Gforce Software Oberheim SEM

[Vortifex]

..

[NikkiA]

New 1.6.1 UI is perfect IMO, although I had to resize it a bit to get it big enough, but nbd, all sharp and no blurry here. Was also surprised that the £29 offer ended up being £19, probably because of owning OB-E. Regret at missing the intro price all gone.

[osofaux]

There are companies out there that double down on unpopular changes to their GUIs (Apple's changes to MacOS system settings comes to mind) so kudos to GForce for being sports about it with this update.

[abernathy]

There are companies out there that double down on unpopular changes to their GUIs (Apple's changes to MacOS system settings comes to mind) so kudos to GForce for being sports about it with this update.

And that was awfully quick to implement a GUI change. I haven’t had a chance to try it, but thank you Gforce for listening!

[felis]

The zoomed option shows up on the bottom of the list when you click the gear on the upper right corner.
Looks better.

[BONES]

Maybe late to the party, but this thing sounds GORGEOUS. Way to go, G-Force! The GUI is fine IMO.

Welcome aboard! It does have a very special sound.

[vitocorleone123]

A new 'zoomed' option has been implemented in version 1.61 that removes the wood and makes better use of space. I still prefer the original, as the fonts are sharper and I prefer the contrast, plus it doesn't have that pointless black bar at the bottom:

fullsem1.png

fullsem2-min.png

I agree. This is a step back in the right direction, but usability still decreased with the lower contrast and fuzzier text. 1.7 needs to fix that.

Visual updates should improve the UX or just be left out.

[sqigls]

just installed the v1.6.1 update on osx, the "Zoomed" view is perfect.
my eyes are old so maybe i don't notice any major blurring on my m1 macbook
wow what a gem. gotta say, this really is one of my favourite synths to program, and just the sound of it. I'll always have a soft spot for the SEM. GForce are nailing it. It's only a small thing really, but this GUI update shows me that their customer connection is really on the up and up.
I raise my ghoptu to you GForce.

[zerocrossing]

Could somebody share an opinion about bx Oberhausen vs Gforce sem sound and usage?
It's tempting 39 us now,but i have two licenses for obehausen and even can't find enthusiast to send the one,not sure is it because of quality of the sound or just the price drops of pa - literary i'm giving it for free and nobody want it,as exchange for something else,which i can use...whatever:):):)
How are they compared inside the mix,personally i like how Oberhaosen sit and give warm analog feeling,is there significant difference in presence inside the mix?

I really love BX_oberhausen. I never compared it to OB-E, but I think it’s of comparable quality. I never picked up SEM because I feel like I’m set for Oberheim. I’ve also got Obsession and OB-Xa V. I like Arturia’s a bit better because of the extra features and better UI.

[electro]

I really love BX_oberhausen. I never compared it to OB-E, but I think it’s of comparable quality. I never picked up SEM because I feel like I’m set for Oberheim. I’ve also got Obsession and OB-Xa V. I like Arturia’s a bit better because of the extra features and better UI.

Gforce is the one. Their Arp way back in 2002 was the first serious VST emulation you could compare to hardware and they've done it again with Oberheim.

[BONES]

This is a step back in the right direction, but usability still decreased with the lower contrast and fuzzier text. 1.7 needs to fix that.

I disagree, the softer anti-aliasing looks way better on all of my screens. They GUI always felt a bit cheap to me, like a Cherry Audio GUI. Now it looks a lot more professional, as befits an instrument of this quality.

I really love BX_oberhausen.

Want to know something scary? We agree on something. I think bx_oberhausen is incredible. My absolute favourite sounding synth, soft or hard. That said, it still has its issues - super-high CPU use and weird velocity response (if you can get any at all) but the sound is unbeatable.

I never picked up SEM because I feel like I’m set for Oberheim.

GForce's SEM is pretty damned wonderful, too. The extra osc goes a long way towards making up for the lack of unison and it's CPU use is far more modest. It has become my go-to for a lot of things.

I’ve also got Obsession and OB-Xa V. I like Arturia’s a bit better because of the extra features and better UI.

I might be a bit biased, because I beta tested Obsession, but I prefer it to Arturia's one. I like it's extra features, I find them more useful than Arutria's.

[MrJubbly]

Lol! I just realised GForce has released a 1.6.1 update to [ahem] correct their previous 1.6 'new GUI' release.

So, they basically did ... exactly what I had originally suggested they should ...

The wasted screen space has got to go ... Scrap it in the next update, G-Force ASAP!

Repeat after me: "The wood is no good!"

Edit: See following "Fixed GUI" mockup ... Which is the exact same version 1.6 update GUI, only with the redundant border and 3D perspective removed (took less than 5 minutes to do in Photoshop, hopefully G-Force can do something similar with a bit more time on their hands)

So I guess, I cannot grumble (and therefore, I shan't ~ at least about SEM). GForce, you have redeemed yourself. I now have my nice 'zoomed in' view of the panels (sans Arturia-ish skeuomorphism) just as I wanted.

Therefore, I have to give props to GForce for actually listening to their customers and for being big enough to change their original stance of sticking with the previous 'zoomed out' GUI design shenanigans.

And it would appear that now, another developer also recently guilty of being completely unable to read the room on a certain company strategy/direction, Minimal Audio, have also decided to relent from their previous 'subscription only' faux pas and instead, do the sensible thing, just as I predicted they would (and should).

"Minimal Audio ... Maximum Greed!"

Kilohearts, please show these misguided Minimal Morons "the way" to actually market and sell a successful and 'fair to customers' [ synth / host / effects ] ecosystem.

They do realize other synths exist right? Serum, Vital, Pigments, Omnisphere.......even a $480 Omni is a smarter decision. This is an unwise decision.

I feel it will inevitably fail and there will eventually be some form of 'backtracking', albeit in a way in which the company tries to save face.

Hey, I'm on a roll here. Just call me Nostrodamus!

Since Minimal Audio's newly proposed direction of offering 'perpetual licences' and 'Rent-To-Own' purchase options, seems awfully familiar to the business model of that aforementioned company.

Again 'though, can't complain with that 'solution'. It was really the only sensible thing to do in the situation and by rights, ought really to have been their initial business plan and marketing strategy from the outset. Let's see, if their initial blunder has any lasting damage, or can be repaired.


I wonder if I can keep that lucky streak rolling and maybe Gforce will also slightly tweak the relative brightness levels of the panel/text labels on their latest OB-X GUI, to help increase the legibility thereof, as suggested? (nudge-nudge, wink-wink? ) ...

Some possible minor GUI brightness tweaks (without straying far off the original design aesthetic) ...

A) Retaining the same panel brightness, but with darker text (for improved contrast/legibility)

Oberheim OB-X - GUI Brightness Tweak 2.jpg

B) Retaining roughly the same text label brightness, but with darker panels.

Oberheim OB-X - GUI Panel Colour Tweak 1.5.jpg

Hey, fingers-crossed!

[Uncle E]

They told me they're watching the threads (they're probably reading this right now ), have seen your mockups, and will discuss with the team shortly.

[egbert101]

Yeah that darker shade is perfect.

[vurt]

They told me they're watching the threads

hey dave long time no see!