Arturia MatrixBrute

keybed. It has a high-quality feel with
a positive action that beds out softly,
yet can be played fast – the
aftertouch response is also spot on.
Perhaps the most mysterious
feature is the ‘E-Ink’ screen which
remains ‘on’ even when the MB is
powered down. It resembles paper
with typewriter lettering but it’s used
only as a reference for the four user-
assignable slots in the matrix. The
caveat is, while it looks great under
optimum lighting conditions, it can’t
be viewed in the dark (there’s no
backlight). A backlit LCD (with a
utility menu) would have been
viewable in the dark and likely
negated the need for any external
MIDI configuring software, (though
the included MIDI Control/librarian
software is very slick). Regardless, the
basic screen choice fits with the zero
menu-diving-ethos and works fine for
occasional reference. ‘Hands-on’ and
‘zero menu diving’ are essentials for
creativity and inspiration – two things
the MB has in bucketloads!
square and triangle waves. VCO3 is a
linear multi-function oscillator with
four waveshapes but can be used as a
mod source too (LFO). There’s also a
versatile noise oscillator featuring four
types of noise (including white, pink,
red and blue). All waves on all VCOs
sound very solid, organic and earthy,
yet well-defined and edgy, and can be
added into the mix individually or
simultaneously (with osc sync) for a
very wide range of tones and textures;
these are then fed into the five-input
mixer (alongside noise and external
input levels) where you can push the
levels further for more grit and dirt
– this is before we even add any
Now onto the sound engine. This
is not just a MiniBrute on steroids but
rather an ‘inspired by’ re-design from
the ground up to facilitate digitising
of the analogue control CVs so that
the panel settings can be saved into
the 256 preset slots and be MIDI
controlled. The core sound production
is achieved via three super-versatile
(and stable) VCOs which echo the
MiniBrute’s but with further additions
and improvements – these take a
short time to warm up from cold and
there’s a very quick autotune routine
if needed (Panel + Keytrack). VCO1
and 2 both feature a variable shape
sine sub oscillator plus sawtooth,
ENTER THE MATRIX
The Matrix features three modes. Preset lets you use the 256 buttons as patch select
buttons for the 256 writable preset slots (and 256 writable sequencer slots/patterns which
can be linked/unlinked to/from patches) and Mod mode lets you set modulation routings
– simply pick from the 16 sources on the left and select a destination at the top (set up to
16 destinations per source!). It’s all very easy to use and you can work methodically
thinking out your modulations carefully, or drag your hand across the buttons/turn the dial
and see what happens! There are also four user modulation slots that can be set by
holding any user mod-slot button and moving a front panel control to assign.
Seq mode turns the
Matrix into a 64-step
sequencer (add steps
manually or record on the
fly). You can then add
accents, glides and
modulation per-step. It’s
an absolute ball using key
trigger to start and
transpose sequences (and
a great compositional tool
too), plus the sequencer
sends/receives CV/Gate
and MIDI. Sequencer
modes include swing,
variable gate, forwards,
backwards, forwards/
backwards and random.
THE ALTERNATIVES
DSI Pro 2
£1,399
The MatrixBrute’s
closest competitor
uses digital waves
routed through dual
analogue filters with
digital character
effects, a powerful
sequencer, mod
matrix with 50
sources and 140
destinations,
4-voice paraphonic
capability and more!
www.davesmith
instruments.com
Roland JD-XA
£1,499
The JD-XA features a
four-part analogue
synth and four-part
SuperNatural
digital synth with
powerful sequencer/
arpeggiator, effects,
lots of hands-on
control and a
great vocoder.
www.roland.com
Moog Sub 37
Tribute Edition
£1,264
Sounds great and
has plenty of
features onboard
including two VCOs,
a sub oscillator,
2-note paraphony, an
arpeggiator and a
64-step sequencer.
www.moogmusic.
com
It’s so versatile you could
spend years with it and not
exhaust the possibilities
Reviews | Arturia MatrixBrute
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