Oberheim OB-X8 vs OB6 // The Definitive Comparison
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- The Oberheim OB-X8... How gorgeous doe this thing sound? But is it worth double the price of the OB6? How does it differ socially and functionally.
It turns out that functionally they'e completely different synths, but sonically you can tell they're from the same family.
Annoyingly, I really tried to get them to sound the same - the first patch I tried a few times but couldn't get it exact. I knew I'd be accused of doing a sh*t job if they weren't exact, but there you go they're not! Oh yeah and to make things worse the OB6 recorded in mono (I didn't realise in the edit), which doesn't account for the discrepancies - that's all down to how the OBX8 sums the voices and the differences in each. Put it in mono and see for yourself... or watch the rematch!
• Oberheim OB-X8 vs OB6 ...
/ starskycarr
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► Clubbing TV From the Studio:
• From The Studio
0:00 what's all this about?
2:10 the BIG difference
6:55 Oscillators
9:41 Filters
15:16 Modulation
19:15 Some Sounds
24:48 Final Thoughts
26:32 The Interfaces
#oberheim #OBx86 #review #OB6
For a closer examination of the first patch (in stereo!): ua-cam.com/video/HbLnK7GoZ8w/v-deo.html
call me crazy but id love to see a comparison of the OB-X8 and the Take 5. im getting similar vibes from their filters.
@@kujumz806 You're crazy! 😅
@@StarskyCarr q compensation and seemingly similarly tuned resonance. does it not sound closer to it than other Sequentials? Id watch the video - all im saying. plus a comparison of the cheapest vs most expensive of the Sequential/Oberheim brand. juicy video there.
@@kujumz806 there's the TEO5 now ;)
Immaculate and informative as ever. I learn (at least try to!) so much from your vids - thank you 🙏
This is the comparison I have been looking for. Thank you!!!!!
Love the quality of your content. It's crisper and fun to watch and learn in a joyful way! I'm about to buy a P10 or OB-X8 soon! If you could do a comparison between the two, that'd be really helpful and interesting too! Thanks! Love from India ❤
This is an excellent comparison. Thanks so much doing this!
Well done and thanks for this content, S.Carr.
Thanks for the quick posts and sharing your Oberheim journey! 🙏
Thanks... I'm trying to give an honest response to the purchase.. warts and all. I think its interesting for people to see how I reach certain conclusions (although I'll get grief no matter what I think, most people seem to appreciate the approach).
@@StarskyCarr Forget the naysayers and negative sentiment, you are doing us all a service by sharing your experience. I've had the OBX8 on order since day one, but while waiting, I have been wavering, thinking of opportunity cost (e.g. buy P10 desktop + OB6 desktop instead?). I now regret selling my OB-XA that I got tired of servicing and taking up too much space in my studio, but I want the sound back. I'm partial to the softer, creamy, lush tones of the Oberheim. I'll suffer through the user interface/workflow for the sound. This video has helped me decide to stay the course and stick with the X8. Thank you again!
thanks Starsky, you highlighted the differences beautifully!
Great comparison. Awesome video! Thank You Starsky Carr. You da man.
Really appreciate the comparison! As an OB-6 owner, I’m impressed at how close it’s able to get. The extra instability on the X8 is interesting; I wonder if they took the “vintage knob” programming even further than with the OB-6
I tried it on full but it didn’t do the same thing. The detune turned up makes it more out of tune.. but nothing quite matches it. OB6 is a great synth and I still love mine😀
Thanks so much for this. Have had X8 on order and was struggling whether or not to stay the course or run with an OB-6. Only problem is now I want both!
The s w e e t e s t and warmest Oberheim I've ever heard was a 6 voice OB-SX. An OBX is big and mean and dark. But that OB-SX really was something.
I think they both sound great. While the OB 8 sounds richer, the OB 6 has that 80's Carpenter vibe going on. Great comparison.
Thanks Starsky, I've been waiting for this comparison!
No probs… are you thinking of picking one up yourself?
@@StarskyCarr absolutely! I pre-ordered one in May, still waiting for it to ship, but was curious how the OB-6 would stack up vs this beast. Think Oberheim did an excellent job on the X8 for sure.
It’ll be good to see your take on it as well.
THIS was the review that everybody was waiting for 🤗
Great comparison! I just listened on studio monitors and a sub and I can say that the OB-6 sounded really close on some sounds and a little less on others. The OB-X8 had a wider spread and sounded softer in the midrange where the OB-6 had more "cut" and brightness at times. I own an OB-6 and I'm keeping it, especially after seeing this. The OB-X8 is a wonderful synth but the price compared to the OB-6 is a deal breaker. Once you run them through some preamps, put on some chorus or tape echo and make eq adjustments in the mix (which is the norm) I can't see any difference being detectable in a full mix. If you're doing Stranger Things style soundtracks with massive solo synth parts well then maybe. Thanks for all the videos!
Standing by for the OBX8 desktop. Thanks for clarifying the issue. Fully reconciled to having sold my OB6.
This comparison was great. I prefer the OB6 even more now
;)
The OB6 sounds like isht compared to the OB-x8...
