Oberheim OB-Mx Source Code Now Available

You can find it at the Oberheim OB-Mx Perservation Page.

"Lynx Crowe has kindly provided his original source code for the OB-Mx, provided for noncommercial personal and educational use. This code is provided as-is with no guarantees of completeness or correctness; it's a compilation of various bits of relevant code that Lynx found going through his archives. If you want to delve into this, you are "on your own." Knowledgeable people with time on their hands could potentially do all sorts of neat things with this. Please give Lynx proper credit on anything you do with this."

Interesting and Unique - OB-Mx

100 Things I Do

"I thought we would take a further look at the OB-Mx today. As I mention in the video when this synth was released the reviews on the whole were so bad I almost never bothered to play one. The OB-Mx is a very unique sounding synth and with its unusual feature set (at least at the time) makes for an amazing box of ambient exploration :D"

More OB-Mx Samples Via Brian Kehew

Click here for another sample of the OB-Mx sent my way via Brian Kehew of The Moog Cookbook. It's the 4M mp3. The other is the sample he previously sent in.

"Here are some of my sounds, they kinda show off what the synth does well. It's aggressive without losing the "muscle" of the sound; a real DIRTY sound when you want it. It has nice complexity and definitely sounds analog. I think it's unfairly treated by some people, although there are others like me that are in love with it. The filters sound great, and the complexity - from the Matrix-style routings - gives it a lot of options if you're a programming nut.

I think it got too much attention for being connected to Don Buchla - he did very little on the synth, and it's NOT like a Buchla really. But you have to give them credit - at the time this came out NOBODY was making analog synths. I thought it was such a bold (and commercially ahead-of-it's time, or behind-it's-time!) idea. Sure was expensive though. For a short time, about three years ago, unused voice cards were turning up - they all sold fast as people stacked up their synth. Mine now has all twelve voices."

OB-Mx shot via Sequencer.de.

OB-Mx

On 7/22 I posted on a misunderstood synth, the Ensoniq Fizmo. In the post I reference to a thread on Sonic State's the-gas-station that meandered into a discussion on the Oberheim OB-Mx. Well, the thread is still going on and two articles of interest came up that I thought I would post.

The first article is on the history and relative failure of the OB-Mx: link.

The second is a raving review from Jim Aiken in Keyboard magazine: link. I actually have that issue of Keyboard magazine. : )

Both are excellent reads.

Oberheim OB-12 Virtual Analog Synthesizer with Custom Blue Buchla Style Knobs

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

via this auction

"Oberheim ob 12 for sale in fairly good condition complete with manual and a flight case that it has been stored in when not in use. Few marks on ends and small dink on face underneath the high/6k graphic slider - see photo's. Display light flickers every now and again and sometimes goes off but comes back on again when synth next on - new display unit for sale on E-bay -otherwise all working."

An interesting side note is you can see the side panels are grey painted wood. I have an OB-12 and I swear on mine the grey panels feel plastic/synthetic. I obviously don't want to scratch it to check. The undersides have a gap that that make the panels thin enough to dig into your fingers when moving. If you have an OB-12 I'd be curious to know what yours are like.

Another interesting side note regarding the Buchla style knobs is I believe there were only two Oberheim synths after the original company folded. The Gibson Oberheim OB-Mx co-designed by Don Buchla and the Viscount Oberheim OB-12.

It does look nice with the blue knobs. It reminds me I am going to likely need new knobs for my XTk. The originals are beginning to break down and feel sticky.

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Creating a PAD - Oberheim OB-Mx Patch Creation

Published on Feb 25, 2017 100 Things I Do

"I thought I would do another video on the OB-Mx, this time I will take it from the Default patch and create a pad patch. To me it sounds very much like previous Oberheim's when using only the OB Filter! I kept the patch quite simple *(maybe I will do a video on the Mod Matrix later)*. To round the clip off I throw the patch into The BlackHole Reverb and the Eventide H3000. For regular viewers this should not come as a surprise :D"

Synthetiseur Oberheim OB-Mx flavours (+ ARP Pro-Solist & Yamaha CS20m & Roland RS-09)

Published on Oct 29, 2014 KurtzMindfields

"Few personnal sounds from my new Oberheim OB-MX, testing the Moog & OB VCO and filters, from leads, bass to modular effets ...."

Oberheim OB-Mx 6-Voice Ver. SN MX001381

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via this auction

Use this code on checkout for $30 off orders of $100 or more from now until December 31: MATRIX30

"Don Buchla‘s analog Monster !

Synth is in perfect condition, everything works better then was new.

