Happy 90th Birthday, Tom!

video upload by Oberheim Official

"Thank you for helping us celebrate Tom Oberheim's 90th birthday! We're excited to share this special day with musicians, friends, and fans from around the world as we honor a true pioneer of synthesizer design and toast the remarkable impact he has had on generations of musicians.

If you’d like to send Tom your own birthday wishes, please leave a comment below. You can also post on YouTube or Instagram and @tag us so we can see your message.

Thank you for being part of this celebration, and happy birthday, Tom!"

Happy Birthday Tom! The Oberheim Matrix-6 was my first syntheizer, brand new back back in 1986! I've had a few Oberheims along the way including the OB-Xa, Matrix-12 (my dream synth as a teen), the DX, Cyclone and Strummer (thanks brian comes!), and an OB-6 desktop! Matrix is from my Matrix-6. The alias and the first site came out well before the Matrix movies. The Matrix-6 started my journey in synthesis. ;)

Oberheim Perf/x Strummer Keyboard to Guitar Chord Converter

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Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"The cheapest Oberheim in town! Comes with PSU"

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Oberheim Perf/x COMPLETE SET OF 5 Cyclone Navigator Systemizer Strummer Drummer

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x Keyboard to Guitar Chord Converter

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"The Oberheim Strummer is a MIDI effect processor that transforms keyboard chords into simulated guitar strumming, enabling realistic guitar-like performances from a keyboard. It analyzes MIDI input, adjusts chord voicings, and adds strumming effects, sending the altered MIDI data to a sound source. This is much more than playing an arpeggio or creating a small delay on the notes, the Strummer reinterprets a piano chord voicing into one that would be appropriate on a six-string guitar. Different presets approach the playing differently, from power chords to fingerpicking, to acoustic strumming and lead solos; the results are quite remarkable.

(It also includes a versatile MIDI echo feature, allowing for delays and repeats of notes at varying velocities to simulate audio delay effects.)

Has 4 footswitch jacks, MIDI In and Out. Includes power adaptor and original owner's manual. Measures 9" x 7" x 4""

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x With Original Box

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x

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""The "Strummer" listens to chords played on your MIDI keyboard and plays them back to your MIDI sound source (Synthesizer or Sampler) just as they would be played from a guitar. Not only will the chord voicings be correct, but the chords can actually be 'Strummed!' With the 'Strummer,' you can even change the speed and direction of your "Strums" just by changing the way you play your MIDI keyboard. Also, "Strummer" has the ability to distinguish the difference between chords and single notes, allowing you to send chords out on one MIDI channel (Distorted Guitar Sound for example) while your single notes are sent out on a different channel (i.e. Solo Sound). Your keyboard may have a great guitar sound, but can you play a great guitar part? Yes. The Oberheim Strummer will transform your keyboard playing into a stunning and convincing performance featuring realistic guitar articulation. Power and MIDI cable not included"

Oberheim Strummer Perf/x MIDI guitar simulator + AC Adapter Manual Original Box

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Oberheim Synthesizer Factory Catalog Including the OB-Mx

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OB-Mx
OB-Mx Two Voice Card
Drummer
Strummer
Cyclone
Matrix 1000

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Oberheim Strummer Keyboard to Guitar MIDI Chord Converter w/ Original Box

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"In excellent condition with its original box, this Tom Oberheim design is sort of like a MIDI guitar synth in reverse order - it lets you play keyboards and out comes the notes of a guitar chord into your existing synth or sampler.

The "Strummer" listens to chords played on your MIDI keyboard and plays them back to your MIDI sound source (Synthesizer or Sampler) just as they would be played from a guitar. Not only will the chord voicing be correct, but the chords can actually be "Strummed!"

You can even change the speed and direction of your "Strums" just by changing the way you play your MIDI keyboard. Also,"Strummer" has the ability to distinguish the difference between chords and single notes, allowing you to send chords out on one MIDI channel (Distorted Guitar Sound for example) while your single notes are sent out on a different channel (i.e. Solo Sound).

By looking at such factors as the range of the guitar, the number of notes being played, chord position, and the velocity of the performance, Strummer can transform the incoming MIDI data out into performance data emulating that of a real guitarist. Performance data may be delayed, echoed, harmonized, transposed and sent back out on multiple MIDI channels.

