The Idiosyncrasies of the Oberheim DSX.

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:18 am

Hey guys, maybe somebody can help.

Got my OB System up and running and started writing and composing with the DSX, DX and OB-8. I would also like to incorporate my Taurus 3 but I'm a little stumped...

I've been reading the DSX manual and well as the updates for the OB-8 B5 rev, which I have, that adds midi. I'm not trying to use midi per se but I will utilize it if I need to or if it can solve this issue. I hope to use the Taurus in conjunction as well with the CV/Gate outs on the DSX… this is where the issue comes in...

Basically I would like to use the DSX because it can utilize the OB8's Split, Dual and program change functions in a sequence pretty easily. As far as programming the DSX to control the OB8 everything is running smoothly (except for a small glitch or curiosity with the arpeggiator, which I'm get to later). The issue is for some reason the CV out of the DSX is transposing the notes on the Taurus 3 via Pitch In off a couple notes. Can't seem to figure out why… Also, when not in Record mode, while playing the keyboard on the OB-8, It will seem to trigger the CV out every 4th or 5th note or so, weird. Other than that you can only heard the CV output when in Record mode. Which I think it normal, and I'm ok with that. It's really the transposition that's the problem. Also, the arp on the T3 cannot be triggered via the CV ins. Bummer.

Any other way to sequence the T3 via the DSX… not sure how I would utilize midi channels since the DSX is pre-midi… but the OB8 CAN output Midi data from the DSX… FWIW.

As for the OB8 arp acting curious… I have the Click out of either the DSX or DX driving the arp on the OB8… no problem there. Either seems to work fine. When I'm tracking an arp part, for monitoring purposes I just leave the arp engaged and track the note data to the DSX. but sometimes on playback the arp doesn't trigger all notes depressed. If checked my voice allocations and I don't seem to be going over (The DSX won't steal notes). And occasionally while in record mode the arp will just decide not to trigger. like the first chord with trigger the arp… but then when I move to the next chord I get silence (like when you hold down keys and the arp input is plugged, you get nothing, it needs a click fed or have the jack unplugged to run).

DSX is the 2nd to last software revision, The OB-8 is the final midi version with the final OS, DX is also a Midi version. Taurus 3 is updated to most recent FW. Everything is recently serviced with new batteries and caps, etc.

Other than these small issues I'm absolutely loving the OB8.

Anyway, thoughts?

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:40 pm

If nobody knows or is interested to help… got any suggestions as to a different forum that cares about this kind of stuff… I'm kinda tried of posting here and getting nothing.

Well, If anybody gives a c**p..

Further investigation has revealed that the procedure on Page 13 of the 2.22 Revision Manual does not seem to do the " Copying Voices to CV" as described. At least with my version the prompts are not as described as they are in the manual and I'm not getting the voices to convert to CV. It seems as if the software was changed so that this function you can move tracks around to other Sequence locations. unless I'm doing it wrong.

Does this sound familiar? I'm wondering if the 3.02 revision I have differs from the manual in this way. Does anybody have a later copy of the manual? I can't seem to find one online.

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:53 am

Hey I'm thinning out loud… Why not. Maybe somebody will read this 20 years from now and get some insight.

Tried this tonight… does work with my DX/DSX set-up.

"Nice tip from Paul Crowther from Split Enz/Hotcake and top Oberheim service tech
He used this on a few productions

You need a DMX or DX drum machine and connect clock out into clock in of DSX sequencer
Go into step mode on drum machine and hold a note down on synth , press step on drum machine and watch what happens."

http://analogue-heaven.1065350.n5.nabbl ... 47679.html

Either I'm a total dolt… or my DSX is wonky.

synthroom · Post by **synthroom** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:15 pm

I've got the same rev OB-8 and I've always wanted to get it set up with the DSX and DX combo.

I remember seeing Thomas Dolby miming on some TV show back in the old days with this set up. I knew nothing about synths then, but it looked way cool!

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:45 pm

synthroom wrote:I've got the same rev OB-8 and I've always wanted to get it set up with the DSX and DX combo.

I remember seeing Thomas Dolby miming on some TV show back in the old days with this set up. I knew nothing about synths then, but it looked way cool!

It's been a journey the past few days for sure… this thing is super archaic… that being said… part of the problem is that the documentation for the different software revisions isn't widely available or organized. The common DSX manual Revision on the internet seems to be the Third Edition August 1982, Revision 2.22. Paul White from Electrongate seems to maybe have uncovered some Rev 3.01 documentation which should shed some light on the changes in functions.

Once you have the correct Manual for the OS you are running I suppose it would be a lot easier to troubleshoot. So long story short, If you grab a DSX, make sure to know the OS you have and pair it up with the correct manual. just getting the most recent OS and trying to use an older manual has made my hair turn grey in a matter of 48 hours.

That being said… I'm actually having a blast with my Oberheim SYSTEM. I promise that once I learn every trick in (and not in the book) I will make some sort of detailed blog covering it.

