All user reviews for the Waldorf MicroWave

MIDI expander 2 digital to analog units.
Wavetable synthesis dynamics directly from the latest PPG Wave 2 and created by Wolfgang Palm.
8 voice polyphony and multitimbral 8 votes.
Analog filters and envelopes (Curtis CEM).
2 LFO.
6 audio outputs (L / R + 4 singles).
MIDI IN / OUT / THRU.

UTILIZATION

It's actually quite convenient to use his big red nose. The hierarchy is clear and well-grouped settings. once one knows the synthesis it is relatively easy to program directly on the facade.
Just remember that he has nine edit buffers (!) ...

SOUNDS

The synthesis is HUGE! Well there are many tables of waves from the PPG Wave 2.3 MicroWave board but can do much more ... Obviously the pads and tablecloths are scalable analog and desire, the waveforms "pure" found at the end of each wavetable sound conceited and when applying the filter that sends a square wood! The 2 LFO and modulation in general is very powerful allowing a beautiful palette of sounds. Thanks to the circuit EMC (1 + 3 VCF VCA), the attack is. accurate and timely release and can last more than 8 min ... The filter is just wonderful (I own the rev. B). I also add that the pan (also analog) is indeed very important in the design of sounds and not many bikes attach as much importance (the TG77 with its macros Pan?).
In short a world of synth sounds very fat or metal, analog or digital

OVERALL OPINION

Being a fan of DM, I had to have a PPG rack
The wavetables in analog filters and envelopes EMC is happiness!
I recommend it to all lovers of true synthesis ...

Analog filter and envelope.

Two oscillating

Two Lfo

Envelope: volume, filter, pitch.

Filter: 24dB

8 point envelope can control the LFO, filter, volume .....

Reoit 4 controllers customizable, can be a pressure control.

Glide.

Note Polyphony 8.

8 analog mono outputs.

each envelope, filter, LFO, oscillator, can s'inter-drive them.

The synthesis of microwave is quite surprising compared to other machines.
CRER the sound source is from two different frequencies, which can import noon, divided into 64 sub frequencies from the first the last.

Single mode, one plays are 8 multiplayer sounds.

UTILIZATION

Enormously values ​​for the analog machine, alas a tiny screen and abbreviations are not intuitive that this machine is not readily accessible.

The search for sound is more pleasant with software midi.trs long the screen of the microwave.

the patient is required.

But once the machine is well understood, a better, but learning is long, in my opinion.

SOUNDS

Huge possibilities, especially sounds strange, but Crystaline, hot, amazing, unique sound.

The envelope has 8 points to create a sound in the evolution with great capacity.

The filter does not sound like no other.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been two years since I used and only discover new possibilities of sonorit.Je regret it is no more possibility of control of south.

But the sound is unique.

The Microwave is an open rack on the TRS MIDI Controller since reconnat all, and everyone can enter the chain modulation matrix, any o. .. You just set (and a love, which is my case). Otherwise, there is an exit Stereo, mono and four outputs, if you want to get a lead or bass indpendamment, it is used, but they are a voice for monophonic (that is a bizard little, but you get used to ...)

UTILIZATION

The configuration is not done too badly if you know what a modular programming or matrix. Personally, I have played in a studio rack of Kobol and AKS, which allowed me to quickly go TRS in programming. It is so flexible that after 10 years of employment, I still discovering new opportunities (and yet I am much used).

SOUNDS

The sound of Microwave trs is beautiful, rich, analog, even if it allows the digital effects like piano or organ DX7 crystal thrs pads, etc ... The medium and low serious can be good Submitted. Only the Minimoog is rounder, the filter remember that the Prophet V. In fact, it's a great synthse between numrique (wavetable, memory, MIDI ...) and analog (filters, VCA, modulation matrix ...).

OVERALL OPINION

I have this instrument for 10 years, and it is still my favorite. Council to make a piano DX7: CRER with wavetable ddies the sound when playing loud. Filter the sound up then get her sweet. VLOC assign the filter to find the sensitivity of the keyboard. Modulate the decay of the envelope for VCA ... VCA envelope (yes, it's possible!) as the sound decreases along a curve more "natural" than a normal right slope. Ds I do rsonance percussion sound, I make this manip ... And this is a beautiful piano sound digital trs round (because I lgrement dsaccord the two oscillators), and trs (too if desired) dynamic ... I do not speak the rest, we can all imagine, or almost.

