Oberheim OB-X8 Review // Desktop v Keyboard v OB-6 // 15 synth tips and ideas // Tutorial

[@kai-vd5485]

I coudn't barly imagine how this would be possible, but your reviews are still getting better and better. From top of the notch to topiest top... What a great work of art! Thank you so much!

[@loopop]

Glad you like them!

[@teamphil]

I’ve had the keyboard version for 10 months and learned so much more from this video. Thank you.

[@loopop]

Great to hear!

[@BananasananaB]

This sounds GREAT! Not buying it as its 3500 USD but it does sound really really really nice. The first synth in a long time that got me really excited. It's so thick and alive.

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

It took a year but we finally have one of the best OB-X8 demo reviews. Heavy on details. Great again, Ziv!

[@loopop]

Thanks, my pleasure!

[@jezgomez]

Ziv makes the best reviews, no contest.

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

@@jezgomez agreed. I think the thing that makes his content unique is that he combines review, performance, as well as tutorial. I own quite a few of the things he's reviewed such as this 3w as well as the Eventide H90. I NEEDED his H90 video due to it being a tutorial as well.

[@andrewverran3498]

Great content once again..i remember drooling over an OBXA at my local music store in the mid 90s.. This new synth is doing the business !!

[@benjamindover4337]

Just saw the movie, had no idea he made synths too!

[@marcosantacruz9086]

Lol.

[@tommm4989]

Oberbieheimer

[@mikeg8233]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@benjamindover4337]

He used to drop bombs.. now he drops bass 🔊🔊🔊

[@satcomm8429]

I am become synth.

[@0e0]

I've repaired an original OB-X before .. the depth they put into this little thing is magic to me ha

[@christopherpederson1021]

i have an omega 8 and this thing just sounds so much more present and 3D.

[@0e0]

@@christopherpederson1021 I covet a fully loaded one of those so much

[@christopherpederson1021]

@@0e0 it has the cs-80 filters, which are nice. the overall tone is heavy on the midrange, which can be hard to get used to. i have a matriarch which also sounds better Imo.

[@kevinbatchelor9566]

The OB-X8 sounds absolutely incredible. Really nice work on the demo, as always!

[@davidmarks6612]

Thanks for the in depth review. As an 80's prog fan, I absolutely had to invest in this instrument which I've had for about a month. I'm learning some great Page 2 tips here! I especially appreciate the double LFO setup and using Portamento for XMod and Sync. I need to revisit Hold and Chord modes based on what you show here. I wanted to share an Arp Hold trick I learned... Press and hold the main Hold button, and then play your arpeggio keys one by one, with whatever velocities you prefer, and then release the Hold button. (No need to hold all the keys in one hand for a wide span of notes!)

[@loopop]

My pleasure and yes, you're right! I show it in the video for the hold mode but it works for the arp too :)

[@_c_y_p_3]

Sounds like something beautiful! I can rarely hear so much of a difference between synths but this is a special type of beast.

[@RemixSample]

It sounds so good! Thanks for the walkthrough and demo!

[@orchidsvoid]

Oh hi there 😊

[@xntricity6446]

How did you get that cool emoji into your comment!! Please tell me

[@jeramiahrossnz]

I love waking up with coffee just as the sun comes up and watching loopop reviews. Great episode this, Oberheim should add this to the manual as extended learning content. :)

[@jaaz7835]

what a sound this thing has! great patches and video! thanks

[@HustonSingletary]

Thanks for playing a couple of my patches Loopop sir 🙌 Great demo as always and such a great synth!

[@loopop]

Thanks and cool! Which ones?

[@ajlazarusofficial]

Excellent and thorough. I have one, and I learned a few things that I hadn’t figured out yet. I would add one category to the possible buyers. If someone wants the best analog poly synth currently in production, it’s either this, the Prophet-5/10 or the Moog One. I had an OB-6 since it was released, and had them side by side when I got the X8. The sound difference is significant. Especially the filter. And the X8 has a much wider range of sounds it can make. If someone wants an Oberheim and is deciding between the two, I would say the only reason to get the OB-6 is convenience (effects, etc) and price. Sonically, the X8 is much better.

