Oberheim OB-X vs. OB-Xa Vintage Analog Synthesizer sound battle
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ส.ค. 2024
- (c) 2015 vintage synthesizer demo by RetroSound
supported by UVI: bit.ly/retrosound-uvi
Oberheim OB-X (1979) 8-voice vs. Oberheim OB-Xa (1981) 8-voice Analog Synthesizer with identical self-programmed sound programs.
This video shows the different sound character. The OB-X is discrete analog like the SEM modul and sounds very raw and wild.
The OB-Xa based on Curtis CEM ICs and sounds more smooth.
Both are great synths and I love both a lot. The king class of polyphonic analog synthesizers.
This is the sound.
no compression, no EQ, only a bit delay used.
more info and pics:
Here can you find the full OB-Xa playlist with a lot single sound demos, synth comparisions and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
The OB-Xa playlist -- • Oberheim OB-Xa Synthes...
Facebook page: / 265713782347
0:00 Einleitung
0:10 OB-X - soft pulse pad
1:04 OB-Xa - soft pulse pad
1:53 OB-X - sawtooth brass sound
2:23 OB-Xa - sawtooth brass sound
3:27 OB-Xa - filter sweep 12dB/O
3:57 OB-X-pulse width modulation
4:32 OB-Xa - pulse width modulation
4:55 OB-X - sample/hold.-- filter
5:29 'Oberheim
5:55 OB-X - Osc-Sync + Unisono
7:06 OB-X-filter reso bass
7:37 OB-Xa - filter reso bass
#Oberheim #obxa #obx #obx8 #ubxa - เพลง
![[Live] : ONE FIGHT NIGHT 24 “จาร์เร็ด vs กุสตาโว”](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ENNA-fsT67c/mqdefault.jpg)
The Oberheim OB-XA Synthesizer is one of the big legendary synths in music history. Used by many pop and rock groups in the 80s. Most famous is Jump by Van Halen. Here can you find the full OB-Xa playlist with a lot single sound demos, synth comparisions and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
The OB-Xa playlist ----> th-cam.com/play/PLe08Lbpy8pPYApz7OEsMe5SnyNaLUw-f1.html
@Emmitt Keaton Glad I could help :D
From what I’ve read in an interview with Eddie Van Halen, the studio recording of Jump was done with an OB-X but OB-Xa were used live an in the videoclip.
Thanks! I was surprised by how different they are. The OB-Xa is much smoother and more refined, but the OB-X is far nastier, grittier and more powerful and immediate. In the sync segment, the OB-Xa sounds good, but the OB-X just screams, in a way that very few instruments can.
If I had to choose one, it would definitely be the OB-X.
+geoffk777 :)
I now understand Prince's love for this synth. :)
+ebondefender ;)
Actually it was his favourite. Prince was “ the best using The Oberheim “!!!!💕☔️☔️☔️☔️
Both look great but I like the OB-X more because it sounds warm and lush. One day, if I have the money, I’ll buy one.
No VST can emulate that energy!
+Vadym Mykhaylyuk agree with you!
it needs electricity to flow.
+Vadym Mykhaylyuk Off course...NEVER!! ; ) :P
The VST sounds great as a VST... but it have nothing to do vs the real analogic monsters
I can never get enough of the Oberheim brass sounds. Big and beautiful!
+muco007 :)
I couldn’t agree more! I feel second-hand embarrassment for other synths that even try to do brass! 😆
Both terrific classics, but...OB-X hands down. Depth & girth are simply unreal - almost like a perfectly-calibrated 8-Voice. There is something to be said about the merits of its almost fully discrete topology.
Yeah, God bless TTL Logic, Eh?
@@supadupahilton6848 James L. Buie must be smiling in heavens about this
That OSC Sync demo at around 5:51 is how Geddy (Rush) did Witch Hunt (beginning). You can really hear it at around 6:23. I mean it's not exact, but the technique is there. Hearing the sweeping sync'd pitches and filter is freakin' amazing - guttural, organic and truly visceral. Seriously, it made my insides twist
reminds me of Turbo Love from Judas Priest as well ;-) Ged did love his oberheims, lol.
