GForce's Dave Spiers takes a detailed look at one of his favorite all time synthesizers - the legendary Oberheim 8 voice.
Пікірлер: 410
@hassanalrubai73782 жыл бұрын
11:32 is so beautiful to listen to like i truly believe that humanity peaked in 1960-1990
@davebellamy48672 жыл бұрын
Me too. 1969 perhaps. Or 1976 when Viking landed on Mars or 1979 Voyager at Jupiter and 1982 Voyager at Saturn.
@br0d Жыл бұрын
1976 was the year Songs in the Key of Life was Released. Case closed. We peaked in 1976.
@DerGrosseKrieger2 ай бұрын
As did humidity
@rtermini11 жыл бұрын
I still have my TVS that I used on Laupers 'She Bob' and other records. I bought it at Sam Ash on Kings Highway Brooklyn in 1977. It has NEVER failed. Not once in all these years. I have had a lot of gear through the years but this is one instrument I feel in love with and have continued to play for over 35 years.
@kevman510 жыл бұрын
8:20 gave me goosebumps. So smooth and beautiful.
@grigoridj13 жыл бұрын
You probably won't believe how many times I returned to this video just to listen to the sound at 5:35 :)
@ericharary10 жыл бұрын
Most beautiful sounding Synth i ever heard, so fat & sweet.
@melonenstrauch13064 жыл бұрын
this is so warm it melted my speakers
@jessicageorgina76762 жыл бұрын
The start was sampled for Æ space in kasabians new album The Alchemists Euphoria🔥
@TLGElectro3 жыл бұрын
I presume Joe Zawinul used his on Havona by Weather Report. The sound is very similar. Great video, amazing instrument. 👍🏼
@mcmike10013 жыл бұрын
Great video. In the days of minimal presets, I used to do synth programming at studios for the 4-voice, CS80 and Prophet 5.
@chris_hall_music3 жыл бұрын
And somehow you've managed to capture this magic and bestow us with the OB-E. Respect!
@devmiles9 жыл бұрын
as analog as it can get .. damn damn damn. the story, the excitement, the sound .. this is just fabulous and an instrument that deserves serious attention and great respect. no tons of presets or zillion fx .. as pure as it can get and it has the capability to generate even more greatness than just adding a reverb or whatever ..it needs nothing .. humble ears..what a machine!
@drummerflex7 жыл бұрын
I became familiar with this through Lyle Mays' use of the Four Voice and later his custom Eight Voice. Lyle used this mostly for pads and the occasional lead, but he found a way to use it musically and made it sound like an organic instrument. The non-uniformity that you talk about is what gives this instrument life and makes it sound so organic. It's so easy for synthesizers to sound lifeless or one-dimensional, but because of the non-uniform SEMs it can sound like a string section or horn section, where nobody plays *exactly* the same note. It's what gives this instrument life. The SEM is such a musical synth. It seams so easy to get a musical sound out of it. I've watched so many synth demos where people demonstrate all the different sounds their synths can make, but few of the sounds they demonstrate have few musical applications. I love how you show how this instrument can make real music.
@frankcarmack14429 жыл бұрын
I was fortunate to hear an Oberheim demo in Atlanta at the the NAMM convention in 1979. I was with Dave Berry, kyboard player with a band from Greenville, SC. His band provided entertainment for the event which allowed us into the convention. I can't remember the session player who gave the demo, but we were a captive audience of 2; blown away by the instrument and the demo. Suzanne Cianti came by to check out the instrument. The first album which I remember dominated by the 8 voice was Little Feat's WAITING FOR COLUMBUS. Bill Payne made that instrument SCREAM. I used to love to play "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and rattle the windows with the filtering in the middle section. GOD!!!! Thanks for posting. In the late 70s, if I'd continued to play professionally, I'd have invested in an Oberheim synth.
@superbulldog8112 жыл бұрын
Rush was at thier hight when they toured with the Oberheim 8 synth.....I wish I could go back in time to hear the 1980 Permanent Waves tour.
@quartersines12 жыл бұрын
Absolutely Superb presentation of this amazing instrument. This and an ARP 2600 changed my course in music and sound. Thank You for putting this together. Inspiring!
@christophersousa610911 жыл бұрын
What an amazing piece of engineering and craftsmanship for the time. Stuffing eight complete synthesizers using only through hole components into one box was a feat of its own. Awesome sound as well!
