Oberheim OB-X8 & U.D.O. Super 6 similar patches brief sound battle

On Gearspace I read the discussion, that some struggle if buying a U.D.O. Super 6 or the brand new Oberheim OB-X8. I also asked myself about this question.
As you might know, I have the OB-X8 only temporally in my studio. Some time ago I used to have a Super 6. Unfortunately I sold it, because I really loved the sound. So I decided to buy it again, when it was still available for the old price. So the OB-X8 will not find place in my studio anymore.
Is the Super 6 a good alternative? Well, it is like comparing oranges with apples. The OB-X8 is a full VCO based analog synthesizer with only discrete analog circuitry. The Super 6 is hybrid with NCO and analog SSM Filter. The Super 6 basic waveforms sound more static than the VCO on the Oberheim for sure. But instead of a wide stereo field like on the Oberheim, the Super 6 has it's binaural mode, which makes also very broad stereoesque sounds.
I tried to program similar sounds, which was not easy. The Pulse Bass and Triangle Piano I got quite well, but the Brass and Pad sounds didn't sound the same. Anyway the Super 6 sounds great and it is very capable to get a very broad sound palette. So, best would be to have both synths, but when I have to decide, I go for the Super 6, because it really sounds interesting and is a very creative sound designing tool.
The OB-X8 ist recorded without FX and processing. The Super 6 has some effects on board (delay and Chorus). I switched those effects off but I played all Sounds in binaural mode. So both synths are without effects and recorded in stereo.
Thanks for watching again and make some music.

[@thaJeztah]

Both great synths (don't think you can go wrong on either). s6 is more "airy", OB-X8 more lush, "warm and cozy". I own the OB-X8 and love it; still eyeing the s6 as well though, but haven't played it in person.

[@jamessisson3703]

I get you on that but, as I don't have either of them, I know what you're saying although, I reckon the UDO could be updated to perform those subtle detuned feels in time

[@pixelperfecttv1162]

Thanks for the video. I was the guy who asked the question on GS. Still don’t know what to get. I spent sometime with the OB-X8 and it has a real special vibe.

[@vintagesynths]

Oh yes, my experience of this video was, that you can't get an Oberheim Sound out of the S6. If you need that sound, you need the OB-X8. If you have to decide between those two, you have to decide according your music preferences. The S6 makes very modern an also warm, beautiful textures, is right for ambient, house, like modern Juno-106, and so many things as well. The OB is classic and this tone is undistinguishable, but it is also a sort of one trick pony, I think. For my musical preferences, the S6 fulfills them more, but of course I am still lusting for the OB-X8. Fortunately I have the OB-Xa and this fulfills this achievements sufficient. I hope it helped for your decision.

[@CharlesHardingA]

Most of these patches do a subpar job of capturing the binaural aspect of the Super 6. The OBX8 even sounds wider bc of how it pans the voices. For the UDO, binaural mode the stereo field is relatively narrow without modulation. For wider sounds like the OBX8, you’d actually turn binaural off and use pan spread. I also find that for bread and butter sounds, the Super 6 has less high end. But with filter drive and a bit of resonance it brightens right up to some of its analog peers.

[@rp1891]

so finally, were you able to step the OB-X8 arpeggiator with TR-x0x drum triggers? like the Juno 60, SH101, Prophet 6, etc

[@vintagesynths]

No, I didn’t try it anymore because I sent the unit to the next reviewer

[@rp1891]

@@vintagesynths Ok thanks

[@jfracine_composition]

wow thanks for that demo ! I just got the Prophet 10 and now hesitate between the OB-X8 or Super 6. Do you have a personal favorite between those two ?

[@jfracine_composition]

just read the description, got the answer. To me the only thing that would bother me from OB is the 4 voice polyphony in dual mode VS 6 voice polyphony in binaural mode. But the ''juicy'' sound of the OB might convince me !

