discoDSP has released version 2.0 of OB-Xd, a freely downloadable virtual synthesizer (with optional $49 donation) for digital audio workstations on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
OB-Xd emulates the Oberheim OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-8 analog synthesizers. It isn’t meant to be a 100% accurate recreation of the original instruments, but rather a close approximation in a digital format with some intentional differences and improvements.
See also: Surge FREE Synthesizer Plugin Gets An EPIC UpdateThe virtual instrument was first released as freeware back in 2014 by 2DaT. Two years later, discoDSP continued the development of the instrument, keeping it free and introducing an optional $49 donation for users who would like to show their support. discoDSP implemented several improvements, including iOS support, alternate skins, and more.
The OB-Xd is based on the Oberheim OB-X. It attempts to recreate its sound and behaviors, but as the original was very limited in some important ways a number of things were added or altered to the original design.
The latest 2.0 edition of OB-Xd introduces compatibility with Linux and macOS Catalina, MIDI CC support, a faster GUI, updated JUCE framework, XML based skinning, and a new dark theme designed by Ilkka Rosma. The instrument can now also work in standalone mode. Some of the presets have also been updated so that they are fully compatible with the new 2.0 version.
OB-Xd is listed in our recently updated list of the best free synthesizer VST plugins. It is one of the best analog-inspired virtual synthesizers around, along with the excellent PG-8X plugin by Martin Lüders.
Everyone interested can download OB-Xd from the discoDSP website; no registration required. You can optionally donate $49 to support the developer. The instrument is available in VST plugin format for compatible hosts on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Both 32-bit and 64-bit plugin hosts are supported.
More info: OB-Xd (19 MB download size, ZIP archive containing EXE installer, 32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows, macOS, Linux)
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28 Comments
Tomislav Zlatic
onA big THANK YOU goes to BPB reader Peter for letting us know about the OB-Xd update. Thank you for your support!
Numanoid
onThis is an Oberheim summer for sure: Syntronik OXa that was free from IK earlier is now free again with latest issue of Beat Magazine. Then there is Arturia OBXa-V and Synapse OBsession, and now the new version of OB-Xd!
Bryan Lake
onSo, which one is it? “OB-Xd.dll” or “Obxd64.dll”? Because when I try to load “OB-Xd.dll”, I get a message in big bold font “THEMES FOLDER NOT FOUND OR INVALID. VERIFY DOCUMENTS > DISCODSP > THEMES > FOLDER LOCATION”…
Indeed, that filepath is missing, so I’m guessing the Windows “Obxd20Setup” installer isn’t extracting anything to that location.
MRG
onHappened to me too… IIRC it’s because the Skins folder was renamed Themes and the Settings.xml is pointing to a skin that isn’t in the Themes folder. Rename it to Setting.whatever and try?
I haven’t time to check much, but I’m a bit worried about the whole “v2.0 Presets” thing. I see no clear reason to change the format, can we load old presets, can v2 presets be used on older versions? Why the change?
The fact that the software is still freeware, for now, and open source isn’t very clear on the website, too. Worrying intensifies. Don’t get me wrong, a huge thanks to discoDSP for their work so far.
Hey, baconpaul/Surge Team, where’s the OB-Xd with microtuning? Me want! ;-)
Bryan Lake
onWell, whatever .xml file it’s trying to load, the installer simply didn’t install it. There’s no filepath. Nothing. Only the .dll file was installed to my VST folder. That’s it.
MRG
onBefore I forget, it’s OB-Xd.dll, Obxd64 is an older version (v1.5 or before), the installer doesn’t remove it. The location for Win7 is “C:\Users\\Documents\discoDSP\OB-Xd” but Win7 is sneaky and shows it as “My Documents”, because reasons and why not and let’s have fun at users’ expenses, right?
TR4
on“Obxd64.dll” is the other free Oberheim emulation by 2DaT.
