It's like at Superbooth '22. Marcus Ryle was talking about the OBX8. Meanwhile there was some awesome filter sweep sound in the background and I think it came from the dude neaby who was trying out an OB6!🤣👍
Yip, the OB6 for gigging and the OBX8 for the studio. After listing to them together in person the OBX8 has deeper character, the filter interplay is more evident. This will shine on studio album.
Though the OB-6 and OB-X8 do share many similarities, the OB-X8 gives the user access to far more filter options based on the original OB-X, OB-Xa, OB-SX, and OB-8. Though the OB-6 has that lovely classic 2/4-Voice SEM crunch and sizzle, it doesn’t have the classic 24dB CEM3320 filter, which can make for much smoother/rounder tones. For me, that was my biggest frustration with my OB-6, and why I choose to get the OB-X8, as an addition, vs a replacement. With that said, there are features on my OB-6, that I can’t mimic on my OB-X8, much less any vintage Orberheim.
The reason the ob6 sounds different at 6:35 is because of the voice stealing. It’s only 6 voices, so when he moves to the second chord, the notes from the previous chord don’t hang over as much or at all. Resulting in a way cleaner/brighter/clearer sound. This is why synths with less polyphony sometimes work better for with long release patches. I often rock my prophet 10 in 5 voice mode for this tighter sound on those long release style pads.
I'm glad you followed up on the differences. When I listened to the original comparison video I felt that the modulation was the main difference I heard, the OB-6 modulation sounded more singular but the OB-X8 sounded more like an LFO per voice.
To be honest I don't hear a big difference this time around. The OB6 is 6 voice and so loses a couple of voices when doing 2 x 4 note chord stabs and I think that accounts for the big difference here... I think the sound just takes me back to octave divide sounds from 70s weirdly enough...
It's way to little difference for it to cost twice as much, at-least for this patch comparison. Another thing I thought about is that the OB-6 is the only synth created by Tom Oberheim & Dave Smith and its a future classic for sure just based upon that fact alone. If I had the money to buy this I'd think getting a Prophet 5 and a OB-6 instead, it would be a smarter move. But it sure does sound beautiful. Thx for your efforts Starsky, much appreciated
The X8 is for those who have not to care about the money, a premium product. But still not perfect because of this "Page 2 - Thing". On the other hand a Lambo is also not as comfortable as a Mercedes :D Personally I think for the most musicians the OB-6 is still the best compromise. You will mostly not hear the difference in the final mix. And if you still have the wish to have the best Oberheim sound playing the only melody in your track than you have to pay the extra cost 🤷♂ And I also agree on this unique characteristic being a Oberheim & Dave Smith hybrid which we sadly will never have again.
@@teikomat The page 2 stuff is not a negative. I've got 2 hours on an OB-X8 programming sounds. It's not as painful as people are crying about. You start building muscle memory.
I agree with your points, but remember there is an array of filter combinations and SEM VCO timbres the OB6 doesn't have...that weren't demonstrated in this video.
@@station2station544 Fair point! The X8 can def go other places than the OB-6 and vice verse. It's def a great synth. But is it really better than OB-6 AND Prophet 5 is the question, maybe for someone not just me
Thanks @Starsky Carr, this time the video is perfect with mono, different stereo settings and vintage knob examples. ❤ I don't have exactly the same conclusion as yours: for me the OB-6 can sound pretty much the same for less than money (and I say that having sold my 2 OB-6s and having an OB-X8 now). The vintage knob can be use at 100% on the OB-X8 but not on the OB-6 as we've heard on the video. Maybe the X8 sounds a little bit more vintage at 100% than the 6 at its limit (before too much detuning). The OB-X8 has more stereo possibilities (pan mode on the page 2) than the OB-6 and it can be nice, especially playing pads like you did. All in all the OB-6 isn't far away from the OB-X8 and that's with your video here that I can now say that. So thank you. 6 voices weren't enough and that's why I had to buy a module version, linking them using the polychain feature (I did a video on my channel about it before selling the 2 OB-6s). 12 voices was massive but 6 really not enough unfortunately. I have the same issue with my Juno-6 but I can't do anything for the Roland synth! On the OB side, the 8 voices of the OB-X8 are ok. 8 as on my Baloran The River and Waldorf Quantum. 6 is really tight for me (it really depends of each musician and their kind of play) but 8 seems to be the minimum polyphony in order to avoid a lot of "voice steal". Don't know if you think the same as me on this.
Yes I agree that 8 is nice for minimal voice stealing, just a bit perhaps on one note out of the 8 or two max. With 6 voices, you can get 4 voices stealing out of 6 in a situation where with 8 voices you would get 2 voices stealing out of 8. Big difference. That would be if you hit a 5 note combo then another to give 10 voices total. However, I love the arpeggiators on the OB6 and Prophet-6 (especially the P6) because you can smear the arps out with long releases and never have excessive dissonce because only the last 6 notes are retained.
Ive a Matrix 1000 video coming out later today where I demo the difference between 8 and 6 voices. Having a couple of extra voices than the chord you are playing can give a smoother transition between chords, but can also cause dissonance. Someone actually thought I was hitting dud notes in this where they overlap. So good and bad point.
I do find using the pan spread on the OB6 thins out the sound in a way, kind of separating the voices out and the perceived volume seems to drop slighly. It's like I was recording a sound on hhe Prophet-6 that was ultra mean but it opened out and sounded much more refined but less powerful with FX. The dry sound was awesome.
Using the Yorick Low Frequency Expander (LFE) and two OB-6 modules in Polychain with a Kurzweil Midiboard is expected to result in a much more dynamic sound since voices are (individually) polyphonically modulated. I will report on that once I get my Yorick LFE for the new batch 10 being produced. And I like the Polymod on the OB-6 as well as its other options.
Hi Starsky, I love your YT vids and you clearly put a lot of thought into them. I’ve been pleasantly surprised when I have heard your original content and I feel you clearly have a lot of talent. You spend a huge amount of time getting the same sounds out of different synths which is informative. I have an OB-6 and would like to avoid the 5K purchase for the OBX-8 but I have seen other vids where the OBX-8 has outshone the OB-6. For balance you need to show us each synth where they excel.
I’d be interested in seeing those videos. Throw some links over. I can show differences very easily - just pick a sound for which the other doesn’t have the obvious functionality etc (notch, HP or Bp on an OB6) most presets on each are hard to match because they approach it in different ways. Sub on an OB6, Poly LFO, FX, etc ramps on the OBX8 …. It’s dead easy tbh. But I find it hard to pull a narrative other than ‘read the specs.. they’re different’. That, however, doesn’t mean they can’t do it, or you can’t do something similar which is what I try to do. Showing the differences is really more about ‘this can do this… and this one can’t, but this can do this etc…’ so it’s hard to define the character. AND you can still get close with some lateral thinking. So yeah send the links as it could be something I could look at if I can work out how do demo it in effectively without it being an hours long waffle! 😀
I liked the ob6 a smidge better, but they honestly sound so similar, that it’d be impossible to tell in a song with other instrumentation in the mix (at least for my ears).
Precisely. Most people would not be able to even tell you if there's a synth in a piece of music. Let alone analogue or digital. And definitely not two very, very minor variants of the same machine. Especially as the originals were analogue and therefore varied widely from one to the next. Waiting to be flamed by the know it all armchair "experts".........😆😆 All that said, thanks for putting the time into another informative video Starsky, always appreciated 🙂
@@vaiman7777 A lot of orchestra stuff can be done with modern sampling libraries (especially if they are covering different playing styles/techniques) and some reverb/delay effects. My Roland XP-30 has the Roland SR-JV80-02 "Orchestral" expansion board included...and it sounds really great! It's also available as a standalone rack module called M-OC1. Another device that was dedicated to orchestral sounds from back in the days was the E-mu Proteus 2/XR. Those are probably the cheapest ways to get good sounds on the second-hand hardware market. Even more enhanced examples for getting good orchestral sounds are: Hardware: - Roland Integra-7 This sound module includes all the main SRX expansion boards (numbers -01 to -12) for the Fantom and the XV-series (only leaving out the dispensable "special" boards -96 to -99). If you are on a budget an older XV module with additional SRX-06 "Complete Orchestra" expansion board might do the job already. The cheapest of those modules is most probably the XV-2020. - E-mu Orchestral Virtuoso 2000 (can be considered as an overall improved successor of the E-mu Proteus 2/XR) Software: - Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra - Best Service Complete Orchestral Collection (by Peter Siedlaczek)
I've played both, I got to sail on the new OBX8 at Synthplex 2022. My feeling is that the OB6 is a bit more funky (Herbie H.) and the X8 is a bit more soundtrack (John Carpenter).
