Oberheim Xpander + Oberheim Matrix 12
Oberheim Xpander + Oberheim Matrix 12
analogue synthesizer – made in 1984 (xpander) 1985 (matrix 12)
DAS Analogschl8schiff! THEEE Analogue Megasynth!! built/Bj.: 1984
this is the multilingual version..
 Oberheim Xpander – Oberheim Matrix-12 |
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| General InfoOberheim Xpander + Matrix 12 DATA and yes, it is an expander, t Multimodefilter: Footswitch for switching the Patches + 2 defineable – Fußschalter um Soundprogramme umzuschalten und 2 frei definierbare, Kassettenrecorder rein&raus (für sounds, jaja.. veraltet aber gibts.. geht auch über MIDI Dump) / Tape Recorder interface for saving the patches (really, that time this was the usual, remember the good ol‘ commodore C64??) Einzelausgänge für jede der 6 Stimmen und zusätzlich: links, recht und Extra-Monoausgang! Memory Protect Schalter/switch, Triggereingang/trigger input,‘ 100 soundspeicherplätze/patches, 100 Multis, Unisono mode (doubles the sound up to 6 voices) und 3fache Zonenverwaltung (3 Zones for Keyboard range, Transpose, Pan, CV, Volume und/and extra Vibrato LFO (global).. ja der ist zusätzlich!!/yes its n.other additional LFO!!! go for it!! LFO max Frequency: ca. 25 Hz,triggerable(triggerbar)/triggermode einstellbar/triggermode adjustable multi/single/external), Tri,Saw up/down, Square, Random, Noise, Sample(&Hold) von allen Modulationsquellen (all mod sources!!)!! VCOs: Tri,Saw,Pulse,Noise (Noise nur (only) VCO2) alle einzeln schaltbar (all seperately switchable,mixes signals!), Pulsbreite einstell- und modulierbar(Modable Pw/PWM: Pulsewidth), LAG (for delaying signals & portamento) prozessor für Signal-Verzögerungen und Portamento Oberheim Xpander – the mod source keys.. globally for all sounds in a multi – Modulation can not be done via controllers exept those 5 self definable controlles that can be assigned… like pedal 1, pedal 2, levers 1-3, .. |
enlarge Oberheim Xpander – click the image above!
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| The Difference Matrix 12 vs. Xpander the Matrix 12 has a Modmatrix-Page.. so this is why its name is Matrix12 and not Xpander 12 or so.. the xpander has CV/gate.. the Matrix12 does not! it can convert CV to midi using these inputs!! the Xpander has 6 indie outs for every of the 6 voices.. also right, left AND mono out!!! (you can pan in multi!) the Martrix12 can be DIY’ed to 12 outs.. but of course does not have 12 indy outs! some got it.. some don’t. so it was optional! the M12’s Keyboard is a Velocity and Release Velocity KB.. the Aftertouch was optional too!! (try it!!). in multi mode the Matrix12 has a detune parameter.. the Xpander only provides Octave settings in halftones.. so this M12 only detune mode is responsible for very fat (phat!?) sounds.. but don’t worry: the Xpanders fatness at simply stacking them at the same pitch is fat n.off!!! btw: the matrix 12 has 6 „zones“, the xpander has 3… a zone has key limits, midi channel and some settings like key assign mode (rotate, unison, reassign etc..) |
enlarge Oberheim Matrix12 – click the image above! |
| Xpander Movies
to see it opened/offen (Movie/Film) |
 Movie: to see it opened click here (Quicktime movie)!!! – .. (1.3MB) |
| THE OBERHEIM Xpander .. and Matrix-12 more Xpander Pictures INTERNAL EXTERNAL / normal view / back side |
enlarge Oberheim Matrix12 + Xpander – click the image above! |
| about modulation: modulations on the Xpander is very easy but note that the Modwheel (or whatever you call it..) always affect every voice in multimode! what to do? you cannot change the midi channel for modwheel / it makes no sense .. so use pedal oder pitchbender or other controllers for modulation on a specific sound.. I recommend the other levers , pedal (I always route it to a CC and use a CC box to control it!!) DO THIS: (press this: master page – midi – ctrls ) Same path/key: (midi – enables) systemx and control should be enabled!!.. and: All parameters can be controlled by sysex! it’s not fast but it works.. |
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| Xpander / M12 Tricks Tricks and tips x-pander / matrix 12: if you need more headroom: simply stack up those modulations.. means: add another one and it is twice as strong.. in case of running low on LFOs (haha.. 5 arent n.uff, huh??) use the VIB LFO!!! want some cool waveforms on LFOs?? apply the tracking generator, also usefull for any controilled as a scaling tool. it also make a simple „microtuning“ feature when applied to the VCO pitch it is another scale then well tempered ;-) (if you don’t like Bachs inventions).. of course you can do that also using a KBD mod on the VCOs at some amount and switch of the hardwired KB-mod in VCO’s page 2! the VCOs are still to high or too low want a real sample and hold?? use the LAG using exp., RATE=63.Modulate the rate with the „GATE“: GATE=63 => sample, GATE=0 =>hold and of course the gate is another way of transposing if you do not want to sacrifice ramps.. but note that it flips back when in „release“ state!! (maybe a nice effect.. sometimes unwanted.. thats all!! for now!!! ;-) |
Das WICHTIGSTE: das Ding klingt EXZELLENT!!! now the important one: it sounds WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! |
| Review in german / deutscher Test | Zum Xpander Test / Review |