I think any Rush fan is a fan of Oberheim synths, especially the OB-X and the OB-XA! Rush is synonymous with Moog and the Minimoog, Moog Taurus pedals, OB-X and OB-XA's. I can't forget the Oberheim Modular! Oh yea, and Rickenbacker 4001's and the 4080-6 and the 4080-12 double neck bass and electric guitar. And yes, a little Jazz bass back in the same time period.
The night is black, without a moon....
A few things to keep in mind before writing off the Xa: the filter options (2 pole/4 pole) and the ability to do splits and layers are incredible additions over the X. To truly understand the power of the Xa you have to get an 8 voice model and design some layered patches. HUGE!
According to me, after listening several times certain passages on the video, so the pads and bass, the OB-X sounds more warm and deep than the OB-Xa.
Oh boy, you totally had me with that OB-X opening minute, just epic! LOVE that OB-X.
:)
these things are sheer masterpieces,sod Moogs,i'd have one of these any day.
The OB-X is my preference of these two but you really can't go wrong owning either one. Better yet, buy both!
haha yes :)
Both please, Great video, thank you Mr. Tom Oberheim
thank you
Absolutely one of my favourite synths. So organic that it almost sounds alive.
+MrBatraaf agree with you.
a class of its own. :)
Oberheim fan here. Would love to own an OB-X. I have the OB-8 and I love it. It sort of gets misrepresented since it is the most "clean" of the three, but don't be deceived, it is an analog monster compared to many other analog polys. Of the three, it has a wider set of tools for sound design. OB-8 added Triangle wave and Saw+Pulse mixed wave. Also a dynamic arpeggiator and page two modulation controls.
Had all of them + OG SEM and LM-1. Sold everything 4 peanuts 🥜 21 years ago.,started all over : OBX-8 SEM’s pro + patch panel, mpc60 mk2.🙏😎
I remember, i was searching everything about synths, and most of the infos were text and photos. Frustrating.
So i hopelessly searched on youtube a very hypotetical channel that would showcase all synths, even compare them.
"Retrosound" pop'd out. If i remember well, i spent the next 24 hours in Heaven, with neurons like popcorns.
Sincerely yours Marko!
+David Boura awww thank you so much David! :)
This is why I created this channel in 2006.
You understand the message.
+DinoRocker 86 ;)
The two greatest synths ever produced. Sound wise, that is.
agree with you
Thanks for doing this demo. I was surprised there wasn't a bigger difference, honestly, since the two synths have completely different electronics. I was listening on computer speakers, but still, I think they sounded more alike than different.
thank you for watching
They both sound excellent!
2 Analog Monsters !
Really Complementary Oberheim Synth !
Thanks For This Sound Delight... Moment !
Keep Performing & Sharing These ! ;- ) )
+synths colors thank you! :))
I love this comparison. You're the only person to do it
thank you :)
Maybe he's the only person who can afford to do it!
The Oberheim OB-X Synthesizer from 1978 is one of the legendary synths in music history. Used by Ultravox, Japan, Killing Joke, J.-M. Jarre, Rush, Barcley James Harvest and others. Here can you find the full OB-X playlist with a lot single sound demos, synth comparisions and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
The OB-X playlist ----> th-cam.com/play/PLe08Lbpy8pPbR3dUZoZjD7AV-J36-EOB5.html
Great Sound as always!
+Pianosphere :))
These are both wonderful sounding
Absolut agree with you.
I have an oberheim emblem tattoo. Proud of it.
i have a shirt that says Oberheim on it
I've got an OB-X shirt. We should all form a club with a tree house and everything!
sprintbass just bought an obxa from Patrick Leonard, keyboardist of Madonna
lets have secret passwords too and decoder rings!
What did you pay for the Patrick Leonard OB?
beautiful sounds!
+MrFricoco :))
Awesome beasts! The difference is not as big as I had imagined. They both have a massive presence.
+kixxalot it`s the sound programming. the OB-X has a lot more power.
You mean you programmed them to sound similar in this video?
I would love to get my hands on an OB-X one day, but I already know I'm not ready for the maintenance. Anyway thanks for sharing the sounds, I really enjoy your videos.
