The OB-6 Desktop Module from Dave Smith Instruments is a modern, all-analog, 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer that pays tribute to Tom Oberheim's SEM 4-voice and 8-voice synthesizers, but with several enhancements. The synth features true voltage-controlled oscillators, a classic Oberheim-inspired 2-pole, state-variable resonant filter, amplifiers, envelopes, and an LFO. Additional enhancements include studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step-sequencer, and an arpeggiator; all of which can be synchronized internally or to external MIDI clock.
The desktop module's control panel offers knob-per-function control with no menu diving. There are 500 permanent factory programs and 500 user programs which are organized into 10 banks of 100 presets. The OB-6 offers an ideal combination of portability and power for the project studio or the gigging musician.
- The OB-6 is a collaboration between Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim, two of the most influential designers in polysynth history. The OB-6 takes the classic bold Tom Oberheim sound, with its true voltage-controlled oscillators, 2-pole filter, and amplifiers, and adds modern enhancements such as studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and more
- Sound engine inspired by Tom Oberheim's original SEM synthesizers
- Two discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (plus sub-oscillator) per voice
- Continuously Variable Waveshapes: Sawtooth and variable-width pulse, plus a triangle wave on oscillator 2
- Classic Oberheim-inspired 2-pole, state-variable, resonant filter with low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch functionality
- VCA: Voltage-controlled amplifiers
- Dual Effect Engine: 24-bit/48 kHz resolution
- Studio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and BBD), chorus, and phase shifter
- True bypass maintains a full analog signal path
- Independent stereo 100% analog distortion effect
- Modulation Sources: Filter envelope and oscillator 2 (both with bi-polar control)
- Destinations: Oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, filter cutoff, and filter mode
- Unison Mode: Configurable voice count (1-6 voices) and key modes
- Polyphonic Step Sequencer: 64 steps with up to 6 notes per step with rests. Syncs to an external MIDI clock
- Arpeggiator: Syncs to external MIDI clock
- Knob-per-function front panel offers instant access to virtually all OB-6 functions
- 1000 Presets: 500 permanent factory programs and 500 user programs organized into 10 banks of 100 programs
- Live Panel Mode: Switches from a preset to current knob and switch settings