# Oberheim OB-1

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Monophonic analog synthesizer

OB-1 Oberheim OB-1 Manufacturer Oberheim Dates 1977 - 1979 Price US$1,895 Technical specifications Polyphony Monophonic Timbrality Monotimbral Oscillator 2 VCOs LFO 1 Synthesis type Analog Subtractive Filter 1 VCF (2 or 4 pole switchable) Attenuator 2 ADSR envelope generators (one for VCF, one for VCA) Aftertouch expression No Velocity expression No Storage memory 8 patches Effects No Input/output Keyboard 37 keys Left-hand control Pitch bend/modulation lever External control CV/gate

The **Oberheim OB-1** was a [monophonic](/source/Monophonic_synthesizer) [analog synthesizer](/source/Analog_synthesizer) introduced by [Oberheim Electronics](/source/Oberheim_Electronics) in late 1977. With the ability to store and recall up to 8 instances of its sound settings, it was the first completely programmable synthesizer,[1][2] and the first of Oberheim's OB-series of synthesizers.

## Development

Oberheim's OB-series was developed as a replacement for the previous generation of [Oberheim SEM-based instruments](/source/Oberheim_Polyphonic_Synthesizer) and intended to be used for live performance.[3][4] Building on the technology developed for their Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer, Oberheim designed the OB-1 with the ability to store and recall up to 8 instances of its sound settings, making it the world's first completely programmable synthesizer.[2][1] It originally sold for $1,895.

A slightly updated version, the **Oberheim OB-1a**, was introduced in 1979 that features the grey color scheme of its polyphonic sibling, the [OB-X](/source/Oberheim_OB-X).[5]

## Specification

The OB-1 features two [voltage-controlled oscillators](/source/Voltage-controlled_oscillator) (VCOs), each selectable between either "Pulse Type" or "Saw Type" waveform, with continuously-variable control ranging from a [square wave](/source/Square_wave_(waveform)) to a narrow [pulse wave](/source/Pulse_wave) for the "Pulse Type" setting, or from a [triangle wave](/source/Triangle_wave) to a [sawtooth wave](/source/Sawtooth_wave) for the "Saw Type". The oscillators can be synced, and there is an available square wave sub-oscillator. The [voltage-controlled filter](/source/Voltage-controlled_filter) is switchable between either 2- or 4-pole, with frequency cutoff and resonance controls. There are two [ADSR envelopes](/source/ADSR_envelope): one for the filter, the other for the [voltage-controlled amplifier](/source/Variable-gain_amplifier).[3] There are eight program memory buttons for storing and recalling the OB-1's settings.[1][2]

There is a [portamento](/source/Portamento) knob allowing for adjustment of portamento amount, as well as a [pitch bend](/source/Pitch_bend)/[modulation](/source/Modulation) lever.[1][2]

## In popular culture

Notable users of the OB-1 include [Vince Clarke](/source/Vince_Clarke) and the bands [Tangerine Dream](/source/Tangerine_Dream), [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)), and [The Grid](/source/The_Grid).[3]

A 2014 feature on the French radio station [France Inter](/source/France_Inter) claimed that the OB-1 had been used by *[Star Wars](/source/Star_Wars)* sound engineer [Ben Burtt](/source/Ben_Burtt) to create the voice of [R2-D2](/source/R2-D2), and that the name of another *Star Wars* character, [Obi-Wan Kenobi](/source/Obi-Wan_Kenobi), derives from a transliteration of "OB-1".[6][7] However, *Star Wars* was first released in May 1977, prior to the OB-1's release, and most sources credit the [ARP 2600](/source/ARP_2600) synthesizer as being used to create R2-D2's voice.[8][9]

## Software emulations

In 2024, GForce Software released the Oberheim OB-1 [software synthesizer](/source/Software_synthesizer), an emulation of the OB-1.[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Colbeck_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Colbeck_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Colbeck_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Colbeck_1-3) Colbeck, Julian (1996). *Keyfax Omnibus Edition*. MixBooks. pp. 84–90. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-918371-08-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-918371-08-2).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ForrestP_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ForrestP_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ForrestP_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ForrestP_2-3) Forrest, Peter (1996). *The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers Part Two: N-Z*. Devon, England: Susurreal. pp. 7–15. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0952437716](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0952437716).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-VS_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-VS_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-VS_3-2) ["Oberheim OB-1"](http://www.vintagesynth.com/oberheim/ob1.php). *Vintage Synth Explorer*. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Vail1_4-0)** Moog, Bob (1993). Vail, Mark (ed.). *Vintage Synthesizers: Oberheim SEM Module*. San Francisco, California, USA: Miller Freeman Books. pp. 151–156. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87930-275-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87930-275-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Retro Synth Ads: Oberheim OB-1A and OB-X "A family that plays together..." ad, Contemporary Keyboard, 1979"](http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/2012/03/oberheim-ob-1a-and-ob-x-family-that.html). *Retro Synth Ads*. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [France Inter](/source/France_Inter) (18 February 2014. ["Star wars Identities: visite virtuelle"](http://www.franceinter.fr/evenement-star-wars-identities-visite-virtuelle). Retrieved 25 April 2015 (in French)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Russ, Martin (2012) [*Sound Synthesis and Sampling*](https://books.google.com/books?id=B6J5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT333), 3rd edition, p. 333. Taylor & Francis

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Kunkes, Michael (May-June 2009). ["Sound Trek: The Audio Explorations of Ben Burtt"](https://www.editorsguild.com/Magazine.cfm?ArticleID=721). *[Editors Guild Magazine](/source/Motion_Picture_Editors_Guild)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Pinch, T. J. and Trocco, Frank (2004). [*Analog Days*](https://books.google.com/books?id=3hjvWzkMK-sC&pg=PA273), p. 273. Harvard University Press

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["GForce launch Oberheim OB-1 soft synth"](https://www.soundonsound.com/news/gforce-launch-oberheim-ob-1-soft-synth). *Sound On Sound*. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oberheim OB-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberheim_OB-1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberheim_OB-1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.