USER MANUAL
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Thank you for purchasing the Arturia MatrixBrute! This manual covers the features and operation of Arturia’s MatrixBrute. In this package you will find: • One Matrixbrute analog synthesizer, with a serial number on the bottom. You will need this information in order to register your MatrixBrute online. • One IEC AC power cord. Be sure to register your MatrixBrute as soon as possible! There is a sticker on the bottom panel that contains the serial number of your unit.
Special Message Section Specifications Subject to Change: The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing. However, Arturia reserves the right to change or modify any of the specifications without notice or obligation to update the hardware that has been purchased. IMPORTANT: The product and its software, when used in combination with an amplifier, headphones or speakers, may be able to produce sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss.
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Arturia MatrixBrute! The MatrixBrute is designed to be a supremely powerful, modern analog classic synthesizer. The roots of this product stem from the greatest synthesizers of all time, all enhanced with Arturia’s own modern touch and character. The now famous ‘Brute’ style oscillators, paired with the classic sounds of both the Steiner Parker filter and Dr.
Table Of Contents 1. Connections ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Getting Started with MatrixBrute....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1. Auto-Tuning MatrixBrute ............................................................................................................................
1. CONNECTIONS Back View Panel Release latch - Push, then use the hinged prop inside the case to set the control panel at the most convenient angle. You can also leave the panel flat. 1. Master Out - 1/4" unbalanced +4dBu stereo line-level outputs, intended to go to an amp and speakers, or to an audio interface or mixer. For mono use the left channel only. 2. Insert Send/Return - +4dBu 1/4" TRS jack for sending the output of the synth (mono) to an external processor and back in.
13. USB - USB B jack for connecting MatrixBrute to a Mac or PC (which normally have USB A connections; the cable is often called a "printer cable.") This lets you use Arturia's MIDI Control Center software (available from www.arturia.com), and it also sends/receives MIDI - no additional MIDI interface is required. 14. Power switch - Turn the instrument on and off. 15.
2. GETTING STARTED WITH MATRIXBRUTE With the MatrixBrute on a solid playing surface, push the Panel Release latch and use the hinged prop inside to set the control panel at the most convenient angle (or just leave it flat if that works better). Take care when lifting on the Matrixbrute panel as it could cause the support to fall. Back View In order to hear the instrument, connect cables from the Master Out to your amp and speakers. Use the left output for mono, i.e. if you're only using one cable.
MIDI CC Then go to www.arturia.com and download the MIDI Control Center software for Mac and PC. Arturia is constantly improving our instruments, so we ask that you update to the latest firmware (which you do through this program). MIDI Control Center is a librarian for presets and sequences, and it's used to configure the instrument's MIDI settings. MIDI: In addition to the keyboard, almost all the knobs and sliders send and respond to MIDI, so you can record and edit them in a DAW.
2.1. Auto-Tuning MatrixBrute Kbd Track + Panel auto-tunes the instrument. You'll need to do that once in a while, more often before it warms up. Part of the beauty of analog synths like the MatrixBrute is that the components in the analog circuits are temperature sensitive, giving them a slightly random character.
2.3. Load a Preset, Play, and Adjust the Output Level Press PRESET, and the button will turn purple. Push a button to load a Patch so you can play the instrument. Adjust the output and/or headphone levels, and fine-tune the pitch. Be sure the Panel button mentioned above isn't lit, or you won't be listening to the Preset. MatrixBrute stores 16 banks of 16 Presets (total 256). The banks are rows A - P on the left, Presets within each bank are in columns 1-16.
3. GUIDED TOUR The following walkthrough will give you a solid foundation for the MatrixBrute. After this you'll have a good understanding of what you're doing when you create and shape sounds. 3.1. Subtractive synthesis overview MatrixBrute is an analog subtractive synthesizer. Subtractive synthesis starts by generating basic waveforms, and then you remove what you don't want to sculpt the timbre you're after.
One of the main features in the MatrixBrute is... its Matrix (hence the name). This is an electronic modulation-routing patchbay, so everything that could be a source can be routed to any and all possible destination parameters. Some modulation sources you move physically, such as the modulation wheel; others can either run freely or lock to the internal sequencer's clock. Or they can lock to MIDI.