@@bobmurray2534 nah son
Thanks Starsky. This convinced me I desperately want the OB6, not really interested in OB X8. Just like I bought P6 instead of P5. But as you said everybody can decide accirding to their own taste.
Absolutely l. I’m massively on the fence with the X8 - there are some distinct differences in tone here and there. But the main differences are the accessibility of the parameters and the functionality.
You can't go wrong with the OB6. Keep in mind, while not taking anything away from the OB X8, sometimes big, huge sounds while sounding great on their own, may not sit well with others in a mix. Most iconic synth lines are not "massive sounding", but rather, distinctive and have character, and the OB-6 has that in spades.
You bought the P6 instead of a P5? And now the OB6 instead of an OB-X8???
OMG 🤦
@@henrikgerlach4765 yes, i also feel like the ob6 would be a better fit for me and i would buy 10 P6's before i'd waste a dime on a prophet 5. i totally respect people who love the P5 but having only a mono output is a deal-breaker for a lot of people on a poly synth. i just know it wouldn't inspire me the way a proper stereo poly does. as for the ob6 and obx8, one is literally twice the cost of the other and you can get a ton of inspiring gear for that leftover money after buying an ob6. the ob6 is a wonderful synth.
don't be a gear snob
P6 is gorgeous. Voices are all a bit different, even without the vintage knob upgrade.
Great sounds from the OBX8... the first patch with the wide pan and oscs tuned in 5ths is exactly the sound I always program on every synth (if possible!)... I had banks and banks of them in my Matrix 12. Now I have mono ones in my P5. Fantastic.
Thanks so much for this comparison. I picked up an OB-6 a few years ago after I got rid of my Oberheim Matrix 6 and Matrix 1000 because it was such a hassle to use a 3rd party programmer with them... even with latest firmware they still didn't operate very smooth. Obviously, my OB-6 covers up as a replacement and has given me more in return. Delighted to folks sharing videos the OB-X8 recently. It sounds amazing. People looking to get rid of their OB-6 to finance an OB-X8 should look around the house for something else to sell, set up a go-fund-me, make a major diet, or do whatever else to get the funds so they can have both!
ma ne vale veramente la pena? cambiare ob6 con obx-8? mmah...
So it's time to get rid of that disgusting OB6...
You exchanged your Matrix for an OB6
LOOOOOOOOOOL
🤦
@@spheres_synth @SPHERES Yes, keep on repeating whatever bullshit you read on the internet. Since everything that's there is true...🥱
Ok, listen, I am talking to you very slowly, so it can sink into your brain. I am talking about the Matrix 6. It ist 1000 times better than any OB6. Just give it a f*cking try for yourself and if you are not completely deaf you will find out for yourself.
@@henrikgerlach4765I know, 😂 I love my Matrix 6, there’s no other synth that close to the vintage original Oberheim sound. I like the OB-6 I don’t mind to get one in the future.
With a little bit of pan spread and a slightly more open filter I think the ob-6 would sound just like the ob-x8 in 'the big difference' section of the video. I own a prophet-6 so I know the layout decently well and the main difference I heard between the two on my studio monitors was stereo width when the ob-x8 had vintage mode engaged and some more brightness in general, there was also a richer low end which you can't program into the ob-6 but stereo width and brightness is an easy fix. Super excited to see what people do with the ob-x8! Thanks for the great video Starsky!
Thanks... I can see I;ll be answering comments about that first patch for years to come! :)
I have both and I’ve spent a lot of time comparing them. They’ll never sound identical, but the key to making them sound as close as possible is to turn the oscillator volume down on the OB-6.
Will be interesting to hear a comparison between these and the upcoming Behringer UB-Xa. C’mon B, get it done already.
the stereo spread on the OBX8 is insane. Makes the ob6 sound mono in comparison. all those subtle envelope differences and changes on the obx8 are something special. However, i cant afford one so ob6 is a worthy 2nd place. great video as always sir.
Because I think he forgot to activate it on the OB6
it can really sound super bright and for me it sounds Mono here
My thought exactly!
@@maycusskywalker3643
Great comparison! Sounds like there is more "space" between the voices on the OB-XA, even when you're listening in mono.
Thank you for the comparison.
I have the OB6 and I think I'm very well served ;)
You are … it’s a fabulous synth.
i just bought TWO OB6 instead of ONE OBX8. I Think the OB6 plus Yorick Tech or the MP MIDI controller, you get the entire spectrum, you can add moog or JOMOX filter to the outputs of one or the other and OB6 controlled with MPE via a Kurweil MIDIBOARD or an OSMOSE or a HAAKEN or Seaboard RISE, beats out the expressivity of a lot of the other synths. And yes, your review helped a lot. Especially also the comparison with the Prophet 6.
Great stuff!
Nice job! Thus far, I’ve found that they are both different enough, to complement each-other well (especially if you love the Oberheim sound). I prefer to run my OB-6 through the stereo-chorus, where-by, I don’t find it as necessary with the OB-X8. However, when I did run my OB-X8 through a ‘Dimension D’ style stereo chorus, it gets extremely lush (great for strings and pads).
Love that you got the OB-X8 Chris!
