Nice! His newer SEMs seem awesome; I really like that he made a version with a patch panel (I know they've been out for a while, but still). It's great he's still making synths, and that he has his name back
I just found one for sale for around $900. I'm trying to negotiate the sale before someone else grabs it. Generally speaking, they're about $1500 on the market here, and they go months to a year without a single one showing up. Fingers crossed. Thank you for your video!
It never fails to astound me that even when we have such powerful synths such as the Matrix 1000, they are quickly forgotten as the latest shiny bauble catches our eye and we just "have" to have one !!! Instead of delving into those synths that we all currently own and REALLY getting the most out of them, we just move on to the latest re-packaged toy. Certainly, there have been some real advances since this synth came out, but good Lord, this still sounds amazing. Perhaps that is still why I own my Kawai K1, K1r, and K3m; my Roland JV-880; Emu Proteus 1 and Morpheus; Korg Wavestation SR; Kurzweil PC2r; Yamaha SY22 and TG33; Waldorg Micro Q, as well as my Waldorf Blofeld and Behringer Model D (don't fear: that is NOT the entire list !!!). I simply cannot part with my old friends that I have come to know and love !!!
Lovely old synth, underrated I think. When they were new, a lot of people were comparing them to the OB8 and OB8a, obviously they sound different! I bought one of these new here in Australia in 1997. I think it cost about AUD $800, which was and is a bargain. I do regret selling this, I thought it sounded beautiful- it does! Espen is doing a great job here of showing off how warm and it can sound.
Matrix 1000 is an exceptionally powerful box, even if it doesn't look the part. When you go beyond its wrong "patch module" image and go deep into programming it - you quickly realize it's basically a semi-modular beast with nearly infinite sound design capabilities. Surely it may not have the tone of a more focused polysynth due to lots of corners being cut, namely SoC architecture - but what it excels at is being an expander to a sonic palette you already have.
I'm not so sure about the SOC tone argument as someone who owned a Matrix 1000 for many years. I've owned a lot of synths, such as old 70s Moogs, Rolands (VCO & DCO) and I think the sound of the Matrix 1000 is up there with the best synths. Sure, it sounds different than old individual component synths, but not worse. Similar arguments were made against the Prophet 5 when it was released, many people thought it sounded worse that, say a Minimoog, as the P5 used chips for its filters. But I think better to use your ears! I might add there was a lot of hate also served at Roland when the Junos came out with DCOs. But I would like to own a Juno 60 at least as much as a Jupiter 8. Yes, VCOs and DCOs sound different, but there are times when a Juno will cut through the mix in a way a Jupiter, while all warm and lovely, cannot.
Got a ‘broken’ one off eBay for a reasonable price recently. Even with a dead battery my jaw hit the floor. I spent 2 hours with a delay and verb and absolutely ZERO regret feeling. They are just majestic
Beautiful compositions, Espen! I still have a Matrix 1000 that I bought from my brother in the 80s and I feel like it's an underappreciated analog masterpiece. Your music really shows off its lush sounds!
Love the channel Espen, always great, thanks for your content. 15 years ago I saw a used white Matrix-1000 in a local music store rack, it was only 200 dollars, that unit finds its way into so many of my productions, I love that first 100 patch sound bank, killer! Keep up the outstanding work dude, excellent.
In the nineties my friends lent one of these to me and i made some damn clever recordings with it. The sounds were just incredible, synth sounds, special effects, even organ sounds. I had no idea it was analog. I suppose it doesn't really matter, but it seems that anything oberheim just sounds better
I know. Personally I say fuck boutique synths!! Haha jk I’m cool with whatever floats yer boat but personally I think those empty rack spaces need filling!
fun fact is although matrix 1000 and matrix 6/r were patch compatible the detail and output quality of the 6/r is better/higher , when swapping them for matrix 1000 some 30 years ago i was shocked by this and immediately got the matrix 6 again
I'm using the matrix 1000 with a BCR 2000 programmer. there's a preset for it for free at google. The BCR 2000 can't program the modulation matrix so I use it in conjunction with the same CTRLR editor in this demo. This combo is flawless and I can finally have a fully playable vintage Oberheim synth. It's not an OBXA but it cost me much less....
I always wanted one of these back in the day, but I never got around to getting one. Big regrets now of course as the sounds are superb. So warm and lush.
Great synth, I have one at the center of my setup. Made two little demos of it already and some other videos. A lot of presets are a bit weak but the ctrlr editor has a full menu with patch names so you can browse. It becomes a unique amazing synth the moment you start programming new stuff in it. The ctrlr randomizer helps a lot there.
It's a great and powerful beast in a tiny package indeed! Sounds great in your hands, as always. :D Ordered a new firmware to it already, hoping that shows up during Christmas. That should solve the bugs and lags using external controllers.
@@EspenKraft Hehehe.. yeah, I guess it's probably long time until I get to see it again. ^_^ (That's alright, I have plenty to work with here for now.)