I love these two Oberheim synths!
me too :)
For the most part I like the refined sound of the OB-Xa but in the Osc-Sync + Unisono demo the OB-X about ripped my face off!
Wow! I knew there was a big difference, but when played A/B it's HUGE! They both sound great, but the OB-X blows the Xa out of the water in my opinion! It seems as though there is less...... "hiss"...... like, the resonance is a lot smoother and less piercing..... the CEM chips on the Xa really are a bit too sharp on the high resonance end of things...
+Adam Borseti yes agree with you.
discrete analog vs. CEM
I actually like both. For warm pads, I'd definitely go for the OB-X, or even a Matrix-12, but for more buzzy electronic sounds, the Xa truly shines!
I prefer the X too.
My vote: buy one of each
21GunStudio I second this motion
Slightly redundant. I would personally pick the Xa for its split/layer function. If I had to have another 8-note analog, I would choose the Prophet T-8.
Who needs money?
@@Shred_The_Weapon good choice!
My vote - “i need more money”
Have an opportunity to get an obx which needs work...after seeing these sound textures you have created...well it's a no brainier to me!!! What a unbelievable poly synth!!! Thanks for the video comparison!
+Real Ryan thanks for the feedback and good luck!
What a beautiful sound!
+Entrophy-Therophy :)
They both sound incredible, perhaps the Taurus 1 could complete this tri-fecta.
:)
They both sound extremely good, but the ob-xa is simply astonishing (superior filter resonance timbre and smoother sound).
I keep thinking that I would like one of these, but the one that I keep pining for is the OB8, especially one upgraded with MIDI. And in recent years, I pine for an Xpander module.
I also imagine getting both.
Very much alike. Both sound great.
Thanks for listening
Nice demo!
+Jim Ghivizzani thank you!
thank u for doing this!
Our pleasure!
I'm building an 8 voice OB-X clone and hoping it'll sound close to that - thanks for posting this!
+Reginator :)
good luck!
Sell me one!
How did your OBX clone turn out?
amazing VS !!
+Raw wax :)
Man.. I miss that synth. Sold it many years ago and probably shouldn't have.
Wonderful!!!!
+synthartist69 :))
Having an OB-6 and listening to this, it is really clear that it’s more like an OB-X than an OB-Xa, despite the blue stripes. It’s that discrete circuitry and SEM state variable filter. The Curtis chips are much more aggressive/harsh, less smooth and rounded. More high frequencies. The oscillators by themselves sound very different. I do envy the 12/24 switch and split/layer, though.
agree technical more like a X. But not soundwise. The OB-6 is a good synth. But not comparable with the old OB series. all is matter of taste.
Bugger - the OBX pulse with modulation is awesome. Oh, ditto for OBX-a. It's really difficult to compare two monsters like these. LIstening to the sound while reading the comments section and then going back quickly to the video to see which one the guy is playing when it sounds the best is one way.
Great demonstration of the difference between discrete and chip-based. I finally understand why OB-X goes for twice the price of Xa or 8 - much more lush and full. That said, the Xa / 8 are the best sounding Curtis-based synths, and the cut and clarity really work to their advantage on leads (especially with sync).
The OB-X and Xa can actually share patches via cassette interface. X-Mod and Half Noise on the X become F-Env and 4 Pole respectively on the Xa. This would have made the comparison perfect.
thank you
OB-X is rarer too I think.
Crazy expensive ! Man from EU been asking 20 000 euro , now 17 000 !
I prefer the sound of the OB-X personally. great comparison Marko.
+philip maher thank you! :)
No Tom Sawyer seep recreation on both?
Well, awesome video man. Thank you!
Some of the finest synths ever made.
o yes
Okay that sounds good. I heard awful demos of that thing, but this is pretty powerful and rich and textured and not boring at all to listen to.
+mantra3000 :) thanks
Cool!Ab 4:52 biste Sound mäßig genau in meiner Region.Man wie ich das mag,schönes WE!
+drecksheep Ich weiß doch dass du eine Vorliebe für Filter Gebubber hast. ;)
Ebenso! :)
Great machine, great player!