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thanks Johnny! The OB-Xa was a dream synth, way back when I was a teen. It’s truly a sonic time-machine! :-)
Dang such a nice review
It seems the recording of the OB6 fist patch is in mono … I’ve no idea what happened there but the monitoring was definitely stereo. It doesn’t change what I was saying or heard, but just a shame it recorded in mono (turns out my interface settings weren't set for a stereo instrument at that point). Try listening to that section in mono so the stereo effect doesn't distract you from what I was saying. ... urgh what a pain! And if you can’t play it in mono hold your phone at arms length 😂
Ok, bad news as it was the big sound comparison of the video 😭 And I wanted to ask you why you didn't use the pan spread feature on the OB-6 but now I understand. As it's a really important comparison for us, maybe you can do a short video (a UA-cam "short"?) with this sound comparison in stereo for both synths this time? That would be really nice...
Too Bad Unfortunately. It would be nice to adjust also the Vintage Knob on the OB-6 to match the different sound of each voice except from stereo recording. I would love to watch more comparison videos on these two.
@@VEsound yeah I’m thinking of doing a short one with the pan on and trying chorus or something g to deliver similar results.
@@StarskyCarr the only question not answered yet is about the vintage knob: did you use it on the OB-6 on the 'BIG difference' section? It must be used of course and we're not sure if you used it or not.
@@VEsound yes I did… it looks like I’ll have to talk everyone through the patch at some point. FYI while I was making this I was reluctant to use this patch because I knew it would give me grief. But then I just couldn’t get them to sound the same, so thought it was important to demo it. Some sounds just pop together really easily, but when they don’t it’s because the synths are different. There’s just a big difference in this case. Because I realised it would be an issue for people i tried a few times to come at the patch.. a couple of hours all in all tweaking and playing, coming back and re-tweaking, starting again. I think people assume it was a 2 minute job and I’m not bothering too much, or trying to make the X8 sound better. I’ve no vested interest - I’ve bought both the synths, no-ones paying me, I’m using my own time (over 2 days in all), so it’s in my own interest to get it right…. Not a rant at you btw but getting it into the comments so hopefully others will read 😂
You’re the man!
Great comparison!
It makes sense we first want to try if the OB-6 can match the OB-X8.
But I’m also interested in the other way around. Create some fabulous sounding patches on the OB6 and then try to recreate it on the OBX8
Same thing.. the reason I started with the OBX8 is that it’s easier to find patches that you can replicate on both. The OB6 has more mod options so most can’t be replicated … which says something in itself, but why I don’t match stuff with complex mod.
@@StarskyCarr I understand! Thanks for putting all this content up
Can you configure ob6 some way to use transpose buttons as semitone transpose instead of octave? and can you confirm if it will sync the global transpose with another connected synth by midi pls? So when you change the transpose on another synth ob6 global transpose changes also or not.
Thanks
Great video as always. I have to say as someone who has the OB 6 I’ve been testing the OBX8 and have definitely fallen in love. In real life these translate so different, the OB 6 is so much more muddier and not as clear or richer as the OBX8. The OBX8 seems to be a sweet spot everywhere. And I’m surprised no one’s talking about having a sine wave on the obx8 because that changes everything as well. this is also coming from someone who hated the OBX8 the first three times I played it and the envelopes are so different. Also tired of all these 49 key synths as playing parts just don’t sound as good as on a 61 or bigger. Might sell OB-6 for obx8 but waiting to play udo gemini first.
This makes me more confident that I’ll love my OB-X8. Can’t wait for it to arrive.
Thanks for that very helpful.
The difference you were looking for in the "BIG difference" section can be heard easier with headphones: stereo spacing of particular voices on the OB-X8.
I love the ob6 more
100! It's such an obviously better all-round synth when everything (inc or not the price) is taken into account. This is not like P6 vs Prophet 10 rev 4 where the latter sounds massively better, Ob-6 sounds as good sometimes, better sometimes and a little less good sometimes but it also has so much more range and hands on fun/flow to programming... for half the price or nearly a third the price if you buy used (no X8s on the used market for a LONG time!) Not only that, I think the OB-6 - size aside which itself is cool anyway - looks much nicer than the X8 which is a very bland looking synth, nowhere near as classy as the Prophet 5/10 rev 4s or as cool as the OB-6 with the blue stripes and knobs for everything!
Would the OB-X8 be a good master keyboard as well? Is it a Fatar TP-8S?
Great video.
Great comment 😀
I believe that big difference in the richness of those first sound comparisons is due to the sound cards. If I'm not mistaken, the OBX8 has multiple sound cards that handle different octaves of the keyboard and each are effected individually and can be moved individually around the stereo field. The OB6 might not have that hence not as much stereo field.
Nice to see.
First sound example has the stereo spread on the OBX8 doesn't it? Hit the mono button and you'll hear quite a big difference. And the OB6 sounds surprisingly similar. A blind test would fool anyone.
I think I'm going to have to do a more in-depth look at that patch as it seems to be causing quite a stir. If I can try them both in mono and stereo etc. try vintage mode and detune mode.. maybe they can close in on each other - or maybe not. I don't want to obsess over a single sound, but as I made such a big deal about it ....err...
