Oberheim Xpander | Living in the Matrix

The Oberheim Xpander (1984) is quite a curious release from the legendary developer.
It has the classic muscly Oberheim sound with 6-voice polyphony at 2 VCOs per-voice. However, it then becomes very interesting because it then has some deep digital control. There's five LFOs and five envelopes per voice, lag processing, tracking generators, ramp generators a filter with 15 modes and a whole bunch more. Pretty amazing for 1984!
The instrument is fairly chunky, but most of the control is built around page diving and a modulation matrix. So, it would be absolutely enormous if they had a switch or potentiometer for each function. It's kind of a modular-esque synth without any cables and some elements being virtual.
Furthermore, there are multi-patches where a different single patch can be loaded for each of the six voices. The voices also have their own CV/Gate and discrete outputs if you so wish. It's also fully midi equipped and so some folk use the Xpander as a midi to CV converter to control various parts of a modular rig.
After I'd read the manual and got my head around the workflow, I programmed a few patches, tweaked a few others already saved on the unit, did some live playing, some midi and some CV/gate sequencing and this was the result.
All synth sounds: Oberheim Xpander
Midi control via Prophet REV2 and my DAW
Drums: Oberheim DX
Vocals: Recorded with an AKG C414
Guitar: Dan Electro Baritone / Boss HM-2 / Fender Blues Junior mic'd with an SM57
Some creative commons videos re-used in this video:
• Free Video Clip - Time...
• Sunset Time Lapse, New...
Synth adverts from this fantastic resource:
retrosynthads.blogspot.com/
Social:
/ alexballmusic
/ alexballmusic

[@madagreement]

Best synth channel in KZbin. Love your work bro

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

madagreement agreed!!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

My full title is "Luckiest synth borrower on KZbin".

[@wingflanagan]

You, sir, are a Rennaisance man. So many different styles and you compose convincingly for all of them. You must be very good at scoring for commercials and films, where that is a huge plus.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Wing, appreciate your ongoing support. Have always enjoyed just doing whatever. It's more fun.

[@mlynch2003]

This deserves SO MANY MORE VIEWS. All of Alex's stuff does!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Michael.

[@karltraunmuller7048]

That video alone is a piece of art

[@fawltytenor]

yes, big wow moment at the end for me

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers

[@micooms]

The eighties called. They want their ultimate top producer back! Great job. I melted at the sunrise...

[@AlexBallMusic]

Lol. I reckon I could time travel on the Xpander, think it's hidden in one of the sub menus somewhere.

[@waugsqueke]

I had a hands on with one of these things back in the 80s and was totally mystified by it. I'd forgotten they existed so this is a delightful find, great stuff Alex. Some of these tunes would have easily been 80s hits, you know.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Yes, it's quite a weird workflow. I had to read the manual to understand how it worked with the pages and hidden menus. The payoff is the sound of course!

[@N1K5TA]

fantastic Alex ...also visually the choice & timing of the sunset rising nice touch

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Nik.

[@XavierRadix]

Love how the mood changes during the course of the song. Just brilliant work as always mate. And besides that, the Xpander is just a beast of a synth. Expensive, but worth it! :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Xavier. Got pulled into a darker but hopeful kind of vibe. Think it was from listening to Filter in the 90s, they were always good at that. First time on a vintage Oberheim poly - not disappointed. 😀

[@GNeuman]

Sounds quite Gary Numanish in places....good job, sir!

[@fawltytenor]

Love you man. The awesomeness of this channel never disappoints. Some great synth programming in this, especially the lush pads. wow. Awesome video too!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks! It has a fantastic sound, one of my favourites I think.

[@dazza42UK]

Very enjoyable piece. Loved it. Great sound choices throughout.

[@cobycranman9815]

Some demos are just so dang refreshing. Thank you!!

[@DEADLINETV]

The quality of this channel! So good! Love the song, the sounds, the production, the video, all of it!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you very much!

[@uncccut23]

You’re an incredible songwriter. All your songs are musically interesting and special

[@amulpatel]

Damn this sounds breathtaking

[@rcz2439]

This Expander is simply amazing... Great work!

[@daggersdukc]

Impressed with the instruments, the sounds you created on them, the track and all your work in putting it together. You are a man of many talents. (Doffs imaginary cap). Excellent work.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Adam, appreciate it. (Gives imaginary high five).

[@ProfessorSynth]

Top notch as always. Thanks Alex

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Rob.

[@terenceholmes1960]

I’m usually looking for smoothe sweet spots on the synth but this is a wonderful use of sheer grit timbres!! Love it!

