Dave Smith Instruments OB-6 6-Voice Keyboard Synthesizer

Two Legends. One Instrument

The OB-6 is a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between the two most influential designers in poly synth history, Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim.The OB-6 takes the classic bold Tom Oberheim soundwith its true voltage-controlled oscillators, 2-pole filter, and amplifiersand adds modern enhancements such as studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and more. No other modern analog poly synth can boast such a pedigree or such a massive, in-your-face sonic signature.

Vintage SEM Tone

The OB-6 sound engine is inspired by Toms original SEM, the core of his acclaimed 4-voice and 8- voice synthesizers. It features two discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (plus sub-oscillator) per voice with continuously variable waveshapes (sawtooth and variable-width pulse, plus a triangle wave on oscillator 2). The classic Oberheim-inspired 2-pole, state-variable, resonant filter provides low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch functionality. Voltage-controlled amplifiers complete the all-analog signal path.

Dual Effects

Thedual effects section providesstudio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and BBD), chorus, flangers, and faithful recreations of Toms original phase shifter and ring modulator. While the effects themselves are digital, with 24-bit, 48 kHz resolution, a true bypassmaintains a full analog signal path.

X-Mod and Poly Step Sequencing

Also present is X-Mod, which expands the tonal palette and makes it easy to create dramatic and unconventional sounds. Modulation sources are filter envelope and oscillator 2, both with bi-polar control. Destinations include oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, filter cutoff, and filter mode. The polyphonic step sequencer allows up to 64 steps and up to 6 notes per step. You can create sequences polyphonically, with rests, and sync to an external MIDI clock. The full-featured arpeggiator can be synced toexternal MIDI clock as well. Unison mode features configurable voice count (1-6 voices), chord memory, and key modes.

Easy to Program

The knob-per-function front panel puts virtually all OB-6 functions at your fingertips. Included are500 permanent factory programsand 500 rewritable user programs. Turning on the Manual buttonenables live panel mode, in which the sound of the OB-6 switches to its current front panel settings. In this state, whatyou see is what you hear.

Easy to Play

This analog powerhouse is packed into a four-octave, semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch, making it perfect for stage or studio.

Features:

• Full-sized, semi-weighted, 4-octave keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
• Backlit pitch and mod wheels
• Spring-loaded pitch wheel with selectable range per program (1 to 12 semitones up and down)
• Transpose controls for an 8-octave range
• Hold switch latches held notes on
• Polyphonic portamento
• Unison (monophonic) mode with configurable voice