Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard

Offspring from a noble house

Waldorf is back in the game. With the Blofeld. This synthesizer offers all the unique qualities that made Waldorf a truly legendary brand.

The engine inside the heavy duty, full metal chassis of the Blofeld delivers the same fatrich sound that so many Waldorf users worldwide love when they play their Pulse, Q, Q+, Micro Q, Microwave, Microwave II/XT,even the flagship Wave.

Yes, you´ve heard it right. The Blofeld is not only capable of producing these warm, organic analog sounds known from the Q synthesizer line, it also sports a wavetable engine like its predecessors with "Wave" in their names.

This unique synthesis system is based upon the revolutionary PPG Wave synthesizers of the early 80s. So when you listen to the Blofeld for the first time, you will instantly recognize those edgy, hard-hittingbell-like timbres that have been an integral part of so many world hits from the PPG era on,become increasingly popular once more.

In fact it is amazing to realize that nowadays this complex technology fits into such a slimelegant device. And for a price no-one would have imagined a couple of years ago.

Oscillators

Each of the three oscillators offers authentic circuit-models of analog waveforms: Pulse with variable pulse-width, sawtooth, triangle and, as found in relatively few analog synthesizers these days, sine wave.

Furthermore, oscillators 12 feature the two wavetables that were introduced by the Waldorf Qappeared shortly thereafter in the Micro Q series.

Not only that, the Blofeld includes all ROM Wavetables from the mighty flagship Waldorf Wave as well as Microwave II/XT. Plus, lobehold, the desperately requested "Upper Wavetable" from the good old PPG Wave! But, for the first time in the history of WaldorfPPG, each of these two oscillators can have its own wavetable.

What´s more, you have control over the brilliance of these wavetables, which is especially important for waves with lots of harmonics in the bass end. You decide if you prefer pureperfect harmonicsthe same edgy timbre you knowlove from the earlier WaldorfPPG synthesizers.

Brilliance also affects the sawtoothpulse oscillator models. From warmsoft (for those typical L.A. string pads) to the hard shapes you need for punchybiting bass sounds. But note, Brilliance is not a simple filter applied after the oscillators, the model itself is modified.

Each of the three oscillators can be frequency-modulated by any of the other oscillators, the noise generatorone of the LFOs. With low FM amounts, you can add a little dirt to the oscillator sound, with higher amounts you get typical FM effects.

On top of all that, oscillator 2 can be hard-synced to oscillator 3.

Ring ModulationNoise Generator

Oscillators 12 can be ring-modulated to create bell-likemetallic sounds, eerie sound effects as well as pumping bassesleads.

The noise generator delivers white noise that can be filtered lowhigh pass, depending on the Noise Colour setting.

The three oscillators, the ring modulatorthe noise generator can be freely mixed into filter 1filter 2. This allows fine control over the harmonic content of each of the tone generators.

Filters

The Blofeld has two multimode filters per voice that can be routed in seriesin parallel. Each Filter has its own Pan parameter for easy creation of stereo sounds.

The ion of filter types includes low pass, band pass, high passnotch (band reject), each with 12dB/oct24dB/oct slope. The filter models are based on several famous Waldorf filter algorithms found in all our products. They offer resonance up to self-oscillation as well as frequency modulation (filter FM).

Furthermore, the Blofeld features the same comb filter types (with positivenegative feedback) that we first introduced in the Waldorf Q. These can be used to thicken basspad soundsto create percussive, stringflute sounds reminiscent of physical modelling.

Overdrive, Saturation, Distortion, Shaping

You name it. The Blofeld offers a freely controllable "Drive" behind each filter with more than a dozen curves. These include such standards as the drive from the QMicro Q, low/medium/hard saturation, tube saturation, two types of electric pickups, a rectifier, digital overflow as well as esoteric stuff such as "binary distortion", a sinusoidal waveshapereven a distortion controlled by oscillator 1. And because the Blofeld has two filters that can be routed in series, you can control the timbre of the drive output of Filter 1 by dampeningemphasizing certain frequencies with filter 2.

Effects

The Blofeld has two effect slots with various types. In Multimode, the first effect slot is available per Part, while the second one is used for all 16 Parts (i.e. global) with controllable mix levels. Part 1 determines the settings of the second effect.

The first effect slot offers such modulation effects as chorus, flanger as well as a combined type called "Triple FX". The latter gives you several effects at once, but with a reduced parameter set.

The second effect slot offers all the same types as the first, but with the addition of delay, clocked delayreverb.