Great demo Espen, I expect you've just pushed the second hand prices up. Played the wonderful Xpander which is kind of the older brother of the Matrix, but never seen one of these. Glad to hear it also sounds great!
Funny that you mention it - but Matrix 1000 prices at the moment ($700-ish) nearly equal Prophet 08 module's (and if lucky - even keyboard's). That "vintage tax" already kicked in, despite both P08 and M1000 being almost the same architecturally (CEM3397 vs CEM3396 here) with the former having 8 voices versus 6 in the Obie and actual panel controls.
@@EspenKraft I upgraded from 6R to Xpander, yes they sound very similar, the biggest difference is voice allocation Xpander is capable, opens whole different world
Nice! I've been in love with that Oberheim sound since Rush's Signals album. If Behringer comes through with the UBxa I will be seriously checking it out.
This sound so much better than the DS OB6, I’ve been having jam versus matches between these 2 synths, my OB6 is up for sale right now. I’ll never get rid of my real Oberheim matrix.
10:55 Wooooo The Beauty and the Beast - Céline Dion!!! I was very amazed listening to you play this song, Here in Italy it is sung by the great Gino Paoli
I had a matrix 6 and a 6r...those together were INCREDIBLY phat. Loved them. But the MAtrix 12 was always my pot of gold, and was unattainable at the time... The M1000 was a nice little box that had a similar sound engine, but was quite good for the price...i think it ran around 300-400 USD at the time.
Stereoping has a programmer for this. It's not cheap, but nice. Either that, or update with the Kiwi update, and their controller. The Kiwi update adds a LOT to this nice little module.
Espen ,I love your version of in too deep by genesis. Genesis are one of my favourite bands,I love the quirkiness of the Peter Gabriel years but also the more pop sensibilities of the invisible touch era. A very interesting version of a great genesis song.
Thanks for the video. Anxiously awaiting your video of the Casio CZ series. Since my first serious interest in synthesizers, the Oberheim OB-X/a/8 series was probably my favorite synth line of the 80s, and I was equally as impressed with the original Oberheim Four Voice & Eight Voice SEM based keyboards. I purchased a Casio CZ as my first hardware synth, and one of my best friends purchased an Oberheim Matrix 6. I played his Matrix 6 all the time. Even considered buying a Matrix 1000. There was only one problem. The Matrix 6 didn't seem capable making most of the famous Oberheim type sounds that I was after. I was playing rock in rock bands, and the main thing I wanted was leads that cut through like the MiniMoog,, which the early Oberheims & OB series sounded even more impressive than the MiniMoog which bands like Styx, Rush & Van Halen demonstrated. By the time of the Matrix 6 & 1000, Oberheim had been sold to Gibson, and the heart & soul of these instruments for the kinds of sounds I wanted seemed like very different animals. But as you've shown, very capable for pads and those kinds of sounds. My Casio actually seemed a lot better for leads, which was surprising. My friend spent a lot more than I did, and he was an electronics repair expert even as a teen. But yet, the Matrix 6 spent more than half it's life back at the factory as it always broke down. I haven't heard about any reliability problems of the Matrix 1000 however. Someone in the past 2 weeks told me the Matrix 1000 is not based on the Matrix 6. This was news to me, because that's what I always heard. You mentioned the same in your video, so I'm not sure if we're incorrect or if this person was. Keep up the nice job on the videos. For people looking for "what I think of" as the classic Oberheim sound, know what kinds of specific sounds you need before choosing.
Thanks! The Matrix 1000 is indeed a 1 unit rack version of the Matrix 6R which is the Matrix 6 in module form. They were able to keep the size down on the 1000 since you can't program it from the unit itself. Other differences are mono output only and no bi-timbral capabilities. There are firmware mods to be found online though.
I bought one that was owned and used by Moby. I upgraded it to 1.20 and use both CTRLR to program it and a Novation Zero XL to add the knobs and sliders to real-time edit. That is a massively powerful combo, and easily one of best vintage synth bang-for-the-buck values available.
My two biggest mistakes in my life were selling my Nord Modular G2X and selling my Oberheim 1000. The third one was not repairing, but selling my '98 Volvo C70 T5, but that's off-topic here :)
Technically the true rack version of the Matrix 6 would be the 6R, but this one still retained the same exact voice architecture, except for not being able to be edited/programmed from the unit itself. For most people this was a better deal over the 6R anyway: one thousand Oberheim sounds at your fingertips, without having to worry about learning how to program the synth.
Mine will arrive next thursday...! A future-proof black unit with Tauntek firmware and battery-holder... Crazy for plugging it thru my MKS-50 chorus...!!!
I know someone who has one that used to belong to the Black Dog Productions with all their patches in it. LoL. If you want to hear the capabilities of this thing, listen to 'Bytes', 'Spanners' 'Temple of transparent balls' and the Rising High EP.