I realized that i had it wrong in my initial comment regarding the OB-X8 (you can modulate (aka auto sweep) notch and band pass filters). Matt Johnson has done an in depth overview of the OB-X8 and i have to admit, when i listen to both, the OB-X8 is richer basic instrument. The effects help the OB-6, and it is definitely an excellent instrument in and of itself, but if you want that full Oberheim sound, the OB-X8, with all of its elements and secondary menu provide an overall purer Oberheim experience (IMHO). Took me a while to come to this conclusion, but seeing various reviews putting the OB-X8 through effects and 'not' as you did in the original vid, and a host of others on Youbtube, the OB-X8 is worth it if you can afford it. Bring back the 80s please!!! :)
In Australia the OBX8 is $7800 and the OB6 is $5600 so its a significant difference. ($2200 cheaper) If space is tight in your studio the 0B6 has a smaller form factor which would be beneficial to many I am sure. The sonic differences are insignificant compared to the importance of the parts they will be playing in a larger musical context. If you think the 0BX8 sounds a little warmer it would only take closing the OB6 filter down a smidge to actually match it.
Out of curiosity, when turning all the way up the vintage knob on the OB-X8, did you change its settings in the menu to be 127? Otherwise would be only working at 50% 🤔 Thanks for your work
In the page 2 settings it controls the detune. The vintage knob takes the detune to 50%, and you can add extra, but the vintage is on full. They're 2 individual parameters. You can use the page 2 function to turn the detune full and have the vintage mode off for example.
I participate in that forum and I don't know what all the drama is about. You have a lot of unnecessary competition over there. Regarding the stereo OB-6, Are we experiencing wave cancelation - therefor it's losing it's richness? Like Noise Cancelling headphones...just a few harmonics are getting cancelled out? Also, there is a lot more "movement" in the OB-X8 which makes it more alive.
ok, so it's not exact... if you really needed that extra buzz you could get it with eq. Oooh... I scrolled down to type this with the video still playing, so I'm hearing without seeing. It's pretty close and both sound good. It doesn't matter if you can't dial it in to match exactly. 5K is too much for me. OB6 filter seems to drift a bit...
Now this is a great comparison...and shows the OB-6 if far more capable than it had appeared. For less than 1/2 the cost, and the same sound of the OB-8X...it sure represents a great value way to get the real Oberheim sound in a new device.
Really nice! I tried to reproduce this sound on the P6, and was surprised how close it actually got. You can tell that the filter has a slightly different characteristic though, but for now I think I'll happily stick to the P6 :)
@ghost mall Ah yes that sounbds plausible. I do use the vintage knob for a lot of sounds. Not too much because I don't like that detuned sound, but a bit indeed does wonders. I'm glad that Dave Smith decided to bring it over to the P6 and OB6 as well :)
@Starsky Carr would be super interested if you could compare the same patch with GForce/Oberheim OB-E. I’m getting ready to do the same. I feel sure it will be identical to the 2 above synths…
It's a lovely sounding synth, one of my favourites. The one word of warning (and the only one) I'd give to a potential owner, is to check ALL of the knobs before buying one, new or used. They are notorious for having wobbly pot knobs on some models. One minute of checking before buying will save you a lot of grief down the line. Really not acceptable on even a cheap synth, let alone a premium one. Otherwise - absolutely fantastic synth. 🙂
As often as not, the OB-X8 comes off as lacking note definition and heft when compared to the OB6 (something the P5/10 is never in danger of vis-a-viz the P6). Given the price difference, I know which I would buy if I were looking for a modern Oberheimish synth. There seems to be a huge ‘Emperor’s New Synth’ factor at play with the OB-X8 at the moment; a very human phenomena, given how much one must pay to purchase one at the moment. Once the hype and novelty passes, I think the early adopters are going to get burnt a little. Nothing about the X8 screams ‘future classic’, and in a lot of the demos it sounds like a good/above average VA. I was just watching GEOSynths latest video on the X8 when the notification for this video popped up, and I clicked right over. It really was just sounding like a good VA, at best - which is perfect, if you’re paying a good VA price for it … but as it is right now … 😬 And this is even putting aside the issue of whether it actually sounds like the vintage OBs, or not; a discussion which some people seem to get very upset about!!
@ghost mall I own an OB8 and I’ve played the OB-X8. I have dedicated ‘gear funds’ sitting there, enough to buy 3 OB-X8s, if I wanted to. I just wasn’t impressed enough to do so. I really wanted the X8 to be a backup for my OB-8, but it didn’t measure up. Sure, it’s a nice enough sounding synth, but there are lots of nice sounding synths on the market, so there’s just no need to pay a super-premium for something that isn’t what it promises to be. Like I’ve said before, the X8 is not as to the vintage Oberheim sound, as the Rev 4 is to the vintage Prophet sound. But does it still sound nice? Sure, it does. If you want to invest $5k in that, go for it.
Pretty sure my impression of the X8 comes down to whatever unknown oscillator chips are in it. If anyone can find any specifics on what they are, please repost here. Thanks! 🙏🏼
There's still something lively about OB-X8 that OB-6 doesn't quite have, as 5:00 demonstrates quite well. It's more drifty or something. But OB-6 is close, it really throws some big punches here.
I'll have to sit behind a OB6 again. Last time I did for a good hour it was missing something that my OB had. It had the Oberheim phase and the density is there but it was really tame from my experience with OB's. That was years ago tho. I'll have to stop at sweetwater and give it another go. Most people won't be able to tell them apart tho... I just have a very close relationship with the whole Oberheim sound thing.
Superb, very nice. A lot easier now to hear how good the X8 sounds in stereo spread. Much more natural. Or just that it's not as widely spread as the OB6. If you take a look in a sound field inspector you'll see that the OB6 goes out of phase in the stereo field @9:00. The X8 seems to have a much more consistent phase correlation, hence (maybe) why I think it sounds more natural. (I'm very sensitive for out of phase stereo width, my brain goes completely nuts.) Personally I never use stereo spread on the OB6-I prefer doing it properly and record two passes : )
Thank you for making another! Love the Batman "in between" scenes! Great stuff!! I understand people love the OB6 as a capable analog synth but, IMO, it just doesn't really have that "Oberheim sound". I'm not saying the OB6 is bad but it just doesn't sound... Oberheim enough. IMO, the OB-8X sounds authentic and sounds better over all, I guess vintage wise and nostalgic reasons, plus the X8 is 8 voice and 5 octaves.
While I think it great you re-visited this there remain a couple of inherent (though nitpicky) problems. UA-cam audio is not usually referred to as high fidelity. How many are listening on a "dialed in" full range monitor type setup? I may well feel personally there is little or significant practical difference in what can be heard, but unless I hear this where those two have been addressed making a buying decision from it seems crazy. Which gets to the "meat" of what I think would matter to me if faced with the choice. OB-6 interface is very good and OB-X8 is not even if not truly terrible. (Sorry, purists, it was NEVER very good) To each their own, but I would much rather have seen them do an 8 voice bi-timbral "update" of OB-6 without the sequencer and crappy effects, 5 octaves, and pair of dedicated outputs. Back here in reality for me this means a Prophet 10 is would be at the head of this line ahead of either of these to get a crowbar into my wallet.
Just the fact that Dave* and Tom did the OB-6 together makes me want the OB-6 more. But wow both sound really great! Thanks for that excellent video! *EDIT: Just learned that Dave was also involved in the OB-8X, soooo...
It’s all about the filter feature differences on these 2. Modulate slow filter sweeps on both, and you can explore those differences. The comparison you are doing doesn’t really surface much difference in my opinion. Great work as always!!
I listened to this video with my back to the screen. You picked it apart with that one sound to the N-th degree and there's such a tiny miniscule of a difference, as it's pretty much irrelevant.
There's a problem each time you hit the lower notes of the chords around 6:10, almost like you accidentally hit a key by mistake, but it occured 3 times in a row, each time you played that chord on the X8, but the same chord you played on the OB6 never soundied like a bad note was hit. In fact the chords were perfect everytime on the OB6. The last instance of this on the X8 was at 6:10. Did you hit the wrong note each time ? -- I suppose it's possible? Or is there an issue with the X8 ? In either case it sounded flawed on the X8. But anyway this is a good comparison video that's useful to me and will save me a fair sum of money. I decided my OB6 desktop is all I need when it comes to the OBx sound, because I after hearing these comparisons I really can't see spending $5K on a few choice sounds that the OB6 may not be as authentic or lively at. And I kind of still feel the same way after purchasing the Prophet 10 Rev4 So now i can see with hindsight what's going on in my own head when I start thinking I'm gonna buy another synth. My rev4 does a few sounds my other synths can't match up to in terms of drawing out the emotional impact or feeling of a timbre or memory, but those exceptions are few and far between all the other sounds of the rev4 that my existing collection of gear could generate just the same, including some sounds from my software synths can practically be a 99.5% match too. But I'm a hardware guy, and analog still overall sounds better than SW. For my situation I realized too late the rev 4 is way overpriced for what you're really getting after the fairy dust settles. Like the rev4, if the X8 your first synth, then that might be a more worthwhile purchase. Anyways I mention all this as a warning to the wise. Spend your money carefully on synths and take your time to choose the right one for your current situation, and not the anticipated version of your life and your personal affordability index. Otherwise the final cost of GAS will bankrupt you and you'll end up carrying childhood Casios to the gigs. :)
I think what you're hearing is the spillover from the fact that the X8 has 8 voices so more are held over with the release. On the OB6 most are used again in the next chord.