🙌
The sawtooth brass at 2:22 , Nice!
thank you
Try this - Christopher Cross 1980 live OBX. Perhaps saw strings but brassy too. th-cam.com/video/qJ_ro9srOSA/w-d-xo.html Sublime especially within the sing. Blends wonderfully. Lovelier than real strings IMO in a song.
I’d love to make an ambient album using mainly the OB-Xa.
Some people have been saying the X is the better of the two. I disagree. I can hardly hear any difference in the signal path between the discrete circuitry and the CEM circuitry. They’re equal, and the Xa has the split/layer functionality. Which is why I would choose it or the OB-8 before the OBX.
3:20 perfect Van Halen 1984.
+Ryan Day ;) th-cam.com/video/60qaA-cZahY/w-d-xo.html
RIP
I own OB-Xa ,and its a serious monster,i sold my OB-8 for Xa in 1982
🙌
grossartig!! =)
+SlimMixer Oberheimelig ;)
Danke!
I love the very first patch :)
+NiamorH more here: th-cam.com/video/uIAuPmTtz14/w-d-xo.html
Surprisingly I liked filter sweep & Osc- SYnc better on the OB X, something far more fuller about it. but loove the pads as well as everything else on the OB-Xa.
The sample/hold --> Filter as well as the reso bass was far too different in terms of tone and tempo respectively for me to make an informed opinion about either way,
they are both incredible synths!
yes :)
Retrosound & Wc Olo Garb.... the true Audio Professor's! ;P
+Savas ADSR Wave haha ;)
OH man... that's tough. They're close, but on that first soft pad, for example... the OB-X is just so otherwordly beautiful. It truly has an inimitable X-factor. Having said that, the OB-Xa is the iconic 80's sound, and has a far richer feature set. Best to simply mortgage one's home and buy both of them.
Both are different but great
The first pad is so godly.
+Vardø the First :)
Also, on that OSC sync, one is reminded of Judas Preist "Turbo Lover," although that could have been his guitarist using same sync technique.
The Roland GR700 (guitar controlled JX3P) got quite the airing on that whole album...
The OB-Xa sounds better on pads. To me it sounds like it stays in tune a little bittle. However, there's an occasional glitch sound like an envelope or some sort of modulation mistriggering.
The OB-X sounds better on more monophonic sounds, especially filter sweeps. Maybe that's the detuning working in favor?
The 2 first pads are really lush 🙂
:)
HEy.... at 6:57 as the OBXa decays you can hear a little artifact. Mine does this too from time to time... any idea how to fix that?
OB-X by far!!!
Me too. The OPXa can be more reliable, but the X has the soul of the sound.
Hey retrosound there's a sound tutorial I'd like to see if you could do. The choir sound during the choruses of The Analog Kid by Rush. It was played on an OB-Xa but can't figure out for the life of me how to get that sound, it's a very realistic choir sound for a synth.
+WillieWonka928D Use saw or narrow pulse waves, and detune to where they're thick, but the beating between notes isn't faster than a few cycles per second. Use a static filter (2-pole sounds better for this application than 4-pole), apply a medium amount of resonance, and sweep the filter until you get that "ahh" sound of the filter peak. No modulation required there. Use relatively soft attack and release, full volume sustain.
Aside from that, a Lexicon-style hall reverb works wonders to set the "voices" in the right place in the mix.
+WillieWonka928D I spent awhile trying to get that same sound on my OB-X. I eventually stumbled on a factory preset (somewhere in the B bank I believe) that was very close, but just had too much modulation. I modified that patch and got pretty much the identical Analog Kid choir sound (even better sounding through space echo). If you're interested I can try to find the patch I wrote down somewhere.
OB-X all the way. I think the Ob-X has more bite. Jump was originally recorded on the OB-x through a Marshall stack. Look at the heat sinks on the Ob-X that thing is a monster of a synth.
Another great video! Hey Retro I'm about to restore an OBX do you have any advice as far as known component failures?