| WHAT TO CHECK WHEN BUYING ONE: check the autotune function (select une page then press ALL)… Wait a moment and all need to say „PASSED“, (no „FAIL“!!) Also check all 6 voices, you can see the voice card activities by a dot. So set it to rotate mode and press a key 6 times. You should hear the same sound EXACTLY 6times. And all sound the same, no volume or filter changes. If that is ok, I assume the machine works fine. in germany the price is about 2900-3000.-DM (Xpander).. add about 1500.- to get a Matrix 12 |
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| searching for a Matrix12??? | do not get a late model.. the ppl at Oberheim (later Gibson, now Viscount – so the OB12 is no way an oberheim and.. well its sound is far from Oberheim sound!!!) where more „tolerant“ and built in some „out of tolerance“ parts.. so.. and: the M12’s are sometimes getting more hot because the double number of voices had to be in.. (see the video of the Xpander! lots’a‘ space in it!!).. so this is my tip.. and try all voices by playing all or set it to rotate mode and check all voices by ear.. those chips aren’t sooo easy to get these days.. what chips are used?? look here |
| hardware: 6 3372 Signal Processor 6 3374 Dual VCO 2x 6809 processors Curtis 3320 VCF or equivalent cem3372 filters made with an extra ciruitry in the servical manual a one percent resistor array. this chip provides LPF 4pole filter only! 2 processors running at 16mhz. there is also the noise gen on the processor board! the first is responsible for the display and encoders, the other is for env and lfo generation.. dual vco cem3374 cem3372 filters made with an extra ciruitry in the servical manual a one percent resistor array. this chip provides LPF 4pole filter only! 2 processors running at 16mhz. there is also the noise gen on the processor board! the first is responsible for the display and encoders, the other is for env and lfo generation.. and inside an Oberheim MATRIX 12 —> |
hardware: inside the Xpander the processor upper board: its a 6809.this is the lower board.. the processor is the one on the right (big).. and yes: its two 6809’s   this is 2 voices using curtis 3320 equivalent chips (the one used in the MW1,too..)  want the little quicktime-movie?? Matrix 12 inside |
| software versions / Versionsnummern Softwareversionen/most recent software version: Processor: 1.2 (Matrix12: 1.1) Voice version: 1.4 (Matrix12: 1.6) Cassette is always 1.0 for both (eehm.. do you use it!?) check it?? / wie geht das?? press Master, then 2nd Page, choose „versions“… thats it! btw: earlier (like the one shown here) are made in usa! later models are made in japan. so prefer the usa-made versions |
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| how does it sound?
Xpander -Audiodemo.. Demo1,Demo2 |
AUDIODEMOS: xpander_demo.mp3 xpander_demo2.mp3 some more of my patches: fmsbox.mp3 fmteppich.mp3 x_ymod.mp3 – fm like.. AUDIODEMO (mp3) |
| Patches / Sounds..? | special sounds and audio.. see the patches area!! (click patches!) |
| FORUM | – for tech questions and more here! – für technische fragen und mehr.. im FORUM fragen! |
| Manuals | Manuals and Infos / Bedienungsanleitungen? / Service-Info: got service manual here incl. CEM chip ;) will upload it as soon as I can reduce 35MB to something around 2MB.. das service manual zum xpander habe ich hier. Manuals? / Bedienungsanleitungen? / Service-Info: http://hem.passagen.se/gullanfrisk/xpander_servicemanual/xpander_servicemanual.zip http://www.ftg.co.uk/studio/dl/ werkssounds? bei den patches!! / the factory preset sounds? are unter „patches“.. or download them here: as ZIP as SIT (mac stuffit). some demos?? most of my songs are done using the Xpander.. and: some demo audio files in the patches section / in der patches sektion gibt es audio demos zum xpander! PATCHES are available in the download/audio area.. also some mp3’s!! SOUNDS für den Xpander gibts unter Download/Audio!! |
| software emulation xpander? matrix12? | not yet. the rights are still at gibson – they do not say yes! so don’t wait for it |
| Developers on the Matrix12 / Xpander | Marcus Ryle, Michael Doidic (who is now at Line6), Anna Graham, Jim Letts, Ale Silverman read those names in the secret „hey mom (xpander)“ |
| MODs External in M12/xpander |
i am still searching for Xpander re-engineers! there is a lot of sonic potential in the xpander and matrix series! so if you know someone? let me know! imo the most interesting things are: -faster lfos and envs -audio ins (this is possible,there are some manuals around here in the net! but some use the noise sourse INSTEAD!) -the resonance is so awsome, but steps 60-63 especially 62 t o63 is too large, so a higher resolution would be a good solution – of course this would kill any compatibelity to other xpanders.. the LFO speed is imo the 1st priority. but for this one may need to replace the complete control system. it’s all old technology.. ;) EXTERNAL IN it replaces the noise to get the signal in and put it through the xpander filters. oddernmart mod from chris bouchers site Matrix 12: Ind. outs retrofitted by Oberheim themselves.. looks like this |
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| more info and links to other pages xpander and matrix 12 | some xpander / matrix 12 links: http://matrix-12.tripod.com/home.htm http://www.chrisboucher.com/studio/oberheim_xpander/ http://machines.hyperreal.org/manufacturers/Oberheim/Xpander.Matrix-12/ and here is a nice SOS article |
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