Sonic LAB OB-6 Desktop Poly Synth Review

We take a look at the new OB-6 Desktop from Dave Smith Instruments and Tom Oberheim. 2 VCOs per voice and the classic SEM filter, plus DSP effects and arpeggiator and poly sequencer.
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[@NelsonGuised]

Do you hear that? It's the sound of my wallet sobbing quietly in the night.

[@stocchinet]

It's like a thousand wallets screaming all togheter

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

NelsonGuise its alright its better than spending $2300.00 on golf clubs.

[@andyq9669]

Mr. Irrelevant brilliant. I'm going with that justification.

[@MrQmason]

LOL

[@michaelgranger9139]

hahaha I know!! This acquisition is non-negotiable my friend.

[@muleFUEL1]

18:19 the overdrive face I'm sure everyone's made that face at some point

[@devmiles]

lol, i can totally relate

[@BlatendCrude]

Yes I make that face on the toilet.

[@electroteque]

hahaha I see it.

[@graphene1487]

Spot on. The only true Oh Face.

[@tjs6025]

That is the face of a man doing what he loves to do. Think about it.

[@AveMcree]

this thing is flat out amazing

[@davebellamy4867]

I agree. Tom and Dave.

[@synth4ever]

Dave and Tom really outdid themselves with this synth, it is a future classic no doubt. There is something intangible in the sound that makes it feel so alive, compared to a lot of others on the market both past and present. The SEM filter is unmistakable and contributes so much... OB6 is truly an amazing piece of kit, well worth the accolades and praise IMO.

[@TheJonHolstein]

I'm not sure it will be a future classic. There are too many things that could be imrpoved. If it was a limited series productions with guarantees of no future collaborations, well then perhaps, yes. Or if the hardware hype suddenly goes completely dead (there is a risk, as some makers, don't do enough with their hardware to convince the market that hardware has a lot of advantages over software). It seems like a great synth. From this video and the time I played with one. I would love to have one. But I'm afraid there will be a second generation, or another kind of product that outdoes this one. Just adding one more LFO, so you don't have to give up one VCO for the tasks of a 2nd LFO. Or even more better, a third osc, that is the modulation OSC, making the 2nd a normal VCO, but allowing for 3 OSC poly sounds as well.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Jon Holstein ????

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

Nick your Sonic Labs have come a long way, keep up the great work.

[@lauriliinat7262]

Stunningly beautiful-sounding poly. Quite versatile, too. Keep those great reviews coming!

[@rodrigolaporte274]

That just sounds incredible. And a GREAT review as usual!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rain_irl6460]

been waiting eagerly for this review....thanks a million nick

[@MrCowfood]

Thanks Nick, Picked one up (same desktop) here states side as my first getting back into the real deal game synth in over a few decades. I had nightmares of selling my OB-XA back in the early 90's and all the time spent trying to find that sound again. Although this lacks the 24db LPF and layering, it has something special and still retains elements of the sound I lost, enough so that I am finally at peace again. Top review and thanks for shining a light on some of it's deeper elements lacking in the other YT reviews. Cheers!

[@lying-dalai]

Thanks a lot Nick, I really love the way you bring the better of a synth, while not forgetting the limitations...Your reviews are positive, constructive... But overall they are a very enjoyable musical moments, candys for synth heads :DA real pleasure, frankly. Now these sounds... Comfort me in the position where I should sell some gear to get an OB-6.

[@CausaliDox]

I am so completely and utterly in love with this synth. It's gonna break the bank, but I'm getting this next year. Thanks so much Nick, I've been waiting for you to review this and you did not disappoint! :)

[@cortical1]

Did you get one? Do you love it as much as you'd hoped?

[@CausaliDox]

@@cortical1 I did. And I do.

[@cortical1]

@@CausaliDox Excellent.

[@blakecasimir]

18:40 is excellent, and makes me really sad that I'll miss out on seeing Nick live at the Railway. :( Nick, you get some incredible sounds out of every synth and this is no exception. And the end jam: Nick, release an album already darnit! :D

[@michaeltechbytes]

The outro tune you play is just fantastic, would have loved to hear more. RAW and deep tones.

[@channelkerr]

Headphones required at 7:41 ! Amazing!

[@Jkeane1337]

absolute nostalgia machine, very happy with mine. great playing mr. batt, your keyboard skills are improving quite a lot.

