Vintage Synth Explorer

Oberheim • Matrix 1000

The analog Matrix 1000 is essentially 1,000 Matrix 6 patches in a single-space compact rackmount MIDI module. It has the same synth architecture as the Matrix 6. Each of its 6 voices have two DCO's (digitally controlled analog oscillator), a low pass filter, 2 VCA's, 3 envelope gens, 2 LFO's, and 2 ramp gens. The sounds are plentiful and good enough, however if you want to edit your own, you'll need a Matrix 6/6R or some universal editor (such as MOTU's Unisyn) or Access' Matrix Programmer to externally edit parameters. You can also load sounds from the Matrix 6 via SysEx or software.

The Matrix 1000 provides an excellent source of pads, textures and ambient sounds. It has 195 "keyboard" sounds, 118 "strings", 130 "woodwinds & perc", 239 "synthesizer", 119 "bass", 74 "lead" and 125 "effects". For the price, there is no better way to find genuine analog Oberheim Matrix sounds in a compact and very in-expensive rack module that is loaded with more sounds than you'll ever need! The older versions of the Matrix 1000 have a black front-panel. The newer models in the '90's have a cream face-plate (pictured above). It has been used by Apollo 440, Juno Reactor, Moby, Cirrus, Fatboy Slim, Laurent Garnier, ATB, Depeche Mode, Future Sound of London, Pet Shop Boys, and Faithless.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

TF

Posted 346 days ago

Do you know if you can play chords with matrix 1000? Thank you.

Donald Michael Kraig

Posted 354 days ago

One of the coolest things about this synth (and the Matrix 6 and 6R) is that they can easily be linked together...not just synced, but linked. Link two together and you have a 12 voice synth. Link three and you have 18 voices, etc. You can link up to 6 units together, making an unbelievable analog monster.

Mattsynth

Posted 408 days ago

The Matrix 1000 is a great little analog synth. You get 6 voices of that super Oberheim sound for a fraction of the price. No tweeking on the front panel of this unit but free software is available to program your own sounds. The best brass synth sounds on the planet.

Maxim Korobov

Posted 456 days ago

I have black one. About year ago a had a white. No difference, absolutely equal.
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About 2 month ago i found in yahoo group i found latest OS (1.11) and Rom Patches Binary. So i buy two 512 kilobite chips for $5/one chip. M1000 needs one 256 kilobits and one 512 kilobits chips, but that's ok. For OS (need 256 kb) i just write in chip it consecutively - 256 kb for OS and... next 256 kb for OS again. And that's ok - works fine
Thus, i have Black M1000 with White OS :)
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Synth sound amazing. It's for MEAT AND POTATO (c) (maxim.korobov) type sounds. Very-very fat.
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Specifications on this site have mistake - M1000 can't do Split / Multitimbral, unlike it's big brother M6.

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