Sounds for the Oberheim Matrix-6, Amazing Freebies for ESQ-1 & DX7-II – Sounds and Presets
This week has new sounds for the Matrix-6 plus free sounds for the Mk.II DX7 and Cherry Audio’s ESQ-1.
Enter the Matrix
Analog Obsession for Oberheim Matrix-6 by Nick Klimenko
After Oberheim had conquered the world with its OB range of synths, synths synonymous with huge, global hit records, their focus shifted to a more modern aesthetic and the use of digital technology to enhance its legendary analogue components and design.
The Matrix-6 was, to all intents and purposes, a cut-down Matrix-12, a huge analogue polysynth that is still greatly revered to this day. The Matrix-6 cut the polyphony in half and had a much less detailed user interface, but retains the sonic presence of its forebear.
Oberheim followed the trend set by the DX7 for membrane-style buttons but retained its famous pitch bend and modulation paddles. There was also a 3U rack-mounted version of the Matrix-6, called the Matrix-6R, and latterly, the Matrix 1000 which took 1000 Matrix-6 patches and squeezed them into a 1U rackmount module.
As such, this new bank by Nick Klimenko will work on all three of these machines. The pack contains 50 new presets covering pads, strings, drones, basses, brass, plucks, bells and big, fat poly synth sounds. So if you own one of these slightly overlooked classics, now’s the time to feed your Matrix-6 some new sonic food!
Buy Analog Obsession for the Matrix-6 for just €20 at the LFO Store.
64 Sounds for Yamaha DX7-II D/FD by Synthoxicated Pafreak
A year after the aforementioned Oberheim Matrix-6 came out, Yamaha revamped the mighty DX7, a synth that had wiped the floor with its competition commercially, with the DX7 Mk.II, aka the DX7-IID and DX7-IIFD. D stood for dual timbrality, and the F stood for floppy disk drive.
There was also a DX7S, S standing for single timbrality, which had more in common with the Mk.I DX7, and a DX7-IIC, the Centennial Edition, which had 76 glow-in-the-dark keys and gold-plated buttons, and was limited to 100 units to celebrate Yamaha’s 100th anniversary!
Sadly, Yamaha failed to read the room, and the Roland D-50 saw Kakehashi-san’s business retake top spot in the cool synth stakes! The Mk.II DX7 lacked internal FX and the variety of using sample-based waveforms for the attack portions of its sounds. But that isn’t to say that the DX7-II was lacking.
Fractional scaling, Unison poly mode, microtonal tuning, bi-timbrality and new 16-bit DACs helped the DX7 stay somewhat relevant in the face of the competition until Yamaha could fully embrace samples in their SY range a couple of years later.
Manny Fernandez broke into the world of professional sound design by very successfully mimicking the D-50 in the DX7-II, even simulating FX within the constraints of the synth’s architecture, proving that if you could get your head around programming FM, you could work magic with it.
Now, in 2026, we see similar levels of FM wizardry courtesy of Synthoxicated Pafreak, who has created 64 superb new sounds for the DX7-II and, better still, is giving them away for free! Such generosity from them is commonplace, but I am particularly fond of this bank!
Check out the description of the video above for the link to grab these sounds for zero pounds and pence! Use your favourite SysEx editor to send them to your DX7-II. These sounds should work with the Mk.I DX7 and compatible alternatives, but expect slight deviations wherever the Mk.II’s unique features have been used.
Syntaur Sounds Cherry Audio Ensoniq ESQ-1 by Sam Mims
Cherry Audio’s Ensoniq ESQ-1 caused quite a stir when it was released a few weeks ago. There’s been a resurgence of Ensoniq synths in recent months and this one, bearing the official company name, was one of the best so far!
Following on from their previous free patch giveaway, Cherry Audio, in conjunction with Syntaur, have released another bank of freebies, available to all Cherry Audio Ensoniq ESQ-1 owners. These sounds come courtesy of Sam Mims, founder and owner of the legendary synth restoration and spares company, Syntaur!
I had no idea that Sam had started Syntaur as a sound design company, with a particular focus on Ensoniq synths, including the original ESQ-1. These sounds that Cherry Audio are making available for free were originally designed back in the 80s by Sam to cover a wealth of styles and genres.
Because the original hardware didn’t contain all the fancy new additions like digital FX, these sounds are supplied just as they would have been back in the day, dry and open for you to finesse further, if necessary. Just log in to your Cherry Audio account and grab these 160 classic, vintage sounds!
Pure 12-String for Audiomodern Soundbox by Sonora Cinematic
I’m not going to lie, I adore the sound of a 12-string guitar, especially an acoustic one. There’s just something so pleasing about its unique tone, created by pairing extra strings with different tunings next to the regular set. I distinctly remember the jangle pop era of the early to mid 80s, where 12-strings were incredibly popular.
When I got my first MIDI module, a Roland SC-88VL Sound Canvas, the 12-string guitars contained in there were amazing, and inspired numerous songs that I wrote back then, but they were no match for the real thing. Of course, modern sampling and scripting techniques mean that we can get far closer today than ever before.
Sonora Cinematic’s Pure 12-String does just that, and all wrapped up for use in Audiomodern’s fantastic Soundbox instrument, a powerful, MPE-capable engine that delivers great instruments and performance features that other companies charge quite a bit for!
Recorded during the same sessions that helped them create their Kontakt library, Panorama Acoustic, it features four articulations: plucked, picked, 5th and 8ve and tremolo. Each of these offers different tones and textures and allows for a more varied and natural performance.
Because Soundbox supports full MPE and aftertouch, Pure 12-string takes great advantage of these across its small number of presets, but you are free to mix and match articulations to truly personalise your sound and performance. You don’t need to buy Soundbox, as it is free to download.
Pure 12-String is currently just £10, down from the regular £15.
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