The new discoDSP OB-Xd v2 has a different skin system. The old ones won’t load, so you’ll need to delete “C:\Documents\discoDSP\OB-Xd\Settings.xml” so OB-Xd can rebuild it next launch with the new themes instead.
The “Skins” folder is for 1.5 and “Themes” is for 2.0.
kdpinilla
ones es la forma correcta a si funciona
JAYSTER
onI just bought a Korg Monotron pretty cool little toy I run it inline with my Kaossilator.
MRG
onI just bought a lawnmower, i use it to cut grass. W-what?
Bryan Lake
onLMAO XD
JP
onHello,
On Mac, it’s the same issue. The installer seems do not install the themes files.
antti maatteri
onto isntall it properly for using skins and presets, one have to copy the fodlers from the isntalldirection over to the discodsp/obxd fodler under /documents..
theres also an xml file jsut in case one isntalls over an old version. delte the xml or anything but the folders.
then you can use presets or skins and a new xml is generated by the plugin. at least taht was the workaround for me, cos i jsut heard the same sound no matter what bank or preset i loaded.
MRG
onAs I said earlier, getting rid of Settings.xml did work for me too.
If you suspect the setup/installer didn’t install the files, grab the Linux version, it contains the files in the zipfile, just drop the “discoDSP” folder in your /documents, that might do the trick. (untested cause not a mac user).
Numanoid
onI installed this on a computer I hadn’t used OBxd before, so it worked OK for me. But seeing all the comments about people having problems with the installation and older version. I wonder why discodsp offer this as an EXE installer instead of a dll file where a user more easily could see what needed to be updated to get the latest version run. I had that problem with Surge just recently, installing a new version and the older version still being what my DAW wanted to see. It seems one have to think twice when installing some plugs, they will not work straight out of the box, if you have older versions onboard of a plug already on your computer.
ToV
onHas anybody solved this “THEMES FOLDER NOT FOUND OR INVALID. VERIFY DOCUMENTS > DISCODSP > THEMES > FOLDER LOCATION” in MacOS?
Brenny C
onDid you read the other comments above yours? If not, do it did. It might help you.
Spencer
onYes, I got it to work. You need to edit the xml file. For some reason the new installer did not contain an updated version of this file, so the old file keeps trying to load a skin that is no longer included as an option. To fix it, follow these steps:
1.Go to /Users/YOURNAME/Documents/discoDSP/OB-Xd/ and open the file “Settings.xml” (I recommend using the free text editor Atom).
2. You will see the following code:
3. Change the code to the following:
4. Make sure you click save.
5. Re-load OB-Xd. It should work now.
Spencer
onNot sure why the code didn’t get posted but I’ll try again:
Original Code:
name=”skin” val=”Studio OB-Xa Classic”
New Code:
name=”skin” val=”discoDSP Classic”
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for the helpful tips!
Marcus Rasseli
onGreat news!! I remember back in 2015 when I started use this great plugin. I have lots of songs featuring Obxd as the only synthesizer, like Stars and Advanced Devices. It has a special flavour!
MRG
onv2.1 is out, big changelog, should fix most problems people had in this comment section.
Also and to be clear, this is supposed to fix all installs problems AND permit the use of older 2DAT/discoDSP versions. You should be able to reinstall a v1.5 and a v2.1, if needed.
Tomislav Zlatic
onGood stuff, I’ll update the article with the latest info.
Brandon Campbell
onThe article said both 32 and 64 bit hosts were supported, but when I run the installer the only choices are standalone, 64-bit VST2, and 64-bit VST3?
Atme
onOB-Xd 2.1 is awesome! Still one of the best free softsynths! <3
Vivolator
onDoesn’t let me save or load my patches in REAPER. Export File buttons (as well as UI and Parameter buttons) don’t do anything. What gives?
Synthesist
onNo longer free. Thanks, discoDSP.
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onNot really Free.
The free trial version of OB-Xd has no functional limitations and does not allow commercial use. The term commercial purpose means using the software for any fee, charge, tariff or other consideration directly or indirectly in connection with any commercial or other for-profit enterprise.