[@inthefade]

It is really amazing sounding. Shocking how good it is.

[@espacemaxim]

Love the old school radio clock Lcd on these, simple and stylish

[@jerbusf]

Really, really wonderful breakdown. You are very good at what you do, my man. Thank you.

[@danieljones-tg9oe]

The OB 6 is by far the most beautiful sounding synth.

[@frankforest2733]

Great review, beautiful sounding synth.

[@MentalFrizbee]

Yes!! A proper modern instant classic synth!! Fantastic!!! Great review Nick!

[@profoundisstereotactic835]

The talking sound at the end is just beautiful , I guess better start saving for this one hehe Thanks!!!

[@jasonm2279]

That patch with the phaser sounds remarkable. so much to the sound. And Nick you've also disproved your weekly downplay of your musical ability. Those melodic lines are pretty sweet. Thanks again Nick

[@IoannisKazlaris]

From 08:14 - 08:30 sounds divine, that resonance is so beautiful and familiar

[@SjN7HETIK]

U my friend are absolutely right. TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, that pad sound, that awesome pad sound, almost made me cry...

[@xavierstg8753]

@@SjN7HETIK made you cry??? Lmfao what a pussy

[@cortical1]

@@xavierstg8753 Well, he is a cat, so...

[@xisotopex]

love your analogy of the battery radio.... it brings me back to hear certain sounds... boards of canada does that to me also takes me back to being a small child in the '70s

[@LordoftheBadgers]

I think of a heady mix of bakelite valves and dusty electronics... And a burgundy colour somehow when I think of old synth music. I know they weren't oberheim acts but people like ultravox or Thomas dolby. Good time to be into music it was back then. Sat waiting patiently for the postie with my ob desktop...

[@tekis0]

Oberheim sounds so, so good! I always loved them and they seem to be making the real deal again.

[@BiGreDNoSecoMpAny]

Great review, really enjoyed watching this one!

[@uirehuigedkahds]

Holy crap this thing sounds magnificent. BRB selling my organs

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

@Jack Schitt My girl would like that one.

[@greatlakestrader]

brilliant review!! Thank you for taking the time to show all the subtle beauty of these instruments.

[@junglsmor]

i used to watch these videos knowing nothing about synthesis and loving the sounds but like listening to a foriegn language and now ive come back to this after getting into synths and im actually understanding most of what youre talking about lol

[@dukeofpearl]

Knocked it out the ball park with this! Had the module for a couple of weeks now. There’s a comparison vid on KZbin between this (the keyboard OB-6) the OB-Xa and the OB-8. The OB-6 was voted first 1st by the owner of all three synths. Being around synths for 25 years now, I had to agree. Little tweaks here and there add to its win of the three. And the SEM filter has that sound that just makes you feel nostalgic about all the sounds you heard on tele growing up as a kid. Love this thing! 😃🎶

[@SPAZZOID100]

dukeofpearl the OBXA & OB8 are curtis based and not true oberheims sonically. The OB6 should be compared to the OBX.

[@unofsnd]

Never knew Mr. Batt to be a Japan fan. You learn something new every day! :-)

[@Chevytravelleruk]

That machine really does sound totally Oberheim.. Magical Sounds Great review Nick!

[@gpeioarngo]

Very interesting review, informative and clear. I like it how you did it. Thank you!

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Great great review Sonicstate , in my opinion id have the sem filter over most filters anyday its so intrestingly versatile. Gorgeous is an understatement !!!

[@ledheavy26]

I wasn't too excited about this synth when I looked at the features. Especially when compared to the mopho I have with its long list of features. But man, that first sequence you played made me make an audible "uuuuunnnnnnnnngggg", it sounds beautiful. Thanks Nick for making me want one now, you have a knack for that.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Boo Radely it's about sound. Not features.

[@ledheavy26]

I know that. But features also aid in sound development and add to the overall value of a synth, especially one costing a fair chunk of change.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Boo Radely did not help the mopho. Especially with it’s crippled interface. The ob6 is fantastic.

[@SjN7HETIK]

10:07 'it just sounds WONDERFUL.' Yes my friend, u put the soul in your review and we see and like it. Nick, thanx for being... Nick. I hope one day I'll shake your hand.