3.3. Hands On MatrixBrute has more than one of every type of module, but it's only necessary to go through one of each for this bird's-eye view. So we'll just use one VCO, one VCF, one LFO, one envelope. 3.3.1. VCO 1 Play the keyboard, and you'll hear a buzzy sound. If you don't, push Preset to toggle to the initialized sound. Turn VCO 1 up all the way, everything else all the way down in the mixer. These are all the waveforms available for processing, and we're only working with VCO 1.
3.3.2. VCF 1 Now to shape the sound's timbre with VCF 1. Sweep the Master Cutoff knob while playing. (VCF 1's Cutoff knob has the same effect when you're only listening to one filter; the Master controls both together.) With the initialized setting, the filter is set to lowpass, meaning it removes high frequencies. Cutoff selects the corner frequency, which is where it starts operating. This has a radical effect on the timbre of the sound.
3.3.3. ENV 2 Envelopes shape voltage levels over time while you're triggering a note on the keyboard. While it can be routed to additional places in the MOD Matrix (see below), ENV 2 is always hardwired to control the MatrixBrute's VCAs. VCA stands for voltage-controlled amplifiers, which means all the sound sources that appear in the Mixer, i.e. the VCOs and/or any external signals plugged into the back of the instrument.
3.3.4. LFO/Aftertouch/Matrix Next, how to route modulation sources in the Matrix, including the LFOs. Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) are periodic waveforms just like VCOs, only they're very low - which by definition means they're very slow. Rather than being used as sound sources, LFOs 1 & 2 are used as modifiers to add movement to other parameters. (However, VCO3 is intended to be used as both a sound source and a modifier.) Press the MOD button. The Matrix becomes an electronic patchbay.
LFO 1 still won't modulate the pitch until you dial in a MOD Amount. Try + or -13, a fairly radical pitch modulation, so you can hear the effect. You'll also need to set LFO 1's Phase and Rate knobs where they're audible, so try 12 o'clock as a starting point (as usual, after sweeping them to catch their actual voltage positions). The pitch should oscillate up and down when you play. Increase the MOD Amount to + or - 64, and it'll sound sci-fi.
• Hold down button 13, then wiggle LFO 1 Rate a little. The LCD display will darken and lighten, and LFO 1 Rate will appear in its display to indicate that it's assigned. • Now touch the button at the intersection of Aftertouch (J) and 13. Set its MOD Amount to + 99. Play a fairly low note, then press the key more to bring in aftertouch, and you'll hear LFO 1 adding some soft growl. 3.3.5. Analog Effects Section The operation instructions cover the MatrixBrute's Analog Effects [p.
4. OPERATION 4.1. Master Controls These controls are always active. • Master Volume - The synthesizer itself will not distort with the level all the way up; the control is only to avoid overloading the next step in the chain (mixer, audio interface, amp...). • Phones - The headphone level is independent of the Master Volume. • Fine Tune - Global tuning ± 1 semitone from the knob's center detent.
4.2. Utility Commands Pressing Panel plus another button invokes the following "hidden" commands. 17 • Panel + Kbd Track - Auto-tunes the instrument. Because voltages drift over time - which is part of the character of analog synths - it's necessary to tune the instrument occasionally, more frequently while it's first warming up. • Panel + PRESET - Resets the current preset to an initialized voice (without saving it and overwriting the preset).
• Panel + [Macro knobs, Master Cutoff, MOD Amount] - Resets the 360˚ knob's value to 0. • PRESET + [Knobs, Sliders] - Shows the offset between the preset value and the current position of the Knob or Slider on the Preset display. A negative value on the display means that the Knob or Slider position is lower that the preset value. A positive value means that it is higher than the preset value.
4.3. VCOs Unless you bring in external instruments for processing, the raw soundwaves for the MatrixBrute are generated by its three Voltage-Controlled Oscillators (VCOs). A fourth oscillator produces random noise waveforms. VCOs 1 and 2 are exponential, like the ones on the most famous original synthesizers. That gives them a musical, slightly unpredictable character, because the pitch drifts a little over time.
4.3.3. Mixable waveforms There are three primary waveforms in VCOs 1 and 2 - sawtooth, square, and triangle. Subjectively, sawtooth sounds the richest, square sounds more hollow, and triangle sounds like a flute. Each waveform knob has a signal enhancer above it. These make the waveform more complex by combining slightly random, slightly time-shifted versions of it. • Ultrasaw enhances the sawtooth wave by combining two slightly time-shifted copies of it, resulting in a brighter, edgier sound.