Owned this bad boy in the late 80's. In Keyboard magazine every month there would be patches for various synths. Found some great patches to dial into the Matrix which had a whole bank for user sounds. Best analog synth I ever owned....then I got married. Had to choose between music and her. Someone in Austin TX got it for cheap in 1996.
Thank you for the great demonstration. I like your concept of tone (patches) and think that your application of fattening effects is very effective. I still own the Matrix 6 that I bought the year that it was released as well as the Matrix 1000 that I bought used a few years later. The two instruments sound identical, except for a small difference that I can hear when they are in unison mode. Yes, they can be linked to create a 12 voice instrument or a fat or layered 6 voice instrument. Just to add a couple details to your video, I am pretty sure that the Matrix’s oscillators are digital, but the filters, etcetera are analogue. In terms or real time manipulation, one does not need to use an editor or says ex. Because the Matrix has a matrix that allows you to program several modulations, there are many ways for you to manipulate parameters in real time by sending midi CCs. e.g. Mod wheel can open filter while reducing decay time and shortening release time, while breath control adds pulse width mod, etc, etc. If you have the Matrix 6 you get the additional feature of generating release velocity. I like using that to manipulate envelope release times. I see that you are using an editor. I think that one should always create at least some of their own voices on a synth. (Isn’t that the point of a synthesizer?) I can program the Matrix 6 and send its programs to the Matrix 1000. There a number of other options. I used to use programming software on an Atari (!!!) computer and, strangely enough, you might still be able to do that if you are on Windows. Check out the late Tim Conrady’s web site for free and legal software solutions for several 1980s synths (www.atari-music.fddvoron.name/timidi.htm). However, that is probably a pretty nerdy solution. The best new solution for programming that I have is to use a midi interface for the iPad and a great editor app from Patch Touch. (I have nothing to do with the developer, by the way.)
The old debate if DCO's are digital or analog isn't something I'm very keen on discussing, but DCOs ARE analog, but digitally controlled. You have lots of good tips here though so thanks! :)
I had one for a few years. Sounded great, but... editing sounds was a miserable time. My particular unit seemed to be especially picky with MIDI commands in general and just wasn't very cooperative. Still, a great way to get into analog Oberheim goodness.
The firmware upgrade is super! I also ordered it at Günther’s Untergeek in Germany a while ago. So much more pleasure when using the Matrix 1000 now! And: Thanks Aspen for this inspiring video.
@@AndersEngerJensen I'm sure it was, knowing what I know now. I never realized that the ctrl software existed until this video, and I'm excited to see that there are editors for roland JV synths. :D Now it seems like a good idea to get another matrix 1000.
@@MagMusic check out ctrlr.org, it's a freeware thing. You get the program and it has (and you can build) software control interfaces for MIDI synths that you load into that. And you can use them as VST plugins for dialing in your sounds and doing automation. It's really cool.
Always sounds a little bit better wearing a Casio watch :) I didn't appreciate this module when I was 25. Now, 25 years later, I would love to have these sounds again.
Thanks! In the first part of the video, the song, there's a lot going on, but where I show the individual sounds there's only a custom made patch from Valhalla that does the reverb.
Behringer also returned Tom Oberheim's name and trademark back to him, even though their UB-Xa is still in production. Tom Oberheim knows what he's doing.
Damnit Espen, why did you steal my Casio watch! Nothing to say about the Oberheim really. It's Oberheim for goodness sake! Everything Tom made sounded fantastic, especially this beast of a unit! Don't let the size fool ya... :P
Good demo of a very nice sounding module but these days I'd want knobs. After 30 years I've had enough of scrolling through presets or fiddling with computer patch editors.
IF you can build an Alpes Machines Matrix Ctrlr to go with this it really opens it up, probably my single most used synth since I built one a couple years ago.
I have a Matrix 1K (in great condition) that I picked up for $300 about 4yrs ago. I was working in music gear retail during the span when these were being sold new… desperately trying to acquire the synths and related gear I both wanted and needed. I was composing (sequencing) constantly and was very prolific… but getting the gear I needed was a struggle. I remember how the main feature of these that appealed to me was the ability to "chain" several of these (up to 6) to increase the available polyphony. At $695 retail ($420 dealer price), these could be purchased at around $550. I would have been able to buy a couple at dealer cost but passed as at the time I viewed the sound of DCOs as not being 100% "real" Oberheim, as the OB range and Matrix-12 and Xpander all used VCOs. That was a silly view in retrospect as my 1st poly synth in '83 was a Roland JX-3P (which I loved) and it was a 6-voice / 2 DCO per voice machine also. For a LONG time from about 2000 on, these could be easily found any day of the week for ~$300 used. The prices now are crazy high. I was lucky to find one in such good condition for $300 when I did… but I have a knack for that. I have 50 synths, and all but a few were acquired at a really good deal for me. MANY of them are worth more now than when I bought them.
