Waldorf M Wavetable Synthesizer
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3187 posts since 31 Dec, 2004 from People's Republic of Minnesota
Has there already been a thread for this? Didn't see one. Anyways...
https://waldorfmusic.com/en/m
M - Wavetable synthesizer
With M, we are musically returning to our roots by bringing back classic Microwave and ‘modern’ Microwave II tone generation as a new-generation classic hybrid wavetable synthesizer with an analogue lowpass 24 dB/Oct VCF — SSI 2144 Improved Ladder Type — with resonance and analogue saturation feature, true stereo analogue VCA with panning option, and much more to explore in a desktop-friendly form factor featuring a wide range of unique sounds. Plentiful presets — totalling 2,048 sound programs (divided into 16 banks, each with 128 sounds) — professionally programmed by world- renowned sound designers also include all of the classic Microwave sound sets, such as MW1 Factory Sound Set, MW1 Soundpool 1-5, the fat-sounding Analogue and Bassco, as well as PPG Wave 2.3 sounds cleverly converted for the original Microwave. Moreover, it also features freshly-programmed sounds utilising M’s myriad new features — from true hard Sync (when working in its Modern Microwave II/XT mode) to the ARP (arpeggiator) and MIDI-syncable global LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator).
But beating at M’s musical heart as an eight-voice polyphonic, four-part multitimbral WAVETABLE SYNTHESIZER — as boldly blazoned in red across its full-metal blue- coloured casing, itself hinting at its illustrious Microwave heritage — are two wavetable oscillators with independent wavetable-generating Classic Microwave 1 and Modern Microwave II/XT modes, meaning that the wavetable oscillators behave differently in both of those modes (accessible by pressing the Mode button beside the helpful high-resolution graphic display with four endless encoders for yet more hands-on control). Consequently, there is no hard Sync or ring modulation available in the Classic Microwave I mode, where 16-bit wavetables are bit-reduced to 8-bit and a 240 kHz non-anti-aliased sample rate is offered, whereas the Modern Microwave II/XT mode offers a 40 kHz sample rate with band-limited wavetables, although both oscillators — OSC 1 and OSC 2 — offer the same panel parameters.
Two LFOs are generating a periodic waveform with adjustable frequency Rate and Shape that can be used for modulation purposes, are also always at hand. However, unlike other Waldorf synthesizers, there is no modulation matrix in M. Making a conscious design decision to set up M’s modulation facilities directly on the corresponding display page, to paying tribute to the 1989-vintage Microwave.
Back in the here and now, M takes performance to a whole new level, thanks to that advanced ARP with 16 preset patterns, chord mode, and an ability to synchronise to MIDI clock. Furthermore, four programmable ENVELOPES allow adventurous users to manipulate sound parameters via rate or timed modulations.
Musically making a connection to the outside world is important to any synthesizer, so M offers six (rear panel-positioned) stereo analogue outputs — arranged as MAIN OUT (L/Mono and R) and AUX OUT (A, B, C, and D), the latter of which can be used to route each of the four Multi (multitimbral) parts to different outputs, if desired; a stereo headphone output (with an associated Volume knob in addition to the topside Master Volume knob); 5-pin MIDI IN, OUT, and THRU DIN connectors, complimented by a USB 2.0 MIDI port (for computer connection to transmit and receive MIDI data); an SD Card slot (for updating M’s firmware, importing/saving sound patches, and importing/saving M-specific data, such as user wavetables); and — last but not least — a Kensington® compatible security lock slot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FApz-uX_72g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfm-sky0C-Y
I haven't seen the price yet, though.
https://waldorfmusic.com/en/m
M - Wavetable synthesizer
With M, we are musically returning to our roots by bringing back classic Microwave and ‘modern’ Microwave II tone generation as a new-generation classic hybrid wavetable synthesizer with an analogue lowpass 24 dB/Oct VCF — SSI 2144 Improved Ladder Type — with resonance and analogue saturation feature, true stereo analogue VCA with panning option, and much more to explore in a desktop-friendly form factor featuring a wide range of unique sounds. Plentiful presets — totalling 2,048 sound programs (divided into 16 banks, each with 128 sounds) — professionally programmed by world- renowned sound designers also include all of the classic Microwave sound sets, such as MW1 Factory Sound Set, MW1 Soundpool 1-5, the fat-sounding Analogue and Bassco, as well as PPG Wave 2.3 sounds cleverly converted for the original Microwave. Moreover, it also features freshly-programmed sounds utilising M’s myriad new features — from true hard Sync (when working in its Modern Microwave II/XT mode) to the ARP (arpeggiator) and MIDI-syncable global LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator).
