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The Oberheim Xpander () is an
analog synthesizer An analog synthesizer () is a synthesizer that uses Analogue electronics, analog circuits and analog signals to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s, such as the Trautonium, were built with a var ...
launched by Oberheim in 1984 and discontinued in 1988. It is essentially a keyboardless, six-voice version of the Matrix-12 (released a year later, in 1985). Utilizing Oberheim's Matrix Modulation technology, the Xpander combined analog audio generation (VCOs, VCF and VCAs) with the flexibility of digital controls logic. The Xpander "Owner's Manual, First Edition" describes the technology as this: :"An analogy to the Matrix Modulation system might be all of those millions of wires that existed on the first modular synthesizers. As cumbersome as all of that wiring was, it allowed the user to connect any input to any output, resulting in sophistication and flexibility unmatched by any programmable synthesizer...until now."


Architecture


Analog Components

Each of the six voices of the Xpander is completely independent. That is to say, each could be configured to create a different timbre - this is accomplished via the multi-patch mode which will be described below. Starting at waveform generation, each voice has two voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs). Each of which is capable of generating sawtooth, triangle, pulse, or noise waveforms. Furthermore, the pulse width can be modulated as well. Although perhaps better known for subtractive synthesis, the Xpander is also capable of frequency modulation (FM) synthesis by modulating VCO #1 with VCO #2. Moving on from the VCOs, the signal then passes through a multi-mode voltage controlled filter (VCF). The available modes on the filter are: * one-, two-, three- and four-pole low pass * one-, two and three-pole high pass * two- and four-pole band pass * two-pole notch * three-pole phase shift * two- and three-pole high pass plus one-pole low pass * two-pole notch plus one-pole low pass * three-pole phase shift plus one-pole low pass From the filter, there are two sequential voltage controlled amplifiers (VCAs) through which the signal must pass. And finally the audio is delivered to a variety of outputs: mono, stereo and six independent outputs (corresponding to the six voices).


Digital Controls

Of those analog audio components (VCOs, VCF and VCAs), each can be modulated by several different digital controls. * ADSR Envelopes - each voice can have up to five envelope generators. Each envelope is of the standard Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release model (ADSR), with the addition of an initial Delay phase, thus making them DADSR envelopes, to be exact. * Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) - each voice can have up to five LFOs applied. Each LFO can have a different waveform: triangle, square, up-saw, down-saw, random or noise. Additionally, a sampling mode is provided, whereby an independent source (e.g. a different LFO) is sampled at a set frequency. * Lag Generator - the lag function is similar to portamento on traditional synthesizers. However, the lag modulation in the Xpander can be applied to any control or audio signal. * Ramp Generators - each voice can have up to four ramp generators. Similar to the attack portion of an ADSR envelope, the ramp generates a linear signal from zero to the user-defined ramp height. * Tracking Generators - there are three tracking generators available for each voice. The tracking generator provides a mapping from a control source (e.g. key range on the keyboard, or volume pedal, or mod wheel) to a modified output, based on the user-defined settings of the generator.


Famous users and example uses

* Vince Clarke - On everything by Erasure until 2005. You can hear it very clearly on the 12" mix of "Sexuality", for example, at the start, and mid and low end parts (filter sweeps, etc.). He actually has two of them, and used them for the chorus tour in 1991 - 1992, which was mostly old analog synths. On early tours the Xpander was introduced as a member of the band as can be heard on live versions of Oh L'amour. * Sasha - Whose track " Xpander" was written in homage to the instrument. That supersaw style sound, originated using the Xpander's filtering and multi/unison and stacking capabilities. * Nitzer Ebb - Extensive use for basslines on ''
Belief A belief is a subjective Attitude (psychology), attitude that something is truth, true or a State of affairs (philosophy), state of affairs is the case. A subjective attitude is a mental state of having some Life stance, stance, take, or opinion ...
''. *
Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...
- Have two of them, and can clearly be heard on everything from " It's Called a Heart" and '' Black Celebration'' onwards * Steve Roach - Everything from ''Empetus'' (1986) on. * Daniel Miller - Has one in the Mute worldwide programming studio * Human League - All over the mid 80's period & onward albums *
Hans Zimmer Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards and a Tony ...
- Sprinkled on various scores for films. * Orbital - Everything from the first self-titled album onward * Tangerine Dream - Everything from ''Le Parc'' onward. * The Chemical Brothers - Can be heard in a lot of their music post-1995 * Meat Beat Manifesto - In a lot of their remixes * Todd Tamanend Clark - From 1985 to the present. *
Nine Inch Nails Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN (stylized as NIИ), is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988. Its members are the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Trent Reznor and his frequent col ...
- Including an Xpander modified for use with external inputs * Clarence Jey *
Die Krupps Die Krupps () ("The Krupps") is a German industrial metal/electronic body music, EBM band, formed in 1980 by Jürgen Engler, Ralf Dörper, and Bernward Malaka in Düsseldorf. The band has had a diverse range of musical influences over time, i ...
* MNDR - ''Feed Me Diamonds'' album * Ceephax Acid Crew- Used on multiple tracks. * Ray Lynch * Jam & Spoon - Used on the track Stella * Michael Brecker Used on many recordings as the sound module for his EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument)


References

{{Oberheim


External links


Vintage Synth: Oberheim Xpander

Xplorer: a realtime editor for the Oberheim Xpander and Matrix-12
Xpander Analog synthesizers Polyphonic synthesizers