Oberheim OB-8

OB-8

The Oberheim OB-8
Manufactured by	Oberheim
Dates	1983 - 1985
Price	US$4395
Technical specifications
Polyphony	8
Timbrality	2
Oscillator	2 per voice
LFO	3
Synthesis type	Analog Subtractive
Filter	2 or 4-pole ADSR
Attenuator	2
Memory	120 patches 12 splits 12 dual
Effects	none
Input/output
Keyboard	61-key
Left-hand control	Pitch Modulation
External control	CV/Gate MIDI Cassette Computer interface

The Oberheim OB-8 is a subtractive analog synthesizer launched by Oberheim in early 1983 and discontinued in 1985. It belongs to the OB-X product line of polyphonic compacts synthesizers and is successor to the OB-Xa. The number of production was about 3,000 units.

The OB-8 features eight-voice polyphony, two-part multi-timbrality, a 61-note processor-controlled piano keyboard, sophisticated programmable LFO and envelope modulation, 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. 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 Boys Noize, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Prince, Queen, Van Halen, Depeche Mode, The War on Drugs, Styx, Kool & The Gang, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Clarence Jey, The Police, Silent Running, The KLF, Future Sound of London, Barnes & Barnes and Nik Kershaw.

Notable OB-8 users

• Depeche Mode
• Prince
• Simple Minds
• Jimmy Jam
• Clarence Jey
• The Police
• KLF
• Van Halen
• Thompson Twins

References

• Vintage Synth: Oberheim OB-8
  • Image of OB-8 : image source, copyright details
• Keyboard Museum