New Project Promises To Bring Back The Powerful Oberheim Xpander Synthesizer
German gear site Amazona.de reports that a new project, by developer Markus Malik, promises to bring back the powerful Oberheim Xpander synthesizer.
The Oberheim Xpander, originally introduced in 1984, is a sought-after analog synthesizer, known for its great sound and powerful digitally-controlled analog voice architecture. The synth features very flexible multimode filters and deep modulation capabilities.
The ACME XP60 is designed to be a replica of the Xpander. Synth replicas, like the modern Moog Model D and the Din Sync RE-303, are designed replicate the original boards and build of their vintage counterparts accurately enough that you can use the modern boards to repair the original synths.
It’s not clear yet if this will be the case for the ACME XP60, but Malik has previously offered modifications, replacement boards and repairs for the original Xpander.
Here are details on the project, translated from the German article:
“Like its role model, the XP60 is also a six-voice analog synthesizer. However, the design is smaller, because the device, which actually has a desktop format, also fits in a 19” rack.
Not only the structure of the sound generation was adopted, but also the operating concept with the three displays. One improvement, however, are the controls with LED rings, whose colors can be customized.
For the sound generation, modern counterparts (clone chips) of the CEM3374 (Dual VCO) and CEM3372 (VC Mix-VCF-VCA) circuits used at the time are used. As a reference, developer Markus Malik was able to build the voice cards for the prototype with original oscillator ICs. In blind tests with mixed operation, no differences could be found between the original and clone chips.
Initially, no new firmware was written, but the original OS was used during development. The firmware is very complex, as envelopes, LFOs and other modulation options are also implemented using software. Tom Oberheim‘s consent was requested for the use of the firmware.
If the original firmware is retained, this will also entail certain restrictions, as it does not include parameter control with MIDI CCs, for example, but only Sysex. The developer may not be able to avoid creating his own OS sooner or later.”
Details on pricing and availability are still to come at the Acme Synthworks site, but a small series of 50 units is planned, with the possibility of more, based on demand.
via Amazona.de, Matrixsynth
