The Matrix-12 is one of those synths everyone has heard and few have ever owned. Huge sound, huge modulation, and a price (and weight) that kept it out of most studios. Want that 1985 flagship in your DAW without a rack and a second mortgage? GForce has just released the Oberheim Matrix-12, an officially licensed software recreation built with Oberheim and Marcus Ryle, one of the original designers.
Let's dive into what makes this one worth a closer look.
Twelve Voices, Serious Sound Engine
Each of the 12 voices packs two modelled VCOs (triangle, saw and pulse), with the second adding noise, hard sync and FM. Behind them sits a 15-mode filter covering 1- to 4-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch, plus phase modes, feeding two VCAs in series. For modulation, you get five envelopes, five LFOs, four ramps, three trackers and a lag processor. In plain English: plenty of raw material to build pads, basses and leads that move.
Modulation You Can Actually See
The original was famous for its depth and notorious for its menus. Here you drag and drop any source to any destination, with six bipolar modulation slots per parameter. Three views help you stay oriented: Flow shows the signal path and connections, Mod Matrix gives you an editable grid, and Visualiser displays individual modules graphically. It turns a deep synth into one you can learn by looking.
Single or Multi: Play It Your Way
In Single mode all 12 voices act as one polyphonic instrument, with unison, detune and stereo spread. Multi mode splits the keyboard into up to six overlapping zones, each with its own voice allocation, MIDI channel and micro arpeggiator. Handy editing tools include per-voice load, copy, lock and solo, plus Relative Edit to apply changes across a zone.
Specs and Details
- Expression: full MPE support, velocity and release velocity, and polyphonic pressure, so MPE controllers can get properly expressive.
- Macros and effects: four global macros, plus a stereo delay and matrix reverb.
- Sounds: 570+ factory patches, including over 380 new sounds and over 190 original Matrix-12 and Xpander patches.
- Formats: macOS and Windows; Standalone, AU, AAX, VST and VST3.
