...about Waldorf

[AnalogSignal]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

You didn't mention the bugs and some instabilities in Blofeld...there were lots of them

All Waldorf bugs will be fixed S.O.O.N.

(Longtime Waldorfians will get the reference.)

[TitusRaindrops]

Originally Posted by zvukofor

You know, Axel Hartmann did UI design for almost all Waldorf synths, for Alesis Andromeda, and for recent Moog instruments...oh, and for Access Virus TI !

As in POLAR? Polar... Sigh.

It's all about user interface (after the sound of course). We have to interact with these things. If they aren't designed well, if they're difficult and tedious to use, it's that much harder to develop a bond with the instrument. It's not rocket science.

[zvukofor]

Here you can see, which synths UI Axel Hartmann & Co. aka DesignBox designed:
designbox || the sonic side of design - Design fr die Musik Elektronik
I agree with your opinion about UI, sadly, nowadays it is most underestimated part of musical instrument...just look at colorful blinky-shiny-gimmicky VSTi's, it is just a nightmare for a real user. And what we see in a most progressive UI department - touchscreen UIs? - almost same ugly stuff...we learnt nothing from the past ))
IMO, the best way to make a good synth now is not only to make a good sounding engine VSTi, but also to make iPad remote control UI, for example, kind of return to the roots - anyway we want a hands on control of our musical instruments.

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by zvukofor

Here you can see, which synths UI Axel Hartmann & Co. aka DesignBox designed:

Add this to the list:

[HrastProgrammer]

Originally Posted by TitusRaindrops

In my opinion, the Q really doesn't need a redesigned user interface. A few more knobs to expose the modulation matrix perhaps, but no big deal. I wish other synths tried to emulate the Q in terms of UI. The Q should be the exemplar!

Agreed! I find the UI very intuitive and fast. When I am doing sound design/programming from scratch, Q is usually the first choice ...

It's a pity that Waldorf didn't build a new synth based on Q but reinvented the wheel with Blofeld instead. OK, the planned Stromberg looked promising but pity #2 that it never show up ...

[EvilDragon]

Originally Posted by TitusRaindrops

My Nextel blue Q is all metal and wood, no plastic, and it weighs a ton.

"A ton"? Not really.

Waldorf Q: 9 kg
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard: 8 kg

All that with a lot more encoders and one octave of keys more on the Q.

[rydan]

Originally Posted by TitusRaindrops

I wish other synths tried to emulate the Q in terms of UI. The Q should be the exemplar!

Actually, when it comes to UI, the one to beat/imitate is the Clavia NordLead3. The best user interface I have ever seen on any synth ever...

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by TitusRaindrops

In my opinion, the Q really doesn't need a redesigned user interface. A few more knobs to expose the modulation matrix perhaps, but no big deal. I wish other synths tried to emulate the Q in terms of UI. The Q should be the exemplar! The Bloaf, on the other hand, needs UI help. I couldn't stand it. I also was not a fan of the sound either, but that's just me.

My point wasn't that Q had a big problem with its workflow. I meant that Waldorf could sell many units if they were using their classic Q code / hardware with less knobs and a bigger screen a la Blofeld in a rack form. In that way, it could be more affordable and they wouldn't have to write new code in risk of losing money or that great sound.

The problem is, that they have simply abandoned their old code and hardware, instead of using it as a standard production element like Nord did with their Nord Lead 2x code. I don't think that Q was successful like a Nord Lead was, but I believe that there is always a place in the market for a high-quality instrument like Q, especially with a re-designed interface, to make it look new and easier to use by the masses.

[rydan]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

My point wasn't that Q had a big problem with its workflow. I meant that Waldorf could sell many units if they were using their classic Q code / hardware with less knobs and a bigger screen a la Blofeld in a rack form. In that way, it could be more affordable and they wouldn't have to write new code in risk of losing money or that great sound.

Actually, I think great knobby user interface is the main reason why people still buy the more expensive hardware. If you want to re-package the code into something affordable, software is the way to go i m h o.

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by rydan

Actually, I think great knobby user interface is the main reason why people still buy the more expensive hardware. If you want to re-package the code into something affordable, software is the way to go i m h o.

Based on that logic, Blofeld has no future because of Largo. Largo doesn't sound like a Q though...so, it's still a question why they didn't take advantage of the original Q code...maybe they keep it for a future product...

[HrastProgrammer]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

The problem is, that they have simply abandoned their old code and hardware, instead of using it as a standard production element like Nord did with their Nord Lead 2x code. I don't think that Q was successful like a Nord Lead was, but I believe that there is always a place in the market for a high-quality instrument like Q, especially with a re-designed interface, to make it look new and easier to use by the masses.

I agree. It is still not clear to me why they started development from scratch. There were some suspicions that a "New Waldorf" doesn't own the source and rights anymore, but I read somewhere (don't remember where, probably on Waldorf mailing list) that they retained all source and rights, so that's not the reason ...

[EvilDragon]

I kind of figured Stromberg would be Q+Blofeld squared.

[TitusRaindrops]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

My point wasn't that Q had a big problem with its workflow. I meant that Waldorf could sell many units if they were using their classic Q code / hardware with less knobs and a bigger screen a la Blofeld in a rack form. In that way, it could be more affordable and they wouldn't have to write new code in risk of losing money or that great sound.

The problem is, that they have simply abandoned their old code and hardware, instead of using it as a standard production element like Nord did with their Nord Lead 2x code. I don't think that Q was successful like a Nord Lead was, but I believe that there is always a place in the market for a high-quality instrument like Q, especially with a re-designed interface, to make it look new and easier to use by the masses.