+friendofCHAKA I think this is a work for a whole life. ;)
when all voicecards are ok it must go. good luck!
thank you! :)
+RetroSound I was afraid you were going to say that. Haha
+friendofCHAKA There you go: www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/766061-oberheim-ob-x-my-story.html
And another restoration: www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/924733-another-oberheim-ob-x-saved-harm.html
Thanks Don thats great info, There is definitely a lot going on in there. I think I'm going to look for an Oberheim specialist. Do you know of any in America?
Did you add reverb and Delay on some of these??? Because i was under the impression that neither had any FX modules
much less buzzy edge on the X filters. Sounds smoother on some things. Having an 8 it would be great to find an X. The Xa sounds great on the osc sync though. Fabulous sound quality on that. Hey can I build you a stand that doesn't rock? I have one with a heavy x stand under an aluminum rail thing w/wood ends and copper pipe I built years ago even that my chroma polaris sets on and the multi-trak I had over it for years..now a cs2x and the MT is above and a dx21 with an extention I built on it. That thing is sollllidddd :-).
:D I really love these rock`n roll stand. ;)
man! i wonder who recorded on these. the triangular tones sound great
Simple Minds, The Police, Van Halen, Christopher Cross (OB-X live). Loads of others! ... Try this - Christopher Cross 1980 live OBX. Perhaps sawtooth strings but brassy too. th-cam.com/video/qJ_ro9srOSA/w-d-xo.html Sublime especially within the sing. Blends wonderfully. Lovelier than real strings IMO in a song. Look up Simple Minds Live 2983, Police Gateshead 1982. Both have OB-Xa. Sting places OBXa on Invisible Sun.
I'm surprised how close they actually are. Does the Xa low pass open up a lot more than the X on the filter sweeps? Seems like it can expose a lot more high end frequencies. However on the brass patch the opposite seems true. Perhaps it was just your settings?
His settings weren't exact, giving the impression that the X is richer. Someone said upthread that they can share patches via cassette tape. He didn't do that for the is video.
Most gearheads prefer the OB-Xa's sound.
3:20 sounds almost exactly like VH's 1984 intro.
+Synthetech :) th-cam.com/video/60qaA-cZahY/w-d-xo.html
it would be interesting to see the scale on oscilloscope!!
:)
Beautiful, beautiful sound. Why did they go? Can't understand it.
+860anthony :)
real polyphonic analog is too expensive these days
Tom Oberheim was foreclosed on by his bank in 1985.
I’m spying a Rhodes Chroma in the background ;)
Ah... "Zucker" für die Ohren!;) Ich bin so neidisch lol!
+Stefano Papaleo
ear candy. :)
Wenn du wüßtest wie pflegeintensiv die alten Schätzchen sind, dann wärst du nicht mehr neidisch. ;)
+RetroSound ja, ich weiss... aber trotzdem ;) Schönes Wochenende!
+Stefano Papaleo Danke ebenso! :)
Da wackelt sogar der Keyboardständer. :) Ich nehme übrigens 1x beide. ;-)
+peter m. mahr haha ja das ist Rock`n Roll ;)
Bei dem enormen Gewicht ächst echt der Ständer :D
Obx is more discrete, and therefore more HUGE.
dude where do you get this keybroards there awesome.
from Tom Oberheim ;)
schöne Sounds! Gleich zwei große Oberheims, aber kein Prophet-5 oder Jupiter-8 in deinem Fuhrpark? ;-)
+AnalogAudio1 Nee bin eher der Oberheimelige Typ ;)
OB-X sounds a little warmer, but the OB-Xa sounds more expressive. Is that just a filter thing? Like maybe the filter just needs to be turned down a bit on the OB-Xa to sound more like the OB-X?
+xnonsuchx this discrete analog vs. curtis chip analog.
the X sounds more agressiv and raw and the Xa more smooth.
Mit welchem Oberheim wurde die Hautpmelodie von NENA's "Nur Geträumt" gespielt ? War es wirklich der Oberheim OB-X ? Ich quäle mich Tag und Nacht mit dieser Frage :O
ja das ist der X
So different - so similar.
