Oberheim OB-X8 Leak
The Oberheim OB-X8 will be a new 8-voice bi-timbral polyphonic analog Synthesizer based on the legendary OB-X from 1979. According to the leak, it will be not a 1-to-1 clone/replica but a modern take on the OB-X with an upgraded feature set.
The core offers two discrete SEM/OB-X-lineage VCOs per voice delivering the classic punchy Oberheim tone. They offer sine, saw, square, and triangle as selectable waveforms as well as noise. They have the classic OB-X features including variable triangle wave cross-modulations.
Followed by a discrete SEM-lineage VCFs that delivers the authentic OB-X style tone and presence. It has a new SEM filter mode that adds high pass, bandpass, and notch functions to the classic OB-X filter.
Then, it also has Curtis filters to add the bold and lovey character of the OB-Xa and OB-8. What many have wished for: the OB-X and OB-Xa sound in one device. The envelope responses are meticulously modeled after the OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-8 says the leaked information.
There will be also a vintage knob allowing to add variable amounts of voice-to-voice variability to emulate the behavior of vintage instruments. Plus, it has a programmable per-voice pan for wider stereo presence.
Playability
Thanks to its bi-timbral capability, you can have two presets simultaneously for splits and doubles. The leak also says that there will be enhanced unison making variable voice stacking from 1-8 voices possible. The OB-X8 will have a 61-key FATAR keybed with velocity (volume/filter) and channel-aftertouch for real-time performance-based modulation. It will also have an arpeggiator with a clock input. But no sequencer.
The developers also also added classic Oberheim pitch and mod levers allow expressive note bending, vibrato, and access to arpeggiator functions
Connectivity
Connection side, you have stereo and mono outputs. Inputs for sustain, volume, and filter as well as MIDI on classic 5 pin sockets. Plus you get a MIDI socket. It will come with an integral, fanless, heating-free power supply and the interface has real walnut end cheeks.
The OB-X8 will have 400+ factory programs including the full set of factory sounds for the OB-X, OB-SX, OB-Xa, and OB-8. You can also save in over 600 presets locations your own sounds. So enough space for sound designers. Advanced features and the presets can be managed on a high-resolution OLED display.