Thank you so much for the updated comparison! Now that I received my OB-X8, I also compared the two, and (as this demo shows) some patches can be really (really!) close. I really enjoy my OB-X8; the sound is amazing. Split and layering really can bring the additional "oomph", and having all of the OB series in a single package was a great move of Oberheim. For people looking for the classic OB experience, with a slightly more modern take and additions, the Oberheim team 100% delivered. The synth is really inspiring, and the chunky buttons definitely invite you to explore. Is it worth its $5000? Unpopular opinion: if you only need "the sound", I don't think ANY hardware synth is worth spending on; VST's used properly can deliver that in a mix for 99% of the cases. Hardware synths are for the musician; they inspire you to create new music, inspire to discover, inspire you to *create* that sound. For me, it's 100% worth its price for THAT reason. Does it warrant the $2000 premium over the OB-6? Objectively; maybe not. But if you want the two extra voices, and want to have the exact "original" OB experience (including its oddities) it definitely delivers. There's also quite some areas where both the OB-6 and OB-X8 hold their own ground; YMMV if those areas are important to you (UA-cam videos may not help you there; hands-on testing really is best). Ever since the OB-6 was introduced, people either loved the synth, or described it as a "wannabe Oberheim" or a "Oberheim flavored Prophet 6". I somewhat expect many of the latter were based on romanticized views of the OG OB's, not hands-on experience. Now that real Oberheim OB's are within reach of more people (more, not everyone, as it's a really premium synth!), I'm curious if those opinions will change ("you know, it really is a "real" Oberheim after all"); time will tell. On the UX / usability front there's definitely differences; the OB-X8 inherits many idiosyncrasies from the classics (some of which are just "weird"), but I absolutely LOVE the paddles, and love the bigger knobs. The display is a great addition (patch names are useful; the display is also great for various settings - without cryptic 7-segment LED display names as used on the OB-6). The OB-6 has a way more thought-out UX; I can fully navigate it blindly (literally - with my glasses off 😄); "unison" doubling as (usable!) chord memory, as well as "number of unison voices" one flick away. Portamento on/off (separate from "speed") and the transpose buttons with clear LEDs are just perfect. For performance, the LED displays are great: BPM, patch numbers (MUCH easier for selecting that patch you need than "bank , group , patch " - dialing with an encoder and squinting at the display). So, which synth is best? Both synths are absolutely glorious, and a joy to play. It really depends on what you're looking for, and if you're crazy as I am, it may be "both".
Good to read objective, rational commentary. All the more so from someone with an investment in the more expensive of the two. Respect. And thank you for a good, detailed first hand experience analysis. 🙂
@@2112jonr You're welcome! It's still early days for me with my OB-X8, and still *tons* of things to explore and discover. It's important to do your research (and if possible, hands-on testing) of this synth. It's an amazing instrument, but it's based on a 40 years old design. Because of that, it's important to know what to expect; if you're looking for a synth with a gazillion modulation matrix options; this synth is not it. Then again; if you're looking for that, ask yourself "do I really need that?" Too many options can also be too many *distractions*, and synths like the OB-X8, the Mini Moog, the Prophet 5 can turn out to be surprisingly versatile (their limitations can push your creativity). The pure sound of these synths is absolutely top notch; so much so, that (my only reservation I had upfront) in most cases it doesn't need any effects added to sound. just. gorgeous.
I also own both of these keyboards and the OB-X8 seems to be programmed and played in a very limited way here. Great work matching the two...but the X8 is a 3 legged horse in this comparison. Like I said, I've got both and that X8 can do much much much more than you've left on here. I hope you kept both!
They’re both programmed in a limited way. They’re fundamentally very different once you introduce modulation so I’d simply be saying ‘this one can do this but this one can’t’ repeatedly. So I try to show the character of the osc filter and envs using simple but musical tones.
@@StarskyCarr ahhhh. Thanks makes so much sense. You’ve inspired me to use both of them in a song this coming week… You really unlocked so much of the beauty of the OB6 for me.
@@henrikgerlach4765 Yeah thats it, like I have no gear at all, and no knowledge using hardware for over 30 years, and only own a OB6 right? LOL, typical loser comment, you don't know me so don't judge and get a life, I bet you only use illegal VSTi synths 🤣🤣 STFU!
I don't think this is a fair comparison because the 6, being closer to the ceiling, is feeling more chakra compression than the 8, which makes the 6 lose some of its confidence. Please do this again but with both synths at equal distance from the ceiling and from God's graces. 😉 Great job, seriously. Thanks for this! I love my 6. And no doubt I'll love my 8 if I get one. Cheers. 💥
Unless one doesn't already own an OB6, the two are too similar to justify spending $5000 USD on the OBX8. You can get a lot of other interesting stuff for that kind of money.
Pan spread at the same settings on the OB6 sounds wider, although the voice count differences also has an impact. Overall both can sound great and I’d say it’s a matter of preference regarding the physical chassis and having the split/layer modes + other menu options & screen. Worth to consider that for the price of the x8 you can get an ob6 and a couple of other synths and layer/split those for amazingly fat textures. Personally I really love the one knob per function on the OB6. Is the x8 overpriced ? A little maybe - maybe it’s more solidly put together than the ob6? - but it will sell for sure :)
I got a new Prophet 10 rev 4 and a Used OB-6 (both are keyboards) for £100 less in total than the X8's selling price. Counted the X8 out due to that (and the menu diving/non knob per function on the X8 isn't what I want from a VCO synth).
Did you consider the fact, that the OB-6 has 6 voice and the X8 has 8 voice and therefore there is note-stealing happening on the OB-6 .. espacially when playling the chords quickly after another. On the X8 you can hear the former chords still sounding when playing the new one's. And the more voices, the fuller the sound and the more interactions in terms of phasing etc. So it's a minor but not totally unimportant thing when trying to compare to a 100% :)
Yeah of course, your right. Sometimes I think the lower voice count works better! The number of notes in the chord really makes a difference. Playing 3 for example doesn’t result in not stealing. But sometimes the OBX8 sounds a bit cluttered. But yeah never mentioned it. I guess I thought it was obvious but maybe not to some. Always something else I could’ve commented on 🤦♂️
@@StarskyCarr No criticism here, just another note. To be honest I also didn't think about it in your former video :D As with so many things in life there is this tiny thing called pareto principle - it counts to building a synth with 100% sound recreation and also with getting a patch done on two different synths sounding the same :) Regarding the overall sounds it seems to me the stereo spread on the OB-6 is doing much more seperation in the stereo field than the X8. Also I have to rewatch your BIG REVIEW video again as I am not sure if the X8 has fixed pan positions and the OB-6 has random placing. On the X8 it sounds as there are always some notes sitting in the center. But generally this video showed to me a much closer match, than the former. The only other differences to me are the envelopes, yes they do a lot to a sound when we listen so close to dynamics and differences. So if you would like to do a scientific approach you could let your DAW play fixed notes with fixed panning. Recording chords only one by one and putting them together in the mix. Comparing envelopes with the oscilloscope matching them 100% or just acknowledge they are and never will be the same. But I think this is work for someone else :)
@@teikomat it wasn’t taken as criticism, rather an interesting point. The X8 has fixed positions and different modes. You can also have full, half or quarter separation… or mono. This was using one called spread which has LR on voice 1 + 2 the gradually decreasing the pan position for each subsequent voice left to right. It would be great if this could be added as an option to the OB6.
@@StarskyCarr I agree, this stereo spread has really a huge impact on the sound! Also own an OB-6 and hope to get an update on this *pray* I don't know which of the synths from the past introduced this feature but I first learned about it with the Oberheims. Truely whole new experience and tool for me personally after having played with some other synths lacking this. All in all great videos and very helpful to get a feeling for the differences. Thank you for that! And no, many people will not fall in coma but rather appreciating it!
Surprised by the comments criticizing having recorded OB-6 in mono? I don't haha Stereo sound became a standard for important physical reasons, mono sound is low quality compared to stereo sound. I saw the first comparison video and it really made a huge difference. But now with both synths in stereo the battle is more balanced and it only makes it clear that the OB-6 is one of the best VINTAGE MODERN for obvious reasons. When criticizing the construction of a product, in this case a musical instrument, we must put many things on the table before comparing one with another. Design careers exist for obvious reasons, without forgetting that marketing plays a vital role in our conception of what is good and bad.
The X8 generally has more heft and movement, but perhaps at the cost of being a little muddy? At least for this patch. Stereo on the X8 is way better, no question. I tend to not go past 1/4 of the way for pan spread on the OB-6.
Having a second listen, the X8 keeps the Sonic integrity as the waves decay! Sounds like it's more alive with a SOUL! The OB 6 sounds sweet as hell but the X8 sounds Divine! It really just makes me take my Hat off to Dave Smith for being able to get in the same Ball Park with the OB 6! I'm proud to own it and one day will be proud to own the X8! And the P6, P5, Mini Moog, Jupiter 8, 9, 10, 11, 12..........
