Image: Brandon Daniel from Sunnyvale, CA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Oberheim OB-1
| Category | Electronic (analogue monosynth) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | analog synthesizer |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q22907421 |
Overview
The Oberheim OB-1 is a programmable monophonic synthesizer released in 1978. It was the first commercial monosynth to offer user-programmable patch memory — eight on-board patches — and provided a dual-VCO subtractive architecture aimed at fat lead, bass, and effects voices. Together with the polyphonic OB-X that followed shortly afterward, it established Oberheim’s “OB” line of analogue programmable synthesizers.
Origin & History
Oberheim launched the OB-1 to address a clear gap in the market: monophonic synthesizers were already common — the Minimoog dominated — but they could not store and recall patches. The OB-1 introduced a programmable, button-selected memory system to a monosynth, allowing live performers to switch sounds instantly. The design used two VCOs, a 12-dB-per-octave low-pass filter, two envelopes, and an LFO. Production ran for several years before the line was retired as the polyphonic OB-X family took on Oberheim’s commercial focus.
How It’s Played
The OB-1 is played from a 37-key keyboard with patches selected via the front-panel memory bank. The dual-VCO architecture supports both detuned thick lead voices and intervallic effects, and the filter delivers the smooth, slightly aggressive low-pass voice associated with Oberheim. Pitch and modulation wheels handle expression; a sample-and-hold circuit and ring modulator add effects-oriented voicing options. Without arpeggiation or sequencing, the OB-1 is best as a player’s instrument rather than a self-driving sound source.
Cultural Significance
The OB-1’s programmability anticipated a shift that would soon define the synthesizer market. Within a few years patch memory became a baseline expectation rather than a luxury feature. The instrument’s specific tonal character — fat dual-VCO leads, the Oberheim filter voicing — appears on a wide range of late-1970s and early-1980s recordings and remains a desirable studio instrument today.
Related Instruments
- Oberheim OB-X – the polyphonic successor
- Oberheim OB-Xa – later dual-filter polysynth
- Oberheim OB12 – modern virtual-analogue Oberheim
- ARP Pro DGX – contemporary preset monosynth
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 – contemporary programmable polysynth
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the OB-1 the first programmable synthesizer?
The first programmable monosynth — a few earlier polysynths had patch memory.
How many patches does it store?
Eight.
How many oscillators does each voice have?
Two VCOs.
