Waldorf owner's ( or ex-owners )

[core7]

I was thinking about picking up a Waldorf rack here in a little while, and I was wondering, with Waldorf not being around anymore. ( I heard they went out of buisness ) how is one to go about tech support and things like that. I had heard that some Waldorf owner's had formed a group to help other Waldorf owners with any problems that might come about. I'd also like to hear some opinions on build quality and etc. I've only heard good things about them and I figured one would make a good stable-mate with my KC. thanks.

[Tomer=Trance]

you wont get hardware support thats for sure.
the support your talking about is a runing ftp server with the last OS releases for waldorf products,Banks&few additional editing software.

if you find a unit in good shape and in a good price you should defently go for it.

[F5D]

I have a Waldorf Pulse and MicroQ in my rack and love them. The build quality is very high. I have never heard that a Waldorf would have broken. I have never had any problems with these. Also the MicroQ's latest OS is good IMO. I don't see any bugs altough somebody say there are. Maybe they are just minor bugs. I feel very lucky that I have both of these modules because you cannot buy them as new anymore (of course). My Pulse was one of the last new Pulses out there. The story of my MicroQ is different. In fact I first bought one as a new, then sold it, bought a second hand microQ and sold it. This third one is also second hand but I won't be selling it anymore. I just didn't see it's potential in the beginning and I didn't have many other synths. Now I like it alot more because I don't have to get every possible kind of sound out of it. Just the sounds which it does the best.

You didn't mention what waldorf you're after...

[vvanrij]

Could anyone please describe me the uniqueness of the waldorf (sound) ?

-VR

[core7]

I have a Waldorf Pulse and MicroQ in my rack and love them. The build quality is very high. I have never heard that a Waldorf would have broken. I have never had any problems with these. Also the MicroQ's latest OS is good IMO. I don't see any bugs altough somebody say there are. Maybe they are just minor bugs. I feel very lucky that I have both of these modules because you cannot buy them as new anymore (of course). My Pulse was one of the last new Pulses out there. The story of my MicroQ is different. In fact I first bought one as a new, then sold it, bought a second hand microQ and sold it. This third one is also second hand but I won't be selling it anymore. I just didn't see it's potential in the beginning and I didn't have many other synths. Now I like it alot more because I don't have to get every possible kind of sound out of it. Just the sounds which it does the best.

You didn't mention what waldorf you're after...



I was thinking of picking up a Q or Micro Q rack. I also wasnt going to rule out an XT or maybe a pulse. Overall product ratings and my budget will determine which one I actually buy.

[F5D]

MicroQ sounds digital, has great digital filters and is good in many strange and harder style sounds. Pulse sounds alot warmer and punchier because it's analog. I prefer the sound of Pulse but I do some hard distorted kind of sounds to my projects with microQ.

[core7]

MicroQ sounds digital, has great digital filters and is good in many strange and harder style sounds. Pulse sounds alot warmer and punchier because it's analog. I prefer the sound of Pulse but I do some hard distorted kind of sounds to my projects with microQ.

How's the vocoder on the Micro Q? Hopefully better than the one on my KC.

[core7]

MicroQ sounds digital, has great digital filters and is good in many strange and harder style sounds. Pulse sounds alot warmer and punchier because it's analog. I prefer the sound of Pulse but I do some hard distorted kind of sounds to my projects with microQ.


One more thing: just how digital does it ( MicroQ) sound? I used to have a Korg MS2000B and of course it was digital ( VA ) but, it sounded kinda thin and somewhat flat, ...... effective somewhat, but it stilll sounded thin. I'm hoping the MicroQ sounds a little better. ( I know this maybe an apples and oranges question, but I had to ask.) thanks.

[F5D]

MicroQ is a little thin sounding if compared to JP or some other synths. I had an MS2000 earlier and it's about as thin as the MS. The sound is just different. The sound is also a little spiky sometimes. You can get some warm sounds out of this too if you use unison or modulations but the basic sound is a little thin. I wouldn't buy microQ/Q to be the only synth but if you have some other synths already, go for it. It can do some really good sounds. The features are good and the filters sound great.

[Tomer=Trance]

if you would consider software u-he's "Filterscape" is a very unique sounding VA,it might not be the perfect "Trance Machine" as the JP but if your looking for a different VA sound,this is it.

http://www.u-he.com/filterscape/

to mac owners:
they also have a mac supported only ( :( ) semi modular synth called "Zebra" which i heard is amazing.

[Yoozer]

Could anyone please describe me the uniqueness of the waldorf (sound) ?
-VR
The wavetables help a lot, I guess - even in their VA they can be found as an extra. Those aren't available in any other synthesizer. It can give the proverbial silver lining to the cloud - transcend basic analog sounds :).

Here's what happens in detail:
http://www.synerjee.net/crap/qtables.mp3

It works better if you hear it in 'normal use'
http://www.synerjee.net/crap/qtable2.mp3

Examples are from the Q rack.

The pure VA sound itself could be compared with RGC Z3ta+ in my never so humble opinion. It's just as 'bold' and bright.

I don't know about the XT but it's got that same Waldorf-taste; and you can do much more exciting stuff with the wavetables and filters, mainly because you can build your own.

It differs from the Virus' spectral waves in the sense that you can modulate it without stepping, which allows slow evolving sounds. For the record, I've got both the Q rack and the Virus C.

For hardware support : I've got the one-before-the-latest OS on my Q (3.00). Arpeggiator doesn't always match (I don't care), but it has never hung up on me. It's built well; the only trouble is that the new partially translucent potmeters (Alps) aren't in production anymore IIRC.

The XT has the 'mono clicking bug' which has been the mote in the eye for a lot of people on the mailinglist.

The company that has taken over some of the Waldorf stuff is http://www.stadler-electro.de/

They haven't updated their frontpage for a long time, so I don't know what the word on that is. Also, the OS development for the Q and the XT is frozen; it has to be bought back in order to be developed further (again IIRC).

The complete contents of the FTP (soundsets & stuff) can be found here : http://waldorf.electro-music.com/ . http://www.waldorf.synth.net/ has a backup of the old site. I have no idea if the mailinglist still works; I was unsubscribed and didn't bother to get back again.

[Smag]

I've got a Microwave XT and the build quality is really good IMO, all the knobs work as they should and filter sweeps are very satisfying.

I use it in Cubase and can open up Soundiver alongside this which enables you to constuct your own wavetables. You can select from 500 waves or from ones you've drawn yourself and jiggle them around - transmit them to your machine and instantly play the new wavetable.

I had a Waldorf Q rack before this but like the XT more because it's so much more easy to use with all the extra knobs.

The thing about the XT is you can get from a dirty electronic stab to a floaty pad in just a few tweeks.

It's more of an an extra to an existing setup and isn't the best choice if you're after a mainstay synth for your setup.