Waldorf MicroWave as a plugin?

[morphex]

Word.

Off topic for a moment:

Aha, so there are other people in the world who still say “word” at the end of a sentence? Right on! If I had to guess, I’d say that you are a part of GenX, like myself. Sometimes I’ll say the whole phrase “word to your mutha” for added nostalgia!

Back to the topic at hand:

I love the trend of software/hardware combos that have been coming out in the last few years. I bought a KORG Modwave hardware synth, for example. They released the VST version, which could be controlled by the hardware, or programmed separately in my DAW.

Those patches could then be easily transferred to the hardware for playing live. It’s incredibly convenient, and I wished that more companies would develop hybrid instruments like that. The top on my list would be a VST version of my Waldorf Quantum MK2.

It’s a brilliant synth, but I’m completely tied to the hardware. I can only imagine how much more work that I could get done, if I could take the Quantum’s sound engine with me on a laptop, in plug-in format.

I’d be cranking out tons of experimental sounds that I could then refine further after transferring them to the hardware. At least that would be my dream scenario.

But I seriously doubt that Waldorf would allow people access to the Quantum, or Iridium’s premium sound capabilities, without paying the steep price tag of a hardware synth. Having said that, I’m still curious about the shiny new thing that they’re going to release. I dig the Waldorf sound!

[IvyBirds]

The Waldorf Protein looks like a toy and has a tiny screen

Probably comes with some kind of software editor to make patches that you can then move to the hardware wouldn't be surprised if that software can also be used as a VST but maybe not

Under the hood wouldn't be surprised at all that since the Protein is all digital it's just running the microwave plugin's code or a stripped down version of it on some kind of Raspberry Pi or equivalent

If you already have the Microwave Plugin, and are not a member of the Church of Hardware where if it's hardware it's automatically better, don't really see any reason to get this

[zerocrossing]

Word.

Off topic for a moment:

Aha, so there are other people in the world who still say “word” at the end of a sentence? Right on! If I had to guess, I’d say that you are a part of GenX, like myself. Sometimes I’ll say the whole phrase “word to your mutha” for added nostalgia!

Back to the topic at hand:

I love the trend of software/hardware combos that have been coming out in the last few years. I bought a KORG Modwave hardware synth, for example. They released the VST version, which could be controlled by the hardware, or programmed separately in my DAW.

Those patches could then be easily transferred to the hardware for playing live. It’s incredibly convenient, and I wished that more companies would develop hybrid instruments like that. The top on my list would be a VST version of my Waldorf Quantum MK2.

It’s a brilliant synth, but I’m completely tied to the hardware. I can only imagine how much more work that I could get done, if I could take the Quantum’s sound engine with me on a laptop, in plug-in format.

I’d be cranking out tons of experimental sounds that I could then refine further after transferring them to the hardware. At least that would be my dream scenario.

But I seriously doubt that Waldorf would allow people access to the Quantum, or Iridium’s premium sound capabilities, without paying the steep price tag of a hardware synth. Having said that, I’m still curious about the shiny new thing that they’re going to release. I dig the Waldorf sound!

I’m with you on that, especially the anachronisms, but not so much the hardware, at least for myself. I still appreciate that they are making digital hardware synths for people like you, but I’m just as happy using Falcon or something similar to what a software Iridium would do. I still keep 10 hardware syn

[quote=zerocrossing post_id=9160099 time=<a href="tel:1764089618">1764089618</a> user_id=111565]

Word.

Off topic for a moment:

Aha, so there are other people in the world who still say “word” at the end of a sentence? Right on! If I had to guess, I’d say that you are a part of GenX, like myself. Sometimes I’ll say the whole phrase “word to your mutha” for added nostalgia!

Back to the topic at hand:

I love the trend of software/hardware combos that have been coming out in the last few years. I bought a KORG Modwave hardware synth, for example. They released the VST version, which could be controlled by the hardware, or programmed separately in my DAW.

Those patches could then be easily transferred to the hardware for playing live. It’s incredibly convenient, and I wished that more companies would develop hybrid instruments like that. The top on my list would be a VST version of my Waldorf Quantum MK2.