@clarius197312 жыл бұрын
Scary walls of sounds.... A real monster, impressive even today.
@twzstudio13910 жыл бұрын
It really is a beautiful instrument. Great overview, great demo!
@electroteque9 жыл бұрын
I love this demo so much, i keep coming back to this. I love the words so much. Thanks so much for doing this it's one of the best demos ever. The SEM is one of my favourite synths ever. The two voice has just been released at a cost but 8 SEMS would be awesome ! 14:15 "I've lost entire weekends programming this beast" that did it for me ! So much passion mate.
@goodsax219 жыл бұрын
Dan Rossi I've also started to come back to this vid just to de-stress and get back into loving music during a tough week. Amazing!
@miroslavmrva47779 жыл бұрын
+Dan Rossi One more here:)
@stonail6658 жыл бұрын
+Dan Rossi +1
@Windowserrorsong10 жыл бұрын
So I'm watching this in 2014 and the part at 8:20 gave me goosebumps. No joke it's amazing how this vintage instrument can still move people today. So powerful.
@fyberoptik683510 жыл бұрын
Right with you on that one. Deep sound there.
@eardumbuzz605210 жыл бұрын
Excessive? Yes! This synth sounds beautiful.
@fimpson12 жыл бұрын
Bloody hell, the patches you make are simply excellent!! I nearly cried at some of them - positive I wasn't the only one
@sfklein110 жыл бұрын
Don't move it, and keep it in a climate-controlled room between 78.5F and 79F and NO humidity: it won't stay in tune otherwise. I did some roadie work for a prog rock group that had one of these. It road on a bench inside the vehicle and was treated like Nitro: and still gave everyone fits...
@georgeray34927 жыл бұрын
A beautiful tribute to a remarkable instrument. I am almost tearing up thinking about selling mine- but that was 25 years ago. Thanks for the memories...
@naoidfpaiourej32996 жыл бұрын
Late November 2017 and I'm watching this yet again (must be viewing No. 6 by now). Just love this video.
@polyneux7411 жыл бұрын
I have this vid in my favorites and watch it over and over again. It just gives me chills. Such massive sound. Nothing has nor ever will compare.
@bluebull3997 жыл бұрын
OMG 8:20 - 8:40 just completely blew my mind. I've heard a few modern EDM producers using this sound and was trying to figure out how they done it because it sounds great.
@reissphilippe221710 жыл бұрын
"...and I know it seems excessive, stacking 16 oscillators for a monophonic patch.." it's not dude, it's not.
@DonutYourself10 жыл бұрын
I think it's time for a name change...Wendyringus....
@DonutYourself10 жыл бұрын
"I've lost entire weekends programming this beast" LOL!
@MartinHughesmidimarty11 жыл бұрын
One of my all time favorite synths! Moog felt the same way about this synth. Even though he never created this one. He said it was one of his favorites. Thanks to GF!
@ImprovedNewShimmer12 жыл бұрын
This is the best demo and explanation of the Oberheim 8-voice that I've ever seen/heard. Thanks.
@LoudPaul13 жыл бұрын
This is one of my favorite videos on this whole website
@Baribrotzer4 жыл бұрын
Many years ago, I saw the Stranglers at a small club in NJ. Before they went on, we had to endure about 15 minutes of agonizing screeches, as the roadie tuned Dave Greenfield's 8-voice - which may have been the only keyboard he played that night. But it did sound great when he finally got it in tune.
@fermiLiquidDrinker4 жыл бұрын
I absolutely _love_ how this synth is essentially a hybrid of modular and normalized synths-but, without any of the accommodations both the former and the latter have. It is so radically different from anything else-even the Matrix 12-Oberheim-or dare I say anyone else-has ever done with subtractive synthesis. Now, imagine doing this with a bunch of Arp Odysseys or 2600s. That would be something.
@00Kie0011 жыл бұрын
So much variety and color in harmony. It's like a synth orchestra.
@thierryrault39514 жыл бұрын
Dave Greenfield (RIP...) used this synthesizer on Stranglers albums "The Raven" & "The Gospel according to the Meninblack".
@TonySway2 жыл бұрын
Dream Synth!! This is my favorite sounding Oberheim!!
@TryptychUK13 жыл бұрын
One of my all-time fave synths. Great demo, thanks fora great nostalgia trip!
@m1ke19819 жыл бұрын
08:21 I met GOD sonically!