Though the OB-6 has stereo spread via panned voices, the OB-X8 produces a true-stereo spread, which gives it more of a 3D stereo sound, by comparison.
@@StarskyCarr I believe there's a stereo split/spread per voice on the X8? And as you write, with the vintage mode and detune plus the pan spread on the OB6 you might come rather close to the X8.
@@PacificIslandDrive I think it's the same though isn't? Both spread each voice randomly? Not sure what ‘true stereo’ would mean in this sense?
@@cornerliston I though it would be the same too, but it’s different. Even with the ‘Pan Spread’ knob set all the way up to 100% on my OB-6, it doesn’t sound the same as what is happening with the OB-X8, set to full stereo spread. Either way, I’m glad I own both, because they both have their own unique sound, and functionality.
Great comparison. Thanks for this. I love my OB-6, and was wondering about a comparison of the two. There is definitely something special going on with some of those OB-X8 patches you demoed. Your top down shot-It looks huge compared to the OB-6! It will be interesting to see what your long term plans are for it...Great vid.
Love my OB-6 more hands on and perfect for my needs. The variable filter is so dope and the unison sounds dope too. Only would love to see poly unison when using only 2 or 3 voices unison so you can make unison chords. But the OB-X8 is a beast, the sound is big but so is the price and size... LoL
Yeah that’s be good on a few things. Roland JDXa I think does that. Play a 3 note chord and it limits to 3 notes. Great for certain things.
@@StarskyCarr Also my Novation Peak has this option. I wonder I they could do this via Firmware. It's a waste of voices if you only use 2 voices in unison mode that can only do monophonic/legato
I don't mind the size but the price! We can just share one and split the cost? I have some space left in my Studio and its right at the border to the Netherlands. 10km away from Enschede actually. Deal? :-D
@@timherrmann3508 Hahaha I have no more space for a large synth, if I would go for a large synth I would buy back a Jupiter 6, thats the one I shouldn't have sold back in the days 😔
@@TheDjpredator you definitely need that Jupiter sound for your Music🕺🏻🕺🏻😁😁
09:05 just like on the old OB-8 you can adjust pulse width independently by holding the respective osc’s square wave button and moving the pulse width knob.
can hear the differences in the envelopes in particular where you're playing with the arp
I would quite happily save 3 grand to not have that extra 10%. The OB6 still sounds fantastic, basically the result of this video is - you can't go wrong with an Oberheim
Yeah pretty much my conclusion too. I wish I’d summed it up in those words!
@@StarskyCarr your words were fine! Ha
Prices for US are 5000 vs 3500. Unless you’re comparing vs the module or used.
@@thesrabbit Thing is there are a ton of MINT used OB-6s around for £2000 or less keyboard version too! while there'll be no used OB-X8 on the market for at least a year. That means it's £2700 MORE in the U.K for an X8 over an OB-6 which isn't worth it for many... esp with all you lose for what relatively little you gain. And again.. the interface on the X8 is such a drag, not what I expect from a 5k synth... The Prophet 10 rev 4 shows how to do a classic reissue properly, I think they lost their way with this one from a design pov though the sound is obviously great.
@@thesrabbit in England the difference is about 2x
ΟΒ-6 has character! They both sound great, I want them both!
What's with all the crackling like at @3:50 ?
Thanks Starsky... Now you're on topic ;-) I own an OB6, 2x Matrix 1000, 1x XPander and 2x Cheetah MS6 - very similar to Matrix 1000, sometimes better... And my OB-X8 will ship in weeks... None of the aforementioned synths is therefore sold ... But the OB-X8 is the king ;-)
What’s the best editor for Mac for the 1000?
@@StarskyCarr You may be surprised, but I've been using Midiquest Pro in conjunction with the Kiwi Patch Editor as editor and librarian for years. I can also recommend the "Stereoping" Matrix Programmer, and most recently the "Electra One" Hardware Editor.
So appreciate this!! Love the Bread & Butter with Nutella!! LOL
Great comparison! I’d be interested to see the implementation of the ob6’s new vintage knob and how that compares to the obx8
One question that comes to mind after watching this video a few times; what are the maximum release times of the envelopes on the OBX8? Because I've always found them a bit too short on my OB6.
No idea but I’ll take a look in my next vid.
@@StarskyCarr
Ok, thanks for that!
I think they’re pretty short on the OB-X8 too! I was having trouble getting super long pads on the X8 without using a sustain pedal.
My OB8 had fairly short one so I adjusted them to now be like 30 seconds or something ha
Thanks...had an SX, Matrix 6R and Xpander in the past...regret selling the Xpander but slow Note On via Midi made everything too sloppy. OB6 appeals more to me...but my Nord Lead 3, G2 and G2X are pretty flexible to mimic most routings - not a purist in live band applications.
@Starsky Carr
Fantastic video!
Still trying to decide if I should sell my OB-6 for an OB-X8 - I imagine the OB-X8 is quite heavy and difficult to tour with but damn it sounds incredible
What oscilloscope are you using? It looks great and would love to use it in videos of my own!
Great comparison. thanks 👌♥️at 4:00 it would have interesting to hear both synth in a mono audio signal OR does the ob6 be set to pan each note. with some paning setting and an lfo carefully applied i think it is possible to be even closer.
