Description

The Waldorf BLOFELDDTWH Blofeld synthesizer module combines incredible-sounding analog-modeled circuitry with the power, convenience, and accessibility of modern digital features.

Offspring from a noble house – the little synthesizer machine with the big and evil sound.
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 fat and rich sound that so many Waldorf users worldwide love when they play their Pulse, Q, Q+, Micro Q, Microwave, Microwave II XT, or 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-hitting and bell-like timbres that have been an integral part of so many world hits from the PPG era on, and become increasingly popular once more.

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

Oscilators
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 1 and 2 feature the two wavetables that were introduced by the Waldorf Q and appeared 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, lo and behold, the desperately requested Upper Wavetable from the good old PPG Wave! But, for the first time in the history of Waldorf and PPG, 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 pure and perfect harmonics or the same edgy timbre you know and love from the earlier Waldorf and PPG synthesizers.
Brilliance also affects the sawtooth and pulse oscillator models. From warm and soft (for those typical L.A. string pads) to the hard shapes you need for punchy and biting 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 generator or one 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 Modulation
Oscillators 1 and 2 can be ring-modulated to create bell-like or metallic sounds, eerie sound effects as well as pumping basses and leads.
The noise generator delivers white noise that can be filtered low or high pass, depending on the Noise Colour setting.
The three oscillators, the ring modulator and the noise generator can be freely mixed into filter 1 and filter 2. This allows fine control over the harmonic content of each of the tone generators.

The Blofeld has a gorgeous user interface with a huge graphic display giving you precise visual feedback. Seven endless rotaries plus a volume knob all made of steel invite you to explore the depth and power of Blofeld.

Selecting Sounds
Selecting sounds is a breeze. If you just want to browse through the available sounds, use the dial above the Play button. If you want to jump to a different soundbank, use the left dial under the display. Selecting a category with the right dial (under the display) causes Blofeld to show only sounds belonging to that particular category.

Spectre
Spectre is a tool for creating and transferring Sample Content for Waldorf Blofeld with License SL and Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard.

Both are synthesizers with the additional ability to play back Samples.

If you have none of the above, you are still welcome to explore Spectre and fantasize what it would be like to own one of the above instruments. Spectre is a free application available for Windows PC and Mac.

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 selectable 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
• 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 XP or newer recommended. Mac OS X 10.2 minimum, Mac OS X 10.3 or newer recommended.
• External Power Supply

• Powerful Arpeggiator:

  • Hold and One 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)

      • 3 Oscillators Virtual Analog Models:

        • Pulse with Pulse Width Modulation and adjustable Brilliance
        • Sawtooth with adjustable Brilliance
        • Triangle
        • Sine

        • Wavetables:

          • Q Alt 1 and Alt 2 Wavetable with adjustable Brilliance
          • All Wavetables from Microwave II XT XTk Series with adjustable Brilliance
          • Separate Wavetable selectable for Oscillator 1 and 2

          • 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 Gain and selectable 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 selectable 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 selectable types:

                      • Single Trigger Retrigger per Envelope
                      • ADSR
                      • ADS1DS2R (2 Decay Sustain stages plus adjustable Attack Level)
                      • One Shot
                      • Loop S1S2 (Loop between Sustain 1 and 2)
                      • Loop All (Loop over all stages)
                      • Poly, Mono, Dual or Unisono Mode with selectable Voice Count

                      • License SL Sample Option
                        License for activating the sample memory of the Blofeld desktop synthesizer.

                        License SL greatly expands the sonic potential of every Blofeld desktop. With this license installed, 60 megabytes of sample flash memory become available for factory and user samples. These samples and multisamples go through Blofeld´s vast synthesis engine just like the standard oscillators. And like the oscillators, samples can be used as an FM source or destination. You can also apply ring modulation, dual filters and overdrive to go far beyond traditional sample playback technology.

                        License SL offers an extensive set of factory samples.

                        The complete administration for own sample content will be done by the free SPECTRE application

                        License SL Features:

                        • Activation of 60 megabyte non-volatile sample flash memory for the Blofeld desktop synthesizer
                        • Easy user installation done by software only
                        • Support for single samples and multi samples with integrated loop points
                        • Administration for own sample content via SPECTRE software (available here)
                        • Included: License SL activation code with user´s manual, factory sample content
                        • System Requirements for upgrading: PC or Mac computer with USB2 port, USB2 suited cable, SysEx capable software application like e.g. Cubase, Logic, MIDI OX odr SysEx Librarian, Blofeld desktop with OS 1.13 (included with License SL) or later, internet connection for online activation

                        • List of included Samples:

                          • Clav
                          • Piano
                          • Acoustic Gtr
                          • Zither
                          • E-Organ
                          • Mixed Choir
                          • Ney Flute
                          • Marimba
                          • French Horn
                          • Kalimba
                          • Strings
                          • Tubular Bell
                          • Pizzicato
                          • Hi Hat Open
                          • Hi Hat Closed
                          • Ride Cymbal
                          • Cymbal
                          • Crash Cymbal
                          • Cymbal Bell
                          • Tambourine
                          • Triangle
                          • Guiro
                          • Bongo Low
                          • Bongo High
                          • Agogo
                          • Infinite Ending
                          • Sad Strings
                          • String Chord
                          • Sweet String
                          • Score Spectrum
                          • Gong Spectrum
                          • Soft Gong
                          • Hose
                          • Electricity
                          • AC 230 50 Hz
                          • AC 110 60 Hz
                          • Machine
                          • Shellak Viny Noise
                          • Sonar
                          • Spring
                          • Impulse

                          • The Blofeld Desktop Synth Module by Waldorf features Waldorf s legendary Analog Modeling Technology and 60 MB of onboard sample memory.