Envelopes

Four envelopes with different typestrigger modes affect any sound parameters you choose.

Each envelope can be either polyphonicsingle trigger. This is especially interesting with the monophonic voice allocation, as the filter envelope can be set to be triggered only by the first note(s) while the Amp Envelope is triggered anew (i.e. on each note). Think "organ percussion register", for instance.

The Envelope types include the standard ADSR as well as an enhanced ADSR-variant (with controllable attack leveltwo decaysustain stages), two different loop envelopesa "one shot" Envelope.

The Loop types can be used to act as additional LFOs, while the One Shot is perfectly suited for percussion sounds (which typically ignore the note release).

LFOs

Each of the three LFOs offers sine, triangle, squaresawtooth waveforms, plus sample & holdrandom.

LFOs can be synchronized to MIDI clock, they can be polyphonicmonophonic, reset on key trigger to a freely definable phase,the speed can be scaled by MIDI note (key follow). There are separate delayfade in/out parameters for e.g. delayed vibrato (positive Fade values)a burst of vibrato at the start of each note (negative Fade values).

One important feature of the Blofeld LFOs is that higher rates reach well into the audio frequency range, thus making them useful extra FM sources. There are two basic modes: either linear FM as seen in classic digital synths,logarithmic FM, which is primarily the domain of analog modular systems.

Modulation Matrix

Here´s where the real Waldorf power lies. Eachevery instrument designedbuilt by Waldorf lets you connect dozens of modulation sources to all the important sound generation parameters.

Individualmultiple oscillator pitches, their pulsewidthswaveforms, their levelsfilter-balances, FM modulation amounts, individual filter cutoffresonance, filter FM amountsstereo panning,just the good old sound output level – everything can be controlled from internal modulation sourcesfrom a variety of MIDI messages such as velocity, keytrack, continuous controllers (including wheels, breathfoot controllers) etc.

You can of course "modulate the modulators" i.e. control LFO speedsindividual envelope rateslevels. But in Blofeld you can even specify that these sources modulate themselves – recursive modulation! For instance, modulating an envelope rate by the same envelope (or another one) can alter the shape of the slope dramatically from the standard exponential curve to linear to inverse exponential.

And how many slots do you get in the mod matrix? Two? Three? Four? No, we´re talking big here. You get 16 freely definable slots plus all the pre-routed modulation destinations such as pitch, Osc 1, 23 frequencyPWM (pulse width modulation), filter 12 cutoff, panoramaamp level modulation. And let´s not forget that the filter envelope is already routed to filter 12 cutoff,the amp envelope is routed to the amp level. Makes a total of 33 simultaneous connections if we counted correctly.

Modifiers

What if you want something really really crazy, like controlling a pitch vibrato done by LFO 3 with the modulation wheel. Although there are a few such composite modulation sources such as "LFO1MW" (LFO 1 controlled by Modulation Wheel)"LFO2Press" (LFO 2 controlled by monophonic Aftertouch), there´s nobody doing the "LFO3MW" thing for you.

But, don´t worry, that´s where the Modifiers come into play. In seconds you can set up a new modifier, with the two sources set to LFO 3modulation wheel,the "operation" set to "" (multiply). You can use such custom-made modulation sources in any of the modulation slots described above.

Okay, maybe you are more the regular musician who simply wants to perform a binary OR between two modulation sources? Okay, go for it! This operation is just one of several at your service.

Arpeggiator

Okay, Blofeld´s arpeggiator could very well become the biggest chapter of this page but let´s try to keep it short...

It features variable clock divisions from 1/64 triplets to more than 1000 bars, with variable swing/shuffle, a range of up to 10 octaves. Up, downalternate figures, able play order from low to high note, low to high velocity, as playedreversed, variable note length, different velocity modes. And HoldOne-Shot, if you like.

But more importantly, it has the most powerful Pattern Editor we have ever seen.

You can set each Step to either play the note it would do so anyway, to pause, to play the previous note again, play the firstthe last note, play those together, play a chord consisting of all held notesa randomly ed note.

Then you can adjust the Accent of each step (including silence), activatedeactivate Glide for each step, set the timing to play a step aheadbehind its nominal time,finely adjust the note length between short staccatofull legato.

No wonder this arpeggiator had great reviews when it first appeared in the Waldorf Q. It will take you straight to arpeggiator-heaven, as has already happened to thousands of Waldorf customers. Dig it!

Sound

Now, how does all that sound? You probably know that Waldorf synthesizers are well loved for their sound character,the Blofeld is certainly no exception. But who are we to tell you? Better listen to the Waldorf Blofeld demos, visit your dealerjust believe us: it sounds great. Now goget one!

