A Rare First Listen: Four Classic Oberheims

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"I was lucky enough to borrow three beautiful vintage Oberheims from a good friend. Together with my own OB-X, that gave me the rare chance to put four classic Oberheim polys side by side: the OB-X, OB-Xa, OB-8 and EVS.

This is not a polished shootout or a scientific comparison. It is simply a first impression, a first test after the synths came back from major servicing. Just playing, listening and enjoying that unmistakable Oberheim sound.

Huge thanks to my friend for trusting me with these incredible instruments. I’m a lucky man.

In this video:
OB-X
OB-Xa
OB-8
EVS

Four legendary Oberheims in one room. What a sound."

Reminder: Berklee & Friends Honor Alan R Pearlman in Concert on April 9

via the Alan R Pearlman Foundation:

April 9, 2026
Berklee & Friends
Honor Alan R Pearlman in Concert
A concert celebrating the
Centenary of Alan R Pearlman:
classic, jazz, pop, electronica, ambient & more!
April 9 @ 7:30 PM Boston, MA

Performances by:

Michael Bierylo • Richard Bru • Jennifer Hruska Project • Massimo Ferragamo • David Frederick Jr & David Fredericks Sr • Collin Russell • Kristina Warren

Lights by:
Deftly D & Jose Octavio

Read the Press Release!

Where Vintage Synths Meet Vintage Space: Lexicon PCM70 + 42 and Roland SDE3000

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"A live improvised jam built around Minimoog, Rhodes, CP70, Moog Muse and Juno-60, with the PCM42 and SDE-3000 adding depth, movement and space."

Vangelis 'Rachel's song' Sunday morning improv on CP70, Rhodes, Moog Muse

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"I love synths, but I love my Rhodes en CP70 even more. Together they shine. Especially using 2 Lexicon reverbs in serie (PCM70 short reverb - Model 200 long reverb) and my 2 new delays: Meraki and Empress."

Oberheim OB-X in there as well.

Where Digital Meets Vintage Soul

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"This demo explores the overlap between modern digital synthesis and classic instruments. The ‪@GrooveSynthesis‬ 3rd Wave 8M sits at the center, supported by the warmth of the OB-X and the expressive touch of the CP70 electric grand piano. Using presets by ‪@devinbelangermusic‬ and ‪@MattJohnsonskeyspace‬

I am not yet good enough to program it myself - their sounds are a wonderful start to get to know the instrument and its vast sonic possibilities. #3rdwave"

Vangelis Cover From Chariots of Fire: Abraham's Theme. #moogmuse #CS80 #3rdwave

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"Playing with this beautiful melody - using OBX, Muse, CS80 and my new 3rdWave - with lots of vintage Lexicon"

DX5 performing Silver Pozzoli "Around my Dream" (Italo Disco) cover

video upload by DX5

"Instrumental cover of one of the tracks that most influenced me for getting into synths back in the 80s.

Gear used:
Roland JX-8P (Main riffs).
Yamaha DX7 (extra bass riff).
Emu Emax II.
Access Virus TI Snow (triggered from the Kurzweil PC1x).

Backtrack recorded by me from scratch on Pro Tools, instrument by instrument, including Simmons SDS 8 toms, Roland Promars double bass, and some JX- 8P pads.

Original song composed by Graziano Pegoraro, Pier Michele Bozzetti and Romano Bais. Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara."

Yamaha CS80 with even more Reverb! #MercuryX

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

Akai AX73 w/ Stereoping Controller and Tauntek OS Firmware CPU

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"Fully tested, perfect working condition. Has some cosmetic imperfections including 'Family Bible Church, San Jose' etched on top panel (see photos). Priced accordingly."

Additional CONTROL Listings

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim 8 Voice and OBX meet for the first time

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"A dear friend allowed me to use his Oberheim. 8 Voice. I am getting to know the machine....a little. This is my first improv using an arpeggiator for the EVS. Also first recording of the Moog Muse. Love that machine."

A CS80 with Midi and Much More, this is the story of the man who did it.

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"Interview with Mark Cox, a real genius that spend 7 years to make the CS80 fully programmable and most off all: full midi implementation."

You can find additional posts mentioning Mark Cox of Xox Electronics here. Check out the The Cox Electronics CS-80 Programmer here.

MIDI on Yamaha CS80 is impressive!