4.3.5. Noise Generator The definition of noise is a random waveform, so it's unpitched. The MatrixBrute offers four noise types, and the difference is in their frequency spectrum. As a practical description, blue noise has the most energy in the high frequencies and least in the low ones, then white sounds a little lower, followed by pink, and finally red sounds the lowest. Noise can be an important component of a sound, adding some grit, or it can be used to modulate another wave.
4.6. Voice Mode There are 3 VOICE modes that are available on the MatrixBrute. These modes allow you to play the synth in ways beyond the standard monophonic way. 4.6.1. Monophonic Monophonic is the standard voice mode. In this mode, all the oscillators will play when you press a key ( or send MIDI or CV information ). 4.6.2. Paraphonic Paraphonic mode allows you to play multiple notes at one time. It splits the three oscillators, one per note played, so that you can play up to 3 notes at once.
4.6.3. Duo Split mode Duo split mode allows you to split the keyboard and have 2 completely different sounds played on each half. To accomplish this, we split the voice up as shown in the diagram below. 4.6.3.1. Upper part Signals routed through VCF 1 (the Steiner filter), are controlled by ENV 1 and ENV 2. The pitchbender will only affect this upper part as it is most likely used for playing melodies. 4.6.3.2.
4.7. Wheels As on most keyboards, the MatrixBrute's pitch wheel springs back to the center position (no pitch shift), while the mod wheel is continuous. • Bend Range sets how far the pitch wheel bends up or down, up to a maximum of ± 1 octave. The center position is up or down a fifth. • Mod Wheel - successive pushes assign the mod wheel to the Matrix (where it can be routed to multiple parameters); or to the master filter Cutoff frequency; to LFO 1 Vibrato rate; or to LFO 1 amount.
4.8. Keyboard Performance Controls • Pitch and Modulation wheels - Please refer to the previous section (WHEELS) to set the pitch bend range and Modulation wheel assignment. • Octave <- -> - Transposes the entire 49-key keyboard ± 1 or 2 octaves to extend its range past four octaves. This affects the instrument locally as well as over MIDI. 4.8.1. Glide 25 • Glide On/Off - The Glide effect sweeps the pitch from one note to the next. The ON/OFF button enables and disables the glide function.
4.8.2. Play Control • Legato - Legato allows for playing notes with or without retriggering the envelopes on every key on. The following settings apply to each note sounding in the current voice mode. In Monophonic they apply to the single sound, and in Paraphonic and Duo-Split they apply to the one being played. See the Voice Mode section [p.22]. • On - This will only retrigger the envelope after all notes have been released.
4.9. Macro Knobs Macro Knobs M1, M2, M3, and M4 knobs are modulation sources that appear the MOD Matrix ( see Mode Matrix Section [p.37] ) on rows M, N, O, and P. They're designed to be convenient performance controls. Each MACRO knob can modulate multiple MatrixBrute parameters, and they all send MIDI Continuous Controllers (CC#11, 2, 3, 4 in order). 4.9.0.1. Resetting Macro’s to 0 Press Panel + [M1 - M4] to reset the MACRO knob to 0.
4.10. Mixer Mixer Knobs The levels of the MatrixBrute's five potential sound sources - the VCOs, Noise generator, and External input - are set here. Sources must be sent to either or both filters to be heard. (If you've assigned a source to one of the filters and still hear nothing, the cutoff frequency may be outside its range.
4.11. LFOs 1 and 2 The two LFOs (low frequency oscillators) are modulators that can be routed to add movement to pretty much any parameter on the MatrixBrute. LFO waveforms are near or below the bottom threshold of our hearing, ranging from about one cycle every 18 seconds up to 100Hz. They're useful for creating all kinds of sounds, from vibrato to filter sweeps to pitch changes; their effects range from subtle to wild.
4.12. Filters Steiner Filter (VCF 1) and Ladder Filter (VCF 2) Filters remove frequencies from the sound sources coming from the Mixer see Mixer Section [p.28], and they are a primary component in the subtractive synthesis technique used by the MatrixBrute and all analog synths. Modulating them varies the timbre of the sound over time. With very high Resonance levels they can self-oscillate, becoming another sound source.
• Cutoff sets the corner frequency/frequencies individually for each filter. These are then fed to a combined control: • Master Cutoff is a prominent knob that sweeps both filters' cutoffs together. The word "multimode" means the filter can adopt different curves, which also change the sound completely. Mode selects these curves: • LP (Lowpass) does just that - allow low frequencies to pass while high frequencies are attenuated.
