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The Oberheim DX is the smaller sibling of the Oberheim DMX, the drum machine behind early Run-DMC. Released in 1982, it packed 18 sampled drum sounds, six outputs and Oberheim’s swing into a cheaper box.
How it works
Like the DMX, the DX plays back digital recordings of real drums rather than generating them from circuits, and it has swing, rolls and flams for programming human-feeling patterns. It stores 100 sequences and 50 songs, with level sliders and tuning for each sound.
The hip hop connection
Vintage Synth Explorer says the DX has been “used by hip hop artists since the very beginning,” but the famous early rap credits belong to its big brother, the DMX, including Larry Smith’s pattern on Run-DMC’s “Sucker M.C.’s.” We don’t attribute those records to the DX.
Buying one today
The biggest confusion is DX versus DMX: the DMX has 24 sounds and eight outputs. Check that every voice card, button and output works.
Oberheim DX videos: demos, history and breakdowns
