Introduction; Oberheim: An Overview; Prelude; Lord Of The Ring Modulators - Arturia Matrix-12 V User Manual

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INTRODUCTION

Arturia would like to thank you for purchasing our latest synthesizer model: the Matrix-12 V. We
are confident it will prove to be an extremely valuable addition to your music production studio.
If you've purchased our products before, you know we pride ourselves in faithfully recreating the
sound and feel of the original instruments, down to the smallest detail. Matrix-12 V is no exception
to this rule.
And if this is the first of our products you have owned, you are in for a treat! The synthesizer upon
which this model is based was the absolute pinnacle of analog synthesizer technology at the
time, light-years ahead of the competition.
We thought you might enjoy a brief look backward at what it took to bring this marvelous
instrument to life.

1.1 Oberheim: an overview

1.1.1 Prelude

The 21 century is experiencing a Renaissance in the area of analog synthesizers, with many
st
companies offering models of all colors, shapes and sizes. From towering modular synthesizers
dripping with patch cords to Arturia's affordable and innovative MiniBrute series, fans of analog
synthesis haven't had it so good for decades.
Back in the early '70s, however, there were really only two main synthesizer manufacturers with
any notoriety: Bob Moog and his eponym company and ARP. These two companies rode a crest
of technological and musical innovations for nearly a decade, with a rivalry akin to that of the
Beatles and the Rolling Stones: some liked one, some liked the other, and the serious collectors
owned both. And it seemed the more these companies 'divided the pie' of market share, the
larger the pie became.
Then about 1975, riding in like something out of an American Western film, came a wave of
white-faced synthesizers by the name of Oberheim. In addition to their unique appearance, they
offered a different set of features and a fresh sound that ranged from creamy to brash. Bands
around the world began appearing onstage and in the studio with these instruments, and many
a memorable song and solo were built around them.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. A lot of brainstorming and hard work had to happen
before musicians were able to get their hands on a polyphonic Oberheim synthesizer like the
Matrix 12. Here's a bit of the background.

1.1.2 Lord of the Ring Modulators

The mid-1960s were a time when all musical boundaries began to be challenged. Unusual
applications for electronic circuitry were at the heart of that, as artists looked for That Sound, the
one that would set them apart from the crowd.
It was then Tom Oberheim first made a name for himself through his version of an electronic
device called a ring modulator. These somewhat simple circuits had been used in radio receivers
ARTURIA Matrix-12 V User Manual -6- 1 INTRODUCTION