OB-X8 - Firmware 2.0 - Binaural Mode & Poly Chain
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- Patches will be available at www.orano.co.uk/shop or www.synthsounds.co.uk
So the @Oberheim team have let us all in for an unexpected and very exciting surprise! The newly released Firmware 2.0 has taken what was an incredible instrument to completely new levels!
Multiple Wave Shape Selection/Combinations - adding to the OB-X8's sonic capabilities!
An additional 4 Pole Bass Compensated resonant filter (which sounds amazing!)
New Doubles+ & Split+ Banks, which allow independent editing and saving of patches without the need to point them towards single sounds in the main banks!
Binaural Mode! - YES Binaural Mode!
MPE Compatable
Poly Chain (linking up to 4 units) which would give the user 32 voices of pure OB goodness! and much more!
I invested in the OB-X8 desktop which now gives me 16 voices of incredible sound! - This video is really just to let you hear the Poly Chain & Binaural sound in action,
it's only my first day playing with this new firmware, but thought you would all love to hear how it actually sounds.
Video is completely dry, no effects, just a little bit of compression and limiting to catch any peaks.
Enjoy!
SM!
© Scott McAuley. All rights reserved.
#OBX8 #PolyChain #Binaural
Equipment List
Synths
Moog - One 16v
Moog - Sub 37
Oberheim - OB-X8
Groove Synthesis - 3rd Wave
Sequential - Prophet 10 rev 4 (Desktop)
Sequential - Prophet 6
Sequential - Prophet 12
Sequential - Prophet Rev2 (Desktop)
Sequential - OB6
Sequential - Take 5
Sequential - Trigon 6
Sequential - Pro 3
Nord - Rack 2x
Novation - Summit
Novation - Peak
U.D.O - Super 6
Korg - Minilogue XD
ASM - Hydrasynth 49
Behringer - TD3 x 2
Behringer - Deepmind 12 (Desktop)
Behringer - Pro-800
Behringer - K2
Behringer - Neutron
Behringer - Model D
Behringer - Pro-1
Behringer - UBXa
Access - Virus Ti2 (Desktop)
Controllers
NI - Komplete Kontrol 88 MKii
Behringer - Xtouch One
Platform M+
Roland Enhancia - Midi Ring Controller
Effects
Strymon - Big Sky
GFI - Specular Tempus
Walrus Audio - Sloer
Meris - Mercury X
Meris - LVX
BK Butler - TUBE Driver
RAW - Distortion
Rockatron - Banshee
Line 6 - POD XT Live
Boss - RPD10
Boss - RRV10
Boss - RC50 Loop Station
Computing
Mac Pro - 2013 - 12 Core Intel Xeon E5 - RAM 64 GB 1866 MHz DDR3 - 1TB SSD
Macbook Pro Mid 2015 - 15inch 2.8ghz Intel Core I7 - 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 - 1TB SSD
Promise Pegasus - 12 TB RAID Server
3 @ External Sandisk Extreme Pro 3TB SSD
Recording
UAD - Apollo 8p, Apollo 8, Apollo Twin, Apollo X6
2 x Focusrite Scarlett Octo Pre Dynamic
1 x Focusrite Clarret OctoPre
Mics
Shure SM58
Shure SM57 x 2
UAD Sphere DLX
Monitoring
Barefoot - MicroMain27
Guitars
Fender Custom Strat - David Gilmour NOS (The Black Strat)
Ibanez - GEM Jnr (White)
Taylor - 614CE
Takamine - EAN64CX
Fender - EA Mandolin
Martin - LX1E Little Martin (Ed Sheeran)
Cordoba - UKE
Amps
Marshall - AS100D
Positive Grid - Spark - Hudba
Lordy lord, what have you gone and done?
hahaha! :D
Wow, this just sounds massive! Eugh, I didn't have buying a second unit to polychain on my plans this year. Must...resist...!!
First, the positive thought… great job on this vid, and less than a week since the 2.0 OS update has been out :-)
This binaural biz is fabulous, doable as it's being done here with a few different synths being both bi-timbral and 16-voices (Sequential Prophet REV2 comes to mind), and certainly doable adhoc style with (2) units of most any synth model with MIDI.
