Oberheim OB-8

The Oberheim OB-8 is a polyphonic synthesizer which was an update of the Oberheim OB-Xa. Both Sting and Stewart Copeland used this synth.

Sting's Oberheim OB-8
In a brief interview for International Musician And Recording World, Sting mentioned owning the then-new Oberheim OB-8. It can be speculated that the OB-8 was intended a backup to the Oberheim OB-Xa Synchronicity tour.

Apparently, sequences for the tour were written by Sting using the OB-Xa and the Oberheim DSX sequencer in Los Angeles in March/April 1983, and the codes for the DSX sequences and OB-Xa patches were stored on data cassettes. But Sting likely acquired an Oberheim OB-8 after that; it possibly might have been down to compatibility issues interfacing with the existing OB-Xa patch data tapes that Sting intended to use (or he didn't quite have enough time to get into the OB-8 properly before the tour started), hence he stuck to the OB-Xa for the entire tour.

Danny Quatrochi remembers the Oberheim equipment being delivered to a repair shop but it got stolen or sold and was never seen again. Sting eventually moved onto the Synclavier.

Stewart Copeland's Oberheim OB-8
Stewart Copeland owned an Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer during the early-to-mid 1980s. Stewart's 9 October 1982 diary entry mentions "OBERHEIM" - probably he ordered one as part of the complete "Oberheim System" package.

Stewart took it with him to record Rumblefish soundtrack at Tres Virgos studio. However, he was more into the Roland RS-505 so the Oberheim provided a small share of synth sounds. An Oberheim portamento is distinctly heard on "Biff Gets Stomped By Rusty James" at the 1:56 mark.

References
 * Jeff Seitz
 * 'Demo Station' photo on The PoliceWiki Rumblefish page
 * The PoliceWiki (diary entry)