Juno 60/106 vs Oberheim Matrix 1000/6

SWAN · Post by **SWAN** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:14 am

In continuation of my journey to perfect set-up - I have had my eyes on these two synths to take the role of analogue poly. Seeing as they are both 6 voice I was wondering what the difference was in SOUND-and I see that many of you own these synths. I understand that the OB has only computer based programmability and thats fine....Im more interested in the quality of sound produced.........

Post by **shaft9000** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:50 am

pretty different animals. I have M1000 and have played Junos many times.

Both are 6-voice DCO and sport just a lowpass filter, & that's about all they share feature-wise.
The OB is a CEM job with mad signal routing capabilties. It exhibits an even, all-around warm and sizzly analog sound, if not distinctlly big or ballsy... Some good bass and leads are available, but it excels most with pad and fx sounds. EGs are not fast but the 45-second-long attacks are absolutely delicious, something the Juno won't do. Virtues work both ways i guess; i find it indispensible for moody unique smooth sounds.
Junos are a more refined yet simple sound, unless the chorus is engaged and then the sound gets all that lush Juno character it's known for. Filter has more charm and juice, not unlike a Jupiter 8. EGs much faster. The Juno is usually better for techno basslines (6 & 60, not the 106 no arp) and playing in a band than the OB. Sound is bigger on Juno when the chorus is engaged - it doesn't hurt to have that bass-boost circuit in there, either.

Nice thing about the OB is every sound is not done to death 1000x before as are the Junos. Junos are not fx synths except for rudimentary synth-y sounds, whereas the OBs go to another galaxy, with 3 EGs 2 lfos 2 syncable oscillators per voice and a hefty mod matrix.

It just comes down to what you need it for. Get 'em both and satisfy your curiosity.

BadTeeth · Post by **BadTeeth** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:14 am

Haven't graced any Oberheims unfortunately, but i can put my two cents worth in for a juno. I have a 106, i love the thing but its capabilities are limited. If you want it for quick patch recall standing on a stage playing bright leads or bass then it is the bomb. Everyone froths over the chorus feature which is ok.. in my oppinion an overrated virtue of a fairly simple synth.

also - tweaking the juno live is much fun.

also also - if it is for studio purposes then i would probably go for the OB.. its wider capabilities make it a better investment in that sense.

best of luck

JJQ · Post by **JJQ** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:58 am

The Juno 60 has great controls and beautifull Roland sound. Powerfull, great base. You will never be bored if you like the sound but it isnt very flexibel.

Ive had the Cheetah MS6 witch has the same sound chip as the 6/1000 (and now a xpander) and the sound can be more fluid & bubbly.

The caracter is different and one doesnt replace the other.

I think you have to get both a Juno-60 and a Matrix 6r/ 1000 with access programmer. Its the cheaper and more resonable version of my JP-8 & Xpander.

Post by **Jack Spider** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:21 am

If it's any help, here's a demo of some of the Matrix 1000 presets. I had trouble running the editor software and basically treated it as a 'box of tricks' as most of the 1000 on-board sounds are perfectly usable as-is.

http://media.putfile.com/Matrix-1000-Demo

The Matrix-1000 is capable of some very complex sounds, and with two DCOs per voice can sound very beefy. The Matrix also responds to aftertouch, for additional expressiveness.

As the Matrix can be picked up cheaply, I'd say get them both, to tell you the truth as they sound sufficiently different (although my Juno experience stems from the 60, rather than the 106).

micahjonhughes · Post by **micahjonhughes** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:27 pm

They are very different but each good in their own ways. The Juno will produce typical poly synth sounds, good acid sounds, and decent string and organ sounds. Theoretically the Matrix could too. However, the way it is set up make you want to make much more complicated sounds, evolving pads, odd basses and noises. I like the Matrix better but that is due to the type of music I make. I find the Juno too limited in its modulation capacity.

As always which is better really depends upon what you want to do with it.

hageir · Post by **hageir** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:59 pm

Jack Spider wrote:If it's any help, here's a demo of some of the Matrix 1000 presets. I had trouble running the editor software and basically treated it as a 'box of tricks' as most of the 1000 on-board sounds are perfectly usable as-is.

http://media.putfile.com/Matrix-1000-Demo

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8e-vgQSqNtA
haha classic!