But beating at M’s musical heart as an eight-voice polyphonic, four-part multitimbral WAVETABLE SYNTHESIZER — as boldly blazoned in red across its full-metal blue- coloured casing, itself hinting at its illustrious Microwave heritage — are two wavetable oscillators with independent wavetable-generating Classic Microwave 1 and Modern Microwave II/XT modes, meaning that the wavetable oscillators behave differently in both of those modes (accessible by pressing the Mode button beside the helpful high-resolution graphic display with four endless encoders for yet more hands-on control). Consequently, there is no hard Sync or ring modulation available in the Classic Microwave I mode, where 16-bit wavetables are bit-reduced to 8-bit and a 240 kHz non-anti-aliased sample rate is offered, whereas the Modern Microwave II/XT mode offers a 40 kHz sample rate with band-limited wavetables, although both oscillators — OSC 1 and OSC 2 — offer the same panel parameters.
Two LFOs are generating a periodic waveform with adjustable frequency Rate and Shape that can be used for modulation purposes, are also always at hand. However, unlike other Waldorf synthesizers, there is no modulation matrix in M. Making a conscious design decision to set up M’s modulation facilities directly on the corresponding display page, to paying tribute to the 1989-vintage Microwave.
Back in the here and now, M takes performance to a whole new level, thanks to that advanced ARP with 16 preset patterns, chord mode, and an ability to synchronise to MIDI clock. Furthermore, four programmable ENVELOPES allow adventurous users to manipulate sound parameters via rate or timed modulations.
Musically making a connection to the outside world is important to any synthesizer, so M offers six (rear panel-positioned) stereo analogue outputs — arranged as MAIN OUT (L/Mono and R) and AUX OUT (A, B, C, and D), the latter of which can be used to route each of the four Multi (multitimbral) parts to different outputs, if desired; a stereo headphone output (with an associated Volume knob in addition to the topside Master Volume knob); 5-pin MIDI IN, OUT, and THRU DIN connectors, complimented by a USB 2.0 MIDI port (for computer connection to transmit and receive MIDI data); an SD Card slot (for updating M’s firmware, importing/saving sound patches, and importing/saving M-specific data, such as user wavetables); and — last but not least — a Kensington® compatible security lock slot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FApz-uX_72g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfm-sky0C-Y
I haven't seen the price yet, though.
- Beware the Quoth
- 33173 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
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- KVRAF
- 11175 posts since 2 Dec, 2004 from North Wales
I am really enjoying this new wave of non-analogue focused synths that we are seeing.
X32 Desk, i9 PC, S49MK2, Studio One, BWS, Live 12. PUSH 3 SA, Osmose, Summit, Pro 3, Prophet8, Syntakt, Digitone, Drumlogue, OP1-F, Eurorack, TD27 Drums, Nord Drum3P, Guitars, Basses, Amps and of course lots of pedals!
- KVRAF
- 3261 posts since 27 Mar, 2010 from UK
Hmmm waldorf. Not in the market atm unfortunately but this looks and sounds tasty. Sounds like a quality blend of the old and new.
As with any piece of hardware nowadays anyone know if there will have any vst integration?
As with any piece of hardware nowadays anyone know if there will have any vst integration?
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- KVRAF
- 35436 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Ah, that's the mysterious red knob synth then.
Confirms my assumptions. Hardware and expensive. I'll have a listen to the videos later, but, knowing Waldorf, I'm sure it sounds great.
Confirms my assumptions. Hardware and expensive. I'll have a listen to the videos later, but, knowing Waldorf, I'm sure it sounds great.
- KVRAF
- 23102 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
It's in the shopping cart already.
Quantum is expensive, this is not expensive IMO.
Quantum is expensive, this is not expensive IMO.
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- addled muppet weed
- 105855 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35171 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
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- KVRAF
- 2565 posts since 2 Jul, 2010
Hmm, a grand gets you a MicrowaveXT or a Prophet 8 rev 2 desktop. I think you have to specifically want in order to justify the extra cost here.
Also: only one filter mode; arpeggiator and modulation seem simplified compared to Blofeld. It seems like a nice instrument but not desperately competitive?
Code: Select all
dirty vco -> nice filter
Also: only one filter mode; arpeggiator and modulation seem simplified compared to Blofeld. It seems like a nice instrument but not desperately competitive?
- KVRAF
- 23102 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
A grand for a MWXT? Only if you're super lucky. Cheapest I can see on Reverb at least is 1200 GBP currently, that's way more than $1000, and not all that far from what M costs.
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- KVRAF
- 2565 posts since 2 Jul, 2010
Sorry, I did mean GBP. Looking at the reverb history it’s creeping up but 1200 is a bit optimistic unless it’s in nice condition; 1100 GBP is on trend. I’d say 1100 to 1600 GBP is a significant step (indeed, it’s close to choosing between 8-voice or 16-voice rev2).
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- KVRAF
- 35436 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
- KVRAF
- 2542 posts since 20 Apr, 2005
This and the Iridium make the quantum start to make sense in terms of their investment. But to buy the quantum, still... Too much really.EvilDragon wrote: ↑Tue Sep 14, 2021 3:31 pm It's in the shopping cart already.
Quantum is expensive, this is not expensive IMO.
I really like the look and sound of this. They could have perhaps fit a few more knobs on, but it's big enough it'll feel like a great synth to play