Espen Kraft the DX7s May be a little bit too clean sound wise when compared to the OG DX7. But it’s a better midi controller and its built like an absolute beast 😋
As a master keyboard and all that I'm very happy with the DX7s yes. I prefer the sound of the Mk1, but space prevents me from having both. I might pick up the TX7 if I find one cheap. ;-)
Gibson formerly owned the Oberheim name, and just this year they gave it back to Tom Oberheim. He has hinted at producing new synths! Go Tom!
Nice! His newer SEMs seem awesome; I really like that he made a version with a patch panel (I know they've been out for a while, but still). It's great he's still making synths, and that he has his name back
I thought an Italian company, Viscount, owned Oberheim after Gibson?
@@xnonsuchx No they licensed the name from Gibson to make the infamous OB-12, but they didn't own it fortunately.
I wish he'd make synths, but he pulled his synths from the market. The only thing currently produced is really being made by Dave Smith.
TheAtma that OB12 was terrible.
I just found one for sale for around $900. I'm trying to negotiate the sale before someone else grabs it. Generally speaking, they're about $1500 on the market here, and they go months to a year without a single one showing up.
Fingers crossed. Thank you for your video!
Did you manage to snag it.
It never fails to astound me that even when we have such powerful synths such as the Matrix 1000, they are quickly forgotten as the latest shiny bauble catches our eye and we just "have" to have one !!! Instead of delving into those synths that we all currently own and REALLY getting the most out of them, we just move on to the latest re-packaged toy. Certainly, there have been some real advances since this synth came out, but good Lord, this still sounds amazing. Perhaps that is still why I own my Kawai K1, K1r, and K3m; my Roland JV-880; Emu Proteus 1 and Morpheus; Korg Wavestation SR; Kurzweil PC2r; Yamaha SY22 and TG33; Waldorg Micro Q, as well as my Waldorf Blofeld and Behringer Model D (don't fear: that is NOT the entire list !!!). I simply cannot part with my old friends that I have come to know and love !!!
With a 1000 sounds you will be delving for a looong time
Lovely old synth, underrated I think. When they were new, a lot of people were comparing them to the OB8 and OB8a, obviously they sound different!
I bought one of these new here in Australia in 1997. I think it cost about AUD $800, which was and is a bargain. I do regret selling this, I thought it sounded beautiful- it does! Espen is doing a great job here of showing off how warm and it can sound.
Thanks for the story Andy! :D
Matrix 1000 is an exceptionally powerful box, even if it doesn't look the part. When you go beyond its wrong "patch module" image and go deep into programming it - you quickly realize it's basically a semi-modular beast with nearly infinite sound design capabilities. Surely it may not have the tone of a more focused polysynth due to lots of corners being cut, namely SoC architecture - but what it excels at is being an expander to a sonic palette you already have.
I agree 100%
I'm not so sure about the SOC tone argument as someone who owned a Matrix 1000 for many years. I've owned a lot of synths, such as old 70s Moogs, Rolands (VCO & DCO) and I think the sound of the Matrix 1000 is up there with the best synths.
Sure, it sounds different than old individual component synths, but not worse. Similar arguments were made against the Prophet 5 when it was released, many people thought it sounded worse that, say a Minimoog, as the P5 used chips for its filters. But I think better to use your ears!
I might add there was a lot of hate also served at Roland when the Junos came out with DCOs. But I would like to own a Juno 60 at least as much as a Jupiter 8. Yes, VCOs and DCOs sound different, but there are times when a Juno will cut through the mix in a way a Jupiter, while all warm and lovely, cannot.
can you talk a little more about the SoC architecture?
The pads at 2:50 -> make my knees weak ❤️.
OMG Same here. I melted upon hearing this ❤️
Are the drum sounds also from the Matrix?
@@BarryWarne no.
Got a ‘broken’ one off eBay for a reasonable price recently. Even with a dead battery my jaw hit the floor. I spent 2 hours with a delay and verb and absolutely ZERO regret feeling.
They are just majestic
That low pass filter... 😳 It's like 3 different synths on the same patch! That's far too much power to assign to one fader. Love it!
As a proud owner, I say M1000 is beautiful: I recently re-discovered it playing through Valhalla "Supermassive" fx and it shines!
Beautiful compositions, Espen! I still have a Matrix 1000 that I bought from my brother in the 80s and I feel like it's an underappreciated analog masterpiece. Your music really shows off its lush sounds!
Hey, thanks for saying! :)
Love the channel Espen, always great, thanks for your content. 15 years ago I saw a used white Matrix-1000 in a local music store rack, it was only 200 dollars, that unit finds its way into so many of my productions, I love that first 100 patch sound bank, killer! Keep up the outstanding work dude, excellent.
