OB6 sound variation

[abracadaben]

Hi,
so Im curious. I have Two OB6 keyboard. One DSI and one Sequential.
They sound a bit different. Both 1.7.4 both loaded with same factory patches (I made sure). I reset the temp table and recalibrated both yadiyada.

But for instance patch 000 sounds like the filter is a bit more open on the Sequential. and thats true accross the board.
If you open the filter on both they sound pretty much the same.

I find this odd. Anyone noticed that?

[LPF83]

Hi,
so Im curious. I have Two OB6 keyboard. One DSI and one Sequential.
They sound a bit different. Both 1.7.4 both loaded with same factory patches (I made sure). I reset the temp table and recalibrated both yadiyada.

But for instance patch 000 sounds like the filter is a bit more open on the Sequential. and thats true accross the board.
If you open the filter on both they sound pretty much the same.

I find this odd. Anyone noticed that?

I only have one OB-6 but am not surprised -- it's not uncommon at all for analog synths of same model to vary slightly in their sound, or even for the oscillators to vary from voice card to card despite calibration. 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say everyone I've known (or observed on YT) who has ever had two of the same analog synth at the same time says they behave and sound a bit different.  The only basis for comparison I have is two Pioneer AS-1 modules (which are effectively just 1-voice Prophet 6s) and yes there are slight differences, even loaded with exact same patch data.  I think that's saying a lot about how things can vary when only a single voice is involved, now imagine 6, 8, 10 or 12 voices. 

I think that's part of what gives analog synths their individual character.  With digital synths or even just DCOs, you could expect to find much more consistency among serial numbers.  Guitars are the same way...  same SKUs will sound similar but not identical across serial number.  Some sellers will let you choose which serial you want based on individual weight fluctuations or minor appearance differences.

[abracadaben]

Hi,
so Im curious. I have Two OB6 keyboard. One DSI and one Sequential.
They sound a bit different. Both 1.7.4 both loaded with same factory patches (I made sure). I reset the temp table and recalibrated both yadiyada.

But for instance patch 000 sounds like the filter is a bit more open on the Sequential. and thats true accross the board.
If you open the filter on both they sound pretty much the same.

I find this odd. Anyone noticed that?

I only have one OB-6 but am not surprised -- it's not uncommon at all for analog synths of same model to vary slightly in their sound, or even for the oscillators to vary from voice card to card despite calibration. 

In fact, I'd go so far as to say everyone I've known (or observed on YT) who has ever had two of the same analog synth at the same time says they behave and sound a bit different.  The only basis for comparison I have is two Pioneer AS-1 modules (which are effectively just 1-voice Prophet 6s) and yes there are slight differences, even loaded with exact same patch data.  I think that's saying a lot about how things can vary when only a single voice is involved, now imagine 6, 8, 10 or 12 voices. 

I think that's part of what gives analog synths their individual character.  With digital synths or even just DCOs, you could expect to find much more consistency among serial numbers.  Guitars are the same way...  same SKUs will sound similar but not identical across serial number.  Some sellers will let you choose which serial you want based on individual weight fluctuations or minor appearance differences.

That's kind of what I was thinking... Im a Les Paul collector BTW, so yea same thing. But I imagined Synths would be much similar between eachother though....

[abracadaben]

yea the character of the filter is definitely different.
OB6-1 faster curve, a bit brighter
OB6-2 I need to push the cutoff a bit more to open it. Sounds a bit darker but resonance peaks at higher range and gives some highs the OB6-1 doesnt have.

Im getting a 3rd one to compare.... I mean they both sound good but different.... I havent seen such difference on the P10. Almost wondering if there isnt a difference in capacitors

[gus]

Hi,
so Im curious. I have Two OB6 keyboard. One DSI and one Sequential.
They sound a bit different. Both 1.7.4 both loaded with same factory patches (I made sure). I reset the temp table and recalibrated both yadiyada.

But for instance patch 000 sounds like the filter is a bit more open on the Sequential. and thats true across the board.
If you open the filter on both they sound pretty much the same.

I find this odd. Anyone noticed that?

The other replies here saying this isn't uncommon are pretty spot on. They're the same synth, but all of the intricacies that make them analog will make them... different! Age, temperature, component tolerance, and a bunch of other factors contribute to the small variances unit to unit, or batch to batch.

I'll copy a reply from a similar thread (Prophet-6, though).

'Changes in production happen fairly often, especially with something like the Prophet-6 (and OB-6) which has been manufactured for over 8 years. Parts can get EOL'd or might get hard to get, new versions become available, parts get priced out, and so on. With that said, there have been no changes to the core voice of the Prophet-6/OB-6. Slight variation is expected unit to unit given the density of components in the signal path, and on an older unit things like age, component tolerance, or use might have a slight impact as well. Calibration and climate also play a factor. They're still built in SF, from serial 1 and on.'

Cheers!