Tom Oberheim Interview - Need Your Help

[mikewelch7]

Delighted to report that synth legend Tom Oberheim has granted an interview to be scheduled around the launch of his new SEM product in late September. I've already coordinated with another Bay Area resource who will film the interview.

Are there any questions that you'd like posed to Tom? Please reply to this forum, PM me or email me at mwelch at Gonzaga.edu.

Thank you!

[maindeglorie]

Yes; will there be a keyboard based TVS with sequencer, etc. available with the new SEMs?

[maindeglorie]

Or a 4 voice.

[nuromantix]

Tell us about Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder etc.
Did they come and meet you to get instruments? Were they cool
What music do you love with synths?

[mikewelch7]

Great questions! All on my mind too. Keep them coming!

[3rdConstruction]

That is fantastic news.

What motivated Mr. Oberheim to rebuild the SEM?

What is the size of his company? How many people does he have helping him?

Can he comment on how changes in technology affected his design for the new SEM...
- were some things easier to implement than originally?
- were any aspects of building a new discrete analogue synth more challenging because of today's technology or economics?

What does he plan to do next?

As already stated, many of us are very keen to know if he will consider reissuing a few SEM-based classics:
- the two-voice sequencer
- any SEM based keyboard synths, most especially a two-voice or four-voice

We will all eagerly await your interview!

[nathanscribe]

What does he think of the current market and the development and variety of synthesizer types?

Does the 'in-the-box' fully-digital method of production match anything they had inklings about back in the days when analogue synths were pushing forward, and what does he think of as the various milestones on the path to that?

What comes next?

[kuroichi]

What's Next? (definitely a popular one)

Hopefully a drum machine!

[tekkentool]

What does he think of the current market and the development and variety of synthesizer types?

Does the 'in-the-box' fully-digital method of production match anything they had inklings about back in the days when analogue synths were pushing forward, and what does he think of as the various milestones on the path to that?

What comes next?

+1, something like a new discreet poly would be insane

[elmacaco]

I would love to hear him talk about the development of the Xpander and Matrix-12. Those synths are still unmatched in many ways and the team that worked on them must have been an amazing group.

What his favorite synth is (that he developed) what synths he used that inspired him to go the road of deep modulation options, etc.

He really needs to talk more about the glory days, as that is history that will be lost, beggin him for polysynths and such should be kept to a minimum.

[seamonkey]

I know what his answer will be regarding reissue of other oberheim products such as 2 voice, 4 voice, keyboard or sequencer versions. He's going to say "right now I'm concentrating on reissuing the SEM, and all my energy at the moment is focused on getting these into the hands of consumers".

The SEM hasn't even been released yet, can we please enjoy the fact he is even doing this before wanting more.

I would like to know how he feels, since the response has been so positive, about taking on such a project after retiring.

[pflosi]

i'd like to know what it meant for the 8 voice sales (and generally on the concept of polys) when one year after it's release the P5 came out with it's memory. a year later in 79 the OBX was released, and the 8V was only continued till 80... i'd also like to know how the relation with dave smith (and others) was.

so yeah, definitely more questions bout the glory days please

[nathanscribe]

What comes next?

+1, something like a new discreet poly would be insane

I meant "what does he see as the potential future of synthesizers as intruments" rather than what he specifically is or is not planning. I should have worded it more clearly the first time.

[kuroichi]

Yeah, as above, plus I would like to know if he foresees his own future in the industry in a particular way.

Does he hope to remain as a smaller company, or does he have any interest in expansion with a range of products a la DSI etc...

One question I would like to ask is whether he has any unreleased concepts or prototypes that never advanced to production.

[nadafarms]

I think the reason that everyone wants to know if there will be TV and FV keyboards is because it will determine whether some of us will buy the drop in modules or the stand alone ones.

I would rather not buy a stand alone one if there indeed will be a TV or FV coming in the near future. I would pretty much buy a FV right now if I could.