ARTURIA – Matrix-12 V – USER MANUAL
13
1.2.2
The polysynths: rapid growth
Synth followed synth in quick succession, each standing on the other’s shoulders:
the two-voice TVS-1 (1975), the four-voice FVS-1 (also 1975), and the Eight-voice
(1977), which are pictured below (note the inclusion of the Programmer on the
left side of the two larger models):
The TVS-1 The FVS-1
The last of the Great White Synths: the Oberheim 8-voice
Not pictured are the increasingly popular OB-1 (1978), OB-X (1979), OB-Xa (1980),
OB-8 (1983), and Xpander (1984). Each is legendary and worthy of a section of its
own!
Finally, Oberheim introduced their flagship, the Matrix 12, in 1985.
1.2.3
Crowning achievement: the Matrix 12
Though based on the same voice architecture as its predecessor, the Matrix 12 was
definitely more than just two Xpanders soldered together. In addition to the 5-
octave keyboard and two modulation levers, some important new features were
added while a few significant hardware features were not included. But at an
original retail price of almost $5,000, no doubt some shortcuts were necessary to
keep this marvelous synth within the reach of more musicians.
So on the downside, the Matrix 12 lost the individual CV/gate and output jacks per
voice (the latter being available as an upgrade). But on the plus side, the Matrix 12
gained some extra MIDI functionality and a per-voice detune parameter in the
Multi Voice setup section, which you will be very glad to know we included in
Matrix-12 V.