Streichfett Strings Meet Modern Sound Design
Melding the iconic sound of the brand’s Streichfett string module with modern wavetable, FM, and analog-style synthesis, the Waldorf Crema delivers string ensembles, layered pads, and evolving textures with equal confidence. This string and pad synthesizer module features two polyphonic sound engines: Lines and Texture. The Lines engine offers virtual-analog synthesis, supported by two detunable oscillators, vibrato, pulse-width modulation (PWM), and stereo tremolo. The Texture engine provides 24 sound types, including Streichfett strings, 17 Waldorf wavetables, and 6 FM types, all processed through the Streichfett Ensemble. The arpeggiator and step sequencer expand your creative palette, complete with external clock synchronization, and you'll revel in the organic character afforded by the Crema’s Flavor control. You also get two effects sections, serial and parallel effects routing, and independent MIDI channels for each engine. Moreover, the Crema offers more than 130 factory patches and 360 preset slots in total, all easily managed with the free Chutney Librarian app. This feature-laden module also includes USB-C power and MIDI, plus mini-TRS MIDI I/O, stereo Audio Out jacks, and a headphone output. The Crema unifies old-school string-machine warmth and cutting-edge sound-design capabilities into a portable, performance-ready musical instrument.
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Two engines, two timbral layers
Sweetwater’s resident synth aficionados get pumped up any time Waldorf unveils a new offering. It’s a legendary brand that isn’t afraid to take design risks, and the Crema exceeds all our expectations. Its two engines, Lines and Texture, give you two timbral layers that you can stack or play individually. The Lines engine, which offers mono and legato modes, pairs 8-voice polyphony with thrilling virtual-analog synthesis, two detunable oscillators, vibrato, PWM, and stereo tremolo. The Texture engine offers sounds based on Streichfett strings, plus wavetable and FM synthesis, bolstered by 12-voice polyphony. The Crema’s effects section features two slots, one loaded with chorus, phaser, flanger, drive, tremolo, and delay effects, and another with reverb and shimmer processors. You can route each slot in series or parallel, with individual routing for each engine, and you can layer or split by note range and/or MIDI channel.
Streichfett roots, modern range
The Waldorf Crema’s Lines engine features a polyphonic virtual-analog synth built around