New Kiwitechnics Kiwi-1000 Upgrade for the Oberheim Matrix-1000

Kiwitechnics, makers of the Kiwi upgrades for the Roland JX-3P, JX-8P, Juno-106, and KORG Polyix, have a new DIY upgrade available for the Oberheim Matrix-1000. The cost is $295 plus shipping.

Details via Kiwitechnics:

This is an upgrade for the Oberheim M1000 rack mount synth module. This will transform the M1000 from a difficult to edit preset module with a poor midi interface into a full featured synth with some excellent features. The M1000 synth hardware is based on the CEM3396 ‘synth on a chip’ and this gives the synth a versatile set of features including multiple combined and editable waveforms on each DCO as well as PWM and VCF FM controls but will still retain the Oberheim ‘sound’. The upgrade will also replace the on board DCO master clock. The M1000 clock is a single fixed master clock that both DCOs use and this limits the range possible to about 6 octaves. The K1000 upgrade will replace the single master clock with separate clocks sources and each of these will have a range of 64’-2’. This is pushing the CEM chip to it’s limits but we feel the results are worth the effort.

The Oberheim M1000 has been hamstrung with most of the patches that cannot be edited, poor midi and a difficult patch format making editing and sound creating a challenge. We are using the experience gained with our other upgrades to redesign the M1000 to be a fully fledged synth with all the usual Kiwi features. This is not a M1000 with the midi fixed it is a completely new synth. We are incorporating Oberheim tone imports but because the tone layouts are so different the conversion is not going to produce exact matches. We are also putting in imports for the K106 & K8P products and well as Roland JX8P and JX-10/MKS-70 (Tones only) which will provide a big tone library from the web to use as a starting point.

The upgrade comes with a front panel label that will fit over the existing buttons and LEDs.

The Kiwi-1000 Upgrade features:

-1000 Tones can be stored and all can be edited. It is also possible to edit any Tone using the front panel or midi.

- Expanded DCO Range and separate clocks for DCO 1 & 2. The original M-1000 had a single clock for both DCOs with limited range select. Each DCO now has the range 2' to 64'. The CEM chip waveforms get a little out of shape at the high extremes as we are pushing the CEM3396 to it’s limits.

- Tones are stored in Flash memory so no battery is required.

- MidiCC & Sysex support for parameters edits and Midi Sysex support for Tone Dump & Load. The Oberheim midi issues are fixed. The Kiwi1000 will support full midi control and editing in real time.

- Key Assign Modes are Poly Single, Poly Dual, Poly Triple, Unison & Solo

- Each Key Assign mode can have Staccato/Legato, Steal/No Steal with five steal modes (Highest, Lowest, Oldest, Newest, Quietest)

- Portamento in all modes

- DCO Key Assign Detune available in all key modes. In addition there is a 'Analog Feel' parameter that add an adjustable small random frequency to each note. Detune is best used with Poly Dual, Poly Triple or Unison keying modes for greatest effect

- Three independent envelope generators. These are traditional ADSR type. Each ENV Mod can select from ENV 1 - 3 and has an Inverted or Normal modes.

- Three independent Low Frequency Oscillators with 6 waveforms each. Each LFO Mod can select from LFO 1-3. LFOs can be plus and minus base note or plus base note only.

- Internal Master Clock with the range 5-299 BPM and rate can be set using a tap timer.

- Full Matrix mod system that can channel any mod source to any mod destination.

- A quality Front Panel Overlay is provided with the Kiwi-1000 upgrade.

CHORD MODE

- Any chord with up to 6 notes can be set and played from any key

ARPEGGIATOR

- The Arpeggiator is clocked from the Master Clock and can be independently divided to Half Note, Quarter Note, 1/8 Note, 1/8 Note Half Swing, 1/8 Note Full Swing, 1/8 Note Triplets, 1/16 Note, 1/16 Note Half Swing, 1/16 Note Full Swing, 1/16 Note Triplets, 1/32 Note, 1/32 Note Triplets, 1/64 Note.

- Arp modes are Up, Down, Up and Down, Random, As Played, 1, 2, 3 or 4 octaves

- Arp can be Started, Stopped & Continued using Midi Commands

- Appeggiator will Output Midi Data

SEQUENCER

- 8 separate 124 Max step Polyphonic sequences can be created and stored

- Sequences can be edited

- The Sequencer is clocked from the Master Clock and can be independently divided to Half Note, Quarter Note, 1/8 Note, 1/8 Note Half Swing, 1/8 Note Full Swing, 1/8 Note Triplets, 1/16 Note, 1/16 Note Half Swing, 1/16 Note Full Swing, 1/16 Note Triplets, 1/32 Note, 1/32 Note Triplets, 1/64 Note.

- Sequencer will Output Midi Data

- Sequencer has play options that include One shot, Keydown play, Auto Transpose, Auto Complete"