Arturia Matrix 12: String Improv

Published on Dec 17, 2016 Adam Borseti

"Arturia used to be on my shit list for all the bugs and lack of customer service, but as of lately.... well, they've really gotten it together! So much so that I recently bought the Prophet V, and last night; their Oberheim Matrix 12V.

Let me tell ya, even as an expert synthesist, I was a bit intimidated by the Matrix 12, as it is one of the most (if not THE most) powerful and flexible analog polysynths of all time. With 18 filters, 5 envelopes and LFOs, plus a whole slew of other shit you'd expect from a modular, you might understand my apprehension. Never the less, the Oberheim sound is my Kryptonite and you don't get much better than the Matrix 12.... so I bought it. I listened to comparisons between the hardware and the software and it seems dead on........

First sound I programmed? Well..... actually, it was Vox Humana.... but the SECOND sound I programmed were these strings. These are the best strings I have ever programmed on any synthesizer, EVER. Because the Matrix allows for such crazy modulation and inter-connectivity, I was able to make the Attack and Release transients respond to velocity, so that I could play quick passages without sloppiness in the sound. Also, the amount of PWM and VCO modulation going on is crazy... I'm using 4 LFOs, and some of them are tracked by the keyboard for faster modulation on the higher notes, slower on the lower.

Anyway, this is me just improvising something epic.... I just thought of the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and hit record. 1 take.

Enjoy!"