The series of Microwave has gone through several versions: Microwave 1, 2, XT, XTK. Of all these versions only the Microwave 1 is provided of the famous real 24dB low pass analog filter of Waldorf as on his great ERRF the Wave. Its analog circuits are:
8 CEM3389 VC Signal Processor (4 pole lowpass and 4 VCAs VC)
EMC 5508H 8 Octal Sample & Hold
All the following versions of Microwave (2, XT, XTK), same if their technical specifications are richer (polyphony wavetable numbers, types of filters), however, are ... Fully Digital Riquer. The Difference? The kind of sounds good sr. The Microwave is a share in the Microwave SERIES. It has the richness of synthse wavetable and warmth and color binding analog. A shuffled Dtonn!
Powerful bass sounds harsh, dirty, "Acid" or ... the subtlety comparable to the Yamaha DX. Versions of postrieures Microwave (2, XT, XTK) although trs rich and powerful in terms of synthse, sound more numrique.
The MW1 excels in the leads, pads, basses and big effects, and sounds sr evolutive typical synthse wavetable.
Beware the two versions of OS MW1 existed OS 1.25 and OS 2.0. Prfrez OS version 2.0 with greater possibilities.

UTILIZATION

There are a programmer for the hardware manufactured by a Microwave Access. It is used to control much of paramtres with knobs and live like on the XT. Needless to prciser it is an indispensable tool to make the bottom of the BTE. The programmer is rare and sought but not found. I found mine on ebay for $ 400.

8 / 10 with the program

SOUNDS

The Microwave is a share in the Microwave SERIES. It has the richness of synthse wavetable and warmth and color binding analog. A shuffled Dtonn!
Powerful bass sounds harsh, dirty, "Acid" or ... the subtlety comparable to the Yamaha DX. Versions of postrieures Microwave (2, XT, XTK) although trs rich and powerful in terms of synthse, sound more numrique.
The MW1 excels in the leads, pads, basses and big effects, and sounds sr evolutive typical synthse wavetable.
Beware the two versions of OS MW1 existed OS 1.25 and OS 2.0. Prfrez OS version 2.0 with greater possibilities.

OVERALL OPINION

For me, Microwave synthesis is a "hybrid" wavetable / analog I gladly class in the range of "vintage" like the PPG. Microwave The following are great synths, powerful but although its a "typquot; Waldorf sound for me too" numriques "or digital and can certainly be one day be replaced by the quivalant in soft.
Finally there is little prs the same type of diffrence between a Waldorf Q (filter numriques) and Q + (analog filters).

Version and micro wave rack (exit before his illustrious master) the number of its in memory is 64 + to use it as
This rack is editable (relatively easily) in facade or via software (whose link is given by shamkara in tips)
there are memory cards plsueirus stuff like that (see tips)
niveaus twelve o'clock output connector trio separated stereo + 4
only downside no headphone
the look is solid and correct button (I got it used) and other than audio connections are not fixed on the rack (to plug deplug unwanted attention and repeat)
fuses to outside groups (such as the Ensoniq) and automatic selections 220/110

UTILIZATION

Setup is simple and has two floors edition:
a floor with easy access templates envelopes (moyennnement used but good starting point)
a second in more detail with the closures into waves of complex envelopes etc. ....
This is almost perfect ... a modular source can be a source modulation and again ..... and the waves are oscillating with extra ability to load its own waves ....

the manual says is clearly in English or German but two volumes for the manual mode and edit mode performance

SOUNDS

Positive
ha sound ..... no piano or sax sound type (is the imitator of the Tilt orchestra ).... but the rest are digital (Fitr and envelopes) are analog type ssm to or envelopes very fast (we get all types of analog sound kraft bleep noise ....) low round close prophet or Oberheim (but not so fat that moog .... missing ....) tilt a presence all his own, but that's not all.
we get specific sounds crystal clear with tablecloths ppg balayges waveform and sometimes imitations of voice type formant synthesis obtained with the scanning ... leads to aggressive and sometimes sounds reminiscent of sour ..... my dw6000
brief a strong personality on a versatile raplace does not a true analog, but brings an incomparable with an Ensoniq sampler as a duo ... incomparable in terms of heat (and sound real because in the studio is two machines Avoids a radiator)

negative point
no effect, but a quasi modular structure or expression of that extra tries hard
8 channel 8-channel polyphony multitimbral ... with a shot sampler is rgl .... not a sound road industrial ambient experimental electronica rather than dance machine varietoche hip hip hop and techno bagpipes .....

