The Oberheim OB-X8 was announced on 10 May 2022 as Oberheim returned to manufacturing and global distribution. Its design brought the principal features of three earlier OB-series synthesisers together, including their original factory presets, while extending the combinations available to programmers. Rather than limiting each sound to the architecture of one predecessor, the Oberheim OB-X8 allowed elements from different models to be used together.
Each voice contains two discrete voltage-controlled oscillators descended from the SEM and OB-X designs. The analogue signal path incorporates both discrete SEM-derived filters and Curtis filters, while selectable envelope responses reproduce the behaviour of the OB-X, OB-Xa and OB-8. Additional high-pass, band-pass and notch filtering extends the SEM-derived section. A Vintage control introduces adjustable differences between voices.
The keyboard version combines a 61-key Fatar action with velocity sensitivity and channel aftertouch. Oberheim’s pitch and modulation levers provide performance control, while the front panel places the main synthesis functions alongside an OLED display. Page 2 parameters extend programming to functions including individual voice panning, modulation delay, LFO keyboard tracking and independent pulse-width adjustment.
Sound organisation preserves a connection with the earlier instruments. The main programme banks include OB-X, OB-SX, OB-Xa and OB-8 selections, alongside OB-X8 and User banks. Split mode assigns four voices to each of two sounds across separate keyboard regions. Double mode layers two four-voice programmes. Manual mode makes the current panel settings determine the sound, providing an alternative to starting from a stored preset.
OS 2.0 subsequently expanded the Oberheim OB-X8 with MPE reception, separate MIDI channels for the two parts of a Split programme, and Poly Chain operation with up to four instruments. It also introduced simultaneous oscillator waveform selections, a four-pole filter mode with resonance gain compensation, additional LFO destinations and arpeggiator clock divisions. Split+ and Double+ banks store their constituent sounds independently, avoiding changes to the original presets. Binaural operation adds another way to arrange voices across the stereo outputs.
The desktop version retains the keyboard model’s synthesis engine and direct programming controls in a smaller enclosure. Although it omits the keybed and performance levers, it retains the arpeggiator, Split and Double functions for use with an external controller. Both formats therefore provide access to the same underlying combination of OB-series architectures.
Features
- Combines OB-X, OB-Xa and OB-8 voice architectures.
- Analogue oscillators and filters with selectable model-specific envelope responses.
- Vintage control for adjustable variation between voices.
- Split and Double modes for two simultaneous sounds.
- Manual mode for programming directly from panel settings.
- OS 2.0 adds MPE reception, binaural operation and expanded programme storage.
- Poly Chain supports up to 32 voices across four instruments with OS 2.0.