Main Features:

• Unbeatable price tag
• sturdy Metal Enclosure
• 7 endless stainless steel Dials
• Graphic Display 128 x 64 pixels, b/w, white background LED
• more than 1000 Sounds
• 3 Oscillators per voice
• Frequency Modulation between the Oscillators
• All Q Oscillator Models
• All Microwave II/XT/XTk Wavetables
• 2 independent Multi Mode Filters per voice
• Filter FM
• 2 Drive stages per voice with able Drive Curves
• 3 fast LFOs per voice
• 4 fast Envelopes per voice
• powerful Arpeggiator
• freely programmable Arpeggiator Pattern with up to 16 Steps per Sound

General Features:

• up to 25 Voices
• 16 part multi timbral
• more than 1000 Sounds
• sturdy Metal Enclosure
• 7 endless stainless steel Dials
• 5 Buttons
• Graphic Display 128 x 64 pixels, b/w, white background LED
• MIDI LED
• Volume Control
• Power Switch
• Stereo Output
• Headphone Output
• MIDI In
• USB Connector for MIDI In / Out
  • uses standard USB MIDI Driver provided by host computer OS
  • Windows ME minimum, Windows XPnewer recommended
  • Mac OS X 10.2 minimum, Mac OS X 10.3newer recommended
• External Power Supply

Per Voice

• 3 Oscillators

  Virtual Analog Models:

  • Pulse with Pulse Width Modulationadjustable Brilliance
  • Sawtooth with adjustable Brilliance
  • Triangle
  • Sine

  Wavetables:

  • Q Alt 1Alt 2 Wavetable with adjustable Brilliance
  • All Wavetables from Microwave II/XT/XTk Series with adjustable Brilliance
  • Separate Wavetable able for Oscillator 12
• Frequency Modulation between the Oscillators
• Oscillator Synchronization
• Ring Modulator for Osc 1 / 2
• Noise Generator with Noise Colour
• 2 independent Multi Mode Filters
  • Filter FM
  • Resonance up to Self-Oscillation
  • Low Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
  • Band Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
  • High Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
  • Notch 24 dB / 12 dB
  • Comb Filter with positive / negative Feedback
  • PPG Low Pass Filter
• 2 Drive stages per voice with adjustable Drive Gainable Curves
  • Clip
  • Hard
  • Medium
  • Soft
  • Sine Shaper
  • etc.
• Modulation Matrix with 16 Slots, freely programmable
  • Modulation Speed far into Audio Range
  • Modulation Sources include all internal Modulation Sources plus various MIDI messages
  • Modulation Destinations for almost all continuous sound parameters
• various pre-routed Modulation Destinations with able Sources
  • Pitch Modulation
  • Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Frequency Modulation
  • Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Pulse Width Modulation
  • Filter 1 / 2 Cutoff Modulation
  • Filter 1 / 2 Frequency Modulation
  • Pan 1 / 2 Modulation
  • Amp Modulation
• 4 Modifiers for transforming Modulation Sources with various Algorithms
• 3 fast LFOs
  • syncable to MIDI Clock
  • Note Retrigger with adjustable Start Phase
  • monophonic LFO
  • Keytrack
• 4 fast Envelopes with able types
  • Single Trigger / Retrigger per Envelope
  • ADSR
  • ADS1DS2R (2 Decay/Sustain stages plus adjustable Attack Level)
  • One Shot
  • Loop S1S2 (Loop between Sustain 12)
  • Loop All (Loop over all stages)
• Poly, Mono, DualUnisono Mode with able Voice Count

Per Part:

• powerful Arpeggiator
  • HoldOne Shot modes
  • syncable to MIDI Clock
  • Direction Up, Down, Alternate
  • Range up to 10 Octaves
  • various methods to modify Note Sort Order
• freely programmable Arpeggiator Pattern with up to 16 Steps per Sound.
  programmable per Step:
  • Accent
  • Timing
  • Length
  • Glide on/off
  • Pause
  • Chord
  • Previous note
  • Random not from Note List
  • first and/or last note from Note List
• 1 Effect slot per part
• 1 Effect slot globally for all parts
  Effect types:
  • Chorus
  • Flanger
  • Phaser
  • Overdrive
  • Triple FX (S&H, Ring Modulation, Chorus)
  • Delay (only available on global Effect slot)
  • Clocked Delay (only available on global Effect slot)
  • Reverb (only available on global Effect slot)

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