Yes
1984 sweep @ 3:20
Question is, what do you think about the OB6 from DSI? I am tempted to buy it, but there's other part of me that is telling me to wait and get a 2nd hand OBXa. What do you reckon? Thanks!!
when you want the OB-Xa sound than buy an Xa. when you want a good modern analog synth than buy the OB-6
That means that the OB6 won't be able to reproduce a very similar sound than the OBXa or the OB8? I am loving the big warm sound of the Xa, sounds so alive
than grab a OB-Xa
Thanks.
Anyway, I don't think it is just that easy to decide as you put it. If the price would be the same, if both would be same era (one is 2016 brand new with 3 year warranty, the other is second hand from 1980) yes, I would grab the OBXa no doubt, because I do like its sound.
But because of that difference in price (around $2000 or more), reliability of the condition of a second hand OBXa, etc, it makes me consider the OB6. If it is possible to get a very similar sound with the OB6 to the OBXa then I am interested in the OB6. I didn't have a chance to try both, but I have seen your video comparison. To my ears they sound different, but I wonder if it is possible to make them sound even closer with some patch programming on the OB6 (as I didn't compare both, I don't know, and that is why I was asking you)
I still feel you are not directly answering my original question. Can you get a very similar sound to the OBXa with the OB6?
Is it worth paying $2000 more for the OBXa or you can get an almost identical sound with the OB6?
Thanks!
So which Oberheim sounds better. The OB-X, the OB-Xa, or both?
both are different but both are great
***** Oh, okay!
The xa is more in your face. The x is more chill and subtle
Man, the OB-X sounds SO MUCH better! I couldn't imagine there could be so much difference between two quite similar synths. The OB-Xa (an amazing synth) sounds thinner and much brighter and could even sometimes described as "cheesy" when compared side-by-side with the body and organic depth of the OB-X !
I think the X is more automatically just great sounding, the Xa is meant to be a bit more about programming, finding sounds that work. I think the X is a better party band synth, the Xa might be better for soundtrack type stuff, though of course im loaded with 80's memories, its hard to decide that kind of thing without hands on time.
At least the Prophet 6 is letting a new generation get a taste of discrete VCO analog. I have one and there really is no substitute.
+Colin Caetano yes but the sound is very different to the OBs. I would say the P-6 sounds modern analog.
+RetroSound What about the DSI OB-6?
:)
I've been playing and recording with OB6. Sometimes I like it. Sometimes not sure. I just put on an old recording done with the Prophet-6 and realised how much more it does than the OB6. The P6 is special IMO. Not like these OBs but rich and sweet, dark and mysterious. It has an emotional sound to me. Extremely moody and evocative. If you make your own sounds, that is
@@retrosound72 I would have agreed as and when I got it but I'm listening to a CD I made in 2018 using the Prophet-6 with my own patches. It sounds ancient. It's not that like a P5 but it has the charm for me. It's my favourite synth ever and I've owned some old analogs. Not an OBX though or an OBXa. Would love to. Budget doesn't permit. If I did, the OB-6 would probably go for sale immediately but I'd keep the P6. No way would I ever sell it.
i know beggers cant be choosers but I wish you matched the patches better. on the pad the X has a way longer release. also how many voices does the Xa have? kinda sounds like 6
8 voices
i wish Tom Oberheim (legend) would re-release the OB-X! or at least Xa..
Take a look at NAMM 2017: Shear Electronics Relic-6 Analog Poly Synthesizer, I think you might want one.
Beautiful demonstration! Are any of your patches for the OB-Xa available for download or purchase as sysex for OB-Xa's outfitted with Encore Midi?
+Nomadologies thank you! :)
I made these patches only for the demo and not stored. but sure can I make a soundbank but only as wave file.
Yet people bang on about how great VST's are. Yeah right.
"cassette Interface" that show how vintage this instrument is! LOL
+zedster911 :)
+RetroSound Is the cassette interface used for recording music or for data?
+nrdesign1991 for sound data
You're getting better on chords hm?
(liked the whole vid as .....music you know)
+molekulaTV we getting all better in time ;)
thank you!
+RetroSound the Beatles song 'Getting better' is my main inspiration to keep on playing.
'It's getting better all the time (it can't get much worse)'... ha ha
+Daniel Fisch so true! :)
+RetroSound Hopefully :)