Superbooth 2026: This video, via CatSynthTV, offers a first look at the Miltone 4EXP – a full-size replica of the original Oberheim Four Voice synthesizer.
The Oberheim Four-Voice is a iconic mid-1970s analog polysynth, created by Tom Oberheim, that essentially combined four independent Oberheim SEM modules into a single keyboard instrument. It was one of the first true polyphonic synthesizers available to musicians, but had a very different architecture than later polysynths.
Each voice is a complete SEM with its own VCOs, multimode filter, envelopes, and modulation, allowing every note to have slightly different timbre and behavior, which gives the instrument a uniquely organic, animated sound.
Video Summary:
“Manfred from Miltone treats us to a demo of the 4EXP, an impressive and meticulous re-creation of the legendary Oberheim Four Voice.
Like the original, there are four SEM models, build from discrete components and circuit boards the accurately match the original – they even have potentiometers with ball bearings. It does of course include modern features like MIDI as well.”
Details on pricing and availability are to come at the Miltone site.
When Behringer does this, people here scream in hatred. I’m waiting…
You’re just trolling.
Behringer has never made a full-size replica using the original build.
And, when they introduce their knockoff synths, there are always lots of fanboys around to lose their shit about it.
I read the Synthtopia comments regularly and yeah many people would be going bananas about this if it was Behringer. I don’t own a single piece of equipment made by them. I am merely an objective observer, who could care less if people want to buy this, buy whatever from Behringer or buy nothing at all.
“Behringer has never made a full-size replica using the original build.”
So, if Behringer made full-size replicas instead of changing the format and adding features, that would be okay? This Miltone 4EXP copy is okay, but the Behringer 2-XM is not?
Actually, Behringer would never dare to make any TRUE 1:1 copy of any vintage synths like this one for a good reason :a replica like the Miltone 4Exp is 20 times more costly to make than any SMD approximation knockoff behringer might ever produce ,and they would have 0 chance to make it commercially viable as their core market would not accept to pay such high prices. Thru hole components parts are WAY more expansive than SMD, crazy potentiometer like these should cost a small fortune, they used NOS parts to stay as true as the original design as they could , a hand made tolex case….
You can’t compare a handmade item of clothing made by a small company of 3 to a lowcost approximation made by an industrial conglomerate, it just doesn’t make sense.
I have no issue with Behringer stuff, It’s good to have both as people have CHOICE depending of their budget. But the continuous bitching over expensive items just because people have no idea what they are talking about & see a price difference is just bad faith or jealousy at best…
“So, if Behringer made full-size replicas instead of changing the format and adding features, that would be okay? ”
Why are so many Behringer fanboys defensive about the fact that the company makes cheap knockoffs? That’s the only reason anybody buys their gear, isn’t it?
You act like you need somebody’s approval! Do you need to ask your wife every time you buy a plugin?
Time to man up!
Comparing a tiny tiny operation (one/two person?) to a massive corporation that has widely documented predatory and combative behavior towards tiny companies is wild and incredible. B are cops.
There’s no way this isn’t going to cost a lot of money but if it’s done right it should be great. Oberheim himself tried to do this years ago with the Son of 4 Voice, but he wasn’t able to actually finish them and get them to market, unfortunately. This looks to be done up to a quality rather than down to a price. I hope it comes to fruition.
I find an interesting abstract line between the group of those who can and will buy $5K-to-$25K-type hardware synths and those who bitch about the first group. To each their own, but your sound system matters more than you think. I have softsynths that are indistinguishable from the hardware I had.
Save up for a couple of higher-end instruments over time, for the utility & experience of it, but you’re not missing anything sonically. Buy an OB-6, then a different soft-Obie from 2 or 3 makers and have some fun. You’ll need concert horns if you use the OB-6 to trigger an Eight-Voice and an OBXa. Kaboom.
It’s a bit daft to put four of these together in a box when you could just make a single polyphonic unit with the same vintage looks. Make it a 2 voice, 4 voice, 8 voice, whatever with swappable voice cards. The original product was limited because of technological limitations that no longer exist.