[@vintagesynths]

I just copy my above answer, because the question was the same. My experience of this video was, that you can't get an Oberheim Sound out of the S6. If you need that sound, you need the OB-X8. If you have to decide between those two, you have to decide according your music preferences. The S6 makes very modern and also warm, beautiful textures, is right for ambient, house, like modern Juno-106, and so many things as well. The OB is classic and this tone is undistinguishable, but it is also a sort of one trick pony, I think. For my musical preferences, the S6 fulfills them more, but of course I am still lusting for the OB-X8. Fortunately I have the OB-Xa and this fulfills this achievements sufficient. I hope it helped for your decision.

[@mranalog241]

I think the OB-X8’s multiple filter types (12db and 24db low pass, 12db high pass, bandpass and notch) and Page 2 options provide enough flexibility to put it well beyond “one trick pony” status. If you only try to reproduce well-known vintage Oberheim sounds then, yes, it will appear limited. But the possibilities open up exponentially if you approach the OB-X8 on its own terms, as a modern incarnation of vintage Oberheim tone in a far more capable (and reliable!) package. Anyway, the Super 6 sounds great in this video. It’s more polished and produced, while the OB-X8 is more raw and alive. OB-X8 sounds much better to me, but it’s all about your preferences in sound and music.

[@vintagesynths]

@@mranalog241 Definitely. I made today some new sounds, consisting also from all SEM Filter types and crazy Page 2 functions, plus Triangle sounds,

[@jfracine_composition]

@@vintagesynths Niice !

[@thomasmorus3406]

Hallo Rüdiger, vielen Dank für das tolle Video. Ich habe den S6 und den OB-6 und überlege, ob ich noch einen OB-X8 "brauche". Als Keyboard Version ist mir der OB-X8 zu fett und hat leider noch viele versteckte Parameter, obwohl noch viel Platz auf dem Gerät wäre. Aber als Desktop werde ich mir ggf. einen OB-X8 zulegen. Hast Du eine persönöliche Meinung zu: - OB-X8 vs. OB-6? - Super6 vs. Waldorf M? Das der S6 und OB-X8 ziemlich unterschiedlich sind, war zu erwarten. Aber OB-X8/OB-6 bzw. Super6/Waldorf M sind schon ähnlicher. Klar sind die nicht identisch. Ich frag mich nur, ob die Überlappung zw. den obigen Synth nicht zu groß ist. Ich habe nämlich ein Platzproblem ;-( Vielen Dank und Gruß Alexander

[@vintagesynths]

Hallo Alexander, vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar. was denn OB - X8 versus OB-6 angeht, so kann ich nur aus Erinnerung sprechen, da ich den Letzteren schon vor circa vier Jahren verkauft habe. dadurch, dass der neue auch die komplette SEM Einheit mit Bandpass, Hochpass und Notch hat (leider ohne Mixer), ist meiner Meinung nach der OB-6 redundant. Klanglich denke ich auch liegen da Welten dazwischen. Der neue klingt einfach unglaublich cremig und, nach Bedarf auch extrem fett bis böse. Es ist wichtig eine Preisfrage, aber wenn ich ehrlich bin, ist das eine der besten Keyboards, die ich je hatte. Ich bin mir fast sicher, dass ich den auch irgendwann mal zulege. Zum Waldorf M kann ich noch nicht so viel sagen. Den habe ich derzeit als Leihgabe hier und mich noch nicht so intensiv damit beschäftigt. Der erste Eindruck ist schon sehr gut. Klanglich ist ja schon anders als der Super-6 finde ich. Beim M hast du halt wavetables, nein S6 nur Waves, was schade ist. Der M geht schon noch mal weiter. Der S6 ist eher so ein Performance Teil, mit dem man sehr schnell kreativ zu plötzlich ganz anderen Sounds kommt, also sehr spontan. Das gefällt mir persönlich sehr gut.