[@dualtrx]

Nice. I was waiting for this one. Waiitng to be in stock as i want to buy it. Excelent video as always, better than cinema. 1hour of fun! Cheers.

[@Juggii]

Excited for this one🔥!

[@madeithappen8158]

debating selling the OB-6 to help fund an OB-X8. These videos help a bunch!

[@McEnroe911]

Do it you won’t regret it

[@atomicstack]

I'd keep the OB-6, just because it has a continuously variable filter, which the OB-X8 (surprisingly) doesn't do!

[@AynsleyGreen]

Same. OBX8 Keyboard is just laughably large, completely gig-impractical. Modules are tedious to use live, too.

[@AynsleyGreen]

@@AlexandNeville Yeah they're quite different beasts, one is a 1:1 Oberheim, the other is a Prophet 6 in Oberheim clothing. Effects, Xmod, MPE, Analog distortion, SVF, Sub Oscillator, some interesting Oscillator tricks...the list goes on

[@christopherpederson1021]

you just can’t win here 🤣@@AynsleyGreen

[@scottmcauleysounds]

Fabulous Synth! Ive had the keyboard since last September and absolutely love it! Great Demo as always.

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Another lovely hour demo from Loopop. 😌

[@jrodohio]

Great overview, as always. I can see this synth in my future.

[@laurentb.2064]

Hello. Thank you very much for this in depth video about OB-X8. 👍This synthesizer is complex and this vidéo is a very helpful video manual. 📖

[@thesrabbit]

Nice review with great tips! I had to get the pinstripe overlay just for the page 2 labels on the panel. My mind is way to feeble to remember all the buttons and knobs.

[@noiseworks]

This review is something else

[@dankeplace]

It's a great synth for sure, too expensive for my pockets but I can still appreciate the beauty of it.. Thx for the upload Ziv, another video guide for people who hate manuals.

[@CaidicusProductions]

I've been eying an X8 for, well... Since it came out. Seeing desktop version, though. I do love me a good desktop synth. Thanks for another excellent production, Loop.

[@DVDFRMN]

sounds wonderful, i can't wait for the behringer version

[@martinlubitz3171]

On top of my list. Thanks for your great review, helpful and nice to watch as always. 👌🔥🙏

[@hardcoreherbivore4730]

I was on the fence, until I saw the coaster! 🤩

[@loopop]

What do you mean, the synth is the gift you get in the box when you buy the coaster

[@hardcoreherbivore4730]

@@loopopJust arrived, the coaster is even more impressive in person. The synth is pretty cool too. 😋

[@HH-Thorsten]

My absolute dream synth is the Oberheim XPander. But of course I was interested in the OB6 because of vulnerability and price. But the missing modulation matrix and the fact that the resonance in the OB6 is not capable of self-oscillation made me refrain from buying it. The OB-X8 might now be an alternative. Great review as always!

[@enricopallazzoofficial]

A modern day Xpander with an input to process sounds with its filter would be amazing. I really hope someday it will see the light

[@johanboberg]

I used to have an Xpander, and I recently got an OB-X8 Desktop. I'd say that the OB-X8 is more direct, with Xpander you had to "move around" more to change things, and the knobs were stepped. It did have more modulation options and you could have different sounds in all the voices etc. But I don't miss all that. Rest assured, the OBX8 has THE sound, it is performance oriented and it's readily available.

[@BeniRoseMusic]

Man hearing how good this thing sounds just makes me miss Dave Smith even more :(

[@jonathanmchugh2558]

Fantastic detailed video, as always! Would LOVE to see you do one on the UDO Super Gemini when it comes out!

[@loopop]

Thanks and me too!

[@williamroark]

Wishing they made it like the ‘original w/ Blue ‘pinstripes’ The ORIGINAL OBX-8 Synth CHANGED MY WORLD!! (Keyboard/Sequencer/Drum Machine)😉 AWESOME VIDEO!!!

[@Markybeeski]

3:31 getting a copyright strike on a plain synth filter sweep in a demonstration context is a shining example of just how £¥

[@loopop]

True

[@nsns7993]

Insane

[@almightyEsquilax]

A modern day medium. Mean, mean site. Today's Loopop vid: Copyright strike.

