Oberheim OB-1

OB-1

Oberheim OB-1
Manufacturer Oberheim
Dates 1978
Technical specifications
Polyphony 1 voice
Timbrality Monotimbral
Oscillator 2 VCOs
LFO 1
Synthesis type Analog Subtractive
Filter 2 or 4 pole switchable VCF
Attenuator 2 x ADSR; one for VCF, one for VCA
Aftertouch expression No
Velocity expression No
Storage memory 8 patches
Effects None
Input/output
Keyboard 37-key

The Oberheim OB-1 was a monophonic, programmable, analog synthesizer introduced by Oberheim Electronics in 1978. It originally sold for $1,895 and was the first analog synthesizer capable of storing patches.The design was based on the Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expansion Module) and intended to be used for live performance.[1][2]

Specification

The OB-1 was essentially an all-in-one, pre-routed Oberheim SEM and had one voice of polyphony, with two VCOs and a switchable multimode filter. It also contained an envelope control for both the filter and amplitude.[1]

Notable users of the OB-1 were the composer and musician Vince Clarke and the bands Tangerine Dream, Rush, and The Grid.[1] A 2014 feature on the French radio station France Inter claimed that the OB-1 had been used by the Star Wars sound engineer Ben Burtt to create the voice of R2-D2 and that the name of another Star Wars character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, derives from a transliteration of "OB-1".[3] However, Star Wars was first released in 1977, a year before the OB-1, and most sources credit the ARP 2600 synthesizer as being used to record R2-D2's voice.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Oberheim OB-1". Vintage Synth. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  2. Moog, Bob (2009). "Oberheim SEM Module". Keyboard Magazine Presents Vintage Synthesizers, p. 172. Backbeat Books
  3. France Inter (18 February 2014. "Star wars Identities: visite virtuelle". Retrieved 25 April 2015 (French). See also Russ, Martin (2012) Sound Synthesis and Sampling, 3rd edition, p. 333. Taylor & Francis
  4. See for example, Kunkes, Michael (May-June 2009). "Sound Trek: The Audio Explorations of Ben Burtt". Editors Guild Magazine and Pinch, T. J. and Trocco, Frank (2004). Analog Days, p. 273. Harvard University Press
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