callen; Nelson, Andrew J.; Tripsas, Mary (2016-09-29). ""Who Are You?…I Really Wanna Know": Product Meaning and Competitive Positioning in the Nascent Synthesizer Industry". Strategy Science. 1 (3): 163–183. doi:10.1287/stsc.2016.0015. ISSN   2333-2050.
  4. ↑ "Oberheim 1979 Price List". synthfool.com. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  5. ↑ Rivas, Tony J. (2016-11-01). "The Best Horror Synth Scores from the 1970s to Today". Reverb.com . Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Rush 'N' Roll - International Musician and Recording World Magazine - January 1983". www.cygnus-x1.net. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  7. ↑ Regen, Jon (2019-12-27). "Lisa Coleman: "Prince would just use a preset and then brighten the f**k out of it!"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  8. ↑ Tudahl, Duane (2021). Prince and the Parade & Sign o' the Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9781538144510.
  9. ↑ "EEH Banana Synthesizer". www.tauntek.com. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  10. ↑ Douglas, Adam (2023-09-22). "5 Vintage Synth Clones That Copied The Classics". Reverb.com . Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  11. ↑ updated, Ben Rogersonlast (2022-05-10). "Superbooth 2022: Oberheim is back with the OB-X8, an analogue love letter to its '80s synths". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  12. ↑ "Superbooth 2022: Tom Oberheim's OB-X8 lands, carrying on the OB legacy from 1979 with help from Dave Smith". MusicTech. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  13. ↑ "Oberheim OB-X8". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  14. ↑ Anatomy, Synth (2024-02-22). "GForce Software OB-EZ, the hands-on preset player version of the Oberheim OB-E". SYNTH ANATOMY. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
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