[@mrburns366]

Can't wait for the comparison to the Behringer! lol

[@sophiepooks2174]

Behringer OB is more in my price range, likely still a bit pricey, but can't beat a real Oberheim, am sure this thing would make the Behringer OB seem lame in comparison, guess will be sticking to vst's unless secondhand prices come down.

[@HugoB_Sound]

This is the greatest synth channel I ever saw. Great work, thank you for all. What are your scope & spectrum analyser that you're inserting in your vidéos ? I love them so much !

[@loopop]

Thanks! I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionally I’ll use scopes by VCV

[@HugoB_Sound]

@@loopop Thanks a lot ! Super tools!

[@final_mile_music9713]

Amazing review. Such a shame KZbin squeezes the life out of the audio. These synths sound so much better in person.

[@subatomicmusic]

Sounds beautiful 😍

[@jongdonglu]

i want companies to go back to making old school rackmount units. i like the idea of having a workstation keyboard controlling a ton of different things in a rack. more synths in less space.

[@Ungroovy03]

I want this one! It's expensive though, especially for my first hardware synth. But still why would I settle for less, even if I end up not liking the OB-X8, I will be able to sell it.

[@MichaelDowComposer]

Awesome. Woild love to see/hear a comparison video between this and Sonic Projects OPX vst. It really does sound amazing

[@MichaelCoombes776]

I remember that plugin! It probably shows its age since analogue modelling has improved a lot since OPX was made. Would love to see a new version.

[@bitspacemusic]

Who owns the copyright to a filter sweep? What?

[@loopop]

some unknown song that the algorithm thinks sounds like a filter sweep

[@pedroberoes49]

I wondered the same thing, who can claim a filter sweep, this is ridiculous.

[@scottmcauleysounds]

I have just invested in the desktop to take advantage of the polychain, and have only just noticed OB-X8 synth filter type and Osc mod LEDs are yellow left and red right, OB-X8 desktop are reversed at red left yellow right.

[@earlsfield]

Great video. I fully agree with you on comparison with OB6. I have OB6 for years now, and it was built as a new instrument, with different architecture and features, while paying homage to the old models with SEM filter and raw oscillators. Now, these two overlap a lot, I'd say OBX8 was built to pack 3 synths in one and provide re-issue of the iconic synths people cannot find or afford.

[@BassFunMusic]

Amazing sounds ☺♥♪ LOVE

[@danielcolfer4671]

This synth played through strymon effects reverb, delay, chorus, drive ect is sonic bliss.

[@SimpleTrax]

Damn, this synth is just incredible.

[@RolandFrasierEPIC]

@loopop does this offer the opportunity to increase to 16 voices by polychain? Thank you

[@EvanPriceMusicChannel]

Friday.... I'm in love!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@VocalChainsStudio]

Lovely sounding instrument

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

it's been a while since the last interesting review

[@drsamurai009]

Excellent deep dive as always. My old Xa had a jack input to latch/trigger the Hold function. So basically it has a sustinuto pedal functionality. I'm somewhat surprised the new X8 doesn't have this input jack. This is separate from the Sustain pedal on the Xa which simply lengthened the release times on the envelope so they died out more like an acoustic piano. I did notice the new X8 has a sustain jack input that as described in the pdf manual, behaves like the old Xa Sustain pedal input jack. Do you know if there Is there any way to program, such as the Page 2-mod matrix type functionality, the routing of the Sustain input jack to control Hold functionality with a sustain/latch-trigger pedal?

[@dylantreisman621]

Love a loopop drop. Will you be looking at the Pro-800? I am on the fence

[@loopop]

Thanks! No plans currently for the Pro-800

[@dylantreisman621]

@@loopop No worries, thanks for the reply. Definitely flagging my interest for if you do consider it down the line, you are my go-to for this stuff.

[@JeffPalmer83]

I’d also love a Pro-800 video!

[@doublebass]

It's not exactly anything new, he doesn't really feature 30 year old synths on the page. Plenty of videos comparing the 600 to the 800. I have an original 600 and love it.