@PeteMOBie112 жыл бұрын
Fantastic overview of the 8 Voice from the mystical past of synthesiser mythology. This makes a good video tutorial too. Tom's new Son Of Four looks even more tempting. There is just something about the imperfections between voices on these older machines that adds an X Factor into the character of the sounds.
@terrencereardon637410 жыл бұрын
Dennis DeYoung made this synthesizer rock! Listen to Pieces of Eight and Cornerstone, this synthesizer is all over those albums!
@mootbooxle11 жыл бұрын
That was so beautifully demonstrated! One day...oh, one day I will get my hands on one of these beasts.
@wizardmix8 жыл бұрын
The Vermona Perfourmer MKII is possibly the closest modern equivalent to at least the Oberheim 4-Voice. Lacking in some ways in comparison, gaining in others, it is one hell of a great polysynth for the money. It was this video that inspired me to seek out a polysynth with similar ethics and after a few years of looking, the Vermona is what I found.
@RhonVanErman6 жыл бұрын
Great video, thank you. The Lyle Mays pads on all his offerings with Metheny are some of the best ever. As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls!
@bertvijn91098 жыл бұрын
Normally, when I click the Thumbs Up button, it's because the vid was good enough. This vid, however, had me search for the Repeat A Thousand Times button in addition. Sadly, I couldn't find such a much needed button, so I'm confined to just watching the vid and being grateful. Thanks, Dave Spiers!
@roro_fosho7 жыл бұрын
wonderful sounds, amazing explanations/narration - this is truly a phenomenal video, great job!
@Bm23CC11 жыл бұрын
tHANK YOU the most thoroughly enjoyable vid I have ever watched about synths on you tube .
@JimJansen918 жыл бұрын
God this thing sounds so blissful.
@windowlicker111 жыл бұрын
now that is a truly unique synthesizer. it's a joy to watch you play with that thing :)
@DVRC5 жыл бұрын
This synth sounds awesome, has a very warm and full sound
@SRDhain4 жыл бұрын
I've heard a 4 voice in action, but not had the pleasure of an 8 voice (unless ive forgotten). They're huge beasts and you need patience in abundance. Still holding out for tom oberheim's redux (no idea where he is on it), which should hopefully fix the niggles. Thank you for the documentary and the sonic joy, Dave. 👍
@santibanks4 жыл бұрын
Chick Corea had an interesting tune on his 1978 album "the Mad Hatter". It's the opening track, "The Woods". Basically an instrumental featuring the 8 voice (the one from this video I assume), mini moog, and eventide harmonizer along acoustic piano and xylophone. Amazing Oberheim sounds!
@electroteque4 жыл бұрын
I keep coming back to this demo. This is GOD.
@faithskater7212 жыл бұрын
Incredible! This thing sounds just incredible!
@OliverCox9 жыл бұрын
Brings tears to my eyes!
@socks75452 жыл бұрын
I pretty much return once every few months just to hear 8:20 and 11:32 again.
@Sonic-Boom2 жыл бұрын
Something similar to 8:20 is the first sound in the Oberheim OB-E. Powerful stuff!!
@obwanz19213 жыл бұрын
Brilliant! And a big CONGRATS to you for the OP-E which is incredible!! 👍😀
@cliftoncameron56323 жыл бұрын
Stunning. Dave you did an incredible breakdown of this national treasure. Thank you
@nueschi10 жыл бұрын
Absolutely fantastic! What a beauty with an enormous sound! GREAT.
@TryptychUK11 жыл бұрын
It's the variable VCF structure that really makes it unique. It's not fat like a Moog or ARP, more "wide".
@mschorer12 жыл бұрын
Dave, thanks for showing and explaining this marvelous instrument in such detail. Mat
@Liebielein12 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the impressing presentation of your beloved!
@kenherbst94609 жыл бұрын
This is the single best synth tutorial I've ever seen. You should develop training DVDs for all the classic analogs.
@venusiansky12 жыл бұрын
Very nice. I am a fan of the Oberheim sound. EVS and FVS are incredible pieces of synth history. The ability to program each individual voice differently and place in unison can lead to some overwhelmingly interesting sounds. I just do what I can with my humble OB-8 :)
@GNeuman8 жыл бұрын
Presenting Lord of the Synths, Dave Spiers...This is One Synth to Rule Them All.... What an amazing sounding Synthesizer.