OVERALL OPINION

I 'lai last week I thank x tractor for his professionalism a marvel
I like the sound and synthesis capabilities
I tried that before synths (I prefer hardware that DECOTE slower than software) and I prefer to have a rack as a mouse (although for the edition in-depth wavetables the mouse is n sary)
I got it for 270 extra roro report quality price (cheaper than a soft synth) and I will redeem waldorf (microq lite rack or attack) and I'll find a matrix a matrix 6r 1000 mfb or analog rack of this type
edit ^

I do nothing to change what I said coupled with the effect of phaze smash up etc. TRESTR sympthique alesis sound and can be original but not surprising TRESTR

Everything has been said!

There are 2 versions of the MW 1 A and B ask your vendor to identify the filters by opening the cover.
EMC 3389 Rev. A
EMC 3387 Rev. B

Advantages and disadvantages of the 2, read in other sections for more details

8 notes polyphony. (20 years ago it was better!)
Processing D / A 12-bit - its typical grain.

UTILIZATION

One weakness is the edition of sounds. Since the receiver panel control, we forget, at least one remains in some pretty basic, with SoundDivers is already much better. For quick access Live or the Access program is essential, even when attention was quick to demolish his sound thinking refine them.

The manual is particularly poor, the add-on to the OS 2.0 does not translate it from German. (The reason for my 7 / 10)

The general config is fast, simple, effective, the only good point in publishing via the control panel to

It is clear that it does not shine through publishing via its 4 function buttons.

Practical question -> to interrieur.
A version is a pure disaster in construction, the PCB is rafistollé of strap forgotten tracks, the components are bent or crooked to get them back. The party started from a power supply that good feeling, but we did even better 20 years ago that. Positive, the tranfo is outsourced, screwed the outside rear of the MW. The welds are not very nice (some to return), the rotary version of A is a real cochonerie will eventually drop, you turn and it does not increment or increments, no skips.
So disassembly (hard) and cleaning of oxides in alcohol, and lubrication and it reppart for 2 years! Do not seek it's new found.

Version B does not have these problems of wheel, it is also much better built interrieurement. Weakness its display, which is feeble (which lacks the A version).



SOUNDS

In the low as in the lead, also in the FX, we do what we want if we take with a little care to edit the sounds and understand the wavetable synthesis is hot crystalline, they also make little sounds a little dirty sticking a little, or very round and very fat. The factory sounds are matted and good demonstration of what little we do. A good filter is located behind made-in EMC is just the best of the best, there are 2 versions version Who owns the EMC 3389 (highly desired) and version B, which owns the 3387 EMC (ditto the big Wave). You can not force to have sounds very PPG in low as in the grain of his very typical wavetable. Filtering is 24/db octave to the proper s'ammuser, it is also possible to make the self-oscillation.

The sound of the A version is a little more punch on the bass and the filters seem to me more bitter. The sound of the B version may be more balanced. The two are good. Waldorf never contacted about why this passage from one to another -

OVERALL OPINION

For my part I MW A revision that is the version that uses EMC 3389, the sound is just fabulous.
I will not hesitate to buy it again, he gives in the compositions sound quite interresting, it goes with everything and still keeps a nice Personalities. Just like a PPG Wave 2.3 we always understood at one time or another. It is far from being the "has-been" quite a musician whose Vangelis, and in the right era of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Robert Schroeder and many others are well used (and even appears time to time).

Now it's on he's 20, so it has the technology that goes with it. Access Programming with AC goes well, it's not better than a publisher, but it is essential. I urge passage of the OS to version 2.0 which adds new tables and new wave sysex.

A great choice for those seeking a grain of its type! is not the sound of everyone