4.13. Envelopes Envelopes are adjustable modulators that shape the voltage over time. MatrixBrute has two 4-stage, ADSR (Attack Decay Sustain Release) envelopes, plus a third one (ENV 3) which adds a Delay phase before the ADSR (this is all explained below). Each envelope has a "gate" LED that show when a gate is receive and will fade out to show when the release stage is still active.
• Attack sets the time, from 2ms to more than 10 seconds, the voltage takes to reach its initial level; • Decay adjusts the time, again from 2ms to more than 10 seconds, it takes the voltage to go from its initial level to the Sustain level; • Sustain is the level the signal settles at after it decays. This level is usually lower than the initial level (hence "decay"), however it can also be the same - in which case the Decay setting has no effect.
4.14. Analog Effects MatrixBrute features Analog Effects with 5 different modes on the output. The Analog Effects are all based on classic Bucket Brigade Devices (BBD’s). The technical differences between them are a function of the delay times and how or whether they're modulated. Note that all the knobs can be modulation destinations in the Matrix.
5. THE MATRIX The Matrix is a 16 x 16 (256-button) grid that has three modes. PRESET (pink), SEQ (red), and MOD (blue) are big buttons to select the active Matrix mode: 35 • PRESET, in which the Matrix is used to save and recall patches in 16 banks (rows A - P) of 16 patches each (columns 1-16). The patches can also include sequences. • SEQ, a 64-step sequencer that also functions as an arpeggiator.
5.1. PRESET mode 5.1.1. Panel Panel toggles between the physical and loaded preset positions. When in this mode, the positions of the knobs determine the sound. This is the mode to use if you are looking to get 1:1 feedback of parameters and the sound you are editing. IMPORTANT: To hear a preset you've loaded, the Panel button must be off! 5.1.2. Recalling internal presets To recall one of the 256 internal presets: In PRESET mode, simply select its button.
5.2. MOD mode The MODulation Matrix is an electronic patchbay that routes all the MatrixBrute's modulation sources to any or all possible destinations. Think of this as a grid of patch cords, each with an attenuator that allows for positive or negative modulation. Every parameter that it would make sense to modulate - pretty much anything with a knob or fader - can be a destination. The 16 modulation sources are in rows A - P, and destinations are in columns 1 - 16.
5.2.3. User assignable destinations To assign a parameter to destinations 13 - 16: Hold [13, 14, 15, or 16] button while moving the desired knob or slider on the front panel. The parameter will appear in the LCD display as shown above. You can also assign a modulation amount in the matrix itself as a modulation destination by pressing and holding the [13, 14, 15, or 16] button and pressing a button in the modulation grid.
# MOD source list Notes A ENV 1 This is the voltage output of the Env 1 generator. B ENV 2 This is the voltage output of the Env 2 generator. C ENV 3 This is the voltage output of the Env 3 generator. D ENV Follow Generates a control voltage based on the level of the external input. E LFO 1 Output from LFO1. This is a bi-polar voltage output (except square wave). F LFO 2 Output from LFO2. This is a bi-polar voltage output (except square wave). G LFO 3 Output from LFO3.
5.3. SEQ Mode MatrixBrute's 64-step sequencer has two modes: Sequencer and Arpeggiator.
5.3.1. Sequencer Mode In Sequencer mode, you can record/program and play Patterns in "step" time, meaning one note at a time. Patterns can be Linked to a corresponding preset so that they are stored with Presets, or stored and recalled on their own. Play or step through patterns forward, backward, forward then backward, in random order, and at different note values (e.g. if each step is an 1/8th note, switch it to 1/4 notes to halve the playback speed, etc.).
5.3.1.1. Step parameters: The sequencer's 64 steps are in four 4-button rows of 16. • Step indicates a trigger on that step (when it's lit red). See the Record button below for instructions on how to program patterns, but you can push the button to turn a programmed/recorded note off. To tie several steps together, hold the first step button and press the last step one. All step buttons but the first are dimmed (darker).
• < and > locate the transport backward or forward one step (when it's stopped) and trigger the note on the step. (They have a different function in Arpeggiator mode. See below.) • Record - (Lights up red.) This works independently of whether the transport is moving. When it's moving, your playing is recorded in real time, including Ties and Accents. Turning the Mod knob will overwrite the Seq Mod track from the first step where the knob was turned until the last step of the sequence.
