Gforce Oberheim OB-X

[zvenx]

I take it you have played an 8 voice SEM Oberheim, so you can speak on realism?

And you will be able to tell in a listening test the hardware from the Gforce OB-X without effects?
rsp

[MrJubbly]

Top tip for today. Don't save your an OB-X preset with the same name as another preset. It'll allow you to do it, but it won't show up in the preset browser. I've now learnt to put my initials at the start of any of my patch names.

Seems like a bit of an oversight on GForce's part. Do you know if they've already been made aware of this issue, or whether they need to be informed thereof?

[felis]

GForce OB-E is an 8 voice SEM. To my ears, it sounds quite a bit different from the GForce OB-X.

I've never played the hardware versions, so I don't know how close either one is to those.

[zvenx]

That was I believe on purpose.. Don't know why, but it was by design.
rsp

[chk071]

I think OB-E is the best synth from G-Force and quite usefull in modern productions (although it's not there in emulation department like for example Model 84 Softube for realism)
GForce OB-X sounds like thin VA engine doing approximation of later series OBX-a an OB-8 .
IMHO , SonicProjects OP-X PRO II is better...

Real OB-X (DRY without any FX) is real power and we will have to wait like 5 years for THAT level of emulation.

Going out on a limb here, as I didn't play the original, but, yeah, that's exactly my impression after demoing it. With the exception that I think achieving that level of emulation is already possible, but, the Gforce just doesn't cut it.

Tar and feather me, if you want.

[zvenx]

Well I wouldn't tar and feather you, but I don't understand how one can comment on the level of authenticity of the emulation without ever playing the original.
Maybe you wouldn't like the original either.

I never got to a/b them directly but like I said a few weeks ago I got a chance to spend some time with an ob-x8, by then I had spent weeks with the ob-x testing, and I think they did an outstanding job... to the point if I am being honest, it quelled my lust for an ob-x8.
rsp

[chk071]

I never got to a/b them directly but like I said a few weeks ago I got a chance to spend some time with an ob-x8

Would be interesting how they compare directly.

And, I'm well aware that I can't compare the one to the other, but, from what sound demos I heard from the original (loads), I think it's one of the fattest, warmest, most creamy sounds I ever heard from analog. While demoing the Gforce OB-X really left me unimpressed. Just my (unqualified) opinion.

Usually I end up liking the synths I also liked in sound demos.

[zvenx]

I am sure at some point someone will do a direct comparison on youtube or maybe gforce would do one.

I also got a chance to see behind the scenes of what it was required for the Oberheim team to give their blessings. They would not have this iteration until they were satisfied. (and I choose iteration purposely)
rsp

[beely]

IMHO , SonicProjects OP-X PRO II is better...

Could you be more specific as to why you feel it's better? (In terms of sound quality, I mean, as that's what we're talking about here - forget things like presets, features, interface etc).

Is it the oscillators, the filter? Other features?
Or is it more of a "I didn't directly compare them, I just feel like the OP-X is generally better"-type thing?

[GruvSyco]

As an OB-X8 owner, I can tell you that compared to the OB-X8, SonicProjects OP-X Pro II (which has long been a favorite) sounds noticeably duller. Like someone EQ'd the highs out.

I can also say that OB-E (which I also have), to me, sounds like it can hold its own to the X8.

[electro]

I think OB-E is the best synth from G-Force and quite usefull in modern productions (although it's not there in emulation department like for example Model 84 Softube for realism)
GForce OB-X sounds like thin VA engine doing approximation of later series OBX-a an OB-8 .
IMHO , SonicProjects OP-X PRO II is better...

Real OB-X (DRY without any FX) is real power and we will have to wait like 5 years for THAT level of emulation.

Going out on a limb here, as I didn't play the original, but, yeah, that's exactly my impression after demoing it. With the exception that I think achieving that level of emulation is already possible, but, the Gforce just doesn't cut it.

Tar and feather me, if you want.

Side by side with hardware OB-X, OP-X sounded real close, just see the videos they post. I'm sure the Gforce gets its also and then there are different sampling rates to consider for the A/B.

[Odd Fella]

As an OB-X8 owner, I can tell you that compared to the OB-X8, SonicProjects OP-X Pro II (which has long been a favorite) sounds noticeably duller. Like someone EQ'd the highs out.

I can also say that OB-E (which I also have), to me, sounds like it can hold its own to the X8.

They did add bright modes later on, on their site it says:

Bright Modes
The standard OP-X PRO was tuned for a warm sound, so that the filter also smooths the incoming waves a bit when fully opened (as it is the case in many vintage analog synths). There were however also ones that could open the filter fully into the ultra sound area and let pass the wave unchanged. The two new switchable bright modes do exactly this. The knob for this is the previous "DMP" one. The first two modes are the same as before (LED dark: standard, LED orange: damp). The new modes: Blue: CLR (Clear) - lets the filter open fully. Red: BRI (Brilliant) - additionally adds some extra edge and brightness.

[BONES]

Well, who buys an emulation if it does not have everything the original had?

I might if it had all the bits I need. I don't understand why anyone is interested in emulation as emulations. It's seems kind of pathetic to me to be so hidebound.

I don't want resonance at 20Hz or 30Hz.

How about 40 or 50 Hz? 100Hz? 200?

And if the ladder filter is done well, resonance sounds fine at higher frequencies and conversely, poor non-ladder filters can sound horrible.

No, they all sound horrible. The ones that sound less horrible at least recognise the issue and attempt to ameliorate it but they still sound worse than pretty much every other kind of low pass filter.

That is what people say about Sylenth1 for instance, that it's hard to make it sound bad - and it has a ladder filter, and yet a big sound, if one wants it to.

People can say what they want, Sylenth 1 is simply not a very good synth, for reasons I have delved into on too many prior occasions.

GForce OB-X sounds like thin VA engine doing approximation of later series OBX-a an OB-8 .

Hhhmmm... Who to believe, Tom Oberheim or you?

[Uncle E]

As an OB-X8 owner, I can tell you that compared to the OB-X8, SonicProjects OP-X Pro II (which has long been a favorite) sounds noticeably duller. Like someone EQ'd the highs out.

I can also say that OB-E (which I also have), to me, sounds like it can hold its own to the X8.

I’ve been recreating OB-X8 patches on the GForce OB-X and it’s pretty striking how similar they sound.

[zvenx]

We don't believe you, send me those patches by pm....
Yeah though i didn't have them next to each other, I got that general feeling too.
rsp