Very useful video. I’ve just got my OB-12 out after giving it a nearly 20 year rest. It is a great synth once you know what not to ask it to do. Seeing you video has helped me to remember it’s quirks - both the good ones and the more ugly ones :-)
It's wrong, but a keeper. I almost gave mine up until I realized its unique charm. It's not the best sounding VA if "thick" classic analog is what you are after. The FM and Resonance can be ear splitting. The Ring Mod has a unique character. You have to be careful as subtle changes have a big impact. It's that oddball character that makes it. Yet somehow it can make some of the most lush sounding pads. It's an odd one for sure. I'm glad I kept mine in the end as it can do things other synths just can't. It's almost like they didn't fine tune or reign things in so put through proper effects you can get some real magic out of it.
You are very right, Matrix, and you sum up the synth's character very well in a few words. I love the thing. It is also a wonderfuly beautifull instrument !
The unison mode thing is not a bug or weak CPU. It's just using the available polyphony to create the unison. So yeah, depending on how many voices they internally take for this unison, you get 3 note polyphony (which seems they take 4 voices... I didn't see a parameter to choose the number of unison voices?) The clicks you hear is the voice stealing trying to keep up. Sure, could've been better, but there you go - if you ever wanted an explanation. BTW Waldorf does unison in a similar way on Q/mQ/Blofeld, with up to 6 voices unison, where it takes exactly that many voices of poly.
I'll be honest I can't say I really like the sound of this synth. Reminds me of my Korg Radias... just has this quality about it I can't explain. Like, it just sounds like it takes a lot of work to sound good. That's how my Radias sounds. It takes a ton of work to get it to sound nice. Don't think it is your efforts that are the problem, I like the stuff you do.
Whay you are saying is true. It takes some effort to make it sound, I would say even decent. But it also can make so much strange stuff that other synths can onlywhisper about :D
Really trying to like it… but it just sounds too thin and brittle. The layout and control surface I absolutely adore on it though. Wish Oberheim made an ACTUAL proper analog version of this synth
This as an real VCO synth would be nuts 🤗 I can't really agree with that it would sound thin. You have the EQ at hand at all times 🤔 If you are refering to my video audio that might be a thing? Best regards
How do you start the appregiator? BTW; I have a OB-12, but the display is not working properly. My music friend has a OB-12 also, but both we don't know how to start the Appregiator. Thank you in advance and nice vid!
Thank you! I don't know what you doin wrong. 🤔 It's just to push the button for the arpeggiator. Check if you have it set to internal clock and that it is in the keyboard zone you play. 😁
Appregiator running :-). 'Turn on the internal clock'. That was the case and we should have kown that long ago. Thank you for you quick reply, really appreciated.
Haha, yes well. I'm a guitar player, but my music friend (I know him for over 40 years) is really into synths and has/had dozens of synths. He feels a little embarassed that he didn't think of the internal clock a long time ago :-)
To this day the worst 'professional' synth I've ever heard. It was a traumatic event.. because I still remember it like it was yesterday ;) West LA Music 2002. Played it through the small active monitors they had hooked up and my own headphone (I always bring my headphones to audition synths). I wanted to like it, but it was simply the most flat, sterile, uninspiring synth I've ever played.
![Oberheim OB-12 - the weird side [demo/review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1WT_g1tGa4w/mqdefault.jpg)
Very useful video. I’ve just got my OB-12 out after giving it a nearly 20 year rest. It is a great synth once you know what not to ask it to do. Seeing you video has helped me to remember it’s quirks - both the good ones and the more ugly ones :-)
Oh! Thanks.
I'm greatfull it was helpfull.
It's wrong, but a keeper. I almost gave mine up until I realized its unique charm. It's not the best sounding VA if "thick" classic analog is what you are after. The FM and Resonance can be ear splitting. The Ring Mod has a unique character. You have to be careful as subtle changes have a big impact. It's that oddball character that makes it. Yet somehow it can make some of the most lush sounding pads. It's an odd one for sure. I'm glad I kept mine in the end as it can do things other synths just can't. It's almost like they didn't fine tune or reign things in so put through proper effects you can get some real magic out of it.