Many thanks Ricky, I appreciate your support and I'll work hard to keep up in the same way in 2020. ;-) Cheers
In the nineties my friends lent one of these to me and i made some damn clever recordings with it. The sounds were just incredible, synth sounds, special effects, even organ sounds. I had no idea it was analog. I suppose it doesn't really matter, but it seems that anything oberheim just sounds better
That thing sounds perfect! It’s not too fizzy and brassy like my Prophet 8 but not too clean like my JDXA or System8. It’s the perfect median
i wish current synth makers did these versions of their synths too, like they did back in the day...
Me too!
@@EspenKraft Behringer BX-1000!
lol
@@resofactor At this rate it wouldn't surprise me
I know. Personally I say fuck boutique synths!! Haha jk I’m cool with whatever floats yer boat but personally I think those empty rack spaces need filling!
Prophet 08 and Rev2
this is the only channel that knows what chords to play on this machine....
Such a underrated synth rack... looking for one at the moment, it’s exactly the sounds I want to run through my chase bliss stuff
I've wanted one of these since I read The Future Sound of London used one in a studio interview. It sounds amazing.
fun fact is although matrix 1000 and matrix 6/r were patch compatible the detail and output quality of the 6/r is better/higher , when swapping them for matrix 1000 some 30 years ago i was shocked by this and immediately got the matrix 6 again
A synthesizer doesn’t have a heart, but I am falling in love right now.🎹😍
That Sound is soooo amazing
Cheers!
I agree completely. Wish there was a playlist with the songs he played!
Such a full and warm sound.
I'm using the matrix 1000 with a BCR 2000 programmer. there's a preset for it for free at google. The BCR 2000 can't program the modulation matrix so I use it in conjunction with the same CTRLR editor in this demo. This combo is flawless and I can finally have a fully playable vintage Oberheim synth. It's not an OBXA but it cost me much less....
I bought mine in the early 1990s and it's the only synth (other than my Microwave XT) which is worth more now than when I bought it.
Amazing video. No talk. Just pure example through action
I always wanted one of these back in the day, but I never got around to getting one. Big regrets now of course as the sounds are superb. So warm and lush.
Beautiful synth module,so many usable sounds and demonstrated with some beautiful chords!
Great synth, I have one at the center of my setup. Made two little demos of it already and some other videos. A lot of presets are a bit weak but the ctrlr editor has a full menu with patch names so you can browse. It becomes a unique amazing synth the moment you start programming new stuff in it. The ctrlr randomizer helps a lot there.
It's a great and powerful beast in a tiny package indeed! Sounds great in your hands, as always. :D
Ordered a new firmware to it already, hoping that shows up during Christmas. That should solve the bugs and lags using external controllers.
Is upgrading the firmware easy?
If and when you get it back, you'll enjoy it my friend. Thanks again! :)
It's just a chip you need to replace. No biggie. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Hehehe.. yeah, I guess it's probably long time until I get to see it again. ^_^
(That's alright, I have plenty to work with here for now.)
slipknotboy555 Not sure yet, but it seems to just be popping the new chip in instead of the old one. :)
Hi Espen..beautiful pad sounds..pure analog bliss..got to get my hand on one of these!
Great demo Espen, I expect you've just pushed the second hand prices up.
Played the wonderful Xpander which is kind of the older brother of the Matrix, but never seen one of these. Glad to hear it also sounds great!
Funny that you mention it - but Matrix 1000 prices at the moment ($700-ish) nearly equal Prophet 08 module's (and if lucky - even keyboard's). That "vintage tax" already kicked in, despite both P08 and M1000 being almost the same architecturally (CEM3397 vs CEM3396 here) with the former having 8 voices versus 6 in the Obie and actual panel controls.
Thanks Alex! It's no Xpander, but for what it costs it comes pretty close, especially in a mix. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Yes, considering it's less than a third of the price of an Xpander it punches above its weight!
@@EspenKraft I upgraded from 6R to Xpander, yes they sound very similar, the biggest difference is voice allocation Xpander is capable, opens whole different world
Nice! I've been in love with that Oberheim sound since Rush's Signals album. If Behringer comes through with the UBxa I will be seriously checking it out.
This sound so much better than the DS OB6, I’ve been having jam versus matches between these 2 synths, my OB6 is up for sale right now.
I’ll never get rid of my real Oberheim matrix.
The OB6 is great imo, but I can see what you mean. The M1000 sounds very good.
Are you serious?
I have both... and you cannot take a thing away from the OB-6!
It’s like gaze into infinity, love that box, gonna get second one just in case.
10:55 Wooooo The Beauty and the Beast - Céline Dion!!!
I was very amazed listening to you play this song, Here in Italy it is sung by the great Gino Paoli
my friend recognized it immediately too!
Sounds just like that nice Cheetah module and the Crumar Bit synths
Super underrated module but so thick. Currently running the tauntek firmware but really interested to check out the kiwi mod.
Hi what’s the kiwi mod ?