It would have been better to stick with the Q UI and invent a new sound synthesis engine to go inside of it. The knobby well-designed interface is near perfect IMO.

[MinoCan]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

"A ton"? Not really.

Waldorf Q: 9 kg
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard: 8 kg

All that with a lot more encoders and one octave of keys more on the Q.

I've got a Phoenix Q, it weighs 13.5 kg (4 kilos heavier than my Electro 73), Q+ is given 14.2 kg on their Phoenix brochure... and new Q's were metal, too. I don't like plastic cased instruments

I emailed Waldorf, and learned Q production was discontinued due to lack of building parts. Maybe they take custom orders now , (mailed them 2 months ago). When I ordered from them, they had a spare one for me 18 months ago.

Q's interface is their 2nd best, the winner with big Wave.

[TitusRaindrops]

Originally Posted by MinoCan

I've got a Phoenix Q, it weighs 13.5 kg (4 kilos heavier than my Electro 73), Q+ is given 14.2 kg on their Phoenix brochure... and new Q's were metal, too. I don't like plastic cased instruments

I emailed Waldorf, and learned Q production was discontinued due to lack of building parts. Maybe they take custom orders now , (mailed them 2 months ago). When I ordered from them, they had a spare one for me 18 months ago.

Q's interface is their 2nd best, the winner with big Wave.

I don't know how much my Q weighs, but I can tell you that it's heavy. I was astounded to find it cavernous inside, only a few small boards in a huge case. I think the weight comes from the sheet metal.

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by MinoCan

I've got a Phoenix Q, it weighs 13.5 kg (4 kilos heavier than my Electro 73), Q+ is given 14.2 kg on their Phoenix brochure... and new Q's were metal, too. I don't like plastic cased instruments

I emailed Waldorf, and learned Q production was discontinued due to lack of building parts. Maybe they take custom orders now , (mailed them 2 months ago). When I ordered from them, they had a spare one for me 18 months ago.

Thanks for that info!

[JoyousSound]

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Most sites list them more accurately as 'not yet available'

Will check 'm at Musikmesse to see the status on it

Zarenbourg has been available for about a week from some german retailers.

[DrDeltaM]

Originally Posted by JoyousSound

Zarenbourg has been available for about a week from some german retailers.

Good to know, hope to see the first users posting recordings soon. If the Rhodes emulation is as good as the one on the Korg Kronos, they have a winner with the old school look and hands-on FX etc.

[slippast]

Originally Posted by Spectral Climax

What do you mean? Did they send you spare parts for a Q or an XT?

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. They tracked down a Microwave eprom upgrade and sold it to me for a really reasonable price. Both of the people I talked to (via email) were responsive and helpful. My last run-in with a hardware maker was m-audio and it was a near disaster, so I didn't expect much...especially asking for parts for a 20 year old piece of hardware. They sold me the last 2.0 upgrade they had on hand. Excellent!

[AikiGhost]

The new Studiologic Sledge with synthesis by Waldorf looks good and knobby though...

[Spectral Climax]

Originally Posted by AikiGhost

The new Studiologic Sledge with synthesis by Waldorf looks good and knobby though...

I bet that this is a Waldorf synth, manufactured (and maybe funded) by Studiologic and not only a Waldorf engine in a Studiologic product...

[JimmiG]

DSP chips are cheap (<$20). Complex front panels with lots of controllers require big PCB's with lots of components, which is expensive. So the margins on something like a Virus TI Snow or Blofeld are much higher than on a "knobby" synth. Since Waldorf need to make money to stay afloat, it makes sense to go with a simple design.

If you open a Blofeld you will notice that the actual "guts" of the synth are extremely simple. It's just a small empty circuit board with one or two chips and contact points for the encoders. The weight comes from the extremely thick metal casing, which serves no real purpose (the encoders are soldered directly to the PCB).

[nebelfrau]

As much as I love old Waldorf products, I salivate in anticipation for the Pulse 2! Loved the original and I hope I love the new one just as much.

[Gil missFlag]

Originally Posted by AikiGhost

The new Studiologic Sledge with synthesis by Waldorf looks good and knobby though...

Get this, a Mopho keyboard and a few bottles of Heinz mustard and you're all set.

[MinoCan]

Some demos for Sledge (I still think second hand Q is a better value)

[zxcvbnm]

Originally Posted by seen-da-sizer

Add this to the list:

Not mentioned on their list....? Doubt's are severe..

[jaytranzmit]

They seem to be more popular, or at least more people now recognise the name, since their relaunch.

[MinoCan]

Q/Q+ Phoenix series are now on the archived products page. I hope they do good with upcoming Pulse 2.

[ac3v3da]

Originally Posted by maisonvague

On a German music forum I also visit there's been an on-going discussion for the past three weeks about the Blofeld... with some general commentary on Waldorf itself. If you really want to investigate things further, I would visit this forum and snoop around. If you don't speak German, Google translate can help -- or at least provide a few laughs with dada-esque non sequitur.

Consensus: there are some folks who are unhappy with the Blofeld (e.g. bugs in the OS, sync issues, etc.) as well as with the most recent incarnation of Waldorf.

Waldorf Blofeld zu empfehlen?

It might be that I bought my Blofeld recently but I haven't had any problems with it. When I first got it I was instantly inspired to make new tracks. It just has it's own unique sound and I'm faily positive that it might be Waldof's "sound". I also use Largo too but to me it doesn't sound as full as the Blofeld does. I"m looking to get a pulse 2 when it comes out. I'm sure that might be buggy at first but they'll work out the kinks.