Oberheim OB-1

This sinth does have some quirky settings which are left to discovery
after quite a few hours of programming. Effectice cross-modulation
between the two osilators, being one. Having said that the sinth is
very well laid out and if you are even a semi-experienced analog-sinth
user, you will be able to make some good sounds relatively easily.
One important point (as with any analog) is warm up time. I leave mine
for about 20 minutes, for the VCO's to get settled in. They're also
tuned for this temperature.

This is a monophonic sinth. Has no effects, however does have a nifty
VCA on switch, that leaves notes on.. Basically the notes keep ringing
out until you hit another one! Great for dual sinth , or ridiculously
fast playing!
No midi. No sequencer. So what makes this so great?
It's sound! This sinth can do a good impersonation of a mini-moog
and can create a huge variety of sounds, including analog rumbles and
high squeeles through filtering and resonance tweeking, that would
leave a VA (virtual analog) for dead.
Other nifty features include: 2 and 4 pole filters, ADSR's for both
VCF and VCA, audio in - for filtering foreign sounds and frequency and
wave modulation on both VCO's.

This sinth can be used in a huge variety of musical styles purely
limited by your own experimentation with it's contols. Add some
short reverb and you have your rock lead keyboard.. add some more
and with some low filter sweeps and suddenly you have your interest
added ambient track going on... Portmento.. and you can progresive
jazz / rock 'till the cows come home.
I use it in conjuction with a Prophet 5, using the Prophet's midi in
and CV'ing it up to the OB1. I also have just been getting into plugging
it into a valve amp.. set to massive distortion. This beats the
VST plug-in sinths away.. mic' up this baby and hard techno/industrial
is yours for the taking.
This is an old sinth now though.. and pots need to be cared for and
regular servicing by an experienced tech, is required. It is , however
well worth the investment.

I would take this on the road if I had a road-case built. I also
take a Prophet 5 on the road.. so I don't mind taking risks. For
audience gob-smacking, rummbles you could, if it was a well taken-care-
of instrument. It's all a matter of risk.
I paid a bit to get it working when I first got hold of it.. but it's
been bliss ever since.

Well.. I think enough has been said about this in the other reviews.
I do have the schematics to this sinth.. and they are VERY difficult
to read.. especially as the boards themselves aren't labeled at all well.
My sinth is in the (serial #) 540's however the interior is still
a little "early days".

I don't know if I could afford to replace this anymore. It is simply
a brilliant sinth and as I have a few sinths in my collection, I can
say it has a voice to be reconned with.
As with any good sinth, you can get lost in the coolness of it, however
with the bonus of the ability to save sounds (always the Pro 1's downfall)
you can get jammin with friends with yesterday's great creation.
This sinth will get you reaching for the record button!

If you are into analog synthesis then this synth will be very intuitive for you. It is intuitive for almost anyone for that matter. One knob one function. It could not get any eisier than that.

It has no onboard effects (no suprise there) but in todays technologicaly evolved universe that is a problem easily solved by the running it through an effects pedal or whatever. I have run mine through a simple DOD flanger and a delay, and have achieved some deep, moving sounds from it.

The sounds are what you make of them. I have no gripes accept the noise generator is unusable as it creates a tone underneath the noise that has no coralation of the key that I am playing. I think that this may be a problem that is unique to my synth and not other OB-1's.

I would depend on this far more than I would depend on other vintage synths. I have giged with it a few times. However, I do not take it out anymore. I emulate its sounds on my VA. It may not be exact but I feel that if it is close enough it will work (Most in people in the audience could not care less if I am using a VA or the real deal. The only reason to bring my vintage stuff is to show off) I would recomend this tactic in order to preserve the older synths

I doubt the current owners of the Oberheim name would even respond to me if I called. However, repair for vintage synths is easy to find. Make sure that you investigate before you leave it in the care of someone else. I have let some people into my other synths only to find out that they are realy little kids inside who just want to explore.

It is the premier synth in my collection as it has a lot of class as well as a low serial number (under 0050) If it was stolen I would be heartbroken. I would recomend it to anyone who is wants a Prog sound. I would also recomend it to anyone who just wants a classic analog sound. Anyone can find use for it as well as anything else, it just depends on how artistic you are.

This particular synth is very easy to figure out if you are a vintage synth enthusiast and familiar with analog programming. There are really no presets so to speak, but intriguingly enough, this synth can store patches that you create which I find very cool of synths of this era. A fine example of the sound of this Monosynth can be found on Rush's Permanent waves album particularly the solo portion of "Jacob's Ladder" the LFO is very unique and the sound is unique all its own just like Minimoogs have a sound of there own. I have put them side by side and can tell a significant difference and I prefer either sound, put sometimes the Ob-1 is in demand on some things. Not quite an SEM, and definitely does not sound like one, but if you have programmed SEM's on a 2,4 or 8 voice, then you will have no problem here.

The Ob-1 is a monosynth and should be treated as such, there is a tape cassette interface to dump sounds to and from its storage space which I have not seen for sale I picked one up along the way while purchasing a 4 voice and have used it here and there since I have alot of SEM stuff. The keyboard is ok and there are no built in effects but when combined with external effects it really makes this unit come alive.

This synth is very much used in Rock oriented music as that is all I think it is suited for that is my own opinion. the keyboard action and aftertouch is at your fingertips as with other monosynths of its age. As I have said before the really unique sounding Ob-1 will give you chills as you play it and everything is warmed up good.

I never gig with my vintage synths but I do find this synth to be more reliable than a Minimoog. Alot more stable as far as tracking goes and as usual you have to let it warm up before tweeking on it. As always if you are gigging with vintage synths it is always good to have a backup...it is hard to find a modern day synth to emulate such a warm sounding monosynth. I would advise as these particular synths are rare and to gig with one would be a collector's nightmare.

I do not think, other than the usual synth gurus of this age, anyone from the company could help you but the inner workings of this synth are not obsolete like in some synths from the era. I have had no problem finding someone to restore such a jewel of a synth.

I could not part with this synth as it would break my heart as I have not found alot of these and people are hanging onto them. Mine is in mint condition like alot of other synths I own. It is definitely an important part of my personal studio as well as my collection. I receive great Joy from this particular synth that is why I think it should be added to the Oberheim list. I could not believe it was not here so I am taking the time to give this synth the rating and recognition it deserves. If you can find one get one it is a great addition and it looks good side by side with a Minimoog!