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.

 

kajot

Posted 274 days ago

I got two M1000s, but not to make a 12 voice synth out of it. The M1000 is mono and for me this is a big disadvantage. Now I lead midi through the first unit to the second, treat them as one stereo synth (pan extreme left and right, slightly detuned) and got a real fat cat! By the way: the Access hardware controller works pretty well. No access to every parameter but to the most important.

Scott

Posted 276 days ago

Hi,
Yes you can change the parameters in real time from a MIDI Controller with the right sysex template (fadermaster etc)or through editors on a PC. Try the Matrix 2001editor (http://www.mk2software.com/matrix/buy.p hp)
It can learn the controls / sliders on your Midi Keyboard and assign them so you can tweak the filters / ADSR Etc.. It also has a nice step sequencer!

Denormaliser

Posted 283 days ago

I'd also like to know if you can control cutoff, pw, reso etc.

Also - does anyone know if it has an arpeggiator?

Jakob Bak

Posted 289 days ago

I been looking at this one for months now. Really looks like exactly what I need. I have been trying to find out of you can control the synth's parametres (like cutoff, pw, reso, etc.) in real time via MIDI cc-messages or sysex. As opposed to just being able to change them through transferring of whole patches. Can anyone of you Matrix 1000 owners shed some light on this?

Howard

Posted 329 days ago

Yes, you can play chords - it is (AFAIK) 6-note polyphonic

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