Before stating anything about the sound, everyone must listen to the samples with quality headphones or good hifi speakers. The thing to be remembered...
Thanks again! Do keep us posted on what you decide to keep. I am curious how much the x8 split/double mode, variable voice stacking, per-voice panning, filter and envelope choices add to the x8 value. I am hoping for a bigger sound on patches that fully utilize those features, which will distinguish the x8 more with time. Nice to know those on a budget can get an excellent enough approximation via the OB6, though. 👍
Seems like the main difference is a consistent variation in EQ. there’s just a bit more body in the X8. I think with a bit of EQ tweaking and they would be effectively the same.
I stared with the OBX8. I did look at both, but in the end chose that patch as it was really nice and both had the ability. Lots of patches (most) are incompatible as the modulation is so different. Obviously it may be possible to match with different mod but it gets v complicated v quickly. Looking at the comments I get on a simple patch attempting with patches with increased variability in the approaches just opens up so many more questions/options that it becomes almost pointless (there's always another suggestion for tweaking another parameter!). So to demo the overall character I try to keep to simple patches.
The very first comparison starting at 1:31 has the OB-X8 louder than the OB6 by more than 1 dB to my ears. What ever happened to the good-old practice of level-matching?
at that point I'm just quickly showing that the sounds are matched. The envelopes on the other hand can't be. So while the envelop is still rising there will be differences. Whatever happened to the good-old practice of thinking before commenting?
@2:25 perhaps the mod wheel on the OBX8 would need to be recalibrated? Because with the Depth Knob in the Lever Box down to 0, and the Mod Wheel at center position on the OBX8, there shouldn't be any modulation at all when engaging Osc 1 and Osc 2 MOD switches.
@@AlainHubert maybe. I remember with my Rev2 there was audio leaking when the osc were turned all the way down. They told me they could’ve probably fixed it remotely - poss additional calibration or firmware stuff I think. Maybe they could do the same here but tbh this one is a bit dodgy. The LFO2 rate LED isn’t working and it would put itself into what I can only describe as a sleep mode. After the LED powered off in screen saver mode the synth would take a few seconds to turn back on. It’s not done it for a week or so, but it’s getting replaced.
So happy to hear this one! Great job, I think the OB-X8 definitely has a place in synth collections and studios, and it’ll be in my wish list for the future, but the OB-6 holds up well! Good sound design skills is the most important thing to make a synth sound great!
Awesome videos as always Starsky! Been following your channel ever since you released the “Moog Sub37 Walkthrough” videos years back. I almost always go to your channel first when it comes to talking / comparing new synthesizers and hardware. Who would’ve thought that recording the OB6 in Mono in that first video would’ve sparked such a reaction! People are crazy 😂 Anyways, both synths sound amazing. If money weren’t an issue, I’d go OBx8 all day. Just seems like there’s a littleeeee more fullness to it, and I honestly love the sound of the raw square wave compared to the OB6. Though, it seems like the OB-6 might be better bang for the buck. And there’s a small part of me that would’ve loved to see the blue pinstripe finish as an option on the OBX8. Thanks as always Starsky!
Well this review confirmed the previews one, OB6 sounds good OBX8 sounds Phenomenal! if you listen with closed eyes through proper speakers or headphones the difference is something "perceived", it is not just listening to an A/B test of square-wave or saw etc, but that difference is enough to make a track stand out in my opinion, not mention that with 3 different filter you come out with three different timbres of the same patch, i definitely would keep the OBX8 it sounds more full and would sell the ob6. superb job by Tom & Marcus
Apart from the stereo non-vintage mode OB6, they sound like twins. Just, as you say, the OB-X8 sounds a tad softer. It's more gentle, rounded, but I also hear a bit more pleasantness about the highs, more refinement. It's like comparing a concert guitar maker's 1A model, by the master luthier themselves, and comparing it to the 2A model made by their protege; super close unless it's your only instrument and you can afford to be very very choosy. It seems with the OB-6 stereo mode that it almost sounds like the voices are just too close to almost identical in non-vintage mode. And then it sounds a bit weird and unnatural to the brain; they don't sit right in the soundstage. Whereas with the OB-X8, the subtle differences in the voices, filters create a much more convincing stereo effect, like they are spread across a real space. But, with a top quality reverb, and in a mix I'm not sure that would matter at all. So, for the money, I'd personally take the OB-6 and spend the rest on something that gives genuinely different colours (like a 3rd Wave, Polybrute or UDO).
The softness could just be due to the extra voices and envelopes starting from zero etc but yeah the overall tone is affected because of it. There’s a load of nice things for the extra cash!
I’ve had the Rev2, Prologue & Take 5 & I liked the Take 5 best! (Check out my Take 5 video as well) If you need lots of modulation go with the P08/Rev2 though. My least favourite was the Prologue, you can’t fully bypass the fx from what I’ve heard, it didn’t sound as good (from my experience anyway)
If you're considering the Prologue, also throw the Minilogue XD into the mix. It's difficult to justify the Prologue's price when the XD is already so capable. And yes, the Rev2 is nice, and an upgraded '08, but owning the '08, I can't justify the extra cost of buying a Rev2. Both are beautifully built (the Rev2 has better knobs, but they can be replaced on the '08). I'd only consider the Rev2 if you're going for the considerably more expensive 16 voice version, but for me, it's hard to justify the cost for the minimal sound difference. The '08 is definitely a great buy.
@@dankeplace I quite like the sound of all the synths i have mentioned from the demos I have heard on youtube. all i want really is a high-end ish synth that sounds vintage but can also do the basic modern stuff as well. I would consider the Rev 2 16 voice desktop they are a little bit cheaper and sound great. thanks for the input buddy
That first sound - "Wow the OBX-8 is incrediblOH THAT'S THE OB-6 🤯"
😂😅🤣
It's like at Superbooth '22. Marcus Ryle was talking about the OBX8. Meanwhile there was some awesome filter sweep sound in the background and I think it came from the dude neaby who was trying out an OB6!🤣👍
Yip, the OB6 for gigging and the OBX8 for the studio. After listing to them together in person the OBX8 has deeper character, the filter interplay is more evident. This will shine on studio album.
For the price of the OBX8 you could get an OB6 and OB6 desktop and polychain them.
Though the OB-6 and OB-X8 do share many similarities, the OB-X8 gives the user access to far more filter options based on the original OB-X, OB-Xa, OB-SX, and OB-8. Though the OB-6 has that lovely classic 2/4-Voice SEM crunch and sizzle, it doesn’t have the classic 24dB CEM3320 filter, which can make for much smoother/rounder tones. For me, that was my biggest frustration with my OB-6, and why I choose to get the OB-X8, as an addition, vs a replacement. With that said, there are features on my OB-6, that I can’t mimic on my OB-X8, much less any vintage Orberheim.
The reason the ob6 sounds different at 6:35 is because of the voice stealing. It’s only 6 voices, so when he moves to the second chord, the notes from the previous chord don’t hang over as much or at all. Resulting in a way cleaner/brighter/clearer sound. This is why synths with less polyphony sometimes work better for with long release patches. I often rock my prophet 10 in 5 voice mode for this tighter sound on those long release style pads.
That’s exactly why I originally got the P5 not the 10. Although I’ve now got the 10 so have the choice!
True. The OB6 is just horrible! It's even stealing voices... 🤮
Can you polychain let’s say an OB-6 with a desktop to make it a 12 voice?
100% correct
Wow! But u still have 2 6 voice synths acting independently instead of one master controlling both, right?
I'm glad you followed up on the differences. When I listened to the original comparison video I felt that the modulation was the main difference I heard, the OB-6 modulation sounded more singular but the OB-X8 sounded more like an LFO per voice.
To be honest I don't hear a big difference this time around. The OB6 is 6 voice and so loses a couple of voices when doing 2 x 4 note chord stabs and I think that accounts for the big difference here... I think the sound just takes me back to octave divide sounds from 70s weirdly enough...
It's way to little difference for it to cost twice as much, at-least for this patch comparison. Another thing I thought about is that the OB-6 is the only synth created by Tom Oberheim & Dave Smith and its a future classic for sure just based upon that fact alone. If I had the money to buy this I'd think getting a Prophet 5 and a OB-6 instead, it would be a smarter move. But it sure does sound beautiful. Thx for your efforts Starsky, much appreciated
^ 1000%. “👆🏼He gets it …”
The X8 is for those who have not to care about the money, a premium product. But still not perfect because of this "Page 2 - Thing". On the other hand a Lambo is also not as comfortable as a Mercedes :D Personally I think for the most musicians the OB-6 is still the best compromise. You will mostly not hear the difference in the final mix. And if you still have the wish to have the best Oberheim sound playing the only melody in your track than you have to pay the extra cost 🤷♂
And I also agree on this unique characteristic being a Oberheim & Dave Smith hybrid which we sadly will never have again.
@@teikomat The page 2 stuff is not a negative. I've got 2 hours on an OB-X8 programming sounds. It's not as painful as people are crying about. You start building muscle memory.
