GForce Software has released Oberheim Matrix-12, an official software take on the classic Matrix-12 and Xpander synths. The plugin starts at $83.99, with versions for macOS and Windows. Oberheim and original designer Marcus Ryle helped develop it, giving users a fresh way to play the vintage instrument.
Back in 1985, the hardware packed 12 voices, a filter with 15 modes, and a deep system for linking sound controls. Artists such as Vangelis, Depeche Mode, The Orb, and Technotronic used it. Finding an original unit can be hard, and keeping one in shape can cost plenty.
Each digital voice gets two modeled oscillators, with triangle, saw, and pulse waves. Hard sync, FM, and noise add more options. Audio then passes through a filter with 15 choices and a pair of amplifiers. GForce says it matched key parts of the sound against real hardware.
Modulation is where things get wild. Every voice has five envelopes, five LFOs, four ramps, three trackers, and lag processing. Users can link controls in almost any way, even routing a source back into itself. Six bipolar slots per parameter offer more room for changes.
And the interface makes those links easier to track. Flow shows the signal path, while Mod Matrix puts the links in a grid for quick edits. Visualiser lets users watch and adjust sound behavior through graphs and curves. Dragging a control onto a knob sets up a connection.
Single mode treats the synth as one 12-voice instrument, with unison and detune options. Multi mode gives each voice a separate sound and lets users split the keyboard into six zones. Each zone can have its own MIDI channel, voice setup, and small arpeggiator.
Extra tools cover synced ramps, smoother LFO movement, four-step tracker patterns, and full MPE. There are also four global macro controls, stereo delay, and matrix reverb. In Multi mode, each voice can send a different amount to the effects.
The preset browser holds over 570 sounds. More than 380 are fresh designs, while over 190 come from the original Matrix-12 and Xpander libraries. Users can also copy, lock, or load voices one at a time, with Relative Edit for changes across a zone.
For DAW users, the choices are VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX, alongside a standalone app. The launch rate is £69, $83.99, or €83.99, before moving to £99, $119.99, or €119.99. Listed prices account for 20% VAT, though local EU taxes may change the total. A free 14-day trial is available.
Back in 1985, the hardware packed 12 voices, a filter with 15 modes, and a deep system for linking sound controls. Artists such as Vangelis, Depeche Mode, The Orb, and Technotronic used it. Finding an original unit can be hard, and keeping one in shape can cost plenty.
Each digital voice gets two modeled oscillators, with triangle, saw, and pulse waves. Hard sync, FM, and noise add more options. Audio then passes through a filter with 15 choices and a pair of amplifiers. GForce says it matched key parts of the sound against real hardware.
Modulation is where things get wild. Every voice has five envelopes, five LFOs, four ramps, three trackers, and lag processing. Users can link controls in almost any way, even routing a source back into itself. Six bipolar slots per parameter offer more room for changes.
And the interface makes those links easier to track. Flow shows the signal path, while Mod Matrix puts the links in a grid for quick edits. Visualiser lets users watch and adjust sound behavior through graphs and curves. Dragging a control onto a knob sets up a connection.
Single mode treats the synth as one 12-voice instrument, with unison and detune options. Multi mode gives each voice a separate sound and lets users split the keyboard into six zones. Each zone can have its own MIDI channel, voice setup, and small arpeggiator.
Extra tools cover synced ramps, smoother LFO movement, four-step tracker patterns, and full MPE. There are also four global macro controls, stereo delay, and matrix reverb. In Multi mode, each voice can send a different amount to the effects.
The preset browser holds over 570 sounds. More than 380 are fresh designs, while over 190 come from the original Matrix-12 and Xpander libraries. Users can also copy, lock, or load voices one at a time, with Relative Edit for changes across a zone.
For DAW users, the choices are VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX, alongside a standalone app. The launch rate is £69, $83.99, or €83.99, before moving to £99, $119.99, or €119.99. Listed prices account for 20% VAT, though local EU taxes may change the total. A free 14-day trial is available.
