Xpantastic!

The way I view the Xpander vs. Matrix-12 is they were designed for 2 different applications; the Xpander is a multi-timbral sound module designed with both CV & MIDI and multiple audio outputs standard so it can integrate into an analog/digital sequencing setup. The Matrix-12 on the other hand was designed for live playing/performing with ability to quickly setup layers/detuning and have velocity & aftertouch for expressive playing from it's own keyboard. Same sounds, just different uses.

I've owned both, but currently still have my M12. The reason is I love programing slowly evolving pad sounds so the 6 voices of the Xpander were not enough...having notes drop out when playing chords just wasn't satisfying. However, I certainly appreciate that some musicians don't use the Xpander for chords, but rather as 6 individually triggered monosynths, so I get why the XP is a more practical package. Again, that's the beauty of Oberheim designing 2 different machines.

The comment about the Detune feature of the M12 being only good for techno-style "Hoover" sounds is not very fair. If you think about the lush organic quality of instruments like the OBX and Yamaha CS80 much of that is due to the individual voice cards inside being slightly off from each other. Essentially that is what the Detune feature on the Matrix allows you to experience...just like in real life where an ensemble of 12 violinists playing the same note aren't hitting the exact same pitch and that's what makes the sound rich. 

Of course if you go overboard with voice-to-voice detuning the effect becomes very noticeable, but it is surprising how just a subtle use of it can dramatically liven up a sound. So it really is an outstanding feature.

Howie


________________________________
 From: Omar <holografique@...>
To: xpantastic@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: [xpantastic] The pure size of the Matrix-12
 

  
before purchasing my Xpander, a good friend of mine let me borrow his Matrix-12 and about the only use case I found the detune to be very nice was when programming pads/strings. with a subtle amount on each of the twelve voices, you get this really nice organic subtle change in thickness and harmonic color when playing chords. this in combination with rotate mode, the same note played never sounds the same twice. 

while the same results can be achieved with the Xpander, it's much more cumbersome and not as accessible. 

-o




On Mon, Jul 16, 2012 at 4:44 PM, Terje Winther <terje.winther@wintherstormer.no> wrote:

 
>  
>> I have owned a M12 for a long time. I find the modulation List a 
>> great thing,
>> but I don't see the detune as that much of an advantage, unless
>> you just gotta have a "Hover" type sound.
>>
>
"Hover" type sound!  Funny name, but true!
>I am too old to be into techno detuned sound (it really sounds "out of 
>tune" for me), but now and then I have patched up my modulars and 
>monophonic analogs in a massive collective sound. The idea came from a 
>reading of what Rick Wright in Pink Floyd did, overdubbing his 
>minimoog multiple times so he had like 18-20 VCOs sounding. You need 
>to be careful to really have everything in tune, and play well (or use 
>sequencers), and you can achive a slightly different sound. It is a 
>lot of work just to get a slightly different sound, but can be worth 
>while, as long as you don´t overdo it.
>
>
>> Often I have adjusted the detunes to what I think is a perfect 
>> sound, only to
>> reset them all to 0 once I play the sound with a band or midi 
>> sequence context .
>>
>
>
I agree: detuning should be used very subtly.
>
>
>Terje Winther
>terje.winther@...
>http://www.wintherstormer.no/
>
>