[@GizzyDillespee]

There have been a bunch of buyers hanging out on the Gearspace Electronic Music forum (in the thread about the Pro800, obv). If you have any specific questions (like, "Is this xxxx behavior normal? How do I switch the xxxx?" type of questions), that's one place to look for answers.

[@soulSaysHi]

That 4 pole filter is such a LETDOWN

[@NicolasMelis]

Great video! Thank you 🙏

[@timothydahlin5321]

Cannot wait till they shift the decimal on the price to the left (Guess that's the Behringer version ;-) ).

[@srikrshnachaitanyaswami3625]

Does it support polyphonic aftertouch? How about MPE?

[@srikrshnachaitanyaswami3625]

Any information available?

[@huli8557]

Yes, want to know too!

[@MotorHolmes]

I’m going to keep going back and rewatching the arp section, since I can’t get how it works into my brain.

[@fjfrancois]

The OB Matrix 6 can give you almost the same sound 😊 it is bi-timbral?

[@TearyHistory]

What do you mean when you say that the differences with the OB-6 are "immaterial" in comparison with its features, it seems to me not very precise. Could you add more? Great Review BTW

[@loopop]

Thanks! I mean that to my ears, in the comparisons I’ve heard, I wouldn’t make the decision based on differences in the raw oscillator and filter sounds, but rather consider the other factors I mention

[@davlippo7]

@@loopop What's odd is how can the price be so different yet you get so much less on the X8 except I guess the 8 voice bi-timbral and authenticity has to play a large part in the price difference. Therefore it HAS to sound better else it's a waste of money to buy the X8 if module to module is $1,100 separation. They'd be shooting themselves in their own foot. That doesn't make financial or logical sense as it's the same company. Let's beat out our own product with our previous other product. IF the prices were the same I'd make some sense. So where exactly is the price/value/worth difference occurring? X8 has to sound much better or it's irrational.

[@0072gldnfngr]

Loopop, always right on time man! Lol

[@DougFleming-l5n]

Thank you for your excellent review of the OB-X8. I noticed the two video screens above the desk top synth which display waveform and oscillator. The video screens look very slim - could you please direct me where I can buy these? Thank you.

[@loopop]

Thanks! The screens aren’t real unfortunately - just an overlay added in post, of software plugins. I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionally I’ll use scopes by VCV

[@davlippo7]

Without having both side by side I just went with the X8m. I've seen a few videos that say the X8 sounds better. I wanted the best sound and 8 voices is a plus. I need to buy that editor because that morph feature sounds extremely interesting. I wonder could they add that morph feature in an OS update maybe by having a 2 layer/split active and then using the morph mode to combine them? That would be a really fun feature without needing a computer and app.

[@MadelnMachines]

You know how the OB6 and P6 have a flashing LED to indicate when a pot isn't reflecting the stored preset value? Does the OBX8 have some equivalent of this? I saw these is a compare mode in the manual that allows you to compare the sound of presets vs the edits you have made but does that give you any indication of the pot values vs preset value? Did 1.1 firmware change this? It's quite disappointing how much menu diving there is when there's so much space - especially on the keyboard version.

[@JudgeFredd]

Great review

[@raysubject]

i really doesn’t understand why they didn’t put second knob/button function name bellow knob or smaller font next to main function name … Major UI overlook …

[@gracescale]

Yeah, this whole Page 2 looks not so intuitive, besides of the weird name, instead of more common Shift or Function. No way to understand what button was it applied to. I'm too picky after Elektron machines.

[@rebours]

The page 2 mode and the hidden modulations in general seem quite confusing...honestly for this price they definitely should have dropped the hommage and revise the interface entirely.

[@saardean4481]

I wish all desktop synths had an 16 step sequencer implemented with 16 buttons . Its so nice to be able to immediately create sound without having to connect external gear first

[@andivax]

Great instrument ❤

[@hadror13]

My precious

[@skelly790]

Ooh! That's nice; it can go on the shortlist. Wait! How much? I'm no fan of Uli, but in this case I can make an exception.

[@christopherpederson1021]

Uli’s shit doesn’t sound as good, and isn’t built as good.

[@danwentz]

Did someone loose a bet on the oled display?