It’s a brilliant synth, but I’m completely tied to the hardware. I can only imagine how much more work that I could get done, if I could take the Quantum’s sound engine with me on a laptop, in plug-in format.

I’d be cranking out tons of experimental sounds that I could then refine further after transferring them to the hardware. At least that would be my dream scenario.

But I seriously doubt that Waldorf would allow people access to the Quantum, or Iridium’s premium sound capabilities, without paying the steep price tag of a hardware synth. Having said that, I’m still curious about the shiny new thing that they’re going to release. I dig the Waldorf sound!
[/quote]

I’m with you on the anachronisms. I’m still trying to bring back “groovy.”

I don’t necessarily care about hardware options that are the same as plugins, but I think it’s a good strategy. I might be interested in a plugin Iridium, but I would put it up against the competition, and there’s a lot of good stuff out there. It would really depend on how much I feel it extended my current capabilities.

[seafire]

[Funky40]

We are not even sure IF the new synth is gonna have a software counterpart. I have no idea where did Uncle E see that… Still no source in that claim. I believe it’s a hardware release only.

we are.
There is a statement floating around which is based on what Rolf ( Waldorf) said in an interview.
Plus Rolkf is active in some Forums.
It even looks like the Microwave 1 plugin was just a "sideffect" of the development of this HW Synth.
Well, i would guess you´d be clever enough in a Devs position to see "possibilities" up front, and have "things" in mind from the start.
From what i´ve read, incl. Rolfs own comments, does this look like a parallel development, HW vs. SW.

[coldmachine]

Hopefully it will also, at some point, gain the MWII/XT synthesis options.

[Shabdahbriah]

[MillerSam]

Protein is not the microwave plugin in a hardware box. There are differences (filter, envelopes...) The only 1:1 part is the oscillator section, but in Protein you can use a different wavetable for each oscillator.
https://synthanatomy.com/2025/11/waldor ... sizer.html

[Funky40]

Protein is not the microwave plugin in a hardware box. There are differences (filter, envelopes...) The only 1:1 part is the oscillator section, but in Protein you can use a different wavetable for each oscillator.
https://synthanatomy.com/2025/11/waldor ... sizer.html

yeah, i just saw that too now.
There have been some misleading wordings around (from folks who did have some infos already)

[Uncle E]

I stand by it.

[DrGonzo]

No words on a software companion?

[IvyBirds]

Protein is not the microwave plugin in a hardware box. There are differences (filter, envelopes...) The only 1:1 part is the oscillator section, but in Protein you can use a different wavetable for each oscillator.
https://synthanatomy.com/2025/11/waldor ... sizer.html

The main reason to get the Protein is because you want the classic PPG Wave and just like Roland does with the Jupiter 8, Waldorf rehashes that over and over again in various products and has for years

If the Protein has actual analog filters it might be worth it, but it doesn't they are digital

The Microwave plugin has really nice emulations of the analog Curtis chips used on the Microwave One. They sound amazing and then Microwave plugin sounds awesome, just like I remember the hardware sounding which was created to sound like the PPG Wave

Currently the Microwave Plugin is the best recreation if the classic PPG Wave that Waldorf (or anyone else) makes. Protein doesn't change that fact. Having watched a few videos it seems to be a step backwards from that

The Microwave along with the Blofeld plugins gives me all the PPG, and Waldorf sounds I could ever want

[Funky40]

I stand by it.

i meant some statements from german folks. In a thread even with Rolf W being present there too.
But things have been expressed now very clearly. There are at least two longer interviews with Rolf involved/being interviewed online now. (german language)

It´s not clear to me what was first as a product idea, the SW or the Protein, or if it was all a parallel development. But i would guess that all decissions have been made by plan.

So, both products not being same seems a conscious decission to me.
Guess that´s what counts here most (at least for me).
i see no smell of one just being a cheap take vs. the other soundengine wise.

[wagtunes]

Just picked this up today. So now I have this and Blofeld.

I'm in synth heaven.

[Uncle E]

i see no smell of one just being a cheap take vs. the other soundengine wise.

Yes, agreed. The plugin is one of the best synths they've ever made, I see nothing wrong with repackaging it, especially for the price.