Oberheim Xpander Review

Trying my hand at Trogly-style review of a classic synth that is not getting the respect and recognition it deserves - which I am hoping to change, one view of this video at a time.
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0:00 Intro
0:38 A bit of history
1:38 complexity of analog poly synths
3:12 pointless noodling on the xpander
4:21 modular under the hood
6:53 multi mode = 6 independent mono synths
7:44 a closer look at the unit
7:56 tuning routine
9:49 US vs Japan models
10:43 power supply
11:43 conclusion
12:46 outro

[@HelgeRumphorst-nk6tg]

I like the Expander also, Saints very much😊

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

I have restored and thus gotten to play all of the vintage flagship polysynths. I personally own the OB series, CS-80, Voyetra 8, JP-6 & MKS-80, Prophet 5 rev 2, Rhodes Chroma, Matrix 12, etc... IMO the Matrix 12 & Xpander are in fact the ALL TIME analog polysynth kings. I like to call the Matrix 12 the Emporer of Analog Synthesizers. They represent the greatest combination of flagship sound quality, depth of feature set, and intuitive user interface design. Even today, nothing can compare. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the M12 would be my desert island synth! Great Demo, but those cap clusters are interesting!

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

100% agree, I own or owned them all - M12 & Xpander are absolutely unrivaled. My desert synth would be the Xpander as well. Regarding the cap clusters - well spotted! I dig the vibe of them, seriously :-) it was done by the previous owner and since capacitances add up it doesnt matter if its one high-value or 6 low-value caps, it gets the job done and thats what matters. Thanks for comment man!

[@christdolphin69]

i wish someone would come close to recreating this. its weird how stagnant synthesis technology has become

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

@@christdolphin69 I have heard rumors that Oberheim/Sequential/Novation/Focusrite (LOL) are actually working on a Matrix 12/Xpander reissue.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

I whole-heartedly agree. To be perfectly honest, I had the both the Matrix 12 and the Xpander for a long time and didnt realize their full potential until much later. Simply because there was no “hype” around it. So then one day I dug deep and I was like “holy shit this is unreal! How is this not hyped as the best poly???” And then more years passed until I finally got myself to shooting a video about it.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Would be nice. When you think of it, we still cant reproduce tech we had 50 years ago. The Xpander still untouched by anything today. Yamaha cs80 as well. The JP8. The list goes on…

[@davebellamy4867]

12:58 The sheer LIGHTNESS of that sound is joyous.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Thanks Dave! 👍

[@boomer7393]

Have you seen Steve Porcaro’s instructional video from 1986 where he explains how to make brass and string sounds on the Xpander? It’s great and that’s how i found out about it. Shame it doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out, Steve’s a genius! I’ve seen a vid where he was explaining how he composed and recorded the Rosana solo - it flies by effortlessly but when you see the professional attitude, the attention to detail and the amount of work that went into it - just WOW! The GOAT!

[@LocaliLLocano]

Sasha’s Xpander was written with this monster. I hope they have a reissue . I got 5k ready to go

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

I doubt they will reissue this puppy - its waaaaay more complex than the OBx or OBXa in terms of internal routing, modulations etc. Oberheim beat Behringer to the punch with the Obx reissue but the Xpander is a different ball-game in terms of engineering complexity, so Im sceptical either company with take on this challenge. We still can dream tho…

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

As an Xpander owner, congrats on a beautiful unit. Obviously you sold it long ago but thanks for keeping this up here for history sake.

[@sjstudiotv2011]

A question. Matrix 12 Do you have this sound on this link? themselves beginning in the duration of 0:00 to 00:16 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_EZHRtgbqqZ5o

[@ingostromitzky497]

The decision to develope this Synth at it’s time, is the reason why Oberheim went bankrupt. It is one of best ever. Very good video, thank you

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Thank mate!

[@chandeleerjet5637]

I bought an OBX8 and then hesrd this Xpander in a local shop. Was almost double the price but i couldnt go without having that sound. Just the raw sound alone is worth it. Maybe the best pad and poly synth sound ive ever heard. Couldnt be happier with a purchase even though i havent figured out how to work all its features. If you have the money to get a working one, get it. You will always be able to sell it down the road and its a classic. The only issue i have with mine is i cant figure out if it has a sustain pedal. Does anybody know if theres a way to use a sustain pedal with it?

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Congrats on your purchase! Absolutely agree with yout assessment of a purchase strategy on one of these. If you can program a Minimoog, you can program this guy - its the same basic signal/cv flow and working with the screens is pretty striaght forward. I think - now I could be wrong - but I think this is the first time displays were used this way so save UI real estate on the panel. I have had other “non-patch cable” modulars like the GRP A4 for example as well as regular modulars and from my experience its much easier to loose track of what you are doing on those than on thr Xpander. The UI is pure genius. As for sustain - you have two pedal INs and they can be assigned as modulation source to anything you want, go to the envelope sustain or release. Also, it takes MIDI sustain pedal information.

[@Javelin276]

There is a paragraph somewhere in either the Matrix 12 or Expander manuals which describes how to set up a sustain pedal. Basically, you use the pedal to modify/set the release on your main envelope.

[@rodnee2340]

I have never seen one.👍

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Well now you have seen and heard one :-)

[@ollebolle7072]

Great video! I'm also a happy Xpander owner:) Great sounds in the background! Would you be up to share some of the patches used in the video? I'd be happy to pay ! Cheers

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Thanks man! They are just the factory presets 😂 yeah the Xpander is often look at as just another poly. Far from it…

[@ollebolle7072]

@@ksmusiclounge1648 Ah cool didn’t recognise them!

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Must be my excellent playing 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@reidhauke3389]

To answer OP's question: No - it was always very highly rated.

[@christdolphin69]

100%

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Thanks man! 👍

[@blendragon28]

Do you know where to get one of those replacement kits?

[@kamilpeteraj762]

I saw a kit on Syntaur’s website and another kit from a company called Rosen Sound. I also think I saw something in Germany but cant remember. Just run a search for “oberheim encoder kit”.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Syntaur would be my first call.

[@basmatine]

If you can’t afford one, try the matrix 1000. With a program editor, you can access many of the same features this beast has.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Yes! But you are getting essentially the Matrix 6 - video coming up on this puppy

[@gcoudert]

It's a fantastic synth but its presets don't do it justice.

[@fedorsynthman]

I had 2 japanese xpanders, all of them died due to chip mailfunction and the person who restored cs80 couldn't fix it either (he is simply the best) look for USA version

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Wow ok well… I havent heard anyone has had an issue with the Japanese versions. I had two US ones and never had issues.

[@fedorsynthman]

@@ksmusiclounge1648 yep, it's true, there were are also threads on gearspace forum regarding this issue. I can only confirm as stated bove that 2 of my Japanese Xpanders died on me beyond repair. For those reading, if you want a proper USA version, check back panel for black jacks (hint that this is USA version) and obvious sign that it was made in Japan on the back of the synth also as said in this video, you will have mark on the board. p.s. soundwise I heard both, but not side by side. But after reading a lot of forums, it seems that they are identical in terms of sound.

[@jasonakagecko]

Well it’s an $8,000 dollar synthesizer now.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Not yet but getting there soon Im affraid…

[@jonotwycross8998]

cost alot dollar

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

Well…

[@jonotwycross8998]

@@ksmusiclounge1648 yes thanks

[@MrCaliforniaD]

Underrated? More like impossible to buy.

[@ksmusiclounge1648]

… and underrated at the same time :-)