Had 3 of them and all had issues overtime but the sound was amazing
I had a matrix 6 and a 6r...those together were INCREDIBLY phat. Loved them. But the MAtrix 12 was always my pot of gold, and was unattainable at the time... The M1000 was a nice little box that had a similar sound engine, but was quite good for the price...i think it ran around 300-400 USD at the time.
Stereoping has a programmer for this. It's not cheap, but nice.
Either that, or update with the Kiwi update, and their controller. The Kiwi update adds a LOT to this nice little module.
Espen ,I love your version of in too deep by genesis.
Genesis are one of my favourite bands,I love the quirkiness of the Peter Gabriel years but also the more pop sensibilities of the invisible touch era.
A very interesting version of a great genesis song.
Thanks for saying! I will release a video of this shortly! :)
arpeggios sounded really nice, I'm having my white face 1000 serviced, such a great sounding synth and well worth the cost of repair
I always look for a clean used white one. Lovely.
I had a Matrix 6 keyboard. It was complex, but I made sounds that I believe could only come from that Oberheim architecture.
Excellent! Thanks a lot Mr. Kraft! Ufo sounds on 7:50 is fantastic🛸👽👍
Thanks Sal! :)
Love your videos and music Espen. You have realy inspired me to dig out my jx8p I have had for years, and to also pick up an Esq1 and a Dss-1.
Excellent, get those synths barking! Thanks! :)
Some amazing sounds i especially like the pad/ string sounds :)
Excellent video! I managed to get a matrix 6r a few years ago before the prices jumped.
Cheers!
Thanks for the video. Anxiously awaiting your video of the Casio CZ series.
Since my first serious interest in synthesizers, the Oberheim OB-X/a/8 series was probably my favorite synth line of the 80s, and I was equally as impressed with the original Oberheim Four Voice & Eight Voice SEM based keyboards.
I purchased a Casio CZ as my first hardware synth, and one of my best friends purchased an Oberheim Matrix 6. I played his Matrix 6 all the time. Even considered buying a Matrix 1000. There was only one problem. The Matrix 6 didn't seem capable making most of the famous Oberheim type sounds that I was after. I was playing rock in rock bands, and the main thing I wanted was leads that cut through like the MiniMoog,, which the early Oberheims & OB series sounded even more impressive than the MiniMoog which bands like Styx, Rush & Van Halen demonstrated.
By the time of the Matrix 6 & 1000, Oberheim had been sold to Gibson, and the heart & soul of these instruments for the kinds of sounds I wanted seemed like very different animals. But as you've shown, very capable for pads and those kinds of sounds. My Casio actually seemed a lot better for leads, which was surprising. My friend spent a lot more than I did, and he was an electronics repair expert even as a teen. But yet, the Matrix 6 spent more than half it's life back at the factory as it always broke down. I haven't heard about any reliability problems of the Matrix 1000 however.
Someone in the past 2 weeks told me the Matrix 1000 is not based on the Matrix 6. This was news to me, because that's what I always heard. You mentioned the same in your video, so I'm not sure if we're incorrect or if this person was.
Keep up the nice job on the videos. For people looking for "what I think of" as the classic Oberheim sound, know what kinds of specific sounds you need before choosing.
Thanks! The Matrix 1000 is indeed a 1 unit rack version of the Matrix 6R which is the Matrix 6 in module form. They were able to keep the size down on the 1000 since you can't program it from the unit itself. Other differences are mono output only and no bi-timbral capabilities. There are firmware mods to be found online though.
It sounds so awesome. Nice 80ies synth pop track.
I bought one that was owned and used by Moby. I upgraded it to 1.20 and use both CTRLR to program it and a Novation Zero XL to add the knobs and sliders to real-time edit. That is a massively powerful combo, and easily one of best vintage synth bang-for-the-buck values available.
*Vintage ANALOG synth, I mean...
It's definitely one of the better analog vintage synths out there. :)
Great demo Espen. Time to bring mine out of retirement.
Thanks Rod! Get it into action now ;-)
Your videos are a lot of fun Espen!
Many thanks man! :)
My two biggest mistakes in my life were selling my Nord Modular G2X and selling my Oberheim 1000. The third one was not repairing, but selling my '98 Volvo C70 T5, but that's off-topic here :)
I feel you on the C70 T5, I miss mine to this day
1:50 refreshing! Straight nostalgia, no doubt. Thanks again man...
My pleasure, thanks! :)
Great ,sorry if I spoke too soon before you announced it ,I just noticed it on iTunes ( and downloaded it 👍)
Technically the true rack version of the Matrix 6 would be the 6R, but this one still retained the same exact voice architecture, except for not being able to be edited/programmed from the unit itself. For most people this was a better deal over the 6R anyway: one thousand Oberheim sounds at your fingertips, without having to worry about learning how to program the synth.