FWIW, DSXs can be had for under $275 if you hold out for one.

synthroom · Post by **synthroom** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:34 am

If I remember right, the DSX also has 8 channels of CV out? And it the CV can be controlled from the OB-8? Does this function vary with the rev. of the DSX?

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 3:05 pm

synthroom wrote:If I remember right, the DSX also has 8 channels of CV out? And it the CV can be controlled from the OB-8? Does this function vary with the rev. of the DSX?

Yep! And they can play polyphonically... Well, this function woks on all revs. But it's does works exactly like you describe; the OB inputs the note data that the DSX will output only on playback. So it's not exactly an OB-serieal-interface-to-CV box. But I'm about to get the final Rev… so maybe this is the case. I'll report back.

The issues with the different versions is how to make a track play CV out(s) is changed and refined as the revisions improve functionality. For example, originally you had to choose CV out when you first record a track and changing it later was a whole specific procedure… eventually they change it so you can easily change any track back and forth ad nauseum.

The issue I'm having right now is that the CV outs aren't calibrating to low C… they are a tad sharp and I'm maxed out (down) on the trimmer.

the other issue is the CV outs are erroneously firing the lowest notes when you play the OB. Which I think is setting the transposition point (also erroneously) of that CV out. Which is maddening. Basically I can't get the CV outs to play in tune either slightly sharp… or totally transposed in the wrong key. I think it's two different issues… I'm hoping that as I got through and replace old captors and update the OS that these issues will go away.

synthparts · Post by **synthparts** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 1:45 am

Actually the DSX does allow you to use your OB synth as an 8-channel CV/Gate kegboard controller at least it does with my DSX v3.04. If you have an OB-8 with MIDI the DSX will even let you sequence an external synth over MIDI...

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:34 pm

synthparts wrote:Actually the DSX does allow you to use your OB synth as an 8-channel CV/Gate kegboard controller at least it does with my DSX v3.04. If you have an OB-8 with MIDI the DSX will even let you sequence an external synth over MIDI...

Well. Hopefully when I upgrade to the 3.04 OS you sent me I can get it to work better… I also scored a DSX Diagnotics cassette on eBay… but that's version 2. Not sure if that version corresponds with the OS revision numbers… But either way I plan to make the data/audio file available to anybody that wants it.

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 4:06 pm

Update.

Figured out the midi function of the DSX… and it works beautifully.

Have the DSX now controlling the OB-8 playing in Split mode and another track playing the Taurus 3 via midi. Beautiful. Supposedly I can still use CV outs at the same time…

One question I have is, in the DSX manual it talks about controlling CV functions like Filter and Volume with the CV in the DSX… but how would one go about say programming a filter sweep into the DSX? I think the only way to input data into the DSX is via the OB keys.

Rbh · Post by **Rbh** » Fri May 01, 2015 12:01 am

It's possible that the issue with controlling the Taurus pitch is because Oberheim and moog use different volts/oct scaling. I bet if you did a few searches related to this on the forum the answer be pretty clear. I haven't dug into this in any way but I think recall reading a few threads about this issue.

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Fri May 01, 2015 3:19 am

Rbh wrote:It's possible that the issue with controlling the Taurus pitch is because Oberheim and moog use different volts/oct scaling. I bet if you did a few searches related to this on the forum the answer be pretty clear. I haven't dug into this in any way but I think recall reading a few threads about this issue.

This is a newer Taurus 3. Moog uses the mostly ubiquitous standard of volt-per-octave. I think you are thinking about the gate… which used to be different for Moog. And the Oberheim has gate switches for the older Moog gear.

I've gotten the tuning pretty close with the CV out… but I think it just need to go through the calibration procedure and maybe have the cap and resistors in the CV section checked and maybe replaced.

As for programming a CV output to so a voltage sweep from the OB keyboard… anybody? The only things on the keyboard that the DSX records is keynotes and Programmer switch activation.

discodisco · Post by **discodisco** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:23 pm

Hi Milford,

You mentioned that the OB8 would trigger the CV'd synth on every 4-5 key presses only. If you put the Oberheim into Unison Mode, it will trigger an external mono CV perfectly.

ps - are you still using ' the system' ?

Cheers,

Disco COmputer

themilford · Post by **themilford** » Fri Mar 08, 2019 6:24 pm

discodisco wrote:Hi Milford,

You mentioned that the OB8 would trigger the CV'd synth on every 4-5 key presses only. If you put the Oberheim into Unison Mode, it will trigger an external mono CV perfectly.

ps - are you still using ' the system' ?

Cheers,

Disco COmputer

SOrry for the late replay. I was still using it up until this past summer... but my studio is dismantled and being rebuilt so all of my gear is temporarily in storage. I hope to be up and running in June.

The Idiosyncrasies of the Oberheim DSX.

Re: Oberheim DSX strangeness. Also; Arpeggiator curiosity

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