[@jutjup4731]

I want that so badly! Thanks for the fantastic review

[@CaidicusProductions]

Sounds epic. Great review Nick... as always.

[@CaidicusProductions]

"It's unipolar and bipolar" - Nick. So, sometimes it sounds amazing, and sometimes it can hardly even get out of bed. ;P

[@davebellamy4867]

I think the OB-6 is just an astoundingly beautiful sounding synth. Evry time I hear a demo there is a sound that blows me away - and sometimes several.

[@kiickinballistics]

20:13 is why I finally got an OB-6 desktop. It is amazing 🤩

[@DEADLINETV]

You know it's a good synth when even the quirky sounds sound gorgeous...

[@cosmicfugue1226]

The OB6 has 1000 programs not 999. You have to add the 000 patch as well. Thank you for the review. I bought the desktop version and am very glad I did it sounds fantastic. 🇲🇹

[@neanderthalboneflute6519]

It's that sound isn't it. The sound of my credit card straining.

[@EwaldK]

Great demo. own the OB-6 and this demo actually showed my quite some tricks I wasn't aware that the OB-6 could do (distortion, chord unsion)

[@mooster808]

Your video really helped me understand how to fly the spaceship when it came in! I’m loving it! Mahalo from Hawai’i

[@hiltoniusmusic]

it's gorgeous. i'm in love.

[@liverawkstar]

It's so incredibly beautiful. Of course, listen in headphones😜

[@krystiandobkowski5321]

Sounds like a nice Boards of Canada sound design toolbox :)

[@Wazoox]

Oh good jeebus in velvet pants, this machine sounds awesomely marvelous.

[@cammy1273]

Thing sounds incredible!

[@MarctheDarc]

Great video, and amazing synth! Possibly my favorite sounding synth on the market. Currently testing and recording a Roland System 500, which is almost the same price, and an awesome synth in its own right. But I know what I'd get for my own money - if I had that much money.

[@Psychlist1972]

Nice review and some beautiful sounds.

[@donaldjasoncrunk]

Sounds fantastic! Love that big screen behind you, feel like i'm in the damn apple store

[@blakecasimir]

This is in every possible way preferable to being in the Apple store. (Disclaimer I'm not a hater but man, I do not like that over-designed almost claustrophobically clean look of those stores.)

[@gabrielmanzanedo]

Great one, Nick!

[@fuzzjohn]

SEM filter = Nostalgia Generator

[@sonicstate]

yeah its true

[@AlainRaes67]

lovely bit of Japan tin drum in your playing :)

[@hostnik777]

Haha, sorta... a little too detuned and closed filtered... or something.

[@paulf9814]

I have the keyboard version and love it, it compliments the P6 very well!

[@xntricity6446]

18:50 distortion is amazing omg

[@kierenmoore3236]

Resonance - filter and phaser

[@OscillatorCollective]

These tones literally bring me to tears… When I think of what a “synthesizer sounds like”…I think Sequential and OBERHIEM. Both those tones are attached to my SOUL. Seriously, pure ASMR affects and really only OBERHIEM, SEQUENTIAL, KORG, YAMAHA CS, MOOG, ARP and PPG do that.

[@motherbrain2000]

Nick I return to this video for the music! Gorgeous stuff. I've even tried to recreate the patch (not even close!).

[@motherbrain2000]

the opening music is what I'm refering to but it's all good

[@foggydrifty]

You can hear the enchantment right off the bat. Damn... Serious vibe on this thing.

[@sear2558]

ugh i come back to this review all the time for that opening song. those 2 chords starting at 18. sweet jesus

[@vibereflection226]

The end of this video make me cry ;-) , beautiful sounds in deed.

[@john9291]

I decided to buy one after I heard the X-Mod demo at 15:00, just soo dreamy. Should arrive in 3 weeks!

[@WillieG1016]

The outro tune is so incredible. The melody line and the pad, damn.

[@thedarkestrainbow]

it sounds just so darn beautiful

[@KeithCanisius]

That intro is just lovely

[@JulesFox]

great review... spelt out the pros and cons and the sweetness of this synth.

