Oberheim SEM Pro

The Oberheim SEM Pro is a desktop synth module that has two oscillators on it. If you are looking for a synth interface with knobs then look no further. The Oberheim SEM Pro has a LFO knob, 2 envelope knobs, a filter knob and a few others for the parameters. The cost of the Oberheim SEM Pro is a little more than I think that it should be. It cost almost 1200 dollars which is kind of pricey when there are other desktop synths that are just as good but cost about half as much as the Oberheim SEM Pro cost.

UTILIZATION

Setting it up is the easy part, the hard part is understanding it. The manual does come with it but it is not very helpful for understanding the Oberheim SEM Pro. Another thing that upset me about the Oberheim SEM Pro is that there are no presets on it. All of the sounds that come out of it will have to be programmed by you. For the price that it cost I feel like it should at least have 500 plus presets to choose from.

SOUNDS

If you are not into creating your own sounds or sound design then the Oberheim SEM Pro may not be for you. It is very difficult to get the sound that you want to get if you don’t understand sound design. I have used the Oberheim SEM Pro over 20 times and each time that I have a chance to use it, it takes forever to get the sound that I want to get out of it.

OVERALL OPINION

The Oberheim SEM Pro is well built and will not break on you as long as you use it with care and don’t drop it or spill anything on it. I would only recommend this to people who have a general knowledge of sound design and working with each individual parameter.

Completely agree with the previous opinions.
I also regret the absence of the cable attachment point for the transformer, even if the connection is strong enough, the pro week is very light it is easy to remove by mishandling.

UTILIZATION

Super simple and very easy to take over while the manual is really too light (they have not walked on this one!)
The knobs are quite nice although I have personally added a small washer felt at the base to avoid friction with the cover and dust penetration.
The red LEDs are blind in the dark and the contrast of black on white knobs make a really nice week pro playing live module.

SOUNDS

WOW! Pro Sem (or other versions) has great sound! "The" his Oberheim!
Powerful, elegant, very present in the mix ...
Unlike some synthesizers (I will not mention to avoid lightning) who are struggling to be heard in a given environment, the sound of the week it is always well defined.
Infernal low, sharp and powerful leads.
With the sync oscillator can also make tablecloths grainy desire and scratchy or very melodious effects.
And what about the sound of 12db filter, simply magical!
As stated marsupio37, quite different from 24db and much more subtle!

OVERALL OPINION

Almost daily use with pleasure. For use in a modular world to draw its full potential. A very good module I'm not ready to sell, I even bought a second secondhand to 950th AF.
For those who desire the OB without compromise.

Nothing to add to the excellent opinion of marsupio37 on the characteristics of the device, however it is worth mentioning that the filter has no accent, and he does not self-oscillation.
In stand alone mode, the control of the module (within the meaning of controls) seems very inadequate, and even frustrating: despite all his connections, we can not affect envelope to the VCA and simultaneously have the velocity, c ' is one or the other! So if you set via the CV2 velocity at VCA, the note you play is suspended at its initial velocity, and the SEM becomes uncontrollable! why I put a pointed 0, for after small German synth very nice, like mono Lancet Vermona, do not have this problem (and it is less than half the price of pro SEM).

UTILIZATION

The manual, which I have in my possession is the SEM without Patchpanel, it is clear and honest in the sense that Tom Oberheim is very explicit on the limits of its product, but as this is the SEM pro , he just cracked a single sheet description for Patchpanel, without further explanation, it is a bit light ...

SOUNDS

Marsupio37 is correct to say that the sound is absolutely HUGE. This is the sound Oberheim, I dreamed of having, and no other synth can not reproduce. As they say: "if you want the sound Oberheim, Oberheim buy one and nothing else." Only, no expression (velocity, aftertouch) is possible (see above), it is a diamond in the palm of your hand, bright lights of all, but then, what to do? Should the crimp or mounted on a ring?
In fact it is a module, which must fit into a large modular and there is one out of the woods, but then at what price! Besides Tom explained very well in the genesis of HE-1: he wanted to start a supplement to the ARP 2600, he was using at the time, if I understand. But then what is now modular, with whom he could go?
For after all it lacks many things: a noise, a S & H, Ring Mod, the LFO is minimalist ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it with much happiness, however, in recent months in the mix, it can crush everything, so it is powerful, we must compose the instrumental parts: this is not even bother to play the SE1-X (Studio Electronics) at the same time: we do not hear it, all my synths, only the Evolver (DSI), or Protone (Spectral Audio) in size ...
This is the sound I wanted, so I do not regret purchasing it; I just never thought it would change my life!

Just look at the front of the camera:

- 2 oscillators saw and square (with PWM) with sync frequency adjustment (height) and fine tune for each of them
- 2 envelopes Attack, Decay / Release, Sustain, ENV1 for oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 for env2 and filter
- 1 LFO to a single waveform: sinusoidal assignable to the filter and / or oscillators,
- 1 filter Multi-mode resonant 12dB whose characteristic is the ability to pass as a mix of low-pass filte filter high-pass (notch). The bandpass is selected by button switches.

Part Midi / CV offers the following possibilities:
- Select the channel noon
- Setting the tone of the semi-pitchbend,
- Select the game mode that is to say low-grade, high grade latest first note
- Have a small matrix with as sources, velocity, aftertouch and a controller (one selectable) and a destination VCO1 frequency and / or VCO2, the filter and the VCA (the three can be selected same time)
- The setting of transposition, portamento and Audio Assembled

As for the connections it is very complete since in addition to providing the midi in, midi thru Gate out, out CV1, CV2 out, Audio in 1, 2 Audio in, the module has 21 connections for each jack 3.5mm section (VCO1, VCO2, VCF, LFO, VCA and Envelope).

All these connections allow the module to have an open architecture, therefore, more opportunities and therefore fall within the category of semi-modular.

The only negative point that I came across is that it has no full ADSR envelopes and memory.


UTILIZATION

Regarding its use, it is very easy, 1 = 1 function button, but it is of course still need a minium of knowledge base.

SOUNDS

The sound of the oscillators is fabulous, bold and punchy, the sync of the VCO is very effective, aggressive and sharp and the filter is magnificent. In low-pass filter, when the resonance is pushed forward, the sound is crystalline, shrill, strident but still very musical, nothing to do with the typed Moog filters (24dB).
Designed for leads, basses and effects of all kinds.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a few days and I am very satisfied. The knobs are generally of good quality (no games), and the sound that comes from this machine is really very good. The module is completed perfectly with a Moog LP, Mono Evolver and others ...
Regarding the price, I find it quite justified despite the absence of memory, but if you compare it to other modules (Dark Energy, Semblance, Telemark, Red Square, Future Retro XS ...) I think it will find its place without difficulty.
Try it, listen and buy (if possible) without moderation!