Arturia's new plugins : Solina V and Matrix 12V

[Ingonator]

I just found that the Matrix 12 used real VCOs but they were digitally controlled. This means they are no "typical" DCOs.

The VCOa seem to be a CEM 3374 Dual Voltage Controlled Oscillator circuit:
http://www.synthtech.com/cem/c3374pdf.pdf

The manual:
http://www.cem3374.com/docs/Manuals/Obe ... x12_OM.pdf

Oops. Looks like you just found the same...

[Sequent]

I haven't had a chance to try the Solina yet, but I did play around with the Matrix 12 V a bit. I agree with Ingo...

Out of the box, my first impressions of the sound were not super favorable. It was perhaps more reminiscent of a Matrix 1000 than a Matrix 12/Xpander... BUT after putting some "tube" compression in the chain it had a little more of the "punch" that I was looking for. It definitely merits more detailed exploration.

I would say that you are firmly into the realm of perception there. It's not clear to me that adding some distortion/saturation would make a Matrix 1k sound like a Matrix12. If we're just talking about the core components and consider only the lowpass filter of the Matrix 12, then the two synths are remarkably similar past the oscillators. The differences are fundamental and in two areas, 1) complexity, 2) analog oscillators. A tube compressor is not going to make DCOs sound like VCOs. The only thing that will make a plugin sound like it has VCOs is good modeling of the oscillators.

For me too, it was the low end that didn't seem right. When I added the effect (whether or not it was incorrect of me to do so) I liked the sound better. At any rate, I do not have a real Matrix 12 or an Xpander sitting next to me, so yes, it was just my impression. Or my perception. I was not talking about putting a compressor on a Matrix 1000 to make it sound like a Matrix 12. I'm not sure where that came from. I did say, however, that the sound of the Matrix 12V reminded me more of the way a Matrix 1000 sounds as opposed to the way I remember a Matrix 12 or Xpander sounding. YMMV.

[Numanoid]

What kind of onboard FX does the Matrix 12 feature?

[Sequent]

FX as in chorus, flanger, chorus, reverb, etc.? Off the top of my head I would say none. I don't believe effects were common on the majority of synths back then.

[Motion]

Finally!...someone made one as a softy....I do agree with some posters that for me its maybe not quite there, my experience with the original was many years ago of a mates, I have also owned several Matrix 1000's, feels like its a little less weighty in the bottom end and trying to get out at the top...what I mean is that it feels a little bit cramped in the bottom end and again a little bit trapped at the top, its a strange thing what various folks say about some of the Arturia synths and their experience with them v the originals, I get this with their Jupiter and mostly felt I couldn't ever get it to sound or feel quite right..(I suspect this is subjective in different ways for others) the Matrix 12 can be a very wild synth (what I personally like about it) when it gets cooking, however in saying that with a bit of work tampering and getting the VCA volumes sorted on the Matrix and with a bit of further twiddling and fiddling I feel I almost can get it there and my goodness this is for me otherwise a great job and all credit to Arturia, the mods like the original for me pertinent to the Matrix's 12's specific architecture is where a lot of the magic happens and it does require a bit of time to get acquainted if thats what you want to do with it, it has many recipes for good starters, mains and desserts, some of that and a lot of that for me is the swooping, sweeping, diving type mods with the timings and the way they swell and fade and can contribute to the extreme end of the mad shit (or for that matter at the opposite end of the scale in moderation for sophisticated sublime textural and moving aural tones) that the Matrix 12 is quite glorious at when it casts its spell and is for me a big part of the endearing quality of this amazing synth.With this being a first release if there are short comings I'm sure they will adjust...but for now I'm seriously impressed and absolutely delighted with the Martix 12.To boot sweet little analogue FX, the layering, multis, massive sonic palette, a lovely interface to work with...very cool machine and a fabulous little ripper.

[ghettosynth]

For me it was the low end that was lacking in the plugin so adding saturation and an EQ solved it for me, independent on how close the synth sounds compared to the real thing.

Well, I'm sure that adding effects will change the sound, no doubt about that.

The Xpander even seemed to include CV-inputs.

I'm not sure what that has to do with the price of tea in china. It did, but they are multiplexed and sampled, you could add those kinds of inputs to any synth, even one with DCOs. This is a great example of how features don't tell you much about technology. They don't, by themselves, tell you that the M12 synth is a VCO based synth. Like much of the M12, they are very dependent on software.