In addition to control over strum direction and speed, the Strummer also features Chord Capture for real time single finger chords. Individual picking patterns and riffs may be assigned to a single key, for real time performance playback. You can even control the number of "strings" being strummed via keyboard velocity.

Some additional features include: Adjustable Delay and Decay Rates. Velocity Switching, Chord Voicing Variations, Chord Capture (Adjustable Single Finger Chords), Transposition of MIDI Delays (Great for MIDI Harmonizing), Ability to synchronize to MIDI Timing Clocks (External Sync), MIDI Program Change.Harmonizing), Ability to synchronize to MIDI Timing Clocks (External Sync), and MIDI Program Change."

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OBERHEIM STRUMMER SYSTEM Keyboard to Guitar Chord Converter

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"Rare vintage Oberheim Strummer p/fx MIDI processor. Turns keyboard chords into simulated guitar strums and more."

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Oberheim Strummer P/FX w/ Original Box

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Early Model Oberheim perf/fx Strummer & Drummer w/ Original Boxes

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Strummer via this auction

Drummer via this auction

I don't think I realized there were early models with different style graphics. Curious if featured/functionality differed and if so, whether these early models were upgradable. If you know, feel free to comment.

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NOS Oberheim Strummer w/ Original Box

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"Latest software version (3.1)

The 'Strummer' listens to chords played on your MIDI keyboard and plays them back to your MIDI sound source (Synthesizer or Sampler) just as they would be played from a guitar. Not only will the chord voicings be correct, but the chords can actually be 'Strummed!' With the 'Strummer,' you can even change the speed and direction of your 'Strums' just by changing the way you play your MIDI keyboard. Also, 'Strummer' has the ability to distinguish the difference between chords and single notes, allowing you to send chords out on one MIDI channel (Distorted Guitar Sound for example) while your single notes are sent out on a different channel (i.e. Solo Sound). Your keyboard may have a great guitar sound, but can you play a great guitar part? Yes. The Oberheim Strummer will transform your keyboard playing into a stunning and convincing performance featuring realistic guitar articulation.

By looking at such factors as the range of the guitar, the number of notes being played, chord position, and the velocity of the performance, Strummer can transform the incoming MIDI data out into performance data emulating that of a real guitarist. Performance data may be delayed, echoed, harmonized, transposed and sent back out on multiple MIDI channels. In addition to control over strum direction and speed, the Strummer also features Chord Capture for real time single finger chords. Individual picking patterns and riffs may be assigned to a single key, for real time performance playback. You can even control the number of 'strings' being strummed via keyboard velocity.

Some additional features include: Adjustable Delay and Decay Rates. Velocity Switching. Chord Voicing Variations. Chord Capture (Adjustable Single Finger Chords). Transposition of MIDI Delays (Great for MIDI Harmonizing). Ability to synchronize to MIDI Timing Clocks (External Sync). MIDI Program Change."

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x

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"The "Strummer" listens to chords played on your MIDI keyboard and plays them back to your MIDI sound source (Synthesizer or Sampler) just as they would be played from a guitar. Not only will the chord voicings be correct, but the chords can actually be 'Strummed!' With the 'Strummer,' you can even change the speed and direction of your "Strums" just by changing the way you play your MIDI keyboard. Also, "Strummer" has the ability to distinguish the difference between chords and single notes, allowing you to send chords out on one MIDI channel (Distorted Guitar Sound for example) while your single notes are sent out on a different channel (i.e. Solo Sound). Your keyboard may have a great guitar sound, but can you play a great guitar part? Yes. The Oberheim Strummer will transform your keyboard playing into a stunning and convincing performance featuring realistic guitar articulation.

By looking at such factors as the range of the guitar, the number of notes being played, chord position, and the velocity of the performance, Strummer can transform the incoming MIDI data out into performance data emulating that of a real guitarist. Performance data may be delayed, echoed, harmonized, transposed and sent back out on multiple MIDI channels. In addition to control over strum direction and speed, the Strummer also features Chord Capture for real time single finger chords. Individual picking patterns and riffs may be assigned to a single key, for real time performance playback. You can even control the number of "strings" being strummed via keyboard velocity.

Some additional features include: Adjustable Delay and Decay Rates. Velocity Switching. Chord Voicing Variations. Chord Capture (Adjustable Single Finger Chords). Transposition of MIDI Delays (Great for MIDI Harmonizing). Ability to synchronize to MIDI Timing Clocks (External Sync). MIDI Program Change."