I did a whole new video on that tone!
Why is the word modelled used at 25:30 to describe an analogue synth?
the envelopes are digital, as I think are the LFOs. .. but I'm using the term in the sense that they've had to create the same output from a different input - the tech is different, the ICBs aren't the same, neither are the components on the discrete circuits - so you have to model the circuits to achieve the results (yes I suspect using digital techniques in the design stage to test different models of the design before prototyping anything).
As a previous commenter said, I think of you add a bit of pan spread and some extra tweaking, I think they're pretty darn close. Not different enough for me sell my OB6 AND drop and extra 3.5k (AUD) for an X8. If they were the same price - or near enough - I'd probably go with the X8. Although, having said that - the immediacy and complete lack of menu diving on the OB6 would be cause for pause and thought. For a fully analog synth, I really want as close to knob per function as I can get. But that's me.
The OBX has a little extra umph somewhere in the lower mid range but I wouldn’t say it’s THAT much of a difference
It was harder to tell when you were just playing basic triads
The difference was a little more present in the full chords
Great video! Your experience matches mine 100%. The OB-6 is one of my favorite synths but after comparing it with my OB-X8 it’s difficult to find a reason to hold onto it. The OB-X8 just sounds better for everything I do with the OB-6, even if the difference isn’t night and day.
Re: the per voice differences you mentioned with the OB-X8, did you run a full calibration at various temperatures? The tune button only calibrates the oscillators and you need to use the full calibration option in globals for the envelopes and filters, unlike the P5/P10 where the tune button calibrates everything.
Yeah I’ve calibrated it quite a few times. Not sure where you are but here in Liverpool we’re having a heatwave so it’s unusually hot at the moment. Both were calibrated a number of times during the recording (when you think you’ve overdone it on the detune but it’s set at zero!)
Man I’d hate to run the calibration and have that beautiful richness disappear!
Very nice comparison, Starsky. On some patches I'd say it was pretty close but with others it was a big difference in sound. So yeah, it does sound lovely, but I don't have room for the OB-X8, and it's way too expensive, so I'll stick with my OB-6, and the little bit more modern sound which I guess suits my style better. But the OB-X8 does sound really really nice...hnnnggghh!
Yeah I still love the OB6… but do I need both (of course I do is the obvious answer!! But space is limited).
This is great thanks. I think I prefer the OB6 in a way. Which is good because I've got one and I can't afford the X8.
Great. I try to just demo the differences and let people decide for themselves. I’ve no vested interest in either, I’ve bought them both myself, and have no firm opinion on which is better - and that’s because it’s very subjective.
Because of that first tone I think a lot of OB6 owners think I’ve been unfair, but tbh if I the OB6 covered all the bases I could save myself a small fortune. In reality it’s better for me if the OB6 ‘wins’.
I’m glad to hear that after watching you think the OB6 is preferable. It balances all the negativity and goes down way to confirm I’m giving a balanced overview.
@@StarskyCarr yeah, I'm not sure fat' and complex is always preferable if that makes sense. Currently using my Alpha Juno more and more as for me it sits so beautifully in my mixes. And the OB6 adds more than enough fatness and growl if required. In the end its great that both exist innit.
@@DanCThorpe you’re right and I love my Juno 2. Here one is fatter and one is more complex so I guess you’ve proved our point 😀
Interesting comparison! I've got the OB-6 and really want the OB-X8. Are you parting with either or keeping both?
I’m still not sure. There are lots of things to consider… including space! Everyone has individual requirements so neither is the ‘winner’ but I can’t keep both. I’m looking at how I’d rearrange the studio for the OBx8, but do like having the editor/librarian the state variable filter and smaller footprint of the Ob6… aaargh!
surely first patch on OB6 doesnt sound like pan spread is engaged?
The saw leeks through at tri wave on OB6, you can even see it on the scope.
Comparison between OB6 and Super 6 would be nice!
Man, nothing seems to have the upper end sparkle like the Oberheim, even with the filter wide open. I just have to decide if it's worth $5k for THAT SOUND.
Could you compare the SEM filter on the PRO3 and OB6.
Thanks
I don't have a Pro 3 unfortunately.
@@StarskyCarr surely, then, you need one, Starsky!! 😀
Would you keep both?
Hi Starsky, always love your videos and your style, but on this comparison sorry to tell you that on the first part, the pan spread is absent on the OB6! While it is activated on the OB8.. So obviously the OB6 sounds like mono, and the OB8 stereo, this makes the comparison rather false for the listeners. I have the OB6 and I can guarantee that I can match easily the sound of the OBx8 on the first example, not scientifically same at 100% , but in a blind test we could not say for sure who is who ;)
Did you READ MY COMMENTS? 😂 FYI I’m planning on remaking that sound in detail because of all the negativity. I couldn’t match it … just couldn’t get that 100% so tried lots of things. Eventually perhaps in the final take it was more different than is possible as I’d come to the conclusion that I couldn’t matchit and there were obvious differences, so I gave up and demo’d where I was. I may well get it closer, but I doubt it’ll be exact - honestly I was playing with it for ages. But then again if I give it another go and match exactly I could save myself £5k! Winner 😂😂 I’m really agnostic on this and don’t swing either way. It is what it is, and I’m making decisions based on what I hear and how much I enjoy using it. If it takes a lot longer and finer control to achieve a tone then that also impacts on its use ability. One thing I never mentioned was how you can get really fine control of the lower frequencies of the LFO and LFO amount on the X8. So dialling a delicate tone is so much easier and there are more things to play with in that space. So we’ll see, I’m just annoyed it recorded in mono - I didn’t want to obsess with showing detune mode vs vintage mode etc etc but it seems a lot of folks would like to see that. Btw try listening to it in mono to hear the difference. Adding more detune to me sounds out of tune rather than richer. Vintage mode didn’t help. But do the mono thing. Anyway I’ll see you in The next instalment 👍
The Big Difference is still there while listening to the video in mono.
