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When Tom Oberheim launched his eponymous musical instrument company in 1969, no one anticipated the immense impact his synthesizers and drum machines would have on music in the decades to come.

Oberheim is the name behind legendary instruments like the OB-Xa, Matrix-12, and SEM. Known for their lush pads, punchy basses, and expressive leads, the iconic sounds of these synths are prized for their distinctive character and versatility. You’ll recognise them from countless classic tracks – the heroic synth riff of Van Halen’s ‘Jump’, the driving drums of New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, and even the menacing soundtrack to the original Terminator.

READ MORE: TEO-5, as told by Tom Oberheim: “If we made this 30 years ago, we’d have ruled the world”

Flash forward to 2024 and the company has launched the Oberheim TEO-5, a modern take on the Oberheim instruments we know and love, that’s both more compact and more affordable than its predecessors.

Fancy bringing some of Oberheim’s timeless essence to your own productions without dipping into your wallet? We’ve partnered with BandLab to bring you a collection of free sample packs inspired by this much-lauded synth manufacturer – dive in below.

Ober Pads

Pads are definitely one of Oberheim’s strong suits. In this pack of 101 loops and chord progressions, you’ll find everything from dark, evolving atmospheres to bright brass timbres and plucky garage stabs.

Download MusicTech Ober Pads

Berlin Sounds

If there’s one thing Berlin is known for among synth heads, it’s techno. This pack draws from the city’s rich culture of electronic music, offering up a selection of arps, synths, drums, and FX with a darker tone.

Who knows? Maybe this sample pack is your ticket to the Berghain.

Download MusicTech Berlin Sounds

Synth Horror Film

Taking a more sinister turn, thee Synth Horror Film pack offers 100 samples comprising spooky leads, warbling keys, driving arps – and a whole range of metallic atmospheres to truly creep your listeners out.

From John Carpenter-style synthwave to the industrial leanings of Trent Reznor, this diverse composer toolkit is sure to inspire your next soundtrack.

Download Synth Horror Film here

Sweeping Cinematic Synths Vol 1

Modern film music frequently combines organic orchestral timbres with complex synthetic textures. This pack provides a taste of both, with 62 loops that deliver lush strings, atmospheric arps, and warm bass tones.

Download Sweeping Cinematic Synths Vol 1

Patch & Play Lab: Experimental Electro

Looking for a bit more grit? Patch & Play Lab have you covered with Experimental Electro, a collection of sounds that wouldn’t be out of place in the Blade Runner universe.

The crunchy drum hits, undulating drones, and retro bass sounds in this vintage-inspired pack will give you some serious inspiration and a strong starting point.

Download Patch & Play Lab: Experimental Electro

Patch & Play Lab: Amped Monosynth Part 2

Despite being best known for its polyphonic instruments, Oberheim has also released monophonic synths like the OB-1. You can capture a flavour of these sounds in Amped Monosynth Part 2 – albeit with a heavy dose of character, courtesy of the different guitar amps through which these samples have been recorded.

Download Patch & Play Lab: Amped Monosynth Part 2

Analogue Exploration with Tibasko

Think Oberheim synths sound a little too retro? Think again.

In this pack, British electronic duo Tibasko show just how effective these instruments can be in a modern context. Beefy basslines, verbed-out pads, and delicate keys – there’s plenty here to suit producers of house, techno, garage, or whatever else, along with some crispy one-shot drums.

Download Analogue Exploration with Tibasko

Nolan Gerwing: Experimental Synths

Self-professed analogue synth nerd Nolan Gerwing offers up a glowing collection of retro-inspired sounds and textures. Many of these are perfect for bringing an edge to poppier productions, but you’ll also find some weighty low-end loops in the mix.

Download Nolan Gerwing: Experimental Synths

Vintage Analogue Arps

The infectious pulse of an arpeggiator is one of the most versatile compositional tools, no matter what genre of music you’re producing. Its repetitive nature can bring new dimensions to a simple vintage synth patch, and this pack has 112 loops that do exactly that, letting you instantly add some movement and bounce to your track.

Download Vintage Analogue Arps

Marie’s Synth Sounds Sampler

Baltimore native Marie Ann Hedonia serves a collection of aggressive synths and drums. Modular percussion loops, dirty bass sounds, and glitchy sound effects – if you’re looking to get a bit weirder, this is the pack for you.

Download Marie’s Synth Sounds Sampler

The post Best free sample packs for Oberheim-style synth sounds appeared first on MusicTech.