[@markriddick1092]

Hey great song Alex! love the patches and productions

[@Berto961]

Recently found your channel after KZbin inexplicably hid it from me for what looks like years (?!). Have watched most of your back catalogue at this point and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Keep doing what you’re doing sir!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Rob, appreciate it. Yes, strangely KZbin started recommending my videos to people at the end of last year, which I'm not complaining about. Perhaps it was my turn or something. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.

[@mano123456]

I have an Xpander and an Eventide H3000 coming in the mail! Going crazy... Then I watch this video... And going crazier! Forget the gear; this is a fantastic track you made 👌

[@adam872]

That's a fantastic combo. Enjoy the beautiful noises you'll be making.

[@ddrumdude]

Was someone inspired by NIN? ;) I heard both of those were used in the making of Downward Spiral.

[@scottm1953]

Yet another winner Sir! Please, for the love of God, make a compilation of your KZbin music and put it on Bandcamp. Love this channel. Thank you.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Scott. Yeah, maybe I should archive it somewhere like bandcamp.

[@CaptJackAubreyOfTheRoyalNavy]

Damn, you're good! This channel is an inspiration!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@ReubenSound]

Fantastic mix of sounds, and as usual I love your vocals!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Reuben. Just missing one your shredding guitar solos :)

[@ReubenSound]

@@AlexBallMusic any time! ;)

[@churchofaggressiveaudio6498]

Amazing! Love it! 😍

[@HAZARDOUS88]

Beautiful work!

[@TantuBeats]

This is amazing!

[@saifeek]

Great video! I love my Xpander, the strings on it are spine tinglingly good. At the moment I'm sequencing it using the Medusa, since it responds to velocity and aftertouch, its great fun!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Definitely one of the best sounding synths I've ever played. The velocity, aftertouch and connectivity is great as you say. Makes it way more expressive.

[@venusiansky]

Love it! Nice work.

[@chedhead3278]

Wow, that was freaking awesome, thanks man. :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers :)

[@jakobole]

I had the pleasure of working with Alex's recordings of this recently. The Xpander-recordings were a real joy to work with. Expect a remix of this coming soon to a place near you.....

[@NedBouhalassaVideos]

Massive track, Alex! Nice hooks, always top production, sound. I love me some Matrix. I had a 12 in my studio for a year and half, and I can say that it's one of my top 3 polys! Just a rich, moving sound, so many possibilities, a ramp here, an envelope there...

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers. Ah, the Matrix 12, you'll know all about it then! Some nice flex, but like how it tells you that you can't do any more when you hit 20 modulation sources. I hit that warning once whilst playing around.

[@MrMuench]

Another killer track from you!! So great!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@Rompler_Rocco]

Yo! Ok, thank you for that song and video.

[@MarcWeertsMusic]

Love it... Sounds amazing!

[@albionpatterns3986]

This demo track you made is SLAMMING! Fuck!!

[@markzzzsmith]

Love the darkness in this track, and the contrast melodies!

[@christopherhenry3194]

ID SAY YOUR CRAZIEST ONE TO DATE IVE HEARD MAN!!! SWEET SWEET STUFF!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Very cool to try out a vintage Oberheim, very inspiring sounds. 😀

[@peahix]

fantastic! everything top-notch here! :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Pea. Imagine the Xpander is right up your street!

[@djdavique]

Sooo good!

[@sotosonic413]

Nice work, Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@mixolydian2010]

Nice one love the vocal tune near the end. Take it easy.

[@Death_By_Media]

Damn that is amazing . Yeah the Expander The Future Retro synth .

[@vidjenko8349]

Oh my goood this is great! Truly inspiring!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you

[@vidjenko8349]

Alex Ball you just made me an oberheim fan! Keep em’ coming!

[@fabiocuccu6086]

Wow! Such a cool track!

[@adamharris7775]

The LinnDrum was heard in this theme/this video.

[@MIDERA]

Nicely done. Came to here how similar the Xpander sounds to the Polaris... walking away with a cool track in my head instead.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. The Xpander is fantastic, hopefully I'll borrow one again at some point.

[@medusaspupil]

One of my top songs of all time.

[@cortical1]

Beautifully composed song! Wonderfully brings back those (for me) golden 80s vibes with a modern flair.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks very much!

[@cortical1]

@@AlexBallMusic I meant also to say, Alex, you pull me in with the promise of vintage gear (which always itself delivers) but then I get totally distracted by your talent in songwriting. You have a real knack. Regards from Carlsbad, California.

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@cortical1 Thank you. I agree, the mystery and sound of old gear is very inspiring. You feel like you've unearthed an old relic from an ancient civilisation.

[@tonyjackson5261]

So nice I had to listen to twice...............................

[@medusaspupil]

Amazzzing composition!!!!

[@warbatron2]

Tune!

