The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum
OBERHEIM => OB-X8 => Topic started by: LoboLives on May 09, 2023, 10:01:54 AM
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https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2023/05/09/oberheim-introduces-ob-x8-desktop-module-at-superbooth-2023/
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Nice. Very nice. Layers and layers of Oberheim sound. Goooood. Gooood.
Thank you for listening, Oberheim!
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$3,499.00
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Transpose buttons on the desktop. Brilliant touch. This should be on all the desktops.
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Transpose buttons on the desktop. Brilliant touch. This should be on all the desktops.
I'm guessing they included them because the transpose on the X8 works a little differently than other synths. I've noticed that transpose settings are saved with the preset, unlike other sequential synths. And while it does actually transpose the notes being sent to the synth (ie. not just the osc pitch, but filter key tracking is affected too etc.) on the keyboard version the transpose doesn't actually affect the midi out signal. So it's transposing after that.
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I will be picking one of these up.
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Also, with regard to dimensions... holy cow, 22" long! That's one serious desktop module :) It's going to dwarf any other desktop modules I have.
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I'm not in the market for this - or for the keyboard version - but as far as desktop modules go, this is really a gorgeous machine.
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I'm not in the market for this - or for the keyboard version - but as far as desktop modules go, this is really a gorgeous machine.
I completely agree; cosmetically I think they knocked it out of the park when they decided to make the upper row of controls black. Even though it probably wasn't an intentionally cosmetic decision as much as a way to categorize purpose of the section, it adds something that brings an old school vibe to it, as it resembles the heat sink housing of the original OB-X.
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I’m scratching my head as to how one assigns/enables velocity and aftertouch without the dedicated buttons from the keyboard version.
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Hate to be the party pooper but those knobs look suspiciously like the ones on the OB-6. For this price I’d be hoping they’ve sorted out the wobbly knob issue!
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Hate to be the party pooper but those knobs look suspiciously like the ones on the OB-6. For this price I’d be hoping they’ve sorted out the wobbly knob issue!
It’s all down to whether they’re bolted to the chassis like the keyboard version. I imagine they will be, as the P5/10 ones were across both formats.
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I’m scratching my head as to how one assigns/enables velocity and aftertouch without the dedicated buttons from the keyboard version.
Page 2 maybe?
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Can I get confirmation that the OB-X8 Desktop responds to polyphonic aftertouch over MIDI?
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Can I get confirmation that the OB-X8 Desktop responds to polyphonic aftertouch over MIDI?
I don't think the OBX8 responds to it yet either.
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Can I get confirmation that the OB-X8 Desktop responds to polyphonic aftertouch over MIDI?
I don't think the OBX8 responds to it yet either.
Yes the OB-X8 responds to polyAT over MIDI, surely the desktop will too.
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Can I get confirmation that the OB-X8 Desktop responds to polyphonic aftertouch over MIDI?
I don't think the OBX8 responds to it yet either.
Yes the OB-X8 responds to polyAT over MIDI, surely the desktop will too.
https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA (https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA)
4:20 Channel aftertouch only? Oh well, that kills it for me...hopefully he is mistaken.
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In the OB-X8 manual, one can see MIDI Messages Received channel messages: both polyphonic key pressure and channel pressure. So my guess is that the OB-X8 should be able to __respond__ to polyAT. Naturally, this kind of message cannot be sent by the OB-X8’s own keyboard but will have to be sent by a polyphonic pressure, aka polyAT, capable controller. The P10 also responds to polyAT (I have tested this with a Linnstrument and Osmose) and it is a nice feature to have, indeed.
Edit: I have just cross-checked with the P10 MIDI implementation chart, which looks the same as OB-X8’s as regards channel AT and polyAT. So polyAT should be on the OB-X8’s menu in a manner of speaking.
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In the OB-X8 manual, one can see MIDI Messages Received channel messages: both polyphonic key pressure and channel pressure. So my guess is that the OB-X8 should be able to __respond__ to polyAT.
Sequential/Oberheim synths have pretty much always responded to PolyAT over MIDI, but I have been burned before regarding it being in the manual (or promised as an upgrade) vs actually implemented. Mr. Calcutt saying otherwise gives me pause...I would want to make sure because lack of it is an absolute deal-killer for me.
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For the Prophet rev 4, it is both in the manual and in the device. For the OB-X8 keyboard it is in the manual, so I guess it is also in the device. For OB-X8 desktop, I see no reason why this feature would then be specifically excluded.
