Engineering:Oberheim OB-8
| OB-8 | |
|---|---|
 The Oberheim OB-8 | |
| Manufacturer | Oberheim |
| Dates | 1983 - 1985 |
| Price | US$4395 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 8 voices |
| Timbrality | Bitimbral |
| Oscillator | 2 VCOs per voice |
| LFO | 3 |
| Synthesis type | Analog Subtractive |
| Filter | Switchable 12dB/oct or 24dB/oct resonant low-pass |
| Attenuator | 2 x ADSR (one for VCF & one for VCA) |
| Aftertouch expression | No |
| Velocity expression | No |
| Storage memory | 120 patches 12 splits 12 dual |
| Effects | none |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61-key |
| Left-hand control | Pitch Modulation |
| External control | CV/Gate MIDI Cassette Computer interface |
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. The number of production was about 3,000 units.[1]
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.
Artists who have used the OB-8 include Alice Coltrane, in her ashram music, Boys Noize, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Prince, Spinetta Jade,[2] Queen, Van Halen, Depeche Mode, The War on Drugs, Styx, Kool & The Gang, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Clarence Jey, The Police, Siekiera,[3] Silent Running, The KLF, Future Sound of London, Barnes & Barnes and Nik Kershaw.[4]
Notable OB-8 users
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 three classic Oberheim models: the OB-X, 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.[8][9]
References
- ↑ Colbeck, Julian (2001-05-01), "Oberheim OB-8", Electronic Musician, http://www.emusician.com/news/0766/oberheim-ob-8/143735, "The OB-8 was last in the line of classic Oberheim analog synthesizers that included the OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-SX, ...", "Number produced: 3,000"
- ↑ "Spinetta Jade's 'Alma de Diamante' back cover". http://i.imgur.com/7I3bxHl.jpg.
- ↑ "FESTIWAL MUZYKOW ROCKOWYCH JAROCIN 1986". http://www.jarocin-festiwal.com/1986/kom2.html.
- ↑ "The Official Nik Kershaw website: Drum Talk". http://www.nikkershaw.co.uk/drum-talk.asp.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Oberheim OB Series". Sound On Sound. September 1998. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep98/articles/retro_oberheim.html.
- ↑ Gale, Dave (2018-01-03). "Vintage Rewind: Oberheim OB-8 - The Spirit Of The 80s" (in en-GB). https://www.musictech.net/reviews/vintage-rewind-oberheim-ob-8/.
- ↑ "The Making of Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814"" (in en). 13 September 2019. https://reverb.com/news/the-making-of-janet-jacksons-rhythm-nation.
- ↑ Rogerson, Ben (2022-05-10). "Superbooth 2022: Oberheim is back with the OB-X8, an analogue love letter to its '80s synths" (in en). https://www.musicradar.com/news/oberheim-ob-x8-synth-launched.
- ↑ 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" (in en-GB). https://musictech.com/news/gear/superbooth-2022-tom-oberheim-ob-x8-focusrite-sequential/.
- Vintage Synth: Oberheim OB-8
- Image of OB-8 : image source, copyright details
- Keyboard Museum
- GreatSynthesizers: Oberheim OB-8
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