You are very right, Matrix, and you sum up the synth's character very well in a few words. I love the thing. It is also a wonderfuly beautifull instrument !
The unison mode thing is not a bug or weak CPU. It's just using the available polyphony to create the unison. So yeah, depending on how many voices they internally take for this unison, you get 3 note polyphony (which seems they take 4 voices... I didn't see a parameter to choose the number of unison voices?) The clicks you hear is the voice stealing trying to keep up. Sure, could've been better, but there you go - if you ever wanted an explanation.
BTW Waldorf does unison in a similar way on Q/mQ/Blofeld, with up to 6 voices unison, where it takes exactly that many voices of poly.
I'll be honest I can't say I really like the sound of this synth. Reminds me of my Korg Radias... just has this quality about it I can't explain. Like, it just sounds like it takes a lot of work to sound good. That's how my Radias sounds. It takes a ton of work to get it to sound nice. Don't think it is your efforts that are the problem, I like the stuff you do.
Whay you are saying is true. It takes some effort to make it sound, I would say even decent. But it also can make so much strange stuff that other synths can onlywhisper about :D
awe the radias is badass
If it didn’t have an Oberheim badge, everyone would be drooling over it and telling us what a sleeper it is. Seriously.
Exactly. Like bitching over a Perfectly good Lexus because it has a Rolls Royce “label” on it!!!! From wine to synths-snobs will be snobs.
U're absolutely right. The Oberheim name became it's "Waterloo" - had one for now 15 years - wouldn't dream of selling it.
Really trying to like it… but it just sounds too thin and brittle. The layout and control surface I absolutely adore on it though. Wish Oberheim made an ACTUAL proper analog version of this synth
This as an real VCO synth would be nuts 🤗
I can't really agree with that it would sound thin. You have the EQ at hand at all times 🤔
If you are refering to my video audio that might be a thing?
Best regards
That display looks like it could run Doom.
😅
vangelis had two, reznor one, fla, dm, koto ...
I had the volume cranked all the way up and could barely hear the synth in this video.
The synth is so different in volume so it was hard to set a volume. But I also wanted to show this.
How do you start the appregiator? BTW; I have a OB-12, but the display is not working properly. My music friend has a OB-12 also, but both we don't know how to start the Appregiator. Thank you in advance and nice vid!
Thank you!
I don't know what you doin wrong. 🤔
It's just to push the button for the arpeggiator. Check if you have it set to internal clock and that it is in the keyboard zone you play. 😁
Appregiator running :-). 'Turn on the internal clock'. That was the case and we should have kown that long ago. Thank you for you quick reply, really appreciated.
@@nicovelthuijsen no probs! 🤗
Haha, yes well. I'm a guitar player, but my music friend (I know him for over 40 years) is really into synths and has/had dozens of synths. He feels a little embarassed that he didn't think of the internal clock a long time ago :-)
@@nicovelthuijsen it happens to the best! 🤗
Interesting video, but unfortunately, almost inaudible.
Anyone get there ribbon controller to work on the "HOLD" function?
To this day the worst 'professional' synth I've ever heard. It was a traumatic event.. because I still remember it like it was yesterday ;) West LA Music 2002. Played it through the small active monitors they had hooked up and my own headphone (I always bring my headphones to audition synths). I wanted to like it, but it was simply the most flat, sterile, uninspiring synth I've ever played.
put in it a big sky pedal,.
Set de sonido Oberheim OB-12 "Legacy" - 30 sonidos cósmicos
Veille pédales pour salir le son noise analogique ou pré amplie de micro cheap ...pedal egallizer
The worst synth I ever heard. Wanted to buy one, but no way. Sounds not better then cheap Radias, for sure...
You've evidently never played with an Akai TimbreWolf.
Or a Behringer Oscar.