I agree with your points, but remember there is an array of filter combinations and SEM VCO timbres the OB6 doesn't have...that weren't demonstrated in this video.
@@station2station544 Fair point! The X8 can def go other places than the OB-6 and vice verse. It's def a great synth. But is it really better than OB-6 AND Prophet 5 is the question, maybe for someone not just me
Thanks for making this comparison! 👍🏻
Thanks @Starsky Carr, this time the video is perfect with mono, different stereo settings and vintage knob examples. ❤ I don't have exactly the same conclusion as yours: for me the OB-6 can sound pretty much the same for less than money (and I say that having sold my 2 OB-6s and having an OB-X8 now). The vintage knob can be use at 100% on the OB-X8 but not on the OB-6 as we've heard on the video. Maybe the X8 sounds a little bit more vintage at 100% than the 6 at its limit (before too much detuning). The OB-X8 has more stereo possibilities (pan mode on the page 2) than the OB-6 and it can be nice, especially playing pads like you did. All in all the OB-6 isn't far away from the OB-X8 and that's with your video here that I can now say that. So thank you.
6 voices weren't enough and that's why I had to buy a module version, linking them using the polychain feature (I did a video on my channel about it before selling the 2 OB-6s). 12 voices was massive but 6 really not enough unfortunately. I have the same issue with my Juno-6 but I can't do anything for the Roland synth! On the OB side, the 8 voices of the OB-X8 are ok. 8 as on my Baloran The River and Waldorf Quantum. 6 is really tight for me (it really depends of each musician and their kind of play) but 8 seems to be the minimum polyphony in order to avoid a lot of "voice steal". Don't know if you think the same as me on this.
Yes I agree that 8 is nice for minimal voice stealing, just a bit perhaps on one note out of the 8 or two max. With 6 voices, you can get 4 voices stealing out of 6 in a situation where with 8 voices you would get 2 voices stealing out of 8. Big difference. That would be if you hit a 5 note combo then another to give 10 voices total. However, I love the arpeggiators on the OB6 and Prophet-6 (especially the P6) because you can smear the arps out with long releases and never have excessive dissonce because only the last 6 notes are retained.
Ive a Matrix 1000 video coming out later today where I demo the difference between 8 and 6 voices. Having a couple of extra voices than the chord you are playing can give a smoother transition between chords, but can also cause dissonance. Someone actually thought I was hitting dud notes in this where they overlap. So good and bad point.
Yeah wow, I came from the other video and was wondering why the difference was huge to me. But with this video, I'm really loving the OB6 a lot more.
That being said, they both sound great. OBX8 definitely has that unique 80s famous dystopian sound.
in future videos id love to hear more resonant filter work on pads. love what you do. subscribed. keep up the great work!
They are close but I like the movement and what the X8 has to offer. If I'm choosing one (which I did) gotta roll with the OB-X8 period.
I do find using the pan spread on the OB6 thins out the sound in a way, kind of separating the voices out and the perceived volume seems to drop slighly.
It's like I was recording a sound on hhe Prophet-6 that was ultra mean but it opened out and sounded much more refined but less powerful with FX. The dry sound was awesome.
Using the Yorick Low Frequency Expander (LFE) and two OB-6 modules in Polychain with a Kurzweil Midiboard is expected to result in a much more dynamic sound since voices are (individually) polyphonically modulated. I will report on that once I get my Yorick LFE for the new batch 10 being produced. And I like the Polymod on the OB-6 as well as its other options.
That's the way I use my OB6 System. 2 OB6 modules and the LFE.
Well … ? ⏳
I am not happy with the amount of pressure you used on the OB6 the velocity's are way off ( just kidding ) great vids as always have a great day
Hi Starsky, I love your YT vids and you clearly put a lot of thought into them. I’ve been pleasantly surprised when I have heard your original content and I feel you clearly have a lot of talent. You spend a huge amount of time getting the same sounds out of different synths which is informative. I have an OB-6 and would like to avoid the 5K purchase for the OBX-8 but I have seen other vids where the OBX-8 has outshone the OB-6. For balance you need to show us each synth where they excel.
I’d be interested in seeing those videos. Throw some links over. I can show differences very easily - just pick a sound for which the other doesn’t have the obvious functionality etc (notch, HP or Bp on an OB6) most presets on each are hard to match because they approach it in different ways. Sub on an OB6, Poly LFO, FX, etc ramps on the OBX8 …. It’s dead easy tbh. But I find it hard to pull a narrative other than ‘read the specs.. they’re different’. That, however, doesn’t mean they can’t do it, or you can’t do something similar which is what I try to do. Showing the differences is really more about ‘this can do this… and this one can’t, but this can do this etc…’ so it’s hard to define the character. AND you can still get close with some lateral thinking. So yeah send the links as it could be something I could look at if I can work out how do demo it in effectively without it being an hours long waffle! 😀
I liked the ob6 a smidge better, but they honestly sound so similar, that it’d be impossible to tell in a song with other instrumentation in the mix (at least for my ears).
Precisely. Most people would not be able to even tell you if there's a synth in a piece of music. Let alone analogue or digital.
And definitely not two very, very minor variants of the same machine. Especially as the originals were analogue and therefore varied widely from one to the next.
Waiting to be flamed by the know it all armchair "experts".........😆😆
All that said, thanks for putting the time into another informative video Starsky, always appreciated 🙂
@@2112jonr Why do orchestra’s use expensive instruments? Surely in the ‘mix’ you couldn’t tell the difference? Are they wasting their money?
@@vaiman7777 A lot of orchestra stuff can be done with modern sampling libraries (especially if they are covering different playing styles/techniques) and some reverb/delay effects. My Roland XP-30 has the Roland SR-JV80-02 "Orchestral" expansion board included...and it sounds really great! It's also available as a standalone rack module called M-OC1. Another device that was dedicated to orchestral sounds from back in the days was the E-mu Proteus 2/XR. Those are probably the cheapest ways to get good sounds on the second-hand hardware market. Even more enhanced examples for getting good orchestral sounds are:
Hardware:
- Roland Integra-7
This sound module includes all the main SRX expansion boards (numbers -01 to -12) for the Fantom and the XV-series (only leaving out the dispensable "special" boards -96 to -99). If you are on a budget an older XV module with additional SRX-06 "Complete Orchestra" expansion board might do the job already. The cheapest of those modules is most probably the XV-2020.
- E-mu Orchestral Virtuoso 2000
(can be considered as an overall improved successor of the E-mu Proteus 2/XR)
Software:
- Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Best Service Complete Orchestral Collection (by Peter Siedlaczek)
100% agree. OB-6 it's a real vintage modern, not only a vintage imitation.
thats what I was thinking.
It's like comparing maple, ebony and rosewood fretboards.
The X8 has more dissonance in the release when doing chord changes.. I like the OB6 with chords..
I've played both, I got to sail on the new OBX8 at Synthplex 2022. My feeling is that the OB6 is a bit more funky (Herbie H.) and the X8 is a bit more soundtrack (John Carpenter).
Thank you for revisiting this!
I realized that i had it wrong in my initial comment regarding the OB-X8 (you can modulate (aka auto sweep) notch and band pass filters). Matt Johnson has done an in depth overview of the OB-X8 and i have to admit, when i listen to both, the OB-X8 is richer basic instrument. The effects help the OB-6, and it is definitely an excellent instrument in and of itself, but if you want that full Oberheim sound, the OB-X8, with all of its elements and secondary menu provide an overall purer Oberheim experience (IMHO). Took me a while to come to this conclusion, but seeing various reviews putting the OB-X8 through effects and 'not' as you did in the original vid, and a host of others on Youbtube, the OB-X8 is worth it if you can afford it. Bring back the 80s please!!! :)
Like Dutch vanilla vs. Vanilla Bean ice cream. Both are great!
In Australia the OBX8 is $7800 and the OB6 is $5600 so its a significant difference. ($2200 cheaper) If space is tight in your studio the 0B6 has a smaller form factor which would be beneficial to many I am sure. The sonic differences are insignificant compared to the importance of the parts they will be playing in a larger musical context. If you think the 0BX8 sounds a little warmer it would only take closing the OB6 filter down a smidge to actually match it.
Does the OB6 have faster punchier / snappier envelopes than the OBX8? Can either the OB6 or OBX8 get snappy or not really?
Out of curiosity, when turning all the way up the vintage knob on the OB-X8, did you change its settings in the menu to be 127? Otherwise would be only working at 50% 🤔 Thanks for your work
In the page 2 settings it controls the detune. The vintage knob takes the detune to 50%, and you can add extra, but the vintage is on full. They're 2 individual parameters. You can use the page 2 function to turn the detune full and have the vintage mode off for example.
I participate in that forum and I don't know what all the drama is about. You have a lot of unnecessary competition over there. Regarding the stereo OB-6, Are we experiencing wave cancelation - therefor it's losing it's richness? Like Noise Cancelling headphones...just a few harmonics are getting cancelled out? Also, there is a lot more "movement" in the OB-X8 which makes it more alive.
ok, so it's not exact... if you really needed that extra buzz you could get it with eq. Oooh... I scrolled down to type this with the video still playing, so I'm hearing without seeing. It's pretty close and both sound good. It doesn't matter if you can't dial it in to match exactly. 5K is too much for me.