@TFMTraining12 жыл бұрын
My brother had a 4 voice. It's an awesome sounding synth. I understand how you can lose a weekend playing with the sounds. Nice Video. Thanks for taking the time.
@kixxalot11 жыл бұрын
Many thanks for these videos. When I started out trying to make music with affordable synths in the 90s, I could have learned so much so quickly if I'd had access to clear and detailed videos like this. One point to take away from this video for producers on a budget is the power of layering. A single software synth voice will never sound as rich as a SEM, but what you CAN do digitally is use lots of layers of different sounds.
@Shred_The_Weapon8 жыл бұрын
While I'm no software synthesist, I wouldn't complain if GForce could break through and create a software version of this monster.
@kirabarsmith93537 жыл бұрын
Great post, sounds so wonderful.
@mmrva12 жыл бұрын
Now I understand why your plugins sound so good. There's a lot of love in them:)
@JoshuaPhilgarlic12 жыл бұрын
I'm REALLY crying hearing this! Great synth and excelent demo!!!!
@MarcJX8P13 жыл бұрын
Wonderful stuff - and as usual highly entertaining!
@Synthchaser4 жыл бұрын
This is my favorite KZbin video.
@StaffRecordPlayer7 жыл бұрын
you could probably spend your whole life in a room with this thing and not regret it
@bandfromtheband94454 жыл бұрын
OH MY GOD!!!!! This is outstanding!!!! Blend them all together!!
@dracena12 жыл бұрын
very good video. finally we can hear an 8voice in detail. thanks!
@thedoitagainproject10 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this. Informative and entertaining as always, but as always, I get serious gear envy.
@TransistorBased10 жыл бұрын
This monster sounded just absolutely amazing from 5:40 on.
@g.b39032 жыл бұрын
Serge pizzorno sampled this in the interlude Æ space
@oryjen14 жыл бұрын
what a rich and creamy sound! Thanks a lot for that detailled demo!
@MisterGorbatjov11 жыл бұрын
it's also the sound from the intro to the video.. Maybe that's why you felt it sounded familiar it sounds incredible! I'm blown away by that sound.
The award for the best synth overview video of all time goes to: "Oberheim 8 Voice" by GForce Software. I've watched this so many times over the years and plan on watching it many more.
@mainmajo10 жыл бұрын
Thank you for showing!
@ilovethework9 жыл бұрын
This is the sexiest thing I've ever seen.
@lalalalalala81477 ай бұрын
Oberheim and Kurzweil were above my budget in the 1980s. I now have a Waldorf Iridium keyboard, which is simply incredible. I still love the old analogue synths.
@bloggulator9 жыл бұрын
I had one of these (the 4 voice minus the expander unit) in 1979. It sounded fabulous, but talk about troublesome. It spent more time in the shop than making music!
@electroteque9 жыл бұрын
that's why I gave up on vintage and settle with reissues instead. 4 voice is a beast too and quite massive. The new SEM is quite something.
@johnnyv6739 жыл бұрын
bloggulator I own one, never any problems, fantastic machine.
@johnlrice52010 жыл бұрын
Excellent demo!
@JohnLunney12 жыл бұрын
This is a fantastic video. Thank you.
@Digiphex10 жыл бұрын
8:23 I did wet myself.
@jeffreygrove10 жыл бұрын
LOL, I was going to make almost the same exact comment (though "poop my pants" was what I would have said)...
I hope you still have each other. Beautiful engineering. Stack on, sir!
@rubannielson11 жыл бұрын
I've been listening to those three chords over and over. F-ing beautiful.
@Musiquesaecouter12 жыл бұрын
Great Vid, great sounds, great synth, there was even one Oberheim 12 voices i believe with 2 keyboards owned by Patrick Moraz (Yes, Moody Blues) who sold it currently, a more rare gem eventually.
@MikeKiker13 жыл бұрын
I absolutely love these old synthesizers, for the very reasons that you have just described. And it frustrates me to no end when people don't understand the point of old synthesizers is to not have a "perfect" sound, but to embrace the imperfections and use those imperfections to make some truly interesting sounds.
@Ferrichrome4 жыл бұрын
This video is way too good to be free
@Hot80s4 жыл бұрын
I seen the past. I can't afford it.
@matspan3 жыл бұрын
Great video!
@honkmonky198910 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. Thanks a lot
@kimikmusic12 жыл бұрын
one of the best videos on youtube
@sw247x57 жыл бұрын
Imagine this thing in full beast mode...Mother of mercy!!