@@StarskyCarr Ah ok sorry Starsky, I hadn't read your explanations! Ok I understand better! But really no negativity on my side, it's just that I was really surprised at first by the sound of the OB6 which I know can compete in terms of width even if the OBx8 as you say has an even wider sound and a different behavior, I have been following you for a long time and I know that you are impartial and very professional , so I take your word for it! Anyway at the end both synths are calibrated differently and still very close in term of flavor. Can't wait to hear your fix ;)
I don’t work under time pressure, so I don’t mind working with the OB-Page2 menu dives. I wonder if Ty Unwin will find that a deal breaker?
Yeah, it’s a bit annoying but not a deal breaker for me. I have far worse synths when it comes to the UI. One thing of note, one of the guys from Sequential said they’re actively working on UI improvements, so hopefully a quicker workflow is coming in a future firmware update.
Interesting.. and good to know I’m not talking sh*t as a lot of people have alluded to 😂😀
I wonder if you put a bit of voice panning up on the OB-6 if you could get some of that huge sound.
Heck out the update video. Link in description I look at that sound in detail.
bread & butter with nutella :) , thanks for this incredible video ! keep rocking
$@&! Me indeed! That's incredible. I never thought I'd see the OB-6 be the tame one compared to another synth!
I look closer at the initial patch I made in this: ua-cam.com/video/HbLnK7GoZ8w/v-deo.html
I get them closer but there are still some differences.
@@StarskyCarr Round 2? Doing god's work there. Thank you for all your effort
Thanks very much for this video. It reaffirms some conclusions I’ve drawn about the X8 from other demos vs the OB-6 that I have.
A couple things:
I think the resonance on the X8’s SEM is a little more pronounced than on the 6. The harmonics are just a little louder, and I believe I can see it on the freq graph as well. I have seen other vids where the filter in the X8 is put into notch mode, with the resonance up, you can still hear some harmonics as the filter is swept. On the 6, you hear nothing at all in notch with the resonance on full. You have to blend it with HP or LP to hear harmonics at full res.
The raw tone of the X8 is fuller and more lush by far. As you say, it sounds like there’s chorus on it. So I think you can get the sound of the 6 closer by cheating a bit by adding just a dash of chorus from the built-in FX. It will probably never sound the same though as the oscillators on the 6 are just buzzier and not as full as the X8.
Would have liked to hear more detailed comparison of the vintage knob, but that’s ok. It sounds like the X8 has a lot more voice to voice variability even without the vintage knob.
Again, thanks for the vid. It’s definitely helpful and I think I know what I wanna do now regarding my current dilemma. :)
Good comment. Nice and logical. Not too common these days.
Thanks. You may be right on the filter.. I was attempting to show that they're not too far apart, and in essence are the same. When making these videos its a difficult balance between honing in on a minor difference and showing the overall character. Focussing on a specific minor difference gives me as much grief as showing they're almost identical. In this case IU thought they were close enough to be considered the same for all intents and purposes,
As far as the initial patch is concerned.. If things can be matched easily it generally means they have the same character. If, however, I need to spend a long time matching the patches and can't get it identical I'll demonstrate there's a difference.
After A/Bing so many synths I know when to give up! If I can't get it perfect after a few attempts (here I couldn't) I will record the demo where I'm at.. "there's a difference and here's where I'm at". I may well have had a couple more attempts that got a bit closer where maybe the detune was more similar, the envelope attack or release was better matched, or where the panning was added. I now think that after a few attempts I was concentrating so much on the chorus style effect, envelopes and filter that I simply forgot to add the pan on that particular occasion. When listening to these other, more important, facets in detail the pan is neither here nor there to me. Unfortunately that's the first thing everyone seems to have noticed!
So here I couldn't get it right, tried again and again, but there was always something different in the tones.
I tried both vintage mode and detune but nothing was matching . I recorded loads of the tweaking (always do) but edited out all the faffing around as its simply not interesting to watch - I match so many patches that recording every move would result in an 8 hour video.
I think in this case, however, that it's worth revisiting this and showing what I'm doing form scratch and why I settled on 'here's the big difference'. The result may well be slightly closer in some ways, or maybe not... but the character won't change. The issue for me is that all the takes an awful lot of my spare time, and I just wish it recorded in stereo to save me the aggro! :)
Nice compare between the two machines! An off topic question did you keep the prophet 6 and the prophet 5 at the end? :)
I did, but I'm probably going to sell both the P6 and OB6 and keep the P5/10 and OB-X8. I just don't need them all. the sequencers and arps on the smaller ones are great, but there's no point in keeping hold of all of them.
