9.0Essential
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.
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
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.
Schmidt Vi: official software recreation of the Schmidt Eightvoice analog polysynth with UJAM. Four oscillators, five filters, 16 LFOs, MPE and a randomizer. €179.
Technical matrix
| Signal | GForce Oberheim Matrix-12 | Schmidt Vi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $83.99 intro / $119.99 full | €179 |
| Dubspot Score | 9.0 | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | — |
| Developer | GForce Software (with Oberheim and Marcus Ryle) | — |
| Models | Oberheim Matrix-12 (1984) and Xpander | — |
| Voices | 12, in Single and Multi (6-zone) modes | 8; poly, mono, unison |
| Oscillators | 2 per voice (triangle, saw, pulse); osc 2 adds noise and hard sync; FM | 4; Osc 1 and 2 with sub-oscillators; Osc 4 five-stage ring-mod complex wave |
| 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 | 16 LFOs, 9 envelopes, no matrix |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Filters | — | 2 four-pole 24 dB morphing VCFs, 2 Dual Filters, 12 dB low-pass VCF 3 |
| Control | — | MPE, MIDI learn, hardware Schmidt control |
| Licensing | — | iLok account |
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