[@nooortooon8925]

Wooooooooow this is amazing 😲

[@CertainlyCaro]

That bass line reminds me of Vince DiCola's "Unicron Theme" from Transformers: The Movie

[@lardosian]

Love that!!!

[@1vootman]

Damn good...subscribed!

[@GoguiTV]

Excellent!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@hawk194]

Love this.

[@HiGlowie]

Wonderful.

[@matthewstein1110]

Such a badass sound...

[@WoodyPianoShack]

wicked piece of music bro!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Woody :)

[@aphexon.]

Love it :D awesome!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks :)

[@magnusvanttinen7855]

Wow- this is good music! And great for film-score as well! Fat!

[@jakobole]

Have you heard the album-version? Check it out : kzbin.info/www/bejne/invIXmOfpJ2VfNU

[@RemoteViewr]

Nice little BoC moment at 2:06

[@steveramond]

wow, it's realy crazy!!

[@davidtehle6093]

subbed. this is dope

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers

[@mistersparrow]

Alex this song is BONKERS. So glad you got some vocals in there. This is one of my fav songs of yours next to “push the accent”. I know you’ve probably touched on mixing tips in some of your videos but would you ever consider posting a mixing focused vid? ur cool byyye

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks, glad you like it. I've talked about some mixing things in a few videos but never a specific video. I think it's because I feel other people are way more knowledgeable and skilled at it than me as it's a profession in its own right, so I've not felt I could do a mix video justice.

[@bradleyhove4177]

@@AlexBallMusic Your mixes are always so great, I think you should totally do one, at least a beginner's tips video or something

[@rs2klee]

love this track..thanks for sharing :) reminds me of Gary Newman, even he i think would be proud..

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Excellence!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Mr Fitz. Loving your Jexus doc btw.

[@LouisSerieusement]

I sincerly hope, this time, you are the owner of this

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Another visitor, not mine. But over the moon to have it in the studio for a while.

[@LouisSerieusement]

@@AlexBallMusic you have really good friends XD !

[@AlexBallMusic]

Correct. 😉

[@aren6]

this is insane

[@Protoxy]

Nice

[@rich_in_paradise]

Damn I wish I could like this more than once. Also, I wish it could be 1985 again. Please.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Although, if it was 1985 I'd have to record audio on tape, shoot on VHS and post to my subscribers. Reckon I'd do one video per year.

[@rich_in_paradise]

Haha, maybe not then :)

[@EvilDragon666]

Gnarly!!

[@MD_Builds]

been going through your tracks, loving it, you got a new youtube stalker!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Hello and welcome. No shoes on the carpet and snacks near the synths, but I've got some cold ones in the fridge. Just help yourself.

[@MD_Builds]

@@AlexBallMusic :D Thank you :D Again honestly amazing work... Outside of the amazing collection youve amassed and borrowed, youre one heck of an amazing artist too... Genuinely loving what im hearing here. Apart from just being a synth wave fan, im loving the cues of YES and Vangelis and the like

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@MD_Builds Thanks so, so much. I'm aware most people aren't really here to listen to my tracks (and why would they be) so that means a lot that you actually went through them _and_ enjoyed them. 🙂 Have a great weekend.

[@Digithalis]

yayy....we are all captured in the matrix! :-))

[@AlexBallMusic]

Do you press the red button or the blue button?

[@joshuasmith6231]

The vocals at the end remind me of the band Orgy. Great, great (great) timbre at the beginning. Holy heck what a sound.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Yes, the Xpander makes quite a noise!

[@rogerneill7962]

Really good music! I just bought me one of these. An hour ago!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ace! I just borrowed one again for another video. How are you finding yours? Or has it not arrived yet?

[@rogerneill7962]

@@AlexBallMusic Alex! Two years later I realized that you sent me a note back. To answer, the Xpander has Xpanded my mind! I'm wondering, do you sell these beautiful patches you've made, or otherwise make them available? You get some very wonderful sounds out of this synth!

[@mu_zines]

Well, isn't that just Ear Treasure! Sublime...

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Yes, it's a pretty special instrument.

[@thegood9]

would love to see one of your detailed histories of Oberheim...my fave synth maker of all time. As an OBX OB8 owner, there was nothing that sounded like those babies...at that time. While you're at it, a "detailed history of the Alesis Andromeda A6" would be fantastic as well. It was such a strange "out of left field" instrument from a "budget" company, yet it pushed all the buttons, and sounded fantastic (and I owned 3 of em, lol). Would love to hear all the details on how it came to be and the people involved, and WHY THEY AREN"T WORKING ON THE A8, or some sort of follow up!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Oberheim is going to happen, for sure. That's one catalogue I can access almost in its entirety. Involves a bit of travelling, but it is in the pipeline. Helps that Tom's time with his own company was cut short, means the story doesn't have to be enormous. The only thing that is more tricky is the DS-2. Only owner I know is Junkie XL!