SWAN · Post by **SWAN** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:32 pm

Jack Spider wrote:If it's any help, here's a demo of some of the Matrix 1000 presets. I had trouble running the editor software and basically treated it as a 'box of tricks' as most of the 1000 on-board sounds are perfectly usable as-is.

http://media.putfile.com/Matrix-1000-Demo

The Matrix-1000 is capable of some very complex sounds, and with two DCOs per voice can sound very beefy. The Matrix also responds to aftertouch, for additional expressiveness.

As the Matrix can be picked up cheaply, I'd say get them both, to tell you the truth as they sound sufficiently different (although my Juno experience stems from the 60, rather than the 106).

thanks-I really like those sounds!

My current synth list is:

Pulse
Pro One
Microwave 1
Minimax - which Im evaluating at the mo - may sell and get a Matrix 1000.....Im feeling a bit funny about it being DSP..........or maybe Ill just get the Matrix as well!
I think I have Bass machines covered so it would be for analogue style pads etc which from what I grasp is what the Matrix is good at-and seeing as you can pick them up for about £150-£170 it would be rude not to really

Post by **Jack Spider** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:45 pm

That's the ticket! It is a serious bargain for the money they go for - especially if you manage to get some editing software working with it - 200 patches to write to!

Incidentally, if you should stumble across the 'British Matrix 1000', the Cheetah MS6, that's also worth a look. Not as much patch storage as the Oberheim, but it can be fully-programmed from the front panel. I picked one up out of curiosity for an absolute bargain £60 (I later sold it on for £110), so if you can find one, it's a worthy synth. It has a similar sound to the Matrix, thanks to sharing some of the same components - here's a demo I knocked up with some of the presets:

http://media.putfile.com/Cheetah-MS6-Demo

Strangenono · Post by **Strangenono** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:03 pm

I owned 2 junos 106 and a matrix 1000. I'd go for the matrix 6 if I were you, it has a wider range of sound and that oberheim sound that I prefer . It is more difficult to program but it sounds more professional than the juno. If you play in rock bands or jazz bands go for it

xpander · Post by **xpander** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:24 pm

easy- the Matrix-1000!! the synth engine is waaay more robust and it sounds fantastic!! never mind hunting down an ultra-rare access programmer, just use a good editor/librarian, they're much, much cheaper and more comprehensive. i have always felt the Matrix is one of the most affordable ways to get high-end analog sound, even without traditional VCO circuits.

related synths i own: Juno-106, Matrix-1000; Juno-2, Xpander, Jupiter 6.

here's my old studio pic again, the Matrix is the bottom space of the rack (because it has little rubber feet)...

and here's where the 106 has been ever since it was displaced by a PEK, and i of course like the Juno-2 much better, strange, eh?

MarkShovel · Post by **MarkShovel** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:31 pm

I've got my original Juno-60. One of my frineds bought a new Juno-106, and I never like it. The Juno-60 requires a DCB-midi interface (Roland MD-8), while the Juno-106 has factory original midi.

I've also got two Matrix-6 keyboards and one Matrix-1000.

The Juno-60 is a very simple, but has great controls. Mine is in mint condition.

The Matrix has more sound options, but is not as easy to tweak patches. I've bought my Matrix units used.

Of course, I never sell any of my synths.....

Mark

Post by **shaft9000** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:14 pm

here's some Matrix-1000 pads and atmospheres:

http://www.awrongturn.com/shaft9000demo ... IX1000.mp3

that's direct w/ some outboard delay added

redchapterjubilee · Post by **redchapterjubilee** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:20 pm

The Matrix-1000 is the only synth I've sold that I seriously regret losing. It helped me get my Moog Source so I can't rue that decision too much but I will someday pick up another Matrix series synth. If anyone's got one for under $250 give me a PM. Anyways, the Junos are easy to edit and are a great source bread-and-butter synth tones. But the Matrixes have seriously muscular modulation possibilities and make for killer pads, bass pedaltones and FX.

hageir · Post by **hageir** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:29 pm

xpander, stop pimping out your pics

GAS

hey that's a legacy controller

Juno 60/106 vs Oberheim Matrix 1000/6

Juno 60/106 vs Oberheim Matrix 1000/6

My thoughts....