OB6 filter seems to drift a bit...
Now this is a great comparison...and shows the OB-6 if far more capable than it had appeared. For less than 1/2 the cost, and the same sound of the OB-8X...it sure represents a great value way to get the real Oberheim sound in a new device.
$3500 to $5000? That's 70% of the cost.
Not the same sound or features.
Really nice! I tried to reproduce this sound on the P6, and was surprised how close it actually got. You can tell that the filter has a slightly different characteristic though, but for now I think I'll happily stick to the P6 :)
@ghost mall Ah yes that sounbds plausible. I do use the vintage knob for a lot of sounds. Not too much because I don't like that detuned sound, but a bit indeed does wonders.
I'm glad that Dave Smith decided to bring it over to the P6 and OB6 as well :)
@Starsky Carr would be super interested if you could compare the same patch with GForce/Oberheim OB-E. I’m getting ready to do the same. I feel sure it will be identical to the 2 above synths…
Really need the OB6 desktop.
Should slake the thirst nicely.
It's a lovely sounding synth, one of my favourites. The one word of warning (and the only one) I'd give to a potential owner, is to check ALL of the knobs before buying one, new or used. They are notorious for having wobbly pot knobs on some models. One minute of checking before buying will save you a lot of grief down the line. Really not acceptable on even a cheap synth, let alone a premium one.
Otherwise - absolutely fantastic synth. 🙂
thanks for doing this video, got my question answered. cheers
Glad to help.
Prefer the sound of the OB-6 more or less consistently throughout!
the OB6 is better, because that's the one I own.
To be honest, it would be nice to have some of the features of the OBX8, but I'm good for now.
As often as not, the OB-X8 comes off as lacking note definition and heft when compared to the OB6 (something the P5/10 is never in danger of vis-a-viz the P6). Given the price difference, I know which I would buy if I were looking for a modern Oberheimish synth. There seems to be a huge ‘Emperor’s New Synth’ factor at play with the OB-X8 at the moment; a very human phenomena, given how much one must pay to purchase one at the moment. Once the hype and novelty passes, I think the early adopters are going to get burnt a little. Nothing about the X8 screams ‘future classic’, and in a lot of the demos it sounds like a good/above average VA. I was just watching GEOSynths latest video on the X8 when the notification for this video popped up, and I clicked right over. It really was just sounding like a good VA, at best - which is perfect, if you’re paying a good VA price for it … but as it is right now … 😬
And this is even putting aside the issue of whether it actually sounds like the vintage OBs, or not; a discussion which some people seem to get very upset about!!
Which VA? Tell me so I can buy it haha
@ghost mall I own an OB8 and I’ve played the OB-X8. I have dedicated ‘gear funds’ sitting there, enough to buy 3 OB-X8s, if I wanted to. I just wasn’t impressed enough to do so. I really wanted the X8 to be a backup for my OB-8, but it didn’t measure up. Sure, it’s a nice enough sounding synth, but there are lots of nice sounding synths on the market, so there’s just no need to pay a super-premium for something that isn’t what it promises to be. Like I’ve said before, the X8 is not as to the vintage Oberheim sound, as the Rev 4 is to the vintage Prophet sound. But does it still sound nice? Sure, it does. If you want to invest $5k in that, go for it.
Pretty sure my impression of the X8 comes down to whatever unknown oscillator chips are in it. If anyone can find any specifics on what they are, please repost here. Thanks! 🙏🏼
There's still something lively about OB-X8 that OB-6 doesn't quite have, as 5:00 demonstrates quite well. It's more drifty or something. But OB-6 is close, it really throws some big punches here.
I'll have to sit behind a OB6 again. Last time I did for a good hour it was missing something that my OB had. It had the Oberheim phase and the density is there but it was really tame from my experience with OB's. That was years ago tho. I'll have to stop at sweetwater and give it another go.
Most people won't be able to tell them apart tho... I just have a very close relationship with the whole Oberheim sound thing.
Superb, very nice.
A lot easier now to hear how good the X8 sounds in stereo spread. Much more natural. Or just that it's not as widely spread as the OB6. If you take a look in a sound field inspector you'll see that the OB6 goes out of phase in the stereo field @9:00. The X8 seems to have a much more consistent phase correlation, hence (maybe) why I think it sounds more natural. (I'm very sensitive for out of phase stereo width, my brain goes completely nuts.)
Personally I never use stereo spread on the OB6-I prefer doing it properly and record two passes : )
I didn’t complain at all, thanks for your videos.
No you never. People pointing stuff out or making interesting comments or relevant suggestions are always welcome.
@@StarskyCarr thank you my Simon Le Bon Friend.
Thank you for making another! Love the Batman "in between" scenes! Great stuff!!
I understand people love the OB6 as a capable analog synth but, IMO, it just doesn't really have that "Oberheim sound". I'm not saying the OB6 is bad but it just doesn't sound... Oberheim enough. IMO, the OB-8X sounds authentic and sounds better over all, I guess vintage wise and nostalgic reasons, plus the X8 is 8 voice and 5 octaves.
I’m still waiting for the UB-Xa to hit the streets… but… must say I’m more and more intrigued by the 3rd Wave. I know, totally different beast.
Trying to get hold of a 3rd wave.
I'm picturing an old skeleton slumped on the floor with its jaw hung open, holding a sign, "Still waiting for the UB-Xa..."
That limited LFO depth range on the Ob6 would really annoy me...
No reason to keep or buy that mad priced Oberheim.
👍👍👍
Not softer but nobler
So the choice is clear: the shitty OB6 for the trash and the OB-X8 for the studio and on stage! 👍
While I think it great you re-visited this there remain a couple of inherent (though nitpicky) problems. UA-cam audio is not usually referred to as high fidelity. How many are listening on a "dialed in" full range monitor type setup? I may well feel personally there is little or significant practical difference in what can be heard, but unless I hear this where those two have been addressed making a buying decision from it seems crazy. Which gets to the "meat" of what I think would matter to me if faced with the choice. OB-6 interface is very good and OB-X8 is not even if not truly terrible. (Sorry, purists, it was NEVER very good) To each their own, but I would much rather have seen them do an 8 voice bi-timbral "update" of OB-6 without the sequencer and crappy effects, 5 octaves, and pair of dedicated outputs. Back here in reality for me this means a Prophet 10 is would be at the head of this line ahead of either of these to get a crowbar into my wallet.
So sad that the OB6 sounds so thin and rubbish... 😪
If you haven’t had a chance to try out MPE on the ob-6 do it, it’s a ton of fun
Just the fact that Dave* and Tom did the OB-6 together makes me want the OB-6 more. But wow both sound really great! Thanks for that excellent video!
*EDIT: Just learned that Dave was also involved in the OB-8X, soooo...
It’s all about the filter feature differences on these 2. Modulate slow filter sweeps on both, and you can explore those differences. The comparison you are doing doesn’t really surface much difference in my opinion. Great work as always!!
More batman not less. Analogue versus digital batman.
Holy DCO ! 😀
I listened to this video with my back to the screen. You picked it apart with that one sound to the N-th degree and there's such a tiny miniscule of a difference, as it's pretty much irrelevant.
OB-6 all the way accompanied with a Prophet 5.
Yeah, riiiiiiiiight... LOL
Had just finished a session with my OB6 and P5 when I read your comment.
Yep, it‘s a dream team.
Yup. Went OB-6 keys and P5 module. Great combo!
P6 and OB-X8 🙃
There seems to be more “fizz” on the OBX8. And….it also sounds “warmer” to me. It’s pretty subtle, and yet kinda obvious at the same time!
There's a problem each time you hit the lower notes of the chords around 6:10, almost like you accidentally hit a key by mistake, but it occured 3 times in a row, each time you played that chord on the X8, but the same chord you played on the OB6 never soundied like a bad note was hit. In fact the chords were perfect everytime on the OB6. The last instance of this on the X8 was at 6:10. Did you hit the wrong note each time ? -- I suppose it's possible? Or is there an issue with the X8 ? In either case it sounded flawed on the X8. But anyway this is a good comparison video that's useful to me and will save me a fair sum of money. I decided my OB6 desktop is all I need when it comes to the OBx sound, because I after hearing these comparisons I really can't see spending $5K on a few choice sounds that the OB6 may not be as authentic or lively at. And I kind of still feel the same way after purchasing the Prophet 10 Rev4
So now i can see with hindsight what's going on in my own head when I start thinking I'm gonna buy another synth. My rev4 does a few sounds my other synths can't match up to in terms of drawing out the emotional impact or feeling of a timbre or memory, but those exceptions are few and far between all the other sounds of the rev4 that my existing collection of gear could generate just the same, including some sounds from my software synths can practically be a 99.5% match too. But I'm a hardware guy, and analog still overall sounds better than SW. For my situation I realized too late the rev 4 is way overpriced for what you're really getting after the fairy dust settles. Like the rev4, if the X8 your first synth, then that might be a more worthwhile purchase. Anyways I mention all this as a warning to the wise. Spend your money carefully on synths and take your time to choose the right one for your current situation, and not the anticipated version of your life and your personal affordability index. Otherwise the final cost of GAS will bankrupt you and you'll end up carrying childhood Casios to the gigs. :)
I think what you're hearing is the spillover from the fact that the X8 has 8 voices so more are held over with the release. On the OB6 most are used again in the next chord.
