Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site iham1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!iham1!rwn
From: rwn@iham1.UUCP (Bob Neumann)
Newsgroups: net.music.synth
Subject: Oberheim Matrix-12
Message-ID: <358@iham1.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-May-85 22:11:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: iham1.358
Posted: Thu May 16 22:11:22 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 17-May-85 05:30:12 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 38

*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MULTI-PATCH ***

I've heard the Oberheim Matrix-12 and it sounds fantastic.
I've always been a fan of this company's equipment and was very impressed
with the fatness of their new instrument.  I'm not going to
elaborate about all the things you can do with the Xpander
capabilities within the instrument, most everyone out in net.synthland
probably has read the Keyboard review from last summer. The instrument
does not lose any "Oberheim fatness" and the Xpander voice yields
sounds which I defy anyone to say that they have heard before.
Playing the Xpander sound "Fuzz Clav" on a Matrix-12 with
the touch sensitive keyboard is ecstasy! Yes, it's not a guitar
sound, it's not a keyboard sound, WHAT IS IT????

I do not own a Matrix-12 but I do own an Xpander and am still
waiting for the remote touch sensitive keyboard for the 
Xpander. I guess all things come to those who wait...

There are some things about the design of the Matrix-12 that
are annoying.  For instance, there is no arpeggiator on the 
Matrix-12.  Who cares? Well, the Oberheim remote keyboard
is supposed to have one, so why didn't they include one
in the Matrix-12? (I will bet that it will be included
in a future software update.) Also, those who are familiar
with the OB-X, OB-Xa and OB-8 left hand panel LFO performance
switches will miss these as now the lever routings must
be changed by accessing the patches in the main front panel.
This means that for live performance, you had better program
in your bender stuff or you'll probably
have a heartattack trying to change bender data during
a wild solo! 

Another problem with the Matrix-12: it's a new instrument,
and the cost is extremely high ( discounts? forget it). 
But for the person
out there who was comparing it with a Voyetra-8,
the comparative prices of both instruments (at least in Chicago)
would lead me to purchase a Matrix-12.