As to why Mr Calcutt said otherwise, I speculate that it was just a spontaneous confusion. In MPE mode (absent on OB-X8), channel AT is used for polyphonic expression and not polyAT, while in non-MPE mode you’d probably want polyAT rather than channel AT.
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I’m scratching my head as to how one assigns/enables velocity and aftertouch without the dedicated buttons from the keyboard version.
There's no menu item in the keyboard version.
In the global section, some keyboard menu items would no longer apply to the desktop.
I suspect that Oberheim will be releasing new firmware to address these.
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https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA (https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA)
4:20 Channel aftertouch only? Oh well, that kills it for me...hopefully he is mistaken.
In another YT video the Oberheim rep demonstrating the desktop module says he is using a Novation LaunchKey for a controller.
A quick scan of the user manual reveals that the LaunchKey has both mono and poly aftertouch.
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https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA (https://youtu.be/uxSpKIjLKVA)
4:20 Channel aftertouch only? Oh well, that kills it for me...hopefully he is mistaken.
He admits he had just got his hands on the desktop and not had much time to play with it prior to the show so I believe he is mistaken that it only responds to channel AT.
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4:20 Channel aftertouch only? Oh well, that kills it for me...hopefully he is mistaken.
He admits he had just got his hands on the desktop and not had much time to play with it prior to the show so I believe he is mistaken that it only responds to channel AT.
I got the impression he was quoting the specs of the keyboard version.
But having to menu dive to assign Vel and AT to Filter vs LFO? Honestly at $3,499 that concerns me and might be reason to wait for a Mk2 or forego entirely.
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Greetings! Yes, the OB-X8 module responds to poly AT. I hope this helps!
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Greetings! Yes, the OB-X8 module responds to poly AT. I hope this helps!
Please could you tell us how aftertouch and velocity are assigned as the hardware buttons from the keyboard version are omitted in the desktop.
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Sure thing! There are new Page 2 parameters for velocity and AT destination (off, amp, filter, amp + filter) and amount. Since these are Page 2 params, they can be saved per patch.
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Can page 2 parameters only be accessed via screen or is there button combo for muscle memory based access?
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The Velo and AT panel buttons still function as expected in Page 2 Panel Edit mode. Since there's no easy way to use buttons or button combos to increment/decrement from 0-127, Velo and AT amount are only adjustable in Page 2 using the Value encoder.
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Thank you, so on the desktop version, I assume there will be only a page 2 via screen access for Velo and Touch as mod sources (for destinations such as filter, not the amount) because they were actually dedicated buttons in “page 1”?
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Sure thing! There are new Page 2 parameters for velocity and AT destination (off, amp, filter, amp + filter) and amount. Since these are Page 2 params, they can be saved per patch.
Thank you.
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Like I mentioned, you can use the Velo and AT panel buttons in Page 2 panel mode - they function the same in or out of Page 2.
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I mean, I think I'm in. But why in the world are they not including MPE on this and the Prophet 5/10? You're just pushing people towards Black Corporation at this price point (which by the way I own a couple and they're fantastic also).
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MPE is still a niche. In addition, both Pr4 and OB-X8 respond to polyAT. What’s left is the lack of polyphonic vibrati or glissandi and things like release velocity and an additional expression channel. On the other hand, MPE seems more useful with a flexible mod matrix. Not sure whether BC’s devices provide a great MPE experience either.
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Haven't seen any mention of this so far: the OB-X8 Desktop at Superbooth featured two cool new features: a page 2 parameter that allows setting whether portamento affects OSC 1, OSC 2 or both (probably very cool with sync or x-mod!), and a user preset bank.
Right on, folks.
I will definitely be adding this unit to my keyboard for 16-voice, quad-timbral awesomeness 8)
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Hate to be the party pooper but those knobs look suspiciously like the ones on the OB-6. For this price I’d be hoping they’ve sorted out the wobbly knob issue!
This is what cbmd posted on Gearspace:
"The pots are bolted to the top panel on the OBX8 module."
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Like I mentioned, you can use the Velo and AT panel buttons in Page 2 panel mode - they function the same in or out of Page 2.
@Oblong: Which of the desktop panel buttons are taking over as Velo and AT buttons in Panel 2 mode? Thanks!
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Screen-only feature on the desktop AFAIR.
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Screen-only feature on the desktop AFAIR.
I think so too, but Oblong did 2x mention the panel buttons in his post, so I am confused, and like to think there might be a secret button combo, etc...