Oberheim Matrix-12 User Manual

2. Do not connect any instrument or device to the unit's MIDI jacks. We'll get
into that later.
3. You'll be getting the most out of this section if the MATRIX-12 is
connected to a stereo sound system. If stereo is not available, any amplfier
with a full-range speaker will do.
The MATRIX-12 as an
INDEPENDENT Instrument
By now you've no doubt taken the time to play your MATRIX-12 and listened to
some of its pre-programmed Factory Stock Patches. You may have noticed that
many of the patches, especially the MULTI PATCHES, play differently than the
others. Some are layered (or "doubled"), some are split across the keyboard, and
some use varying combinations of splits and doubling. These different
performance characteristics of the synthesizer are set up in the Master Page
when in SINGLE PATCH Mode.
Because the MATRIX-12 - unlike its predecessor the Oberheim XPANDER - has
its own Keyboard and Modulation Levers, we're going to pay some special
attention to how this synthesizer is used as a stand-alone instrument.
Basic Concepts of "Control"
The MATRIX-12, unlike the vast majority of other synthesizers, has 12
independent Voices (electronic circuits that produce the instrument's sounds).
When we use the term "independent11 we mean a number of things. For one,
each Voice can play a different sound at the same time or all Voices can play the
same sound. Secondly, a Voice can be played either from the Keyboard only, or
from another instrument via MIDI IN. Third, the Voices can be played
polyphonically (playing chords) or monophonically (one note at a time only). All of
these options are referred to as sources of control and, unlike most other
synthesizers, the choice is entirely up to you.
Because you have so many control sources at your command, the MATRIX-12
has been designed so that a systematic method is used to tell the Voices how
they are going to be played. Two Master Page parameters, VASSIGN ("Voice
Assignment") and ZONE are used for this purpose.
VASSIGN This Sub-Page is where the Voices are given ("assigned") their source of control,
eitherfromthe MATRIX-12's own Keyboard or from incoming MIDI notes. In
order for the MATRIX-12 to play its Voices, you must tell the
Voices what control source (the Keyboard or MIDI IN) you plan to
use to play them. This is accomplished with VASSIGN.
1. Press the MASTER PAGE button.
2. Look at the PAGE MODIFIER section. On the Lower display, press the
button beneath VASSIGN.
86 Matrix-12 Owner's Manual

Oberheim Matrix-12 Specifications

General

Brand	Oberheim
Model	Matrix-12
Category	Synthesizer
Language	English