[@thomasmorus3406]

@@vintagesynths Danke. Ja, der OB-X8 ist gemein. Eigentlich braucht man den nicht unbedingt und günstig ist er auch nicht. Aber ich wette, dass ich es irgendwann bereue, wenn ich mir den nicht hole. So einen Synth gibt es so schnell nicht wieder....So ein "Pech" ;-)

[@DavidLee07]

If you want the legendary Oberheim sound, go for the OB-X8. If you want a competent modern synth with its own niche, then the Super 6 might work for you (or, for me, even better would be a Hydrasynth as it has very deep programming possibilities). But if it makes you happy and does the job for you, you can't go wrong!

[@damianschwartz9290]

Wow, i have a Super 6, really like it, though watching this, the OB has like twice the depth and character, the UDO sounds like a software version after it

[@SPAZZOID100]

No. They both have very strong characters.

[@paulmapp8306]

@@SPAZZOID100 my only problem with the SS is lack of patch memory.... Im a live player and need to be able to recall patches for songs. SS is just lacking here longer term.

[@CharlesHardingA]

I’ve organized my 128 patch banks into categories and it was very easy with the class compliant USB. That said, for performance sets, you’d need a Midi switcher. I’ve set it up with the Morningstar with relative ease.

[@krinzologicstudio]

OB detune is like an orgasm for my ears! The udo is an amazing synth too..the digital waveforms ricreated are very good over the analog filters, just add an Ola Steymon chorus and a big sky reverb and the work is done! I’m ordering the OB-X8 now ..bro u are responsible😂 of my wife complaining

[@dirkkeersmaekers4343]

If the price is important.......

[@vintagesynths]

If they were the same price or the OB cost only max. 3000 I would go with that (also)

[@moretromain]

Was looking for a fair comparison between two synths, ended up listening to a very biased one where one was way louder than the other (except for the bells stuff in the middle..) When you claim to compare two things, please at least do a good job at having them match in settings, and not just where the pots aim at, but how it sounds like (attack timings are way different, overall loudness is different what the heck...)

[@vintagesynths]

As I noted in the notes, I just played the factory presets on both synth. I wondered why they didn’t match them to the original. I did not the job, the programmers had to do. I made all factory presets for the UB-Xa and it was a killer hard job. It’s also possible that the patches vary from original to original OB-Xa. There are around 100 trim pots for calibration the voice cards so it’s possible that the original OB-xa from the programmers of the sounds of the OB-X8 had, was calibrated different to mine.

[@moretromain]

@@vintagesynths yeah, sorry for the harsh comment :) Super-6 mainly aiming at reproducing what a Jupiter 6 and alike can do, I guess it's always nice (not to mention a good sign...) to hear the discrepancies you get when comparing it to anything else...the 100 pots are not to blame, those are just two different machines, and we're thankful for that, let's embrace the variety of stuff we can get from those machines

[@feliscatos4435]

The UDO is a great synth, but it's much better used for what it does best. It's not an Oberheim OB-X8 at all. And it's certainly not three OB-8s' !

[@marlonmagnee9199]

what he does the best ?

[@MisterKarib]

My Modal Cobalt8X is great !

[@kujumz806]

S6 is a bit expensive

[@SPAZZOID100]

And the OBX8 isn’t???

[@kujumz806]

@@SPAZZOID100 let me rephrase: S6 is expensive for what it is

[@klstay]

I am no particular fan of either layout/workflow, but would take page 2 on the OB over not knowing where you are with mods/mod matrix on S6. I am a crotchety old man who values simplicity and knob per function AT LEAST as much as the sound though it does still need to sound good... An aftermarket or DIY mod to add a second mono out to a P10 for split/layer patches would make it utterly perfect IMHO. Give me a monophonic output every time - stereo is what the effects are for; and get off my lawn you dang kids!

[@SPAZZOID100]

Effects cannot deliver the type of stereo movement that the Super-6 can deliver.

[@SPAZZOID100]

S6 is dead easy to program & binaural mode is amazing.