MIDI Sync ignores the internal tempo and locks the Sequencer and Arpeggiator to incoming MIDI clock. Use this if you're using the MatrixBrute with a MIDI sequencer or other MIDI equipment. External Sync may come from three sources: MIDI In, MIDI over USB and Sync port. You can choose the source you wish to use with the MIDI Control Center. • Gate sets the on/off length of each step, on a scale from 1 to 99. At 99, each note trigger is held until the following step.
Note value buttons These playback settings determine what note value each step is, relative to the playback tempo. If you're using the MatrixBrute on its own, this will simply change the playback speed in a predictable way. But if you're locking the tempo to MIDI clock, it will change the musical value of each step in the sequencer or arpeggiator. From left to right, the three buttons with musical notes represent "straight" notes, triplets, and dotted notes.
5.3.2. Arpeggiator mode Arpeggiator enters this mode, in which the notes you hold are automatically stepped through one at a time. You can hold down as many keys as your hands or even forearms will cover; each note you hold lights up a red step in the Matrix. The yellow lettering underneath buttons applies to the arpeggiator.
5.3.3. Matrix Arpeggiator Mode Press both Sequencer and Arpeggiator. This mode lets you hold up to four notes and play them in any order, in the octave you set for each note, up to 16 steps. You can also vary the rhythm of the arpeggio up to 16 steps. You can hold down any four notes (or fewer), in the example above, Ab-C-E-G are being arpeggiated in the pattern shown, use the blue buttons to shift the specific note of your arpeggio up or down within the three octaves. The red line shows the steps, i.e.
6. MIDI In addition to the keyboard, almost all MatrixBrute's knobs, sliders, and wheels send and respond to MIDI, so you can record and edit their movements in a DAW running on a computer. That makes the instrument useful as a hands-on controller for external instruments, not just a master keyboard. MIDI can go in and out the USB port, the 5-pin DIN ports, both, or neither. All the MIDI settings are in Arturia's MIDI Control Center Mac/PC program, which you download from www.arturia.com. (See below.
6.2. MIDI Control Center settings The MIDI settings are all using the MIDI Control Center's Device tab. Again, download the software from www.arturia.com. Input MIDI Channels - All, 1-16, none. MaxiBrute sends and receives on one 16-channel MIDI port. Output MIDI Channel - 1-16. Choose between the 16 MIDI channels to send on. MIDI clock source - USB, MIDI, Sync. The USB port is the MaxiBrute's built-in MIDI interface, which you connect to a Mac or PC; MIDI is the 5-pin DIN MIDI in.
Hook waits until you move a knob past its current setting to "catch" (hook) it before sending anything. This is the default mode. Scaled increases or decreases the actual setting regardless of where the knob is. So if the actual value is 12 and you move the knob from 3 to 4, the actual value will go to 13. Scaled allows you to increment or decrement the knob value. The drawback is if the knob is at a high or low extreme, you obviously cannot move it further.
Control Voltages I/O VCO1 Pitch 0 - 10V VCO1 Ultra Saw +/- 5V VCO1 Pulse Width +/- 5V VCO1 Metalizer +/- 5V VCO2 Pitch 0 - 10V VCO2 Ultra Saw +/- 5V VCO2 Pulse Width +/- 5V VCO2 Metalizer +/- 5V Steiner Cutoff 0 - 10V Ladder Cutoff 0 - 10V LFO 1 amount 0 - 10V VCA 0 - 10V Gate I/O (TS) Gate (TS) 0 – 5V Sync (TRS) Gate Audio I/O Jack Level Master Out L/R Mono TS +4dBu Audio In Mono TS Line = 0-20dB Inst = 0-40dB Insert TRS = Tip=Send; Ring = Return; Sleeve = Gnd +4dBu L
7. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT In consideration of payment of the Licensee fee, which is a portion of the price you paid, Arturia, as Licensor, grants to you (hereinafter termed “Licensee”) a nonexclusive right to use this copy of the SOFTWARE. All intellectual property rights in the software belong to Arturia SA (hereinafter: “Arturia”). Arturia permits you only to copy, download, install and use the software in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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8. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY USA Important notice: DO NOT MODIFY THE UNIT! This product, when installed as indicate in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirement. Modifications not expressly approved by Arturia may avoid your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/or another product, use only high quality shielded cables. Cable (s) supplied with this product MUST be used. Follow all installation instructions.