Holy synth comparisons!
I looked for that one!!! 😂🦇
Thank you so much for the updated comparison!
Now that I received my OB-X8, I also compared the two, and (as this demo shows) some patches can be really (really!) close. I really enjoy my OB-X8; the sound is amazing. Split and layering really can bring the additional "oomph", and having all of the OB series in a single package was a great move of Oberheim. For people looking for the classic OB experience, with a slightly more modern take and additions, the Oberheim team 100% delivered. The synth is really inspiring, and the chunky buttons definitely invite you to explore.
Is it worth its $5000? Unpopular opinion: if you only need "the sound", I don't think ANY hardware synth is worth spending on; VST's used properly can deliver that in a mix for 99% of the cases. Hardware synths are for the musician; they inspire you to create new music, inspire to discover, inspire you to *create* that sound. For me, it's 100% worth its price for THAT reason.
Does it warrant the $2000 premium over the OB-6? Objectively; maybe not. But if you want the two extra voices, and want to have the exact "original" OB experience (including its oddities) it definitely delivers. There's also quite some areas where both the OB-6 and OB-X8 hold their own ground; YMMV if those areas are important to you (UA-cam videos may not help you there; hands-on testing really is best).
Ever since the OB-6 was introduced, people either loved the synth, or described it as a "wannabe Oberheim" or a "Oberheim flavored Prophet 6". I somewhat expect many of the latter were based on romanticized views of the OG OB's, not hands-on experience. Now that real Oberheim OB's are within reach of more people (more, not everyone, as it's a really premium synth!), I'm curious if those opinions will change ("you know, it really is a "real" Oberheim after all"); time will tell.
On the UX / usability front there's definitely differences; the OB-X8 inherits many idiosyncrasies from the classics (some of which are just "weird"), but I absolutely LOVE the paddles, and love the bigger knobs. The display is a great addition (patch names are useful; the display is also great for various settings - without cryptic 7-segment LED display names as used on the OB-6).
The OB-6 has a way more thought-out UX; I can fully navigate it blindly (literally - with my glasses off 😄); "unison" doubling as (usable!) chord memory, as well as "number of unison voices" one flick away. Portamento on/off (separate from "speed") and the transpose buttons with clear LEDs are just perfect.
For performance, the LED displays are great: BPM, patch numbers (MUCH easier for selecting that patch you need than "bank , group , patch " - dialing with an encoder and squinting at the display).
So, which synth is best? Both synths are absolutely glorious, and a joy to play. It really depends on what you're looking for, and if you're crazy as I am, it may be "both".
Good to read objective, rational commentary. All the more so from someone with an investment in the more expensive of the two. Respect. And thank you for a good, detailed first hand experience analysis. 🙂
@@2112jonr You're welcome! It's still early days for me with my OB-X8, and still *tons* of things to explore and discover.
It's important to do your research (and if possible, hands-on testing) of this synth. It's an amazing instrument, but it's based on a 40 years old design. Because of that, it's important to know what to expect; if you're looking for a synth with a gazillion modulation matrix options; this synth is not it.
Then again; if you're looking for that, ask yourself "do I really need that?" Too many options can also be too many *distractions*, and synths like the OB-X8, the Mini Moog, the Prophet 5 can turn out to be surprisingly versatile (their limitations can push your creativity).
The pure sound of these synths is absolutely top notch; so much so, that (my only reservation I had upfront) in most cases it doesn't need any effects added to sound. just. gorgeous.
Thanks, nice comment. You've summed up everything perfectly. And I think I'm as crazy as you ;)
Both beautiful instruments. I think it really comes down to the feature set that you want between these two.
I also own both of these keyboards and the OB-X8 seems to be programmed and played in a very limited way here. Great work matching the two...but the X8 is a 3 legged horse in this comparison. Like I said, I've got both and that X8 can do much much much more than you've left on here. I hope you kept both!
They’re both programmed in a limited way. They’re fundamentally very different once you introduce modulation so I’d simply be saying ‘this one can do this but this one can’t’ repeatedly. So I try to show the character of the osc filter and envs using simple but musical tones.
..and yes I want to keep both. Its more a matter of finding the space than anything else!
@@StarskyCarr ahhhh. Thanks makes so much sense. You’ve inspired me to use both of them in a song this coming week… You really unlocked so much of the beauty of the OB6 for me.
OB6 is a beast, again, hands on editing and sounding lovely! In stereo even closer to the x8, thanks for this re-match ;)
Says the one who owns a shitty OB6 and can't afford a great OB-X8...
LOOOOOOOOOOL
😂👌
@@henrikgerlach4765 Yeah thats it, like I have no gear at all, and no knowledge using hardware for over 30 years, and only own a OB6 right? LOL, typical loser comment, you don't know me so don't judge and get a life, I bet you only use illegal VSTi synths 🤣🤣 STFU!
you're 💯right the OB6 is a beast. No interest in the X8 when the OB6 sounds so good.
@@project-95 Yeah, riiiiiiiiight... 😂👌
I love irony! So funny!
The OB6 sounds like sh*t...
@@henrikgerlach4765 banana pudding recipe with my favorite color
Well… close enough that ob-6 will do, i think the ob-x8 keys and aftertouch are much better but ob-6 used about half the price works
We appreciate you.
OB6 again for me ! :) less like the more "flufy" sound of the OB-X8 ... like a reverb something always on ...
There are going to be some note stealing differences between 6 and 8 voice synths.
I don't think this is a fair comparison because the 6, being closer to the ceiling, is feeling more chakra compression than the 8, which makes the 6 lose some of its confidence. Please do this again but with both synths at equal distance from the ceiling and from God's graces. 😉 Great job, seriously. Thanks for this! I love my 6. And no doubt I'll love my 8 if I get one. Cheers. 💥
Unless one doesn't already own an OB6, the two are too similar to justify spending $5000 USD on the OBX8. You can get a lot of other interesting stuff for that kind of money.
Pan spread at the same settings on the OB6 sounds wider, although the voice count differences also has an impact. Overall both can sound great and I’d say it’s a matter of preference regarding the physical chassis and having the split/layer modes + other menu options & screen. Worth to consider that for the price of the x8 you can get an ob6 and a couple of other synths and layer/split those for amazingly fat textures. Personally I really love the one knob per function on the OB6. Is the x8 overpriced ? A little maybe - maybe it’s more solidly put together than the ob6? - but it will sell for sure :)
I got a new Prophet 10 rev 4 and a Used OB-6 (both are keyboards) for £100 less in total than the X8's selling price. Counted the X8 out due to that (and the menu diving/non knob per function on the X8 isn't what I want from a VCO synth).
Fantastic again Mr Carr
Did you consider the fact, that the OB-6 has 6 voice and the X8 has 8 voice and therefore there is note-stealing happening on the OB-6 .. espacially when playling the chords quickly after another. On the X8 you can hear the former chords still sounding when playing the new one's. And the more voices, the fuller the sound and the more interactions in terms of phasing etc. So it's a minor but not totally unimportant thing when trying to compare to a 100% :)
Yeah of course, your right. Sometimes I think the lower voice count works better! The number of notes in the chord really makes a difference. Playing 3 for example doesn’t result in not stealing. But sometimes the OBX8 sounds a bit cluttered. But yeah never mentioned it. I guess I thought it was obvious but maybe not to some. Always something else I could’ve commented on 🤦♂️
@@StarskyCarr No criticism here, just another note. To be honest I also didn't think about it in your former video :D As with so many things in life there is this tiny thing called pareto principle - it counts to building a synth with 100% sound recreation and also with getting a patch done on two different synths sounding the same :)
Regarding the overall sounds it seems to me the stereo spread on the OB-6 is doing much more seperation in the stereo field than the X8. Also I have to rewatch your BIG REVIEW video again as I am not sure if the X8 has fixed pan positions and the OB-6 has random placing. On the X8 it sounds as there are always some notes sitting in the center.
But generally this video showed to me a much closer match, than the former. The only other differences to me are the envelopes, yes they do a lot to a sound when we listen so close to dynamics and differences.
So if you would like to do a scientific approach you could let your DAW play fixed notes with fixed panning. Recording chords only one by one and putting them together in the mix. Comparing envelopes with the oscilloscope matching them 100% or just acknowledge they are and never will be the same. But I think this is work for someone else :)
@@teikomat it wasn’t taken as criticism, rather an interesting point. The X8 has fixed positions and different modes. You can also have full, half or quarter separation… or mono. This was using one called spread which has LR on voice 1 + 2 the gradually decreasing the pan position for each subsequent voice left to right. It would be great if this could be added as an option to the OB6.
