Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
GForce Oberheim Matrix-12 is the first officially licensed software recreation of the Oberheim Matrix-12 and Xpander, with a 15-mode filter, full matrix modulation, and MPE.
OB-Xd is a virtual analog synth plugin from discoDSP. Score 8.2/10, price Free / paid, formats and comparisons.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, GForce Oberheim Matrix-12 comes out ahead (9.0). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | GForce Oberheim Matrix-12 | OB-Xd |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $83.99 intro / $119.99 full | Free / paid |
| Dubspot Score | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| Formats | Standalone, VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Developer | GForce Software (with Oberheim and Marcus Ryle) | discoDSP |
| Models | Oberheim Matrix-12 (1984) and Xpander | — |
| Voices | 12, in Single and Multi (6-zone) modes | — |
| Oscillators | 2 per voice (triangle, saw, pulse); osc 2 adds noise and hard sync; FM | — |
| Filter | 15 modes (1-4 pole LP, HP, BP, notch, phase, combinations), 2 VCAs in series | — |
| Modulation | Per voice: 5 envelopes, 5 LFOs, 4 ramps, 3 trackers, lag processor, vibrato | — |
| Mod routing | Any source to any destination, 6 bipolar slots per parameter with quantize | — |
| Arpeggiators | 6 micro arpeggiators, one per zone | — |
| Macros | 4 global | — |
| Presets | 570+ (380+ new, 190+ original Matrix-12 and Xpander) | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| Systems | macOS 10.15+ (Intel or Apple Silicon), Windows 7+ (i5 / Ryzen 5), 8GB RAM | — |
| Price | $83.99 intro until Dec 5, 2026, $119.99 full; 14-day trial | — |
| Product type | — | synth from discoDSP |
| Typical price | — | Free / paid |
| Primary job | — | focused synth work in modern sessions |
| Catalog status | — | Current as of 2026 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.