Oberheim DMX

Name: Oberheim DMX
Price: 79 USD
Author: GForce Software

by GForce Software · Drum Instrument · DMX drum machine recreation

Not rated yet

A virtual Oberheim DMX drum machine, developed in association with Oberheim, with 288 sounds from the original DMX, DX and Sequential Drumtraks.

It adds per-track sends, a master SEM filter, distortion and compressor, multi-outputs, 60+ kits and 85+ MIDI files, for $79.99.

Best for: Drums, Sound Design. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Electronic & EDM, Pop, R&B & Soul.

Keywords: drum machine, classic, 80s, preset-driven, analog, hardware emulation, modern, hybrid, sound design, subtractive.

What it does

GForce's Oberheim DMX recreates the early-1980s drum machine heard on many hip-hop and pop records. GForce describes it as "an ode to the legendary drum machine" with modern speed and flexibility.

Sounds: 288 sounds from the 1981 DMX, the 1983 DMX update, the 1982 DX and the Sequential Drumtraks, plus alternatives, across bass, snare, hi-hat, two toms, cymbal and two percussion slots.
Kits: over 60 kits in classic, modern and hybrid versions, both raw and produced.
Per-track control: solo, mute, pitch, decay, pan, gain and delay and reverb sends, reached via the Knobs button.
Master effects: a multimode SEM filter, distortion and a compressor.
MIDI: over 85 MIDI files including classic pattern recreations, MIDI Learn for CC control, a GM map for controllers and velocity response.
Routing: multi-output support, added in version 1.1.

The current version is 1.1. A 7-day trial is available, excluding the MIDI pack.

Source: GForce Software product page

When to use it

Oberheim DMX is the pick when you want that one machine's sound, licensed and complete, rather than a general drum tool. Compared with XO or Battery 4 it has no sample import or deep editing, but it gives you all 288 DMX, DX and Drumtraks sounds with machine-style controls and an SEM filter on the master. Unlike Nerve or XO it has no built-in sequencer, so patterns are played from your DAW or from the bundled MIDI files. Next to acoustic-drum plugins like Addictive Drums 2 or EZdrummer 3 it is a narrow, era-specific tool at a lower price.

Best for: classic 80s hip-hop, electro and pop drum programming.
Genres: hip-hop, electro, synth-pop and R&B.
Look elsewhere if: you need an onboard pattern sequencer or your own samples (XO, Battery 4), or a Linn sound (GForce IconDrum).
Tip: drag in the included MIDI files for the classic patterns, then shape each voice with the pitch and decay knobs.

What producers say

Reviewers praise the authentic sound; the missing sequencer is the main complaint.

MusicRadar (2024) said it "has Oberheim running through its samples, like a stick of rock", praising the authenticity, the SEM filter and the full MIDI CC control.
Sweetwater users rate it 4.3 out of 5 from 4 reviews; one raised a 2-star review to 5 stars once version 1.1 added multi-outs.
Criticisms: no onboard sequencer, per MusicRadar, and before 1.1 one buyer found it "only good for toying around" without multi-outs.

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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