Thoughts on the Matrix 1000?

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:08 am

I've been thinking of picking one of these up, anyone own one? does it really sound like a matrix 6? likes? dis-likes?

Sealed · Post by **Sealed** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:57 am

I like it.
The analog filter sounds good and the Filter-FM is useful for creating unique sounds. I use it with Roland CE-300 analog chorus to fatten it up.
Also the Unison mode makes the juicy bass sounds.

Hades · Post by **Hades** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:32 am

Sealed wrote:I like it.
The analog filter sounds good and the Filter-FM is useful for creating unique sounds. I use it with Roland CE-300 analog chorus to fatten it up.
Also the Unison mode makes the juicy bass sounds.

I agree that the overall sound of this unit is very good.
but I don't agree with the unison. it's too messy to really use it for much, in my opinion.
but you don't need the unison to make good bass sounds with it.
I've had my matrix for years, and bought the access programmer for it too, so it's a very fun unit for me.
even though my synthrig has grown a lot since I bought my matrix (I think it was my 2nd synth, now I got over 10), I'd never sell it.
the matrix is an excllent unit if you want warm analog stuff without having too pay too much cash.
mine has never failed on me, and since I haven't known many people complain about it, I'm convinced these units are built like a tank.
the 1000 presets are sometimes not too different from one another, but then again, what could one expect with 1000 presets...
more than enough good ones in there, so who cares ?
I also agree the FM thing is very nice. it got me some very granular sounding patches, which is not exactly what yo'd expect coming out of an older analog synth.

very nice synth, you won't regret it if you get it, I think.
and if you wouldn't like it, you can still sell it without any problems.
they usually go for around 250. don't go above 300, cause there are so many out there it would be stupid not to wait a week or so till the next few show up on ebay.

Post by **shaft9000** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:52 pm

it's got a nice sizzly sound, and even better midrange subtlety - not very thick but it is DCO so don't expect much of that oozy 'big vco sound"; it's a much more subdued yet authentic analog sound, excellent for smooth pads and trippy fx & drones.
however the EGs are too mellow to snap or punch quickly, so don't expect Moog or Roland-like snap and bass here. Loooong attack times are another story, with a very happy ending

there aren't too many synths out there with more epic fades than this...
it doesn't sound cheap, on the contrary - it can even sound quite a bit like an xpander/matrix12 at times. it's just limited by it's economic design to specific apps.

and beware of dead voices, the IC chips can fail if they are not powered up every so often. make sure it's well-tested before you buy...and you can probably count on another $50-150 in repair bill down the line when a chip goes out - or buy the CEM3396 ($15-40) and solder it in yourself if you're handy that way

AstroDan · Post by **AstroDan** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:48 pm

The sound isn't debatable - it sounds great. My only beef is a personal one; I don't have a proper editing set up for it and I don't have a comfortable rack set up. So I have to bend over or set it on stool just to use it's presets.

But these are both my problems.

It does have a great sound and more than enough useful presets. A good editor would turn this into a goldmine.

Dirk · Post by **Dirk** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:58 pm

I want one to, but how do you program it?

Can a BCR2000 be a replacement for the access programmer?

Altitude · Post by **Altitude** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:19 pm

Dirk wrote:I want one to, but how do you program it?

Can a BCR2000 be a replacement for the access programmer?

Anything that has a decent programmable sysex implementation. I used a novation remote with mine but editing was rough since the processor on the m1000 is terrible and has difficulty with large midi streams and therefore it chokes quite a bit making editing annoying at the least and unusable at the worst since you cannot play a note and edit a parameter at the same time. There are 4 assignable mod sources that work as realtime controls but those are limited to several CC's

The transformers on these are also really noisy. I really did not care for mine (sounds like 80's arcade games) and it was only in the rack for a short time before I got rid of it

otto · Post by **otto** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:15 pm

Hades wrote:

the matrix is an excllent unit if you want warm analog stuff without having too pay too much cash.

Are those days over? I've been looking for one just recently and the last one to sell on ebay went for something like $400. Damn I remember you could pick these up left and right for $150 and sometimes less, only a year ago.

JUGEL · Post by **JUGEL** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:21 pm

I've heard somewhere that Black Dog Productions used this ton on Bytes.

Any truth to that ??

Also... if you don't plan on editting this thing... is it worth it?

http://www.youtube.com/user/JMPSynth · Post by **JMP** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:28 am

JUGEL wrote:Also... if you don't plan on editting this thing... is it worth it?

If you like the Oberheim sound then yes. Loads of useable patches, crisp leads, fat pads and for the money £140 (ish), tis worth it IMO.

Post by **john909kid** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:30 pm

JUGEL wrote:I've heard somewhere that Black Dog Productions used this ton on Bytes.

Any truth to that ??

100% correct. I think most of the time they just used presets off it, and some of the solo Balil stuff uses Matrix 1000 on "whirling of spirits" and "Choke and fly"
When Andy and Ed left BD, they loved the Matrix 1000 so much they bought another one to use on their Plaid stuff.
Bytes also uses Sh101, Tb303, TR808, Dx7 and Akai S950 for the drums.

redchapterjubilee · Post by **redchapterjubilee** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:14 pm

The M-1000's lack of editability was what lead me to sell mine two years ago. Out of all the synths I've owned and sold this is the one I have missed the most. Silky pads, bass pedaltones of doom, spacy FX, big brass...that's why I bought another one last week and I can't wait for it to show up. If I want snappy bass and leads I can use my Source or Micron for that. It's that analog warmth that the M-1000 brings, though in a smooth way and not the Big Bandwidth way of VCO analog.

and as for the price, I've seen them continue to sell in the $250 range. I paid that for both of mine two years apart.

prince fan 2 · Post by **prince fan 2** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 12:02 am

brought two of the things...in my opinion....sounds were good...

but every sound lacked punch.was hoping for a more responsive

unit...loves its fades and atmospheres...yes many of the sounds

are similar as well...traded one in for a drumstation...

selling the other soon....not a bad unit in your arsenal...

without a controller your limited....

primative · Post by **primative** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:09 am

Are you stoned?

minime123 · Post by **minime123** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 2:47 pm

this is a great value, IMO.
use it with a computer based editor or a sysex knobbox and youll have tons of power for your dollar.
mini