Oberheim

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Oberheim Electronics

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founding 1969
resolution 1985
Reason for dissolution of Gibson bought
Seat Los Angeles , United States
Branch Musical instruments

The US company Oberheim was one of the best-known manufacturers of synthesizers in the 1970s and 1980s.

General

Oberheim synthesizer

Oberheim (Oberheim Electronics) was founded in 1970 by Tom Oberheim. Originally he manufactured electronic effects devices and was briefly a representative of ARP Instruments . Oberheim was one of the pioneers in developing the synthesizer in the early 1970s. Oberheim produced the first digital sequencer with the DS-2 and the first polyphonic synthesizer with the Synthesizer Expansion Module (SEM) .

Originally only intended as a monophonic expander module for the Minimoog, the SEM module also appeared as a two, four and eight-part keyboard version (called Two, Four and Eight Voice) in a flight case from the mid-1970s. The SEM modules were simply arranged next to one another, with the Eight-Voice even in two rows of four on top of one another. These synthesizers were the first multi-timbral synthesizers in the world, as each module contained could be assigned its own keyboard area if required.

From 1980 the SEM module was the starting point for a whole series of spectacular, easy-to-use synthesizers. These include the models OB-X, OB-Xa, both available as four-, six- and eight-part polyphonic versions, the pure preset version OB-Sx 4-, 5- or 6-part as well as the 8- coherent OB-8 .

The multi-timbral basic idea was initially given up again with these devices, but at least the models OB-Xa and OB-8 were still bi-timbral, since split and dual sounds are possible here. Compared to their old predecessors, the SEM modules had now disappeared as compact voice cards under the housing hood and were operated by a single, uniform control panel.

The later OB-8 models version B were equipped with a midi interface and had additional labeling on the control panel for the secondary functions of various control buttons.

In 1984 the Xpander appeared , a synthesizer module with the matrix modulation developed by Oberheim . This is reminiscent of the possibilities of free patch connections in a modular system. The Xpander had no keyboard and had to be played using an external keyboard connected via MIDI. The controller options, the MIDI implementation, as well as the very lavish equipment with six voices (2x VCO , 15-fold multimode filter VCF , 5 envelope generators , 5 LFOs , matrix modulation etc.) were a novelty at that time. The Xpander cost around 10,000 DM at the time. The six voices could be individually controlled and played with individual sounds via MIDI , which was not found on any other device at the time. The special feature was the hybrid construction: oscillators and filters were analog circuits, LFO , EG, matrix modulation, etc. on the other hand has two Intel - 8088 - processor controlled. On the one hand, this division enabled the large range of functions, on the other hand, the envelopes, especially from today's perspective, are rather sluggish and are better suited for pad sounds than sharp attack or bass sounds. Marcus Ryle was mainly responsible for the development of the Xpander and its 12-part polyphonic keyboard version Matrix-12.

Said Matrix-12 came on the market in 1985 for about 15,000 DM and was a double Xpander with a keyboard.

In 1986 the Matrix-6 was introduced, perhaps more an answer to the manufacturing methods and pricing policy from the Far East than half a Matrix-12. The Matrix-6 was a slimmed-down Matrix-12-Xpander and had two DCOs , two LFOs , a simple 24dB / oct LP filter and three envelope generators. Despite these losses, the Matrix-6 clearly sounded like Oberheim. The Matrix-6 cost around 4,500 DM at the time. There was a slide-in version of the Matrix-6, the Matrix-6 R. The Matrix-1000 is a Matrix-6 / 6R with 1000 patches, 800 of which are ROM presets, but without the control panel on a HE. It is fully controllable via midi.

The Matrix 1000 was initially available in a black and later in a white housing color. An annoying power supply hum has been eliminated in the younger models.

The model name Matrix is ​​due to the integrated matrix modulation.

The Oberheims had their own and very specific sound, which could be found on many 80s and late 80s LA WestCoast productions. The synth horn patches in particular are associated with the Toto hits from the 1980s.

All Oberheim synthesizers were based on analog subtractive synthesis . The Oberheim sound was known to be particularly powerful, but also warm and soft. One of the most famous examples of the powerful sound of the Oberheim synthesizers can be heard on the song JUMP by Van Halen , which was recorded with an OB-Xa. The extremely harmonious interplay of the DSX sequencer with the OB-8 synthesizer towards the end of the song Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police is a masterpiece of synthesizer programming. Examples of soft sounds can also be heard on the early recordings of the Pat Metheny Group, whose pianist Lyle Mays programmed areas in particular on a 4-Voice and made a particularly hollow-sounding variation into an unmistakable timbre. The complexity of the Matrix series is demonstrated above all by its use by jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker . He first used the Xpander, then a Matrix-12 together with various FM modules and samplers as a sound module for his game with the Steinerphone, a blow converter later marketed by Akai as EWI . This enabled him to play a highly complex improvisation game with a very expressive variety of sounds. Particularly noticeable was the use of the rotating mode, which enabled the polyphonic playing of the actually only monophonic EWI through the sequence of previously set intervals for certain tones.

Like many of the pioneering companies, economic competition from the Far East and new technologies such as FM synthesis and sampling brought the company to its knees.

Since 1985 the name Oberheim belongs to the Gibson company , which sells effect devices for electric guitars , as well as MIDI modules and keyboards . Tom Oberheim founded Marion Systems as early as 1987 , but it wasn't until 1994 that synthesizers followed again under a new name with the OB-MX and a new Matrix-1000, but in the typical Oberheim design.

At the end of the 1990s, the Italian company Viscount , which became famous for sacred organs , produced some devices under the brand name Oberheim-Viscount Joint Venture . The products also included the OB-12 synthesizer , which, apart from its name, had little in common with the old devices from Oberheim.

Web links

Commons : Oberheim Electronics  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF4jJOrx4rU
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPUBp9uTLIw
  3. http://mazandkilgore.com/?p=16#more-16