Yes, the word "1-unit" slipped my mind when I spoke that phrase into the mic. In my video description I nuance my statement. ;-)
Mine will arrive next thursday...!
A future-proof black unit with Tauntek firmware and battery-holder...
Crazy for plugging it thru my MKS-50 chorus...!!!
I know someone who has one that used to belong to the Black Dog Productions with all their patches in it. LoL.
If you want to hear the capabilities of this thing, listen to 'Bytes',
'Spanners' 'Temple of transparent balls' and the Rising High EP.
Wow I'd love that, big fan of Bytes and Spanners
The patch at 10:56 is beyond beautiful.
Owned this bad boy in the late 80's. In Keyboard magazine every month there would be patches for various synths. Found some great patches to dial into the Matrix which had a whole bank for user sounds. Best analog synth I ever owned....then I got married. Had to choose between music and her. Someone in Austin TX got it for cheap in 1996.
Sad story.
And up go the prices, the Kraft-effect :( It's still on my list and will forever be. Absolutely amazing unit!
already pretty pricy units for awhile, but yea i can imagine that has happened in the past :) . He was just late to the punch on this one.
Sadly sold mine years ago but it sounds absolute beast!
me too! I had exactly the same black version
Man I've wanted one of these for years
!
Class, great compositions . And yes I am jealous. Kudos. Happy Christmas.
Thanks! :)
Thank you for the great demonstration. I like your concept of tone (patches) and think that your application of fattening effects is very effective. I still own the Matrix 6 that I bought the year that it was released as well as the Matrix 1000 that I bought used a few years later. The two instruments sound identical, except for a small difference that I can hear when they are in unison mode. Yes, they can be linked to create a 12 voice instrument or a fat or layered 6 voice instrument.
Just to add a couple details to your video, I am pretty sure that the Matrix’s oscillators are digital, but the filters, etcetera are analogue. In terms or real time manipulation, one does not need to use an editor or says ex. Because the Matrix has a matrix that allows you to program several modulations, there are many ways for you to manipulate parameters in real time by sending midi CCs. e.g. Mod wheel can open filter while reducing decay time and shortening release time, while breath control adds pulse width mod, etc, etc. If you have the Matrix 6 you get the additional feature of generating release velocity. I like using that to manipulate envelope release times.
I see that you are using an editor. I think that one should always create at least some of their own voices on a synth. (Isn’t that the point of a synthesizer?) I can program the Matrix 6 and send its programs to the Matrix 1000. There a number of other options. I used to use programming software on an Atari (!!!) computer and, strangely enough, you might still be able to do that if you are on Windows. Check out the late Tim Conrady’s web site for free and legal software solutions for several 1980s synths (www.atari-music.fddvoron.name/timidi.htm). However, that is probably a pretty nerdy solution. The best new solution for programming that I have is to use a midi interface for the iPad and a great editor app from Patch Touch. (I have nothing to do with the developer, by the way.)
The old debate if DCO's are digital or analog isn't something I'm very keen on discussing, but DCOs ARE analog, but digitally controlled.
You have lots of good tips here though so thanks! :)
Espen Kraft - I stand corrected. I don't really care about analogue vs digital. I just care if something sounds good.
one of my fave synths
I had one for a few years. Sounded great, but... editing sounds was a miserable time. My particular unit seemed to be especially picky with MIDI commands in general and just wasn't very cooperative. Still, a great way to get into analog Oberheim goodness.
Probably due to an old firmware. I bought the latest from a guy in Germany, looks promising. :)
The firmware upgrade is super! I also ordered it at Günther’s Untergeek in Germany a while ago. So much more pleasure when using the Matrix 1000 now!
And:
Thanks Aspen for this inspiring video.
@@AndersEngerJensen I'm sure it was, knowing what I know now. I never realized that the ctrl software existed until this video, and I'm excited to see that there are editors for roland JV synths. :D
Now it seems like a good idea to get another matrix 1000.
@@MaggieKeizai What *is* that control software? Who is it by?
@@MagMusic check out ctrlr.org, it's a freeware thing. You get the program and it has (and you can build) software control interfaces for MIDI synths that you load into that. And you can use them as VST plugins for dialing in your sounds and doing automation. It's really cool.
Always sounds a little bit better wearing a Casio watch :)
I didn't appreciate this module when I was 25. Now, 25 years later, I would love to have these sounds again.
A Casio like this is never wrong! ;-)
Awesome sounds, Espen!!!
Thanks man! :)
Yet another synth I own and love! Great demo!
Thanks! :)
Hooray! I bought my Matrix-1000 three days ago😁. I'm fall in love.
Congrats!
Cool demo - typical Oberheim pad and sync and also interesting cross-modulated sounds :-)
Really loving the demo
Cheers!
Helvete vad bra det låter!😍 Great stuff as usual, Espen🤘🔥🎶
Tackar så mycket! :)
Hi Espen! With a new firmware and a StereoPing controller, you can get hands-on with this wonderful synth.
