Oberheim Matrix-12 User's Manual

PROGRAMMABLE MlDl KEYBOARD SYNTHESIZER

This is the ultimate analog synthesizer.

Imagine twelve voices, individually pro­grammable with that famous Oberheim
sound. Add the most versatile patching
system ever developed, controlled by
three computers working in parallel.
Control this unbelievable capability with
a velocity keyboard that can be split into
six overlapping sections. Add the most
sophisticated MlDl Interface ever de­veloped, and you'll begin to get some
idea of the awesome capability of the
Oberheim Matrix-12.

Based upon the same revolutionary
technology as the Oberheim Xpander
synthesizer, the Matrix-12 has been de­signed to be the ultimate complete pro­fessional synthesizer.

Because of its twelve voices and vast
programming capabilities, the Matrix-12
can replace several more conventional
synthesizers in an electronic music sys­tem. And because of the unprecedented
soph~stication of its keyboard and MlDl
Interface, the Matrix-12 is ideally suited

for use as a master controller in
instrument environment.

One of the most powerful features of the
Matrix-12 is that each of the twelve voices
can have a different sound. The machine
can be split into six sections called
Zones, each playable from the keyboard,
from other MlDl devices, or any combina­tion. What this means is that several of the
matrix-12's voices with different sounds
can be played from several parts of its
keyboard, while other voices with other
sounds are controlled by a MlDl se­quencer, and the remainder of the key­board controls another synthesizer, ALL
AT THE SAME TIME. And all this complex­ity can be stored in one of the 100
Patches, and be recalled at the touch of
a button.

multi-

Multi-

MASTER KEYBOARD

The Matrix-125 five-octave, long-throw
velocity keyboard responds to every sub­tlety of your touch, yet
ease of portability. There are selectable

IS

light weight for

veloc~ty scales to tallor the response of the
keyboard to your ~ndlv~dual playmg style
for the keyboard as well
MlDl controllers

Naturally, the Matrlx
responds to after-touch pressure as
well as attack and release veloctty But
unhke other
can be used to control almost any param
eter of each volce-Volume Fllter Fre
quency or Resonance Envelope
FM Amount, Vlbrato Detunc LFO Speed
Lag, etc Thls
blllty places real tlme control over many

parameters of a
your fmgertlps

synthesizers

versatile

voices sound

as for cxtcrnal

12

keyboard

these sqnals

tlmes

modulation capa

literally

at

VOICE ARCHITECTURE

The h~gh performance capabllitles of the
Matr~x-12 are made posslble by the use of
computers to replace
electron~c ctrcu~try Thts results In more

reliable

Modulat~on

operation

'"

system posslble

large amounts of

and makes the Matrlx

EACH voice of the Matrix-12 contains:

Two Oscillators, each with Sawtooth,
Triangle, and variable Pulse waveforms

El

15-Mode Filter;
Two Output Amplifiers in series with
programmable stereo panning:

3

Five Envelope Generators, each with
Delay, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release,
and an output amplifier, plus all sorts of
programmable triggering modes;

1

Five Low Frequency Oscillators, also
with output amplifiers. Each LFO has
Triangle, Square, Up and Down
Sawtooths, Random, and Noise wave­forms, sampling of any modulation
source, plus various triggering modes;

U

Four Ramp Generators, each with pro­grammable ramp rate and several trig­gering modes;

1

Three Tracking Generators that can
change the scaling or shape of a mod­ulation source;

I

Lag Processor for Portamento effects
between any modulation source and
destination;

U

FM VCA, for Dynamic Linear Fre­quency Modulation of VCOl or the
Filter by

VC02.

MODULATION CAPABILITIES

The Matrix-12's Matrix Modulation'"

system is what sets it apart from conven­tional synthesizers. There are 27 modu­lation sources within every voice. Each of
these modulation sources can be sent to

47

any of the

modulation destinations on
every voice. A source can go to many
destinations at the same time, with inde-

pendent control of each destination,
positive or negative.

FRONT PANEL

Like the Xpander, the Matrix-12 incorpo­rates 120 characters of flourescent alpha­numeric display to show information
about a Patch and its parameters. The
Matrix-12 divides patch editing controls
into sections called Pages,

with all of the
controls for that section available at once
in the Page Modifier section of the front
panel. For example, selecting the VCO 1
page causes all the controls and values
for VCO 1 to appear on the front panel.
The knobs and buttons can then be used

to adjust the settings for VCO 1. When a
new page is selected, the settings for
VCO 1 are remembered, and the new
page can be edited as desired.

MULTl PATCH PROGRAMMING

The Matrix-12's 100 Single Patches store
all the parameters, as well as the name
of each sound program. In addition, 100
Multi Patches are used to program com­binations of Single Patches. Each Multi
Patch remembers what sound is on each
voice (since each voice can have a dif­ferent sound) as well as MlDl channel
selection, panning, volume, transposition,
and detune of each voice.

Multi Patches also remember voice as­signments to any of six keyboard sections
called ZONES.

A

Zone can be assigned
to the internal keyboard or an external
MlDl channel, or both. These six Zones
within each Multi Patch can be configured
into Split, Double, Triple, Quadruple, etc.,
voicings, even from an external controller

without split capabilities. These Zones
can also overlap, so that one section of
the keyboard can sound like a bass,
another like strings, and a third like flutes;
while the sections between can stack

&

bass

strings, and strings & flutes.

Zones can be assigned to direct notes
only to the MlDl Output and not play any
of the voices within the Matrix-12. Con­versely, a Zone can also be set to only
receive notes that appear at the MlDl
Input, for external control of the Matrix-12's
voices. In addition, there are various voice
assignment routines and voice robbing
options available in each Zone.

The Oberheim Matrix-12: twelve
unbelievable voices, combined with
an unbelievably controllable keyboard.
BELIEVE IT!

Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice

OBERHEIM

A

Division of

2230

ECC

South Barrington Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Development Corporation

90064, [phone]