[@chambre466]

with Curtis filter the sound is very close to rev2, maybe the closest. Obviously a proud rev2 owner

[@Dolores5000]

Same!!! AND I bought the Rev2 desk thanks to Loopop review:)

[@nanocyde_artist]

absolutely. I made an oberheim style brass patch on my rev2 last year

[@loopop]

Rev2 is great :)

[@chambre466]

@@Dolores5000 I also watched his review before I got mine. There are a lot of reasons why you should by the desktop version but the keyboard on it is great, the best I own in my humble studio

[@chambre466]

@@nanocyde_artist Yes, gritty or mellow, the rev2 is up to it

[@andreasoberg2021]

what would be good alternatives for the third category. What synths have more features and are cheaper? I have a Quantum but am curious to get an analog synth. OBX8 just sounds better to my ears than Polybrute, Prophet etc, but of course I could be confused :)

[@el_dani]

I saw the video and thought: finally Behringer did it 🙈

[@federicotangari9310]

Verry nice video

[@jasonjayalap]

The same way a journalist might get comment from a government or business before a story, it might be useful if you presented any product concerns to the company and got their response (comment/excuse/correction/promise). Thanks for the vids.

[@loopop]

Thanks - I do discuss issues with companies sometimes just to make sure I didn't miss anything or didn't get something wrong if I think there's a major flaw, but very rarely do they promise to fix things in firmware updates (if they do I mention it). Sometimes they end up fixing things anyway later BTW - I guess as they hear it re-inforced from customers.

[@kamra702]

loopop: Hi! Me: *reaches nirvana*

[@orchidsvoid]

Thank you for such in depth review! Synth is really impressive but what surprised me the most - celebrity of your level still pays for the synth to make a review 🤬 They SHOULD send you every new synth on the maket for free 😂

[@PacificIslandDrive]

The best true stereo VCO based analogue polysynth available (aside from the OB6).

[@patlecat]

Pretty user unfriendly for a synth that expensive 😕

[@vasil3089]

Looks familiar.

[@randydarklight]

@loopop: Will there be a Mantis demo from you? It was the last synth Chris Huggett was involved in and the demos at the fair were promising.

[@loopop]

I don't think so, it seems nice, but there's quite a bit coming in the next few months

[@JAAPIOJO]

Do you also do request video's how to do combinations of gear working together?

[@loopop]

I have 4 synth setup videos on the channel and am working on more - happy to hear requests for topics to cover

[@triffid9902]

I have owned several big Oberheims over the last 40 years , including the OBXA, OB8 and Matrix 12 , they were big and beautiful , a delight to look at and play. The small expander with that tiny midi keyboard , may replicate 80 to 90% of the original sounds , but the magic of playing the gorgeous original leviathons has gone. Not for me !

[@6255jer]

great sounding synth for sure but man, that price!

[@maxpowers3494]

Me:😍😍😍 My bank account:🤣🤣🤣

[@TheRealSasquatch]

A reaction against Behringer recreating vintage synths - with a premium price - or is that just me?

[@GizzyDillespee]

In a way. As the story goes, a friend of Dave Smith's (I think it was someone with a Latino name, but that's as close as my memory gets me... maybe someone else here remembers?) finally convinced Dave to make a new Prophet 5 before Behringer did, because they surely would. And that prodding was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back, and Dave finally decided to do it, after years of saying he wasn't interested. And then, I think the success of the Rev4 Prophets helped pave the way for the OB-X8 to happen. So, I do think Behringer's looming clones helped prod Tom Oberheim to get back control of his trademark, and add tgis to his legacy.

[@gladtobeangry]

