Vintage Oberheim Matrix 12 Synthesizer Sounds

Published on Feb 21, 2020 Perfect Circuit

"In this video, we check out the raw sound of Oberheim's Matrix-12, arguably the last great analog polysynth of the 1980s: a multi-timbral behemoth that packs the power of twelve modular synthesizers into a single instrument. To learn more about what makes the Matrix-12 so special, check out our blog Signal: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal...

Closely related to the Oberheim Xpander, the Matrix-12 features twelve analog voices with digital control and digital memory. Each voice has two oscillators, a noise source, a 15-mode filter, two audio VCAs, five DADSR envelopes, five multi-mode LFOs/S&Hs, four ramp generators, three tracking generators...the list goes on. And perhaps most interestingly, it uses a digitally-controlled signal routing matrix to connect these internal modules to one another, recreating the experience and sound of a modular synthesizer without all the patch cables.

Additionally, each of the twelve voices' timbres can be defined independently, meaning that the Matrix-12 is a great machine for huge layered synth orchestras, evolving analog soundscapes, and dense forests of deeply modulated sound. With the opportunity to produce everything from classic Oberheim brass to self-playing generative noodles, the Matrix-12 is no doubt still one of the most powerful keyboard synthesizers ever made.

Oberheim Matrix-12 available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/oberhe..."