[@euroDIGLET]

Its gotta be one of the best sounding synthesizers on the market

[@ProckGnosis]

This was a suggested vid, and I thought "how the heck did I miss this before now?" Oh...video just came out today. Very nice and thanks for the review. It's already high on my "next synth" list, and this just makes me more anxious to get a hold of one. Hilarious when I read folks lambast this as "nothing like an original Oberheim!" Yeah...right...so don't buy it. Cheers!

[@FinnBaygan]

you were on their podcast a few weeks ago because you were the first guy to make a video on the new murmux!

[@distriktunes]

love to see u do a review on this too man!

[@ProckGnosis]

Love to see me own one first. I promise once I get one, there will be vids!

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Lovely outro Nick!

[@noiselabproject9659]

Just revisited this review, fantastic. 5 odd years later and I really want one now in my setup. I have some now unused synths like rack mounted Supernova 2 and a Nord Rack 2x to sell which should go much of the way to paying for one of these and so finally I can afford/justify getting one, yeahy

[@AnalogMonoxide]

9:06 "I mean it's just gorgeous... I mean there's no real... uh... I mean..." Yeah, I'm pretty much dribbling over this thing too :) Thanks again for the great reviews Nick! Love this channel.

[@RickMaczka]

GAS kicking in big time ! What a beuty great review Nick

[@TheParanoidAndroid79]

Sweet fancy Moses. Now that's a nice-sounding synth.

[@UTSONUT]

@ 18:30 = nick plays a patch he made = beautiful warm OB magic = soundgasm wicked stuff Nick! you da man!

[@st0rmchild]

Hello and welcome to another episode of Nick Sells Me A Synth.

[@MisterNiles]

15:40 I immediately thought: "where's Mick Karn?" Then I got exactly what I thought was coming. Canton. Amazing synth. Wonderfully done review. I guess my modular addiction will have to take some time in rehab. Thanks.

[@Rgdonaire_07]

All your patches are brilliant....

[@rhampton1914]

Wow, i must get one of these....This is really a great sounding Synth...i like everything about it..

[@ozorg]

great review again!

[@supernatural802]

14:00 -15:00 those patches sound very "Disasterpeace" (dude who made music for FEZ & IT FOLLOWS). loving it. annnd now i must have it.

[@felixbr26]

Thank you for your Videos!! Greetz from Germany!

[@SoundsandImages]

Great review and sound run through Nick, seems quite a beast. Had often wondered why no Dave Smith reviews.. Maybe we could have your touch on some of the other products.

[@sonicstate]

its not by design, its because historically its been hard to get hold of review units in the UK, everything gets sold...

[@SoundsandImages]

That is a bit of a bugger! Seems DSI is rather popular. Good to see one in your hands as you have a great way of explaining things and that makes all the difference.

[@Soykuya1]

sonicstate wish you review the p6,pro2, and the p12, the ob6 just has a magical sound along with the p6

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

He reviewed the Tempest I remember because he had a really funky song started with that thing.

[@maxmatson1578]

Mad props👌 for mentioning "John Carpenter". My favorite director of all time!

[@tehJoe11]

Jeez, from about 7:50 onwards, just incredible sounds.

[@LesterH25]

Joe Wilcox yes absolute quality.

[@dreamervision5169]

Man, that intro is good.

[@justanaverageperson544]

That outro was spectacular.

[@marvinkmooneyoz]

The filters are great, but I think many people dont realize how much the character of the incoming signal has, even the difference between different VCO's, these ones have a lovely and useful character to them, as does the Prophet with its own flavor VCOs

[@josephmills3864]

That outro music..mental!!

[@electroteque]

This is a thing of beauty. Heaven. I'll never get my hands on a keyboard but happy to compromise with this ! This is medicine. that sound !

[@devmiles]

sounds amazing!

[@legitimatefrenzy]

I've never heard someone describe a pad as fairly pedestrian hahaha I love this channel

[@TherapyHiccup]

that is gorgeous

[@therealone1288]

great review nick this is a fantastic synth! wondering if i should pair it up with a p6 now!

[@liudas5377]

nice job, great revew

[@simplestickman5513]

incredible sounding sinth

[@biegalex]

what a wonder piece of gear wow, that sound.

[@albywelch]

Sounds soooo good!.... Nick could do a lesson on chord and melodic progressions and playing for that dreamy sound? I love it so much and love ur music

[@gillsgills]

man that guy kills it every time

[@danraiche4823]

holy shit this sounds amazing