The Oberheim OB-X8 ‘Nails The Sound 100%’

In his latest video, synthesist Matt Johnson (Jamiroquai) shares his thoughts on the new Oberheim OB-X8, asking “Is it as good as vintage Oberheim synths?

Johnson thinks so, saying that the OB-X8 nails the classic Oberheim 100%. More importantly, though, he shares tons of audio demos, tasty licks and custom patches, so you can decide for yourself.

Check out the video and then share your thoughts on the OB-X8 in the comment!

25 thoughts on “The Oberheim OB-X8 ‘Nails The Sound 100%’

  1. Well just the fact that it’ll do what any of it’s brethren can, which is Imense(infinite?!)plus alotta things that maybe can’t be duplicated on it’s older siblings. So that really kinda uh make’s ita legend in it’s own time & indeed one of those things that only comes along once in awhile in synthlore -if u may, truly a remarkable machine folks¡[P.S.there’re four pieces of hardware kit(s)çurrently available outhere now¡ That are really all one needs to make(ordo)any(kind)genre of music(soundesign)_:Kurzweil K2700, NonLinearlabs C-15, Oberheim OB-X8, UDO Super-6_: kids. Eurorackers, °oARS, softy’s & VST’ers take heed, be’aware & Beware¡?!¿]

  2. Well just the fact that it’ll do what any of it’s brethren can, which is Imense(infinite?!)plus alotta things that maybe can’t be duplicated on it’s older siblings. So that really kinda uh make’s ita legend in it’s own time & indeed one of those things that only comes along once in awhile in synthlore -if u may, truly a remarkable machine folks¡[P.S.there’re four pieces of hardware kit(s)çurrently available outhere now¡ That are really all one needs to make(ordo)any(kind)genre of music(soundesign)_:Kurzweil K2700, NonLinearlabs C-15, Oberheim OB-X8 & UDO Super-6:_kids. Eurorackers, °oARS, softy’s & VST’ers take heed, be’aware & Beware¡?!¿]

  3. I don’t understand the purpose of these sound tests etc, it should be based on objective facts and should simply come down to the the fact that either the circuits are exactly the same or not.

    1. there is no objective sound test for vintage. it’s all in our heads. they should really just call it ‘nostalgia’, ’cause that’s what it is.

    2. You know that 40 year old components age. You’ll know a full service will be a re-cap. There are differences in resistors, PCB layout, power supply, chip supply etc. How much of the modulation side is digital. How different a circuit layout do you want? What qualifies as different? Using RoHS components? The original circuit might have a 10K resistor at 1%, have 20 of those in an oscillator circuit and compare it to 0.1% resistors. Will a trim pot be used to drag it into line?

      I want a subjective opinion, thats what I watch someone like Matt.

  4. Awsome. why didnt Oberheim just pay the genius that is Matt J to put his presets right into every OBX8 from the Factory i bet auditioning these sounds would move units. Looks like his preset bank is a must-buy if you get one of these!

  5. Imagine paying 6-7000 eu on a synth only to buy a sound pack for it. I mean just get another hobby. All these amateurs are only inflating the prices and don’t produce anything of worth.

    1. I am a professional musician who has purchased sounds in the past. Presets are a great source of inspiration, and many times I will start with a factory patch and mold it into something that fits the track. The goal is to make music with these things, not pass a class in subtractive synthesis programming

    2. Imagine paying 7000 euro (or more) for a piano and only getting a single “piano” sound. 😉

      I don’t think it’s an either-or situation. It’s possible to enjoy making your own patches and to use, adapt, and/or learn from patches made by others.

      Your economic argument only makes sense if the supply is limited, for example actual vintage synths. For new synths, additional customers expand the market, enabling larger production runs and economies of scale.

    3. You know, the real purpose of buying synthesizers is so you can squeeze a little dopamine out of your brain when you click on the cart icon on Sweetwater. Then you’re supposed to surround your synths with succulents and take pictures of what you un-ironically call your “battlestation” to post to Instagram. You’re not supposed to be learning how to use them or something crazy like that.

  6. Somebody please notify these people that is 2022 , vst emulation are 100 procent accurate this days , and the best of things , not cost 7000 euro … Today with a MacBook Air and a NI Komplete MK2 I have all OBX in what flavour I want …

      1. “Nobody wants to play a laptop and nobody wants to watch you play a laptop.”
        EDM concerts are basically that, but they are popular nonetheless.

    1. What you say was what I thought in 2000 when I sold all my gear. Now, after 20 years of virtual emulation I’m tired: better go back to basics.
      In addition to all the vintage gear I’m also buying a reel2reel multitrack

  7. The big seller is probably going to be an OB-X6 with a smaller Page 2, at a couple of thousand. Matt has a superior handle on the 8, but most real-world players don’t have $4K to drop casually. A module version seems unlikely, but a junior version makes sense.

    IMO, the Oberheim line has always been far more about two-fisted poly playing than sound design anyway. That could make Jr. popular as a top-of-your-stack instrument.

  8. Matt Johnson demos are always great, and the instrument sounds terrific! It’s the real deal.

    (Sadly one of the last instruments that Dave Smith was involved with, but completing both a high-end instrument combining Sequential and Oberheim on one hand and a low-end/affordable Prophet 5 derivative on the other – these are terrific contributions to the analog synth world!)

    I wonder if we’ll get another demo if that, ah, UB clone ever comes out. Personally I’m tempted by the polyphonic aftertouch….

  9. I used to come here and think, “Aw man, I gotta get that synth.” Now I think, “Aw man, I gotta listen to more Matt Johnson.”

  10. From what I have heard in the demos, it sounds like an absolutely lovely synth to be sure, and it really does sound extraordinary. However, it’s just not the kind of sound that appeals to me. I just prefer the harsher, gutsier, brittle, growling, floor-shaking qualities of today’s digital synths, and there are plenty of those that exist as software and sound fantastic for the kind of music I like to do. I’m not claiming that my choice is better than anybody else’s, the digital synths I like have just the kind of sounds I prefer for the kind of music I make; not better than or worse than anybody else’s preferences, just what I like for my musical ear, and how my musical tastes inform me.

    And on the very slim budget I work on (I am a hobbyist, not a professional musician, I make music strictly for my own enjoyment), I can’t afford hardware synthesizers. In fact, I have Hydrasynth desktop that I have owned for the past 18 months, and I never actually used it for any music-making, it just sat there on my desk as I staring at it as it blinked and winked back at me in “Vegas” mode. So, I am going to sell it. I haven’t listed it yet but, I will soon, and at a decent and fair price.

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