Datsound has announced the release of Obxd, a free virtual analog synth VST instrument for Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) based on Oberheim OB-X. Obxd emulates the original hardware characteristics and comes with modern improvements.
Obxd attempts to recreate its sound and behavior, but as the original was very limited in some important ways a number of things were added or altered to the original design. If you’re unfamiliar with the OB-X, its user manual can easily be found from various sources on the net. This manual will make no attempt to explain basic synth programming or the operation of the OB-X, but will discuss modifications from the basic design and in some cases their ramifications.
The Obxd was designed to sound as good and as rich as the original. It implements micro random detuning which is a big part of that sound. However, it was not designed as a self-contained completely independent soft-synth. It needs to be contained within a VST framework where things like transposition, automation, layering, arpeggiation, etc., are available. Also, like many synths of the OB-X’s generation, the Obxd has no internal effects so its sounds and textures can be greatly enhanced by the use of additional processing like chorus, reverb, delay, etc.
Demos:
Obxd free synth comes packed with a huge amount of presets (531 in total). You can find out more about the people involved in developing this superb piece of software here.
More info: Obxd – free VST instrument based on the Oberheim OB-X