[ghettosynth]

I haven't had a chance to try the Solina yet, but I did play around with the Matrix 12 V a bit. I agree with Ingo...

Out of the box, my first impressions of the sound were not super favorable. It was perhaps more reminiscent of a Matrix 1000 than a Matrix 12/Xpander... BUT after putting some "tube" compression in the chain it had a little more of the "punch" that I was looking for. It definitely merits more detailed exploration.

I was not talking about putting a compressor on a Matrix 1000 to make it sound like a Matrix 12. I'm not sure where that came from. I did say, however, that the sound of the Matrix 12V reminded me more of the way a Matrix 1000 sounds as opposed to the way I remember a Matrix 12 or Xpander sounding. YMMV.

You stated specifically that your impression of the synth without effects was that of the M1k, and with effects was that of the M12. We are both talking about the sounds of a synths and you are using classic analogs as your basis of comparison. Either you mean that somewhat literally, or, like much of the discussion in these kinds of threads, your input isn't particularly informative. That is, either you are talking about THE SOUND of the M1k and the M12, or you are talking about some perception that you have that no one else can reference because it's in your head.

[Numanoid]

You stated specifically that your impression of the synth without effects was that of the M1k, and with effects was that of the M12. We are both talking about the sounds of a synths and you are using classic analogs as your basis of comparison. Either you mean that somewhat literally, or, like much of the discussion in these kinds of threads, your input isn't particularly informative.

WTF, is this some kind of blind test Pepsi challenge ?

Matrix 12 vs Matrix 12V (the choice of a new generation)

[Sequent]

You stated specifically that your impression of the synth without effects was that of the M1k, and with effects was that of the M12. We are both talking about the sounds of a synths and you are using classic analogs as your basis of comparison. Either you mean that somewhat literally, or, like much of the discussion in these kinds of threads, your input isn't particularly informative.

WTF, is this some kind of blind test Pepsi challenge ?

Matrix 12 vs Matrix 12V (the choice of a new generation)

It's sounding like that, lol. Though it could be all in my head, so please don't pay attention to me... my input isn't partiularly informative.

[ghettosynth]

WTF, is this some kind of blind test Pepsi challenge ?

It's a discussion about synthesizers. In particular, it seems to be a discussion about ACCURACY in emulation. I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect some ACCURACY in language during such a discussion.

[Sequent]

I haven't had a chance to try the Solina yet, but I did play around with the Matrix 12 V a bit. I agree with Ingo...

Out of the box, my first impressions of the sound were not super favorable. It was perhaps more reminiscent of a Matrix 1000 than a Matrix 12/Xpander... BUT after putting some "tube" compression in the chain it had a little more of the "punch" that I was looking for. It definitely merits more detailed exploration.

I was not talking about putting a compressor on a Matrix 1000 to make it sound like a Matrix 12. I'm not sure where that came from. I did say, however, that the sound of the Matrix 12V reminded me more of the way a Matrix 1000 sounds as opposed to the way I remember a Matrix 12 or Xpander sounding. YMMV.

You stated specifically that your impression of the synth without effects was that of the M1k, and with effects was that of the M12. We are both talking about the sounds of a synths and you are using classic analogs as your basis of comparison. Either you mean that somewhat literally, or, like much of the discussion in these kinds of threads, your input isn't particularly informative. That is, either you are talking about THE SOUND of the M1k and the M12, or you are talking about some perception that you have that no one else can reference because it's in your head.

Perhaps my English isn't correct or something. When I tried the Matrix 12V the sound did not remind me so much of a Matrix 12 or Xpander but more of a Matrix 1000. I don't believe that any of the hardware synths I mentioned have effects built in. When I put some virtual "tube" compression on the Matrix 12V my impression was that the sound was better. So I agreed with what Ingo had said. I didn't think that perhaps putting the effect on the Matrix 2V was something wrong to do.

At any rate, I lose the "Pepsi challenge".

I'm still going to get the virtual one from Arturia. I hope that's okay!

[Sequent]

double post, sorry!

[rustman]

I'm hoping for an upgrade price for the V Collection 4 from 3. So far, I don't see a path listed. We'll see...

[Sequent]

Have you logged into your Arturia account? You should see a custom offer.

I'm hoping for an upgrade price for the V Collection 4 from 3. So far, I don't see a path listed. We'll see...

[rustman]

No, I have not. Pure laziness on my part. This sounds like welcome news. Thanks for that.