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LE STRUM - MIDI Chord Controller

Published on Jan 13, 2016 midierror

"A unique control surface designed by uber-human Jason Hotchkiss. Le Strum functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord.

Available here: https://www.tindie.com/products/midie..."

An interesting side note is that I own an Oberheim Strummer. It might have been the first if not only piece of kit you could use to generate guitar like cords with your synth. The problem with it was that it wasn't super intuitive to use. It didn't have any strum controls but was rather just a desktop box with a button based menu system where you selected what chords you wanted to use. LE STRUM looks like it would not only easily replace it, but can be used more as a physical controller for your synths. Very, very cool.

"A unique control surface that functions something like a cross between a Stylophone and an Omnichord. Comes FULLY CONSTRUCTED!

Connect LE STRUM to your MIDI synthesizer or computer running synth software, hold down a combination of buttons to select a chord, then use the stylus to play MIDI notes by touching the contact pads on the top right of the board. As the name suggests, you can strum across chords using the stylus, providing an unique and expressive MIDI controller.

LE STRUM's 36 chord buttons give you immediate access to 84 different chords (maj, min, dom7, maj7, min7, aug, dim for 12 root notes). You can also play sus4, add6 and add9 chord variations. It is great for learning about chord progressions and can be a helpful songwriting tool.

LE STRUM has several performance modes which are accessed by holding the MODE button while pressing one of the top row of chord buttons:

Mode+C : Basic mode - Stacked triads mapped across all 16 pads
Mode+D : Guitar strum mode - 6-string guitar open chords used (maj/min/7)
Mode+E : Guitar sustain mode - as above, but chord held after buttons released
Mode+F : Organ buttons - As Basic mode but chord triad plays on MIDI channel 2 as soon as button is pressed
Mode+G : Organ buttons with additions - as above but with sus4/add6/add9 options
Mode+A : Organ buttons with retrig - as above but chord buttons retrigger
Mode+B : Load User Patch
Mode+Bm : Save User Patch
Mode+B7 : MIDI Panic - All notes off
Mode+Strum Pad: Set MIDI velocity (16 levels)

User patch can combine settings for: play on make/break, damp on make/break, guitar voicing /stacked triads, additional guitar octave, enable added 4/6/9 notes, enable guitar chord bass notes, keep chord selection after chord button release, common note sustain on chord change, map chromatic/diatonic/pentatonic scale to pads, enable organ buttons on midi channel 2

LE STRUM has a special 6 string guitar mode, which knows basic major, minor and seven open chord fingerings for guitar. It can be used to lay down strummed guitar MIDI tracks without a MIDI guitar, and in a more convincing way that you could get from a keyboard. It's more than a toy, yessiree!

Designed for hackability (e.g. solder wires to the provided holes on the pads to make proper "strings" to pluck)
Transmits on MIDI Channel 1 for stylus activity and MIDI Channel 2 for Chord Buttons.
Output is to a standard MIDI 5-pin DIN socket.
A PP3 battery is required
Size 98mm x 75mm x 45mm (incl MIDI socket) Weight approx 120g with battery

An optional stand is available, please contact me for more information.

Please note that synthesizer hardware or software is required to make sound. LE STRUM is a MIDI controller and does not make any sound by itself!"

Note: I created a new midierror channel label for midierror moving forward. You can find previous posts by doing s a search on midierror. The creator of LE STRUM is Jason Hotchkiss.

Oberheim Strummer with Original Box

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x Keyboard to Guitar chord MIDI Converter with Original Box & Manual

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"Your looking at buying a Rare hard to find used Oberheim Strummer Perf/x Keyboard to Guitar chord MIDI Converter.The unit comes with 2 MIDI Cords,Power Supply and Original Manual and Box.The unit work's great with no issues.The converter listens to the chords played on your MiDi keyboard and plays them back to your Midi sound source just as they would be played from a guitar.The sound is like a realistic guitar.

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x Keyboard to Guitar Chord MIDI Converter

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Oberheim Perf/x Strummer Keyboard to Guitar Chord Converter

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Oberheim Strummer Perf/x, Keyboard to Guitar Chord MIDI Converter with Original Box

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"Oberheim Strummer Perf/x, Keyboard to Guitar chord MIDI Converter! This unit's memory was expanded in 1991 from 8k to 32k. Unit is functional powers up and ready to use. Comes with original manual and original power supply and original box."

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