I've had an OBX8 keyboard I purchased used in mint condition for about a year now. Binaural mode with 'just 1' OBX8 leaves you at 4 voice polyphony, a bit limiting for pads and ambient work, but adding a desktop OBX8 is a $2,900 or more expense… I may come to a point of acceptance of that, but for now, I'm having trouble getting past their design omission of accommodating an 8-voice hardware expansion option… god knows there's enough available real estate inside the OBX8 keyboard. Even at $1,500 - $2,000 to add the expansion it would be WAY preferable to an EXTERNAL desktop version of the synth for close to $3K
Thanks for the Positive Feedback!
Indeed the binaural can be done with any synth, but with exception to a few REV2, UDO, etc, for most analog synths, it means recording twice. So full live true binaural is kinda unachievable live with all single layer synths, to get the best out of binaural, it's not only changing the pitch of each side but subtle changes to envelope shapes per side can create some amazing effects, and that requires two separate synth engines.
The voice expansion would have been amazing, I was surprised back in 2022 when i got mine that it hadn't been designed in to allow the addition of another 8 voice card. But I am very very happy to have the 16 voices now! - binaural on 8 voice is still very usable, but the lack of voices do make it a bit more challenging :) - I enjoy playing long release keys etc, so that is ideally why I wanted more voices to reduce the voice stealing :)
@@scottmcauleysounds - all good… and again nice job. I would take issue with the , "but with exception to a few REV2, UDO, etc, for most analog synths, it means recording twice"… yes if you only have a singular unit of that synth (and Jim Daneker created a fine vid on the steps to do a 'two-pass' recording to achieve the binaural effect on his YT channel)… but as I suggested, having two units of the same synth allows the real time usage you're referring to. I have (2) Roland JD-990 units, and (2) Roland MKS-80 rev5 units. The MKS-80s have a similar bi-timbral, 8-voice (in 'whole mode) architecture to a OBX8… having two of these works nicely… and having the Retroaktiv MPG8X programmer, it gets around the MKS-80's lack of a poly-chain feature, allowing both MKS-80's to perform as a unified 16-voice MKS-80 when desired.
@@Robert44444444ah yes indeed , two synths is the way to go, and with the MPG you can control each independently too right? I was looking at the MPG50 for my Alpha Juno 2 unfortunately no uk retailers yet :( Retroaktiv do some great programmers👌
That’s a mighty fine collection of synths you have there! 😊
An internal 8 voice or even 4 would be great!
@@scottmcauleysounds - thank you, and I feel grateful for the synths I have. To your question, yes, the Retroaktiv MPG8X programmer can control each of the 2 synths independently as well :-)
Well done! Thank you, Scott.
@@gregorycellini158 thanks! 🙏 my pleasure
Awesome sounds, Scott!
What an update buddy! blown me away!
Fantastic, sound
Thanks!
I’ll be on the lookout for a used module :) this sounds sublime!
very much worth it! captivating! :)
Hauntingly sizzling and lush!!
@@Robguitarjarvis I’m loving it! What an update!
Binaural mode sounds out of this frikkin' world with 16 voices (on a not too shabby 6.2 surround system). As expected the difference is best audible in the rear speakers but damn , what a difference it is! It almost has a ''mastering'' type effect, spreading the sound out evenly. Unfortunately with 8 voices the effect isn't so obvious, still there, but just a tad bit less obvious. Anyways, onwards to an extra module then in about 5 years or so otherwise my bank account will be looking for a rope and a chair 🪑. Muchas gracias for this vid, was waiting for this since the update announcement👌👍! And now we patiently wait till we hear the 32 voice Godzillasizer...
@@danthreepwood2760 thanks, it will really take the obx8 to new levels! 🙂
This is synth heaven. Unfortunately, synth heaven is not particularly cheap. 😢
The heritage and name is a huge part of not only the sound, but the build quality and indeed the price. But in years to come, the X8 will undoubtably be another legendary classic. I do however understand the price point is not for everyone, And not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to purchase one. I do think myself extremely blessed. It's an amazing synth, my biggest annoyance was the lack of voices in 2022 when I got the synth. but now... wow.. ! I was fortunate to get a great deal on the desktop with 6 months warranty still on it, so not anywhere near as costly as buying both brand new.