Hey, the Matrix-1000 is long gone now. It's back with its owner. I changed the firmware for him before returning it though. ;-)
10:55 - Instant childhood memories!
Great video. This 1000 sounds fantastic! It sounds better than my Matrix-6R. Can I ask you, what reverb you have been using to record this demo?
Thanks! In the first part of the video, the song, there's a lot going on, but where I show the individual sounds there's only a custom made patch from Valhalla that does the reverb.
Behringer also returned Tom Oberheim's name and trademark back to him, even though their UB-Xa is still in production. Tom Oberheim knows what he's doing.
Damnit Espen, why did you steal my Casio watch!
Nothing to say about the Oberheim really. It's Oberheim for goodness sake! Everything Tom made sounded fantastic, especially this beast of a unit! Don't let the size fool ya... :P
You saw the watch? ;-)
@@EspenKraft I've been wearing that exact same one for 3/4 years now hehe. So that's why I noticed it.
Cool man. I'm a old watch collector and I still have some left, even though I sold off most of them some years ago.
7:50 You have the makings for Kraftwerk’s Kometenmelodie 1 right there ;)
And the beautiful "chirping" sound of K-2
Thankyou for this! Great demo :)
Cheers!
Good demo of a very nice sounding module but these days I'd want knobs. After 30 years I've had enough of scrolling through presets or fiddling with computer patch editors.
Thanks! I get what you mean, but for me it's always the sound first, but I was raised on menu driven membrane button synths so I don't mind.. ;-)
not sure if it was a oberheim product seeing how norlin aka gibson had bought them out and the 1000 was released after the buy out
IF you can build an Alpes Machines Matrix Ctrlr to go with this it really opens it up, probably my single most used synth since I built one a couple years ago.
really amazing man!!
so how is it possible that mono pads sound that full? are you using stereo chorus etc afterwards?
thx mate
I use external chorus, delay and reverb yes.
Very nice demo 0:30 amazing bassline/ reminds me style of Michael Cretu
Cheers! :)
Your drums sound incredible
Thanks! :D
i like too much your edits your sound,, nice and clean ,,,saludosss from Barcelona
Gracias! :-)
I really miss that one.
Again never judge a book by its cover, nice work...
Thanks! :)
sounds great!
Great demo! And great synth!
Thanks! :)
Quite satisfied with my Matrix 6R...😁
I have a Matrix 1K (in great condition) that I picked up for $300 about 4yrs ago. I was working in music gear retail during the span when these were being sold new… desperately trying to acquire the synths and related gear I both wanted and needed. I was composing (sequencing) constantly and was very prolific… but getting the gear I needed was a struggle.
I remember how the main feature of these that appealed to me was the ability to "chain" several of these (up to 6) to increase the available polyphony. At $695 retail ($420 dealer price), these could be purchased at around $550. I would have been able to buy a couple at dealer cost but passed as at the time I viewed the sound of DCOs as not being 100% "real" Oberheim, as the OB range and Matrix-12 and Xpander all used VCOs. That was a silly view in retrospect as my 1st poly synth in '83 was a Roland JX-3P (which I loved) and it was a 6-voice / 2 DCO per voice machine also.
For a LONG time from about 2000 on, these could be easily found any day of the week for ~$300 used. The prices now are crazy high. I was lucky to find one in such good condition for $300 when I did… but I have a knack for that. I have 50 synths, and all but a few were acquired at a really good deal for me. MANY of them are worth more now than when I bought them.
Could you post your address, hours you're most likely not home, and if you own any large dogs....please? ;-)
@@dshmechanic I have ski masks, and flashlights. Would burgle for free.
@@foreverseethe I'm in like Flynn....we split 50/50 hahahaha
Cool demo!
Cheers!
Ooh, you’re using a DX7s as a controller!
Wish I still had mine.
It’s a really solid keyboard without some of the original dx7 problems.
Apart from the obvious MIDI channel 1 "thing", I find the the original DX7 to be the best of them all. ;-)
Espen Kraft the DX7s May be a little bit too clean sound wise when compared to the OG DX7. But it’s a better midi controller and its built like an absolute beast 😋
As a master keyboard and all that I'm very happy with the DX7s yes. I prefer the sound of the Mk1, but space prevents me from having both. I might pick up the TX7 if I find one cheap. ;-)
@@EspenKraft A cheap TX7 :) It took me years to find mine. No-one was giving them up even 10 years ago.
Espen, would you consider making your modified presets available as a sysex file for those of us schlubs who are terrible with programming?
Sorry, it went back to its owner a long time back. Don't have the patches stored either.
Very nice sounds
8:16 I love this sound. Perfect for Trance!
Quite simple sound you can do on any synth out there though.
@@chakko007 would it come with the goosebumps though?..
@@chakko007 so, great for trance :D
Great demo!! Thanks, man!
Cheers!