OBERHEIM SYNTH

I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on 
whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?

I had a Matrix 6 (keyboard version of the 6R) at one time and had lots 
of reliabilty problems with it. At that time in Oberheims life they had 
some quality issues. Mine was in the power supply. When it was working 
it sounded great. I also have a Matrix 1000 and did some side by side 
comparisons of the two units using the same patches. To me they sounded 
identical, some say the 6/6R sound fatter, I didn't see that. I picked 
up the 6 to program my 1000, but have since been introduced to the PC 
programming method and it's easier and more in depth than the Matrix 6 
was. I use the Matrix 2001 program. I don't won't to chase you off from 
this deal, it may be a good unit, I just have had problems with the 
related keyboard unit. Good Luck!

Synthflake  

--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, "chapman_todd" <chapman_todd@y...> 
wrote:

> 
> I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on 
> whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?

It's a great little synth, but make sure the membrane switches work.
This is a week spot on the Matrix 6

At 10:36 AM 04/16/05, you wrote:

>I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on
>whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

I made some patches for the Peavey PC1600, to edit the 6/6R/1000.
If anyone wants them let me know.
You'll need a PC1600, of course, and a midi patch bay.

At 02:11 PM 04/16/05, you wrote:

>I had a Matrix 6 (keyboard version of the 6R) at one time and had lots
>of reliabilty problems with it. At that time in Oberheims life they had
>some quality issues. Mine was in the power supply. When it was working
>it sounded great. I also have a Matrix 1000 and did some side by side
>comparisons of the two units using the same patches. To me they sounded
>identical, some say the 6/6R sound fatter, I didn't see that. I picked
>up the 6 to program my 1000, but have since been introduced to the PC
>programming method and it's easier and more in depth than the Matrix 6
>was. I use the Matrix 2001 program. I don't won't to chase you off from
>this deal, it may be a good unit, I just have had problems with the
>related keyboard unit. Good Luck!
>
>Synthflake
>
>--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, "chapman_todd" <chapman_todd@y...>
>wrote:
> >
> > I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on
> > whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

I have two M6R's.  I bought one brand new in '87 I believe and it has 
performed flawlessly on stage for nearly 20 years.  We split it and 
used two voices for bass and four for organ/strings and other pads.  
One time it did lockup through some power problem but we did a reset 
and it worked as it should ever since.

The second one I bought for the studio and as a backup, which I never 
needed to use it for.  When I got it from an eBay auction, ($200. US) 
there were two characters burnt out in the display.  I have been unable 
to replace the display but am working on it at present.  Having two 
units, I was able to live with the bad display but situation is not 
good if I was doing some serious programming on it.  I can figure out 
the patch names.  The rest of the unit works as it should.

As to the switches:  They have never been a problem on either unit. 
(Knock on wood) :)

At present, I am debating adding the M6R to my MIDI wind controller 
(Yamaha WX5) rack but the extra weight, cabling, having more stuff to 
haul around has discouraged me from this addition.  I use the old 
Yamaha WT11 module (two op FM) with my WX5 and if the M6R is mixed with 
the FM from the WT11, it is a gorgeous sound.  There are also many solo 
sounds that I could use in addition to the layering.

As a studio piece, it adds some terrific sounds to anyone's arsenal.

One tip:  Turn it on for 30 minutes before the session to let 
everything warmup.  Then run the calibration, run the tuning one time 
and maybe tune it one more time after another 5 or ten minutes of 
playing and it will be solid for the rest of the night.

I have heard of many problems with the M6 but have found the M6R to be 
really solid.

BTW, I went to the summer NAMM show in 1987 and this module was being 
used by most all of the keyboard controller displayers as part of their 
rack.  Don't know if Oberheim passed them out or not but the exposure 
was great.  I also got to meet Tom Oberheim at this meet!
Hope this helps.
Charlie
Two M6R's, three DMX, Xpander

On Apr 16, 2005, at 1:36 PM, chapman_todd wrote:
> I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on
> whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?
>

Hi, i can agree with the postings and tips written before. it´s a nice synth and might be useful sometimes. i think there are always pro´s and con´s about any synth - of course a matrix 6/6r is not the perfect synth for all your sounds - i guess it´s a matter of taste. but there should be no problem! you can find them sometimes second hand for a reasonable price. 

whatever:) if you don´t like them that much, you can leave them alone, give them away or just should use them that much. 

i thought about buying me a matrix 1000 in addition, but it seems there are hundrets of unknown devices out there which i just don´t know of! 

for the moment i can´t pay too much atention and have to focus on these i already have in my current setup... still have many things to explore on them aswell :) hope this little info helps a bit 
cu


--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, Charles Massey <cmassey@g...> wrote:

> I have two M6R's.  I bought one brand new in '87 I believe and it has 
> performed flawlessly on stage for nearly 20 years.  We split it and 
> used two voices for bass and four for organ/strings and other pads.  
> One time it did lockup through some power problem but we did a reset 
> and it worked as it should ever since.
> 
> The second one I bought for the studio and as a backup, which I never 
> needed to use it for.  When I got it from an eBay auction, ($200. US) 
> there were two characters burnt out in the display.  I have been unable 
> to replace the display but am working on it at present.  Having two 
> units, I was able to live with the bad display but situation is not 
> good if I was doing some serious programming on it.  I can figure out 
> the patch names.  The rest of the unit works as it should.
> 
> As to the switches:  They have never been a problem on either unit. 
> (Knock on wood) :)
> 
> At present, I am debating adding the M6R to my MIDI wind controller 
> (Yamaha WX5) rack but the extra weight, cabling, having more stuff to 
> haul around has discouraged me from this addition.  I use the old 
> Yamaha WT11 module (two op FM) with my WX5 and if the M6R is mixed with 
> the FM from the WT11, it is a gorgeous sound.  There are also many solo 
> sounds that I could use in addition to the layering.
> 
> As a studio piece, it adds some terrific sounds to anyone's arsenal.
> 
> One tip:  Turn it on for 30 minutes before the session to let 
> everything warmup.  Then run the calibration, run the tuning one time 
> and maybe tune it one more time after another 5 or ten minutes of 
> playing and it will be solid for the rest of the night.
> 
> I have heard of many problems with the M6 but have found the M6R to be 
> really solid.
> 
> BTW, I went to the summer NAMM show in 1987 and this module was being 
> used by most all of the keyboard controller displayers as part of their 
> rack.  Don't know if Oberheim passed them out or not but the exposure 
> was great.  I also got to meet Tom Oberheim at this meet!
> Hope this helps.
> Charlie
> Two M6R's, three DMX, Xpander
> 
> On Apr 16, 2005, at 1:36 PM, chapman_todd wrote:
> > I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on
> > whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?
> >

On Apr 17, 2005, at 6:48 PM, phonophobie wrote:

> Snip

> for the moment i can´t pay too much atention and have to focus on 
> these i already have in my current setup... still have many things to 
> explore on them aswell :) hope this little info helps a bit
> cu
>
>
This is where most people go wrong.  They are always chasing the latest 
and greatest and haven't explored 1/1000 of what the synth can do 
before they sell/give away.  It's nice to see someone say: " and have 
to focus on these i already have in my current setup... still have many 
things to explore on them aswell ":)  These words will save you a lot 
of money and your music will be even better! FWIW

Charlie

Exactly, same old stories i think. Sometimes folks are just happy with using presets and sampling cd´s produced by others. I know - i do the same way when i have to :) But the whole thing is not the storie about me and a matrix6 - it never Really was! I guess we are talking about synth and music in general here... 

Well, ever came to a final end when talking about music ?? :)
I think there is no superior synth or something like this, so let´s stop, turn around and make some nice sandwiches. peace, thanks!

ps: charlie, i always liked your posts here on this group
respect


--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, Charles Massey <cmassey@g...> wrote:

> 
> On Apr 17, 2005, at 6:48 PM, phonophobie wrote:
> 
> > Snip
> 
> > for the moment i can´t pay too much atention and have to focus on 
> > these i already have in my current setup... still have many things to 
> > explore on them aswell :) hope this little info helps a bit
> > cu
> >
> >
> This is where most people go wrong.  They are always chasing the latest 
> and greatest and haven't explored 1/1000 of what the synth can do 
> before they sell/give away.  It's nice to see someone say: " and have 
> to focus on these i already have in my current setup... still have many 
> things to explore on them aswell ":)  These words will save you a lot 
> of money and your music will be even better! FWIW
> 
> Charlie

Yes, I was speaking generically and not M6R specific.

I have a Kurzweil 1100 that was given to me by a guy who always has to 
have the latest and greatest "sound!"  I still haven't scratched the 
surface on it after two years and I know he never did......

Thanks for the kind words!
Charlie in the swamp

On Apr 18, 2005, at 10:44 AM, phonophobie wrote:

>
>
> Exactly, same old stories i think. Sometimes folks are just happy with 
> using presets and sampling cd´s produced by others. I know - i do the 
> same way when i have to :) But the whole thing is not the storie about 
> me and a matrix6 - it never Really was! I guess we are talking about 
> synth and music in general here...

I am waiting for a matrix 1000. I have a BCR2000 knobbox, so I am not 
really interested in PC1600 patches, but would love to hear HOW you 
programmed the box (did you use sysex or NRPNs as the manual suggests 
is possible without further explanation?)!!

Paul


--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, Tony Cappellini <tony@t...> wrote:
> 
> 
> I made some patches for the Peavey PC1600, to edit the 6/6R/1000.
> If anyone wants them let me know.
> You'll need a PC1600, of course, and a midi patch bay.
> 
> At 02:11 PM 04/16/05, you wrote:
> 
> 
> >I had a Matrix 6 (keyboard version of the 6R) at one time and had 
lots
> >of reliabilty problems with it. At that time in Oberheims life 
they had
> >some quality issues. Mine was in the power supply. When it was 
working
> >it sounded great. I also have a Matrix 1000 and did some side by 
side
> >comparisons of the two units using the same patches. To me they 
sounded
> >identical, some say the 6/6R sound fatter, I didn't see that. I 
picked
> >up the 6 to program my 1000, but have since been introduced to the 
PC
> >programming method and it's easier and more in depth than the 
Matrix 6
> >was. I use the Matrix 2001 program. I don't won't to chase you off 
from

> >this deal, it may be a good unit, I just have had problems with the
> >related keyboard unit. Good Luck!
> >
> >Synthflake
> >
> >--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com, "chapman_todd" <chapman_todd@y...>
> >wrote:
> > >
> > > I have the chance of buying one, and I would welcome comments on
> > > whether I should buy it or not.. any one comment?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >

Hi I used sysex exclusively for the 6R. The Matrix 6 Midi spec does not say anything about NRPN s, so I didn t know about them when I had the 6R. I have the