Oberheim OB-1
OB-1 | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Oberheim |
Dates | 1978 |
Price | US$1,895 |
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | 1 voice |
Timbrality | Monotimbral |
Oscillator | 2 VCOs |
LFO | 1 |
Synthesis type | Analog Subtractive |
Filter | 2 or 4 pole switchable VCF |
Attenuator | 2 x ADSR; one for VCF, one for VCA |
Aftertouch expression | No |
Velocity expression | No |
Storage memory | 8 patches |
Effects | None |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | 37-key |
The Oberheim OB-1 was a monophonic, programmable, analog synthesizer introduced by Oberheim Electronics in 1978. It originally sold for $1,895 and was the first analog synthesizer capable of storing patches. The design was a replacement for the previous generation of Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expansion Module) based instruments and intended to be used for live performance.[1][2]
A slightly updated version, the Oberheim OB-1a, was introduced in 1979 that features the grey color scheme of its polyphonic sibling, the OB-X.[3]
Specification
[edit]The OB-1 is monophonic version of the Oberheim OB-X, with two VCOs and a Low Pass filter. It also contained an envelope control for both the filter and amplitude.[1]
In popular culture
[edit]Notable users of the OB-1 were the composer and musician Vince Clarke and the bands Tangerine Dream, Rush, and The Grid.[1] A 2014 feature on the French radio station France Inter claimed that the OB-1 had been used by the Star Wars sound engineer Ben Burtt to create the voice of R2-D2 and that the name of another Star Wars character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, derives from a transliteration of "OB-1".[4] However, Star Wars was first released in 1977, a year before the OB-1, and most sources credit the ARP 2600 synthesizer as being used to record R2-D2's voice.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Oberheim OB-1". Vintage Synth. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
- ^ Moog, Bob (2009). "Oberheim SEM Module". Keyboard Magazine Presents Vintage Synthesizers, p. 172. Backbeat Books
- ^ Retrosynthads (2012-03-26). "Retro Synth Ads: Oberheim OB-1A and OB-X "A family that plays together..." ad, Contemporary Keyboard, 1979". Retro Synth Ads. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ France Inter (18 February 2014. "Star wars Identities: visite virtuelle". Retrieved 25 April 2015 (in French). See also Russ, Martin (2012) Sound Synthesis and Sampling, 3rd edition, p. 333. Taylor & Francis
- ^ See for example, Kunkes, Michael (May-June 2009). "Sound Trek: The Audio Explorations of Ben Burtt". Editors Guild Magazine and Pinch, T. J. and Trocco, Frank (2004). Analog Days, p. 273. Harvard University Press