I'm in the "looking for a great sounding poly" camp. Perhaps it's just a matter of taste, as I don't really get that excited by the Oberheim sound, although it does sound really lovely, but to my ears not particularly more lovely than a lot of other poly synths. And once you strip that layer of "it's that oberheim sound"-veneer away, I'm just kind of underwhelmed at its flexibility as a sound design tool, when you consider the price of the thing. No onboard FX is one thing, and I can understand the logic there of keeping the signal path fully analogue, so that's fine. But the modulation options on this thing seem either extremely limited to what other synths offer, or set up in such a way they are a hassle to get to and - in my view unnecessarily - limit your options. As it is, I think it's more a nostalgic instrument that inherited a lot of the unwanted archaic quirks of the architecture, user interface and workflow of the originals it was based on, which may be just what the Oberheim afficionados love about it. For me there is too much really basic stuff missing or made unnecessarily cumbersome to justify its price tag. I'm done chasing the vintage dragon anyway. Let's take from the past what was good, and incorporate it into modern synth designs that offer all the actually useful bells and whistles that have been invented and perfected over the last 40 years, instead of putting on our sweater vests and party like its 1979 for the rest of eternity. I'll reconsider it when I retire in 2050 and start that electro-prog rock band in the old peoples home. I feel this synth was main;y made for that sort of thing. The only thing missing is that alarm bell to warn me to go and empty my colostomy bag.

[@neonvoid]

flawless review as always. but... $3500 for a beautiful, legendary brand name high quality metal box which can be done with free VSTs in 2023 with the most basic settings. boggles my mind. gorgeous sound though.

[@loopop]

Thanks! I think you answered yourself in the end, but really your comment could be made about any $1500 or $500 synth - you could probably find a way to get close to it in software, free or for a much lower price. It's kind of like real orange juice vs syrup, you might not always be able to tell the difference, but it's nice that some companies are still making the stuff from real oranges too, and you've always got the choice of syrup too.

[@neonvoid]

@@loopop yes.. its kind of like buying a re-issued version of a 1962 ferrari from the original factory.

[@loopop]

@@kierenmoore3236 did you hear the comparisons on their KZbin channel? Sounds like Juice to me. But yes, expensive for sure

[@cd78]

But it cant be done using vst. Vst can't get any where near it

[@neonvoid]

@@cd78 :D :D :D :D :D

[@fruityloopsquan]

how does this compare to a prophet 10 or a rev2?

[@VEsound]

Hi Loopop, really nice video as usual. :) I sold my 2 OB-6s (keyboard + desktop) for an OB-X8 a year ago and I don't regret it. I agree with your feature requests including the LFO external clock sync and the adjustable number of voices on each of the two layers of a split program. There's one big miss for me, it's the polychain feature: that's the reason why I bought a second OB-6 back in the days, enjoying a maximum of 12 beautiful Oberheim voices at the same time - and I did a video explaining the different benefits of this feature here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hofMYaB-idasedE - and the feature doesn't seem to be available on the OB-X8 which is a shame. That would have been a massive 16-voice synth like the 16-voice Moog One.

[@loopop]

Thanks! I saw your video - you might be able to "solve" the problem in the first part by creating a split that uses the same patch on both halves - then the repeating bass won't cut off the pad on the right

[@offworldnetwork]

Juicy

[@Okayplaya]

Tascam Model series full review. Thanks

[@johanboberg]

The stand you are using for the module, where did you get that?

[@loopop]

Please see description

[@jngl-jim]

What midi controller is he using at the very beginning of the video?

[@loopop]

Novation SL MK3

[@MrCowfood]

@@loopopspeaking of, what stand is being used for the obx8 here? I’m in the market for one as I have the same setup minus a stand.

[@federicotangari9310]

I can use two different effects at the same time for example Evetide reverb and chorus boss or there may be impedance problems? Thanks

[@loopop]

I've never had issues with synths and pedals as long as I don't set level too high - have you?

[@federicotangari9310]

I only tried with a Strymon Big and everything was ok. I would like to try with 2 chain pedals with my ob-x8. I had problems with a Dod mono effects processor and my prophet 6

[@davlippo7]

My OB-X8 does not switch into a page 2 mode where the knob functions change. I'm not sure how you are doing that. I noted your words to say when you are in global however I think you meant to say when you change the setting under "Global" to the option "panel & display". I was going nuts for a moment but figured it had to be a setting.

[@loopop]

It’s a setting, you need to activate in the global menu

[@nsns7993]

Lol what, the filter sweep got cut out because of copyright infringements?

[@loopop]

youtube's lovely content ID matches up filter sweeps with songs

[@franckrobert282]

Est-ce qu’on peut connecter ce synthé avec tous les autres claviers comme : Korg Modwave, Roland Fantom8 etc…