Sometimes you just want a really hugesounding synth, and they don’t come much bigger and phatter than an Oberheim Poly.
However, the originals will likely require you to secure a second mortgage, should you want to go all-in on vintage, and that’s before you suffer from likely component failure. With these points ringing in our ears, any reincarnation in software is going to be worth a look, especially if it has an endorsement from Oberheim.
Help me OB one
GForce Software has form in this field of recreation, with software versions of Mellotrons, Minimoogs, and now the OB-X, which joins the previously reviewed OB-E. While the OB-E was all about the SEM-based Oberheim 8-voice, this latest addition is far more centred around Poly convention. OB-X aims to provide that huge Oberheim sound with a significant number of enhancements, beginning with a full 16-note voice limit; with two VCOs per voice, that’ll give you 32 oscillators. These can be employed in either poly, legato/mono or unison mode. Should you opt for the latter, those 32 VCOs can ring true or in a state of detuned frenzy, thanks to the accompanying detune pot. Adding further to the detuning milieu, the Vintage pot allows you to dial in how reliable you wish the tuning centre to be. It’s analogue, but in a form that you can dial back.