OB-Mx was 3 months ago in pro service famous “Werkstatt Matlak”.
All 3 cards with 6 voice were full calibrated and was install chips with last Os for cards and chip with last Os system, because of this there is no problem with voice tuning and synth.
Works better than Ob was new.
No bugs with system and chips on cards.
Synth was fully clean and checked.

All potentiometers,buttons and display works like NEW!"

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The Top 100 Synths According to the A-Z of Analog Synths

via Ethan Callendar in the comments of this post. Thank you Ethan! Click the image to shoot Peter an email on the availability of the A-Z Books. I have them and they are very, very good - an absolute must have for synth enthusiasts.

"Here are the top 100 according to Peter Forrest's "A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers:

1. Moog Memorymoog (LAM)
2. Roland MKS-80 (w/MPG-80 + MKB-1000)
3. Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (Rev 3)
4. Moog Memorymoog Plus
5. Sequential Circuits Prophet-10
6. Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (Rev 2)
7. Oberheim Matrix-12
8. Sequential Circuits Prophet-T8
9. Moog Original Prototype
10. Oberheim Xpander

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Oberheim OB-MX 12 Voice Analog Synthesizer SN MX001123

via this auction

"Oberheim OB-MX analog synthesizer with all 6 voice cards (12 voices)."

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Oberheim OB-Mx – Rare Analog Don Buchla-Designed Synth

via this auction
"The OB-Mx is a modern synthesizer with an entirely analog audio path. It has an intuitive interface making it easy to program some unique sounds. You can get some great classic Oberheim and Minimoog sounds out of this thing, and it is completely programmable and MIDI compatible. This is one of the only real analog synths with modern features. It has one 2-voice card that contains two oscillators, four multistage envelopes, three LFOs and filters. You can upgrade the unit and add up to 5 more cards to get even more polyphony. This is the standard factory-issued 2-voice unit."

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Oberheim OB-MX 10 Voice Analog Synthesizer

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via this auction

See the seller's other items for more.

via the listing: "This OB-MX is loaded with five voice cards for a total of 10 voices! This synth is not fully functional. The brain module does not power up. On the other hand the voice cards were tested in another unit I have, and appear to be working as they should. I don't know why the brain won't power up, could be something simple like a blown fuse, but when I flip the switch to power on nothing happens. This synth is sold AS-IS for parts/repair."

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Oberheim OB-Mx Full 12-Voice Synthesizer

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via this auction

Fully functioning, new battery installed, V2 OS, very nice condition."

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Oberheim OB-Mx - VEMIA

via this VEMIA auction
"Immaculate condition OB-Mx, fully expanded with 12 voices. OS version 1.04, which has had a bad press but seems stable and efficient to me in this machine. All voices seem exceptionally well matched and very well-behaved. In contrast the installed factory presets are generally pretty lame - brash without being exciting, and very badly matched in overall volume. Without onboard effects, most of them sound pretty uninspiring. But playing with the complex and powerful cross-modulations, and using the 12 individual outs, this is a powerful synth which justifies the tag 'Designed by Don Buchla'. Uses standard IEC plug, not included. With original user manual in excellent condition. One owner (Ed Starink) from new."

Oberheim OB-Mx Polyphonic Synthesizer (4-Voice NEW OLD STOCK)

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via this auction

"An Oberheim OB-Mx in excellent condition.

Four voices, all original parts, recently serviced and tested.

NEW OLD STOCK, Acquired from an old stockroom in excellent condition, original box + manual."

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Oberheim OB-MX

via this auction

"Vintage rare Oberheim OB-MX synth module. This unit comes with 4 cards (8 voice). It has 2 empty spaces for cards."

Oberheim OB-Mx 12 Voice Factory Demo

YouTube Uploaded by zibbybone on Jan 27, 2012

"Here is the factory demo on a fully loaded, 12 voice OB-Mx rackmount synthesizer designed by Don Buchla."

OBERHEIM OB-Mx Vintage Analog MIDI Synthesizer - designed by Don Buchla

via this auction
zolophile (RSS)

"The OBMx is an awesome, compact, fully analog synth designed by Don Buchla. This one is the standard two voice model, but it can potentially be expanded to 12(!) voices. This comes with its manual and original box."

You can find the OB-MX story here.

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Oberheim OB-MX 6 Voice

via this auction

"Oberheim OB-MX 6 voice (3 - 2 voice cards installed) running v1.01 software, stock patches. This unit is clean, everything works and is functional. It has been very stable and reliable. No marks or blemishes on the front."

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Oberheim OB-MX 12 Voice SN MX001123

via this auction

"Oberheim OB-MX analog synthesizer with all 6 voice cards (12 voices)."

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