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Oberheim Matrix synthesizers

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Oberheim Matrix-12 (1985–1988)

Oberheim Matrix synthesizers were a product line of subtractive analog synthesizers from Oberheim featuring a system of modulation which Oberheim called "Matrix Modulation" as a method of selecting and routing elements that dynamically shape various aspects of the sounds it produces. Matrix synthesizers continue to be popular due to their characteristic late-1980s analog sound and leading patching and filter capabilities.

These five products fall into two groups. The Xpander is a six-voice rack-mount synthesizer with voltage-controlled oscillators and very flexible voltage-controlled filters. The Matrix-12 is in effect two Xpanders plus a keyboard. The second group consists of the Matrix-6 synthesizer, with DCOs, and much more standard filter capability. It had two rack-mount variants, the Matrix-6R (Matrix-6 without keyboard) and the Matrix-1000 (low cost preset version with extended memory).

Models

Xpander Matrix-12 Matrix-6 Matrix-6R Matrix-1000
Image(s) Oberheim Matrix-12 synthesizer top view with background erased.
Polyphony 6 voices 12 voices 6 voices
Oscillators 12 VCOs (2 per voice) featuring CEM3374 24 VCOs (2 per voice) featuring CEM3374 12 DCOs (2 per voice) featuring CEM3396
Filter Multimode, 15 variations of
low / high / band / notch / phase shift resonant filter
based on CEM 3372 w/ external switch circuitry		 low-pass filter using CEM3396's LPF same as 6R but different capacitors
LFO 5 (per voice)
(plus 1 global for vibrato effect)		 2 (per voice)
(plus 1 global for vibrato effect)
Envelopes 5 (per voice) 3 (per voice)
Layers 6-part multitimbral
with up to 6 zones		 12-part multitimbral
with up to 6 zones		 2-part multitimbral
with up to 2 zones		 monotimbral
Memory 100 patches, 100 multi 100 patches, 50 multi 1000 patches (800 preset, 200 user)
Form Factor Desktop 61-key (velocity & channel aftertouch) Rackmount
Production 1984–1988 1985–1988 1985–1988 1986–1988 1988–1994
Price US$3995 US$6399 US$1695 US$999 US$599

References

  1. Oberheim Xpander page at Vintage Synth Explorer
  2. Oberheim Matrix 12 page at Vintage Synth Explorer
  3. Oberheim Matrix 6 page at Vintage Synth Explorer
  4. Oberheim Matrix 6 page at Vintage Synth Explorer
  5. Oberheim Matrix 1000 page at Vintage Synth Explorer
  6. Oberheim Matrix 1000 manual at Vintage Synth Explorer
  7. "Oberheim Matrix 1000". Sound On Sound. June 1994. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015.

Further reading

External links

  • VintageSynth.com has specifications and photos
  • OB6000.de The Editor for the Matrix 1000
  • Xplorer A free, realtime editor for the Oberheim Matrix-12 and Xpander synthesizers
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