[@Esaelectronics]

very nice track,i used to have one many moons ago

[@Slownoisedubs]

Ace!

[@JMLRecording]

Tom would be proud brother

[@AdamRobertshaw]

Woah sick tune! Can't wait for a talking style explanatory video from you on the Xpander - I got one a few months back, and just got it back in full working condition, eager to get stuck in to it's sounds! Also got a SynthAxe I'm dead keen to control it with, but that's needing a bit of work yet - will get up some videos when it's fully operational! I don't suppose you have your patches available to download? They sound really cool! Have you tried the Xplorer PC app to program sounds at all?

[@AlexBallMusic]

Congrats on your Xpander. It's a great instrument. I borrowed it and returned it, so there aren't any more Xpander videos planned. I didn't save any patches I made onto any external device either unfortunately. But I'm sure you'll have great sounds of your own up and running in no time.

[@benjaminframe5530]

Ok....after seeing this video.....I’m never getting rid of my matrix 12.....amazing! Now I just need to learn how to program it. Lol.

[@AdamRobertshaw]

Keep coming back to this track over and over. You releasing an album of all these tunes any time?

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Funnily enough, yes that is the plan. This track and another have had remixes of them done and I'm going to sort and compile my synth tracks and get them mastered for an album this year.

[@softautomaton]

sweet jam! huge sound in that thing. how hard have you been pushing its modulation matrix at this point? that seems to be one of its secret weapons

[@youngchool]

Why? I don't understand. Why we are listening to today's music-y stuff instead of something like this? 60s and 70s and early 80s were cool and we made a wrong turn somewhere? Keep the fire burning, Alex, until good days come back. Thank you so much!

[@synthsandstuff]

I agree with @madagreement, I would even say the best YT synth composer with great video skills!

[@synthsandstuff]

It reminds me at the Human League Orchestra (instrumental versions): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKne6t3mtylh9E

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Also agreed!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers JP. Thanks for the Human League link, never heard that montage / medley before. Yes, has some parallels!

[@jaggass]

Vince Clarke used an Xpander in the day and explained what it does.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Just chatting on Facebook to the guy who sold him that very Xpander in about 1984. Small world.

[@jaggass]

@@AlexBallMusic Wow it is a small world. Vince did use it alot in the 80's and 90's.

[@esteettinen9761]

nice as always! panned oscillators

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, love the swirly panning you can do. Even works on bass sounds. Com Truise - heard the name before but don't think I've checked him out. Thanks for the tip.

[@joachim595]

@Alex Ball I have one but I have a hard time to get around programming it for anything really. Being a programmer since just a few years I always end up fiddling with my Junos instead bc they are so approachable. Do you have any suggestions on where to start approaching this beast? I mean for one: those filters are ridiculously good. I so love them.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I borrowed it (two in fact) and so only had it for a couple of weeks. It wasn't easy to program, but rewarded patience. The "knob per function" synths are way more accessible as you say, but the Xpander has way more possibilities. Hence it had to be arranged into menus. My only advice would be to try to have some plan of what you're trying to do and start with some basic principals. Then dial in and combine more modulation until it starts sounding daft. More subtle combinations of things probably yields better results.

[@joachim595]

@@AlexBallMusic Came back to this. The verse is so Downward Spiralesque. Like that twisted, broken lead string on top sounds exactly like stuff off the record. And then A Warm Place at the late middle part.

[@jakobole]

A banging remix of this will hit the internet in the not too distant future. Stay tuned....

[@viktorbrage7459]

Didn't know KZbin allowed porn videos to be uploaded. :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

I for one was xpanded.

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

Any patch named 'Big A$$' is fine with me, just in case no one else has said it. Oh, and the track is effing fantastic.

[@NonLocalYokel]

Sweet as a frickin nut Al.

[@cablevamp3163]

Holy shit

[@tedmuss]

This video makes me feel nice, I'm like a dog drooling over a fat steak. 😍

[@ageshero]

I really need to find a deep dive on this

[@jakobole]

Have you checked out the album version? : kzbin.info/www/bejne/invIXmOfpJ2VfNU

[@Tsaddeous]

Great track !!!! First part sounds like a good old 90's Marilyn Manson track !!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Good old Phyrgian Dominant mode. NIN / Trent Reznor was an Xpander user, so wouldn't be surprised if it was also on some Manson stuff. Probably affixed to a crucifix and dripped in blood.

[@Tsaddeous]

@@AlexBallMusic YES !! I immediatly recognized it !! You have a really great channel by the way, thank you for your works !!!