@@StarskyCarr I agree, this stereo spread has really a huge impact on the sound! Also own an OB-6 and hope to get an update on this *pray* I don't know which of the synths from the past introduced this feature but I first learned about it with the Oberheims. Truely whole new experience and tool for me personally after having played with some other synths lacking this.
All in all great videos and very helpful to get a feeling for the differences. Thank you for that! And no, many people will not fall in coma but rather appreciating it!
Surprised by the comments criticizing having recorded OB-6 in mono? I don't haha Stereo sound became a standard for important physical reasons, mono sound is low quality compared to stereo sound. I saw the first comparison video and it really made a huge difference. But now with both synths in stereo the battle is more balanced and it only makes it clear that the OB-6 is one of the best VINTAGE MODERN for obvious reasons. When criticizing the construction of a product, in this case a musical instrument, we must put many things on the table before comparing one with another. Design careers exist for obvious reasons, without forgetting that marketing plays a vital role in our conception of what is good and bad.
Interesting that it sounded better in mono in that case.
@@StarskyCarr How do we hear an A/B of what you heard in mono, versus in stereo … ?
@@kierenmoore3236 Oberheim OB-X8 vs OB6 // The Definitive Comparison
ua-cam.com/video/gxRzwKxpGnY/v-deo.html
The X8 generally has more heft and movement, but perhaps at the cost of being a little muddy? At least for this patch. Stereo on the X8 is way better, no question. I tend to not go past 1/4 of the way for pan spread on the OB-6.
Thank you so much for making both of these videos! I was on the fence on which to go with, but hearing them cleared that decision up greatly! Awesome!
Yes, Starsky has done a great job here! So which are you going with?!
@@kierenmoore3236 OB-X8
@@SoniclayersMusic Cool. Go with whatever puts a smile on your dial! 😊🎶
Having a second listen, the X8 keeps the Sonic integrity as the waves decay! Sounds like it's more alive with a SOUL! The OB 6 sounds sweet as hell but the X8 sounds Divine! It really just makes me take my Hat off to Dave Smith for being able to get in the same Ball Park with the OB 6! I'm proud to own it and one day will be proud to own the X8! And the P6, P5, Mini Moog, Jupiter 8, 9, 10, 11, 12..........
I like the overall sound of the OB-X8 better. It sounds more natural to me.
Before stating anything about the sound, everyone must listen to the samples with quality headphones or good hifi speakers. The thing to be remembered...
Thanks again! Do keep us posted on what you decide to keep. I am curious how much the x8 split/double mode, variable voice stacking, per-voice panning, filter and envelope choices add to the x8 value. I am hoping for a bigger sound on patches that fully utilize those features, which will distinguish the x8 more with time. Nice to know those on a budget can get an excellent enough approximation via the OB6, though. 👍
Seems like the main difference is a consistent variation in EQ. there’s just a bit more body in the X8. I think with a bit of EQ tweaking and they would be effectively the same.
three months later...which have you kept? thnx so much for this comparison btw!
Still got both 🤦♂️ decisions descisions…
OBX8 seemed better every time. It still seems worth the value when you consider the many other aspects mentioned in your first video.
Were the patches done from scratch on both synths - or did you start with an OBX8 patch and tried to match it on the OB6 - or vice versa?
I stared with the OBX8. I did look at both, but in the end chose that patch as it was really nice and both had the ability. Lots of patches (most) are incompatible as the modulation is so different. Obviously it may be possible to match with different mod but it gets v complicated v quickly. Looking at the comments I get on a simple patch attempting with patches with increased variability in the approaches just opens up so many more questions/options that it becomes almost pointless (there's always another suggestion for tweaking another parameter!). So to demo the overall character I try to keep to simple patches.
Looking forward to my incoming smudge’.
The very first comparison starting at 1:31 has the OB-X8 louder than the OB6 by more than 1 dB to my ears. What ever happened to the good-old practice of level-matching?
at that point I'm just quickly showing that the sounds are matched. The envelopes on the other hand can't be. So while the envelop is still rising there will be differences. Whatever happened to the good-old practice of thinking before commenting?
@2:25 perhaps the mod wheel on the OBX8 would need to be recalibrated? Because with the Depth Knob in the Lever Box down to 0, and the Mod Wheel at center position on the OBX8, there shouldn't be any modulation at all when engaging Osc 1 and Osc 2 MOD switches.
I know, I’ve recalibrated a couple of times.
@@StarskyCarr
A little software bug perhaps then?
@@AlainHubert maybe. I remember with my Rev2 there was audio leaking when the osc were turned all the way down. They told me they could’ve probably fixed it remotely - poss additional calibration or firmware stuff I think. Maybe they could do the same here but tbh this one is a bit dodgy. The LFO2 rate LED isn’t working and it would put itself into what I can only describe as a sleep mode. After the LED powered off in screen saver mode the synth would take a few seconds to turn back on. It’s not done it for a week or so, but it’s getting replaced.
@@StarskyCarr
Early production models kinks. At least it's good to know that it'll be replaced.
So happy to hear this one! Great job, I think the OB-X8 definitely has a place in synth collections and studios, and it’ll be in my wish list for the future, but the OB-6 holds up well! Good sound design skills is the most important thing to make a synth sound great!
Awesome videos as always Starsky! Been following your channel ever since you released the “Moog Sub37 Walkthrough” videos years back. I almost always go to your channel first when it comes to talking / comparing new synthesizers and hardware.
Who would’ve thought that recording the OB6 in Mono in that first video would’ve sparked such a reaction! People are crazy 😂
Anyways, both synths sound amazing. If money weren’t an issue, I’d go OBx8 all day. Just seems like there’s a littleeeee more fullness to it, and I honestly love the sound of the raw square wave compared to the OB6.
Though, it seems like the OB-6 might be better bang for the buck. And there’s a small part of me that would’ve loved to see the blue pinstripe finish as an option on the OBX8.
Thanks as always Starsky!
Thanks, I know that whole mono thing was nuts! Hopefully this will calm people down - although it probably does the opposite for some haha.
Well this review confirmed the previews one, OB6 sounds good OBX8 sounds Phenomenal!
if you listen with closed eyes through proper speakers or headphones the difference is something "perceived", it is not just listening to an A/B test of square-wave or saw etc, but that difference is enough to make a track stand out in my opinion, not mention that with 3 different filter you come out with three different timbres of the same patch, i definitely would keep the OBX8 it sounds more full and would sell the ob6.
superb job by Tom & Marcus
Apart from the stereo non-vintage mode OB6, they sound like twins. Just, as you say, the OB-X8 sounds a tad softer. It's more gentle, rounded, but I also hear a bit more pleasantness about the highs, more refinement. It's like comparing a concert guitar maker's 1A model, by the master luthier themselves, and comparing it to the 2A model made by their protege; super close unless it's your only instrument and you can afford to be very very choosy. It seems with the OB-6 stereo mode that it almost sounds like the voices are just too close to almost identical in non-vintage mode. And then it sounds a bit weird and unnatural to the brain; they don't sit right in the soundstage. Whereas with the OB-X8, the subtle differences in the voices, filters create a much more convincing stereo effect, like they are spread across a real space. But, with a top quality reverb, and in a mix I'm not sure that would matter at all. So, for the money, I'd personally take the OB-6 and spend the rest on something that gives genuinely different colours (like a 3rd Wave, Polybrute or UDO).
The softness could just be due to the extra voices and envelopes starting from zero etc but yeah the overall tone is affected because of it.
There’s a load of nice things for the extra cash!
I want them both! 😆 Excellent video!
Hiya buddy awesome video. what would you recommend out of a Dave Smith Prophet 08
a take 5 or the 16-voice prologue.
Rev 2 16 voice is what you should be short listing.
Those are pretty wildly different offerings … vcos v dcos / fundamental tone, number of voices, etc …
I’ve had the Rev2, Prologue & Take 5 & I liked the Take 5 best! (Check out my Take 5 video as well)
If you need lots of modulation go with the P08/Rev2 though. My least favourite was the Prologue, you can’t fully bypass the fx from what I’ve heard, it didn’t sound as good (from my experience anyway)
If you're considering the Prologue, also throw the Minilogue XD into the mix. It's difficult to justify the Prologue's price when the XD is already so capable.
And yes, the Rev2 is nice, and an upgraded '08, but owning the '08, I can't justify the extra cost of buying a Rev2. Both are beautifully built (the Rev2 has better knobs, but they can be replaced on the '08). I'd only consider the Rev2 if you're going for the considerably more expensive 16 voice version, but for me, it's hard to justify the cost for the minimal sound difference. The '08 is definitely a great buy.
@@dankeplace I quite like the sound of all the synths i have mentioned
from the demos I have heard on youtube. all i want really is a high-end ish
synth that sounds vintage but can also do the basic modern stuff as well.
I would consider the Rev 2 16 voice desktop they are a little bit cheaper
and sound great. thanks for the input buddy