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"Electronic musician ⁨@rimela⁩ shows just how far you can take MIDI on a Yamaha CS-80. I reached out to him, and he generously shared the original tracks so we could take a closer look at the possibilities. In the end, I couldn’t resist adding a little improv of my own to his fantastic tune. Don't forget to check out his original! • Yamaha CS-80 [posted here] - and also check this video bij Mark Cox: • YAMAHA CS-80 Ultimate Upgrade - A Dream co..." [posted here]

DX5 performing The Human League "The Sound of the Crowd"

video upload by DX5

"A simple but interesting song not much known by the early days of The Human League V2 (when the female vocalists joined). If you don't know the original version, check it out. I found it catchy, specially the chorus. So I decided to pick my two analogues plus the JP8000 and give it a try
Gear used.
Left:
Roland MRS2 Promars: single VCO bass (and extra sub bass on backtrack)
Roland JP8000: Cross Mod lead
Right:
Korg Polysix: Sawtooth lead

Backtrack previously recorded, instrument by instrument, on Pro Tools (just drums and the extra sub bass, plus a JX-8P on final pads).
Original song composed by Phil Oakey, Ian Burden.
Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara"

DX5 performing The Cure "Lovesong" cover

video upload by DX5

"Instrumental version of one of my favorite Cure tracks, from 'Disintegration'.
Gear used live: Roland JP8000 (organ). Kurzweil PC1x.
Roland JX8P.
Backtrack previously recorded from scratch by me, instrument by instrument (PC1x extensively used for guitars). Original song composed by Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Roger O'Donnell, Boris Williams, Laurence Tolhurst.
Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara"

5 reasons the Yamaha CS-80 is a Performer’s Dream

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"The Yamaha CS-80 is more than a legendary analog synth — it’s a full-body performance instrument. In this video, we explore five features that made the CS-80 truly ahead of its time: from its expressive polyphonic aftertouch and velocity-sensitive keyboard to its iconic ribbon controller and real-time modulation controls.

Discover how a team of organ engineers created one of the most playable synths in history — and why no modern instrument has fully caught up.

Featuring:
• A deep dive into the CS-80’s unique keyboard and ribbon
• The story behind Crazy Horses and the Yamaha YC-30
• The return of poly aftertouch (finally!) in 2019
• How the CS-80 shaped the sounds of Vangelis, Toto, Springsteen and beyond"

Improv on Yamaha #cs80 and Hardware (!) Lexicon 224X

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"It's just great to play the real thing - amazing how this almost 50 year old digital machine can sound. And great to have the true #vangelis combination! #bladerunner"

Also featured:
Roland JX10
Oberheim OB-X
Ymaha CP-70 w/ MIDI
Sequential Prophet-5
Fender Rhodes
Roland VP330
Moog Minimoog

Saul Stokes, Syd and I #synths #openmic #sbsc #sanjose #california #electronic #performance #live

video upload by steve cooley

"A live music performance by Saul Stokes for the first ten minutes, then a song from Syd and I.
Check out Saul's bandcamp: https://saulstokes.bandcamp.com/
and his/their youtube channel ‪@frequensea_experience‬

Recorded at ‪@gratefulgardenssanjose1058‬
All details: https://southbaysoniccircuits.org/

Visuals by :
Tim Tompson https://timthompson.com/tjt/index.html
David Tristram https://tristram.com

Event Credits:
Thanks to Grateful Gardens, San Jose
Thanks to Community of Christ for supporting our community event by letting us use the venue and equipment.
M.C. and chief instigator : Doug Lynner
Streaming Producer : Collette Lynner
Ops and Marketing: Joerg Ferber
Video Producer: steve cooley

Thanks so much to all of the folks at Community of Christ for all the help with event logistics"

DX5 performing Johnny Hates Jazz "Shattered Dreams" cover

video upload by DX5

"Instrumental cover of 'Shattered Dreams' by JHJ. The album 'Turn Back the Clock' has a lot of Jupiter 8 and Emax (and Fairlight iirc). Calvin told me.

Gear used:
Roland JX-8P (square lead)
Roland JP8000
Kurzweil PC1x

Backtrack previously sequenced and recorded by me, instrument by instrument, on Pro Tools, including the Roland Promars and Yamaha DX7 for several background sequences/sound. I did not include the latin percussion as on the original (congas starting in the middle 8 part).

Original song composed by Clark Dachtler (with arrangements by Calvin Hayes and Mice Nocito).
Performed here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara."

Cover JM Jarre Oxygen 14 on Mini Moog | Prophet 5

video upload by Welcome at Jose's Vintage Keys

"Vangelis - Schulze - Hammer ....and #jeanmicheljarre - those are my big heroes. Jarre keeps surprising with music that is both Melodic and Electronic - his soundscapes are always recognizable - but never the same. Prophet played a major part in playing this cover of #oxygen 14."

Hans Zimmer 'Dune' Vangelis edition

video upload by Welcome at Jose's Vintage Keys

"Back to my roots playing famous movie tunes in the style of Vangelis. Well, let's say with a prominent role of the #cs80 - orginal title: Pauls Dream. Txxs for the inspiration ‪@HansZimmer‬
I tried to give it a human feel for the melody by running the #prophet5 through the VP330 #vocoder. My first ever Vocoder performance :-)"