Funniest User Reviews from the SonicState Archives: Oberheim Matrix 6

The Oberheim Matrix 6 is really an instrument of two halves. It's an Oberheim (with the classic logo), but it's not! (internet lore suggests it was designed in Japan). It has analogue oscillators, but they're DCOs! There's a rich variety of synthesis parameters and some Xpander-like modulation action - but there are no knobs!

My own history with the instrument felt like a brief, slightly disappointing affair. I acquired a Matrix 6 for £200 in 2012, programmed some cool-ass patches and then it seemed to lose it's mind and eventually wouldn't turn on. I think it's telling that, in 14 years - I haven't sought another M6 out, especially not at modern prices (£1K plus!)

But it was interesting - I thought the DCO's were a little sharp & stiff (which incidentally made them great at VCF FM!) and the filter fairly nondescript...but it brought a pleasant, mid-bassy, budget kid's drama show vibe to proceedings and...those LFOs, ramp generators and modulation slots made for some very unusual tones; some of which I've recreated with my trusty DSI Tetr4. Remember though - you pretty much needed an editor for any serious sound design...it has an all membrane button UI. So what did readers from the 2010's - a time when analogue polysynths didn't grow on trees - think about the M6?

"It's a pain in the ass to program, but we are synthesists! Get over it! Try programming a DX7 and then I'll listen to you cry."

Whilst this guy seems a little "school of hard knocks", it's a fair point - with no computer editor on hand, it is a pain in the ass!

"Do you like to program microwaves? Programming the Matrix-6 is not too much different."

Damnit, now I have a craving for Micro Chips - remember those slightly soggy but ever-so convenient foodstuffs? With enough vinegar they weren't half bad.

Anyhow, what I found interesting, is that most of the reviews from here on were of two halves - "this part sucks, but this part is good" - check it out:

"The nice price and sound far outweigh the boring editing...but portamento and heavy vibrato were spitting out nasty noises for some reason - same for the pitch bend lever, it's either really dirty or totally screwed. The build quality of the metal shell is excellent, but the "levers" and the keys are very cheap feeling. In fact, the last owner broke two keys using the "pressure" options."

"For editing I suggest Sounddiver - the GUI is the one and only downside.. But the sound! the sound fixes everything. Especially when you get down and start to program your own. It does Juno, Jupiter, Prophet and even Moog imitation, and much better than those virtual analogue synths. The sound is alive!"

Getting Dirty

Ah, now we're into the realm of hyperbole - for one CEM3396-based synth to pull off Juno (M6=no chorus), Jupiter (M6=DCOs), Prophet AND Moog tones is a mighty big ask! As a Prophet 600 owner and having played the rest - yeah...unlikely. I'm sure some sounds could be emulated - the M6 is feature rich, but other patches would make clear each instrument's qualities.

But we like hyperbole here on FUR so lets continue...

"CAUTION: IF YOU BUY THIS UNIT, YOU ARE DOOMED TO CHASE DOWN AND BUY THE OBERHEIM MATRIX 1000, THE OBERHEIM MATRIX 12 AND THE MATRIX XPANDER... PS, if you have any questions about costs on the last two....get out your wallets! The Matrix-6 is what it is....A beautiful Analog Synth. Deep, lush tones as well as getting dirty! It's too bad the Oberheim Company got lost along its way in the years following these Synths. Programming isn't too bad - Like on cold winter nights when you're snowed in... Also awesome when hooked up to a Matrix 1000...HUGE SOUND...HUGE!"

You have been warned! Seriously though, I do regret not finding a Matrix 1000 to layer on top - 4 DCOs, given proper care & attention, might sound...err HUGE!

'When I first started using the Matrix 6 back in the mid 80's. we made all our stuff on an M1 to start with. People would listen to our stuff and would comment:
"Yep there's the M1 Piano"
"Ya, and there's the M1 string patch"
"And there's the ....... COOL!!! What the hell is on that track.!?!"
"Man! This thing has a groove."
"What made that searingly hot lead?"
"How many keyboards did it take to stack up that bass sound?
"OK, who did this really?"

I currently create all my tracks with a K2000 and an EMU ESI-32. I sold the M6 when I was 18, (pressure from my girlfriend at the time) and have since then realized that no sampler or synth can duplicate the warm, fat, unique and intangible sound the M6 adds to any setup. And yes, matrix modulation concepts are complex, the interface - antiquated, attention getter factor - absolutely priceless. $450 from just about any used dealer - get it. Abusive comments welcome.'

No abuse here friend - you entertained the hell out of me! Apparently, the M6 doesn't just sound good - but it'll make you respected, popular and bag you a girlfriend! The only risk factor - said girlfriend may make you sell the M6. Can't win 'em all.

Beef

Oh-ho-ho! Time for today's highlight; an authentic, genuine, vintage internet altercation with name-calling, dressing-downs and profanity!

OJ: "I've owned this keyboard for two days, but as I'm pretty used to programming I've already discovered a lot of it. I would be more happy if I'd payed less for it. About 400$ is a little too much I think. Sure, there are BIG sound shaping possibilities, but the sound is not as fat as I'd like it to be - a little silent somehow. But I've discovered it has a unison/mono mode which can be used to create very powerful mono leads. What about twelve voices in unison!?

Just modulate the DCO's slightly by an LFO and set the LFO trigger mode to "free" so that the voices aren't played exactly in tune and o'boy, that IS fat! But I'll come to my point here; There are many software synthesizers today which sound much better than this oldie. I don't care about they're digital - just listen and compare and don't THINK about if the source is digital or analogue. I have just discovered NI Reaktor which is one of the fattest, most flexible synths I've EVER tried!! And when you compare prices, you'll maybe understand my disappointment. This is NOT a bad synthesizer, not at all! But you'll get a fatter sound much cheaper than this! Don't listen to the analog-loving nerds! I think software will take over in the music-production industry! Sad but true!"

Did you spot OJ's fatal mistake here? :D

P: "My respond to OJ: Analogue loving nerds?! What a f*ck are you talking about?! We "analogue loving nerds" love analogue because we have something organic and concrete to play with and be less dependent on computers, unlike YOUR VA and software synths. YOU are a NERD, because YOU want to be on your computer all the time with idiotic softwares! You sound like a very unprofessional person... it's a real fact that software can't ever be close to a real analog synth. Clean up your ears! Digital and mechanical are two completely different things! The fire can't be the water :D"

10/10, fireworks, my life is dopamine-rich for a moment.

See you next time!

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