The Oberheim OB-8 is a
subtractive analog synthesizer launched by
Oberheim in early 1983 and discontinued in 1985. As the fourth product in the OB-series of polyphonic compact synthesizers, the OB-8 was the successor to the
OB-Xa. The number of production was about 3,000 units.
The OB-8 features eight-voice
polyphony, two-part
multi-timbral
Monotimbral (from the root prefix ''mono'' meaning one, and ''timbre'' meaning a specific tone of a sound independent of its pitch) is usually used in reference to electronic synthesizers which can produce a single timbre at a given pitch when pr ...
ity, a 61-note processor-controlled
piano keyboard, sophisticated programmable
LFO and
envelope modulation
In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform, called the ''carrier signal'', with a separate signal called the ''modulation signal'' that typically contains informatio ...
, two-pole and four-pole
filters,
arpeggiator, external cassette storage,
MIDI capability and 120 memory patches, 24 bi-timbral patches, and used the
Z80 CPU. The musician's interface also consists of two pages of front panel programmable controls, left panel performance controls and a set of foot pedals and switches.
Artists who have used the OB-8 include
Alice Coltrane, in her ashram music,
Boys Noize,
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool,
Prince,
Spinetta Jade
Spinetta Jade was an Argentine rock-jazz band active between 1980 and 1985, interspersed with Almendra's reunion and the solo career of Luis Alberto Spinetta.
History
Early months
In his early months, the band was formed by Luis Alberto S ...
,
Queen,
Van Halen,
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting).
Depeche ...
,
The War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band consists of Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass guitar), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Jon Natchez (saxopho ...
,
Styx
In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, whic ...
,
Kool & The Gang,
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,
Clarence Jey,
The Police,
Siekiera
Siekiera (Polish for ''"Axe"'') was a Polish post-punk band. With fast, aggressive music and lyrics filled with obscenities, the band was a sensation at the 1984 Jarocin Festival. After lineup changes, the band switched to new wave and then dis ...
,
Silent Running
''Silent Running'' is a 1972 American environmental-themed apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, post-apocalyptic science fiction film. It is the directorial debut of Douglas Trumbull, and stars Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts, Ron Rifkin, and Jesse ...
,
The KLF,
Future Sound of London
The Future Sound of London (often abbreviated FSOL) is a British electronic music duo composed of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. They have been described as a "boundary-pushing" electronic act, covering techno, ambient, house music, trip ho ...
,
Barnes & Barnes
Barnes & Barnes are an American musical duo, formed in Los Angeles in 1970. Though commonly associated with novelty music and comedy rock, their music has also incorporated elements of new wave, synth-pop, and folk rock.
The duo formed in 197 ...
and
Nik Kershaw.
Notable OB-8 users
*
Art of Noise
*
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. They have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985), which topped the '' Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United St ...
*
Jimmy Jam
Jimmy may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy
* ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma
* ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
*
The KLF
*
Soul II Soul
*
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
Hardware re-issues and recreations
In May, 2022, the Oberheim OB-X8, a new 8-voice analog synthesizer with the voice architecture and filters of three classic Oberheim models: the OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-8, along with functionality and features not included on the original models, was announced. The new synthesizer is manufactured by
Sequential in partnership with
Tom Oberheim.
References
Vintage Synth: Oberheim OB-8** Image of OB-8
image source copyright details
Keyboard MuseumGreatSynthesizers: Oberheim OB-8
{{Oberheim
Oberheim synthesizers
Analog synthesizers
Polyphonic synthesizers
Z80
