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 Xpander's 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[1] Matrix-12[2] Matrix-6[3] Matrix-6R[4] Matrix-1000[5][6][7]
Image(s) Oberheim Matrix-12 synthesizer top view with background erased.
Polyphony 6 voices12 voices6 voices
Oscillators 12 VCOs (2 per voice) featuring CEM3374 24 VCOs (2 per voice) featuring CEM337412 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 resonant filter using CEM3396 built-in LPF
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 multi100 patches, 50 multi1000 patches (800 preset, 200 user)
Form Factor Desktop61-key (velocity & channel aftertouch)Rackmount
Production 1984–19881985–19881985–19881986–19881988–1994
Price US$3995US$6399US$1695US$999US$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

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