@@StarskyCarr I'm a P6, OB6, PRO2 and PRO3 SE owner myself and P5 will be the next synth. I would find it very hard to sell any of the machines even if they do overlap :(. However the OB-X8 seriously got a very clean sounding signal path. :) It's interesting how the sound evolves into something much larger when there are chords played.
TAHNK U SO much sorry .caps.) would u like to compare the black hole vs empress rev:?
Possibly. - I have the H9 which has the space algorithms.
Thanks for your great videos!
One question... Which reverb do you use?
In the videos I normally use Eventide Blackhole, and rarely use anything other than the default patch tweaked a little... it's easy to get a reverb to work when not used in a full track ;)
thx
Some of the comparisons actually playing the synths:
2:13
2:36 and 2:42 in particular
16:11
23:06
23:46
Let’s not get distracted, the OB6 still is love. But frick me, the OBX8 it BREATHES.
Are you running the OB6 through a digital effects pedal and the OB-X8 straight to the interface? If so then, given the subtleties we're listening for here, that difference kind of influences the comparison.
Of course I’m not. Why would I do that? As you say it would impact on the whole thing.
Mmm... I just can’t help that I love some Oberheim, any way I can get it. Sampled, in person, in a track... oh it’s mine, yes, one day it will be in my possession and I will steward it’s use to rock hard, BERRY HARD!!
does the ob6 really not have a stereo spread setting?
Yes it does, it works differently to the OBX8 which has a few settings. The OB6 has a simpler single method. But yes you can change the spread from mono to full l/r split of voices
Thanks for doing this. Going to watch it later. I returned an OB6 because the OBX8 was available for pre order 2 days after I bought the 6. Hopefully this comparison makes me glad I exchanged.
I think you’re going to like the OB-X8
The voices of an OB8 are panned left right a bit so what you hear is just a wider stereo image, especially on chords. Great sounding synth, the OB X8. Bit expensive though.
Someone did Flash Gordon and it sounds spot on. I have been searching for this sound for 40 years, just now I need to rob a bank, sell a kidney or steal the OBX8.
Where do you live again Starsky?
😝
Why god why did they not include a dedicated filter mode knob on the X8 like they did on the OB6??? 😖😖😖😖😖
Crackers .
@@StarskyCarr Obviously, it's a gorgeous synth, but for 5k I'd really want that knob!
Interesting, definitely the OB-X8 sounds the more refined, polished synth. It's like the difference between a really good Burguet 2A factory double top compared to my Stephen Hill 1A luthier made concert guitar. You're paying double the price, for some refinement, and much more animated life to it. For me, that difference is probably only worth it to professional keyboard players who rely on their polysynth as one of their main instruments. I can see why someone like Julian Pollack (J3PO) or some other session keyboard player would want one. But, for most electronic music producers, for the difference, maybe not worth it. Except, I would say, when producing ambient music where the polysynth is the main, or almost only instrument, and you want refinement, the OB-X8 sounds lush. Mixed, in busier electronic music with drum machines, Moog / FM basses, lush reverb and processing ... not so sure. The OB6 has a directness, forwardmess. rawness and mid-range bite that might even cut through more (though the OB-X8 has deeper / smoother bass). Overall, I'm surprised that the OB-X8 sounds quite a bit more reassuringly expensive than I expected ... but it's still too limited for me to want to buy it, for the price.
Don’t say that… I can’t keep both … or have you just given me the perfect excuse 😂
"You're paying double the price, for some refinement, and much more animated life to it"
Na, you're paying a couple hundred for that. The rest is the Oberheim tax. 🤪
Seriously, I wish could outright afford it right now. I don't want to slap it on the credit card. Patience . . . phew.
@@StarskyCarr Have you listened to the Groove Synthesis Third Wave videos, especially J3PO's? If you need to give yourself a reason to return it for something, that might do it. And save you 2k ;)
Am I the only one who bought an OB-6 on its own merit? Not because I cared for the Oberheim sound (undeniably great though it is). Great comparison none the less 👊🏻
Probably 😂 … but if you bought it because you like the sound you did actually buy it because of the Oberheim sound 😂😂😂
@@StarskyCarr good point 🤣 jokes aside I loved the sound of the OB-6 before I knew much about its heritage. It's capable of a wider pallet of tones than most UA-cam demo's show, which is usually cliché vintage 80s. I use mine in Drum & Bass tracks
OB6 was heavily hamstrung in that first test, haha. Of these two, OB6 would probably get my vote (having a square subosc would be huge for me, two oscs can't make up for the pure sound it provides) In the filter test, notice when he plays chords on both and for some reason they sound way closer than when he played chords in the first test. Panspread/filter env/vibrato depth mismatch on first test I think. I only have Xa, both of these having digital envelopes makes me sad, needs more untamed electricity.
Haha… yeah The pan was an error, but the LFO is hard to match - something I didn’t go into here, but the X8 has really fine control of the amount and lower rates. There are step changes in the OB6 at this level so matching exactly is either very hard or impossible depending on the settings. The envelopes aren’t the same either and the way they pick up the voltage from the previous trigger is different - the interaction of the different voices on the X8 makes it impossible again in some cases listen to the individual notes zzz very close in filter and env, but playing chords they’re not. Hence why I demo’d both. Looks like I’ll have to re-run this to see if I can get it closer.
Reading the comments led me to believe they weren't that far apart. First 5 minutes told a different story though, if I have the money I'm going Oberheim.
Take a look at this for a deeper dive into the first tone.
Oberheim OB-X8 vs OB6 // REMATCH // THAT sound again!!
ua-cam.com/video/HbLnK7GoZ8w/v-deo.html
Have you updated your OB=6 to the newer firmware that enables “vintage knob mode?”
Yeah… this is using the latest (I think it’s 1.7.4)
Both amazing but I still love my OB6
Why didn't you use the pan spread mode on the OB6 to more closely match the OBX8 is beyond me.
Read the comments and description. I did but it recorded in mono. What I’m saying still holds. Play it in mono or play it on your phone at arms length. You’ll hear the same effect.
He did but messed up the recording on the first set of sounds. people are getting a massively wrong impression of the difference due to that. Panning/stereo is always gonna 'wow' those who don't have an OB-6 and knows it can sound just as good :/ The only sonic difference I can hear, in the X8's favour, is that when both synths are full stereo the X8 has a wider panning somehow (A dfferent pan mode vs the OB-6's only mode which is a ping pong or full spread). The X8 therefore sounds 'better' due to this, in reality recording things differently i.e in a mix puts them equal.
The real difference is the voice to voice variation seems more 'vintage' on the X8 probably because they coded it based on those synths rather than just porting the Prophet's vintage knob code like with OB-6. It wouldn't shock me at all if that code was updated on the OB-6 to add a third mode like the OB-X8 and then, in theory, it should and could sound exactly the same. There are NO electronics in the X8 that should in anyway make it sound better... it's almost the same in full SEM mode, just the X8 lacks a ton of sound shaping from the OB-6 so ultimately would sound 'worse' in the long run.
I know my own OB-6 sounds better than what's posted on the first part of this video. A shame it makes the X8 look so much better... but anyone who knows anything will see past that - like how the Prophet rev 4 sounds amazing even though its mono. Wide panned sound is not wooing me, it's just a thing... the tone AND interface need to be great, esp at this price, and the interface sucks on the X8 and is beautiful on the OB-6. The sound is almost identical... and where it isn't the OB-6 can be tweaked in code... it's not a twice the price difference.
I think Prophet *5/10* rev 4 sounds better than either of them, ultimately, but the OB-6 is almost as good and does far more than the X8 and costs much less so is a much better synth all round than the X8. I hate that menu screen and encoder... what a turn off. :(
I never mentioned the Rev2? I HATE the rev2.. I hate that filter... the DCOs sound like shit. No I said Prophet 5/10 REV 4!! It sounds sublime, better than X8 AND OB-6 tonally, but.... the OB-6 is very very close and does extra things that are magic too. OB-6 is one of very few amazing sounding analogs out there in modern times, OB-6, Prophet rev 4s... not much else. :) OB-6 has a *very* special sound, far beyond the simple vintage type vibe of the X8 or even the OG OB-X, it is the blend of modern and old-school on the OB-6 that gives it its magic, which is why I prefer it over the more vanilla X8. Prophet rev 4 is awesome due to its power and tone, it also has a vast sonic range even though it looks simple.
@@HappyProducer
My bad. I've quickly realized my mistake (reading REV2 instead of REV4) and deleted my comment, but not quickly enough before you could read it. I agree 100% with everything you said in your initial comment.
Very noce
Thanks for doing this comparison. I will say they are both great and both definitely have strengths that they're uniquely good at. Technical / feature differences aside, the OB-X8 will for sure be amazing for nailing that early 80's OB sound, and sounds like that pad you played at the beginning. The OB-6 has less bass in VCO 1 & 2 compared to the OB-X8 because it has a dedicated sub oscillator. This can help it sound a lot cleaner and tighter a lot of times. The widely-loved factory patch 007 (507) on the OB-6 is a great example, and many rhodes-esque patches of made on it are just flat out amazing. For piano-esque sounds the OB-6 is so good, like the patch at 22:38, the OB just sounds a lot cleaner and clearer while the OB-X8 is a bit more mushy. Or at 24:27, you can really tell there's excessive low end on the OB-X8 in that patch. For other types of patches, that huge low end and other characteristics makes it sound gorgeous though. They're both great instruments in their own way.
Having low end is not a problem, you can always cut it out with EQ. The problem is not having it, because you can’t boost where there’s nothing to boost.
Interesting. I have the OB-6 and it and I'm very happy with it. The OB X8 sounds great, of course. Is the sonic difference enough to justify spending the $$ for something similar? Well, I don't have the $$ at the moment, so I guess it's a moot point.
No comparison, OBX8 wins all day
@ghost mall gotta keep an eye out for deals once inventory catches up and or they start popping up on the used market. That’s my plan.