Tom Oberheim

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Job Title
Founder
Company Name
Oberheim Musical Instruments

Tom Oberheim is the inventor of the first polyphonic music synthesizer, who played a vital role in the establishment of MIDI standards back in the early 1980s. The Oberheim Company created a long list of innovative products, which remain sought-after as vintage instruments including the Oberheim 4 and 8 Voice instruments. In 1987, after the sale of the Oberheim Company, Tom established Marion Systems and later Seasound. In recent years Tom reissued one of his first products, an analog synthesizer he calls SEM, the Synthesizer Expander Module.