A favourite of Van Halen, Prince and Bon Jovi, Oberheim’s OB-Xa synth is 80s music encapsulated. IK Multimedia’s OXa synth takes what’s best about the original hardware and distills it into an eminently playable instrument in your DAW, running inside IK’s Syntronik or SampleTank host software.
Syntronik is an IK Multimedia plugin that runs multiple classic synth emulations, letting you choose presets or program your sounds, to layer multiple classic synths on top of each other, and to apply a selection of five from its huge stock of 38 effects to the signal.
Once you’ve got OXa installed on your hard drive, you’ll have access to some classic 80s Oberheim sounds via the copious range of presets, and the control set for digging deeper into the programming behind them.
OXa features a relatively small oscillator section, compared to most synths we’re used to, but the rest of the synth has personality in spades. Its Filter panel contains seven types of processor to sculpt the raw sound from the oscillators – including some unusual entries. A pair of AHDSR envelope controls let you take control over amplitude and filter cutoff. Modulation, meanwhile, is provided by a capable LFO that can be assigned to multiple destinations at the same time.
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Computer Music.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Computer Music.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BLEASS Arpeggiator
Classic synth-based arpeggiators' up-down patterns can be tedious, says Stuart Adams. Can Arpeggiator bring the variability he craves?
Synthogy Ivory 3 German D
One of the most highly regarded piano libraries around gets an update. Does it strike a chord with our reviewer, Herr Roland Schmidt?
MODALICS BITFUZZER
Distortion can be a great effect for enlivening and mashing up sounds, and this month we've got you a plugin that can do both
RADICAL RHYTHMS
From pepping up basic grooves to creating full-on 4/4-flouting madness, learn a multitude of timing tricks with our classic guide
SEDIBUS
Detaching from The Orb mothership, Sedibus is the latest project of core figurehead Alex Paterson, accompanied by former Orb-member and key creative collaborator Andy Falconer. With a studio shorthand and a shared passion for flourishing ambient textures, the pair's second record SETI gazes skyward for its inspiration. We spoke to Andy to learn more...
Sidechain compression
Sidechain compression is an excellent mixing tool and in this tutorial we pick apart this essential process
How to make a rave-style techno track
Prepare to get fists in the air as we learn the tools, tricks and tempos for nailing the basics of rave-ready techno
Make a filter kick bass with BazilleCM
Following our deep-dive into the oscillator section of BazilleCM, we follow the signal flow to create a filter-thumping bass sound
MARIA W HORN
An avid explorer of sound's spectral properties, Maria W Horn's work realises the potential of long-forgotten spaces. Via instrumental textures, room responses, the human voice and a specialised computer language, she synthesises entirely new sonics. We heard more about her processes and the at-times chilling story behind her affecting new album, Panoptikon
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CREATIVE REVERB
Reverb has been relied on for its evocative sonic character ever since the first homo sapien warbled expletives into a dark cave. The transformative power of space is still a vital mix ingredient