@@scottmcauleysounds I purchased an X8m last year, but two of those would be too costly for me, let alone the keyboard version. However, I also have an OB-6. My OB-14 doesn‘t sound bad either. :)
@@RayyMusik OB6 & OBX8 is an amazing combo, I presumed I would want to sell the OB6 after buying the X8, but they work together so well! :) great choice sir!
👍
Does polychain give you 8 note polyphony in binaural mode, or is it 4 voices per note?
it does give you 8 note poly, however, in polychain / doubles mode it doesn't quite act as you would assume. each unit still uses 4 voices lower and 4 voices upper. then cycle voices first 4 binaural from Master, then next 4 binaural from Desktop. For true Binaural it should really be lower = 8 voices from synth / upper = 8 voices from desktop. I am in conversations with Oberheim about this at the moment. it's also the same functionality as above in doubles mode.
@@scottmcauleysounds Ok, thanks. For regular Split/Double, each synth could just be dedicated to one program with 8 note polyphony. Which could even be accomplished without poly chain. But binaural seems like it would require the second synth basically functioning as a voice expansion in order to achieve 8 notes.
Ideally what it needs is a page 2 option to allocate Lower to be Master OBX8, Upper to be Poly chained OBX8, and have -127 to +127 Pan options for both. would give more control and ability to create true binaural sounds. Like I say I'm chatting with Oberheim at the moment. hopefully get some resolution.
@@scottmcauleysounds Sounds great 👍
@@ajlazarusofficial Just updated the Gearspace page with a bit more in depth info.
i tried doubling keyboard with desktop last year but felt it didnt work doubling same sound for me as it got more interference than size - to me anyway. So, this is really interesting firmware option to do that properly 16 voice. Got me thinking big about this ! I have loaded 2.0 on my keyboard so thats a start. Thanks for the post of your progress with this.
@@deltadeltan you would have been able create binaural with two last year., but using mono output on each synth and panning each left/right. But without poly chain it will struggle with just two synths connected. All single voices just become doubled. Poly chain is working well, in single mode it just becomes a 16 voice monster 😊
@@scottmcauleysounds Yea, this should make it work much better for Binaural. I got some nice sounds working good wiht 8 voices now which is a good start. Im going to see if I can get a module again. Also, split with 16 voice will be very useful.
do you need Two synths to get Binaural ? ;)
@@sound4label no, it works in 8 voice too. The auto binaural mode layers two voices and pans them left/right
I wish that would off added looping envelopes. Otherwise great update.
That’s great, question is what’s your opinion compared with moog one now?
@@renezayas9578 no change, still love it, both very different animals,
Questions Scott:
1: With the polychain, can you have two different sounds/layers with eight voice polyphony?
2: Does the polychaining allow you to stack more than eight voices(16 for example) when in unison mode, or is the maximum only eight voices?
answers -
1. Yes, if you use Doubles/Binaural mode, each synth will have 8 voices
2. With Poly Chain Engaged, the unison voices in Page 2 can be selected from 1 to 16, so you can get Tom Sawyer on Steroids! haha
@@scottmcauleysounds Incredible! Keyboard + Desktop it is. People dismissing the X8 in favor of the vintage OB-X can try talking smack about it now!
@@scottmcauleysoundsA few more questions:
1: Do the vintage knob and voice detune range still work when in 16 voice unison?
2: Will 16 voice unison be demonstrated in the videos of the new soundset?
3: Does polychaining in split mode allow you to have: An eight voice unison bass on the lower, with a pad sound on the upper?
@@harrisonthacker9707
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. at the moment no, but in discussions with oberheim regarding this. Hopefully can be resolved in next firmware. will keep you posted.
Phenomenal video. Hit that subscribe button right away just now! And man, where on earth did you get that OG colorway custom face plate from, or where did you have that made?? GREATNESS 💙🖤🩶
@@MCBrainpower thanks!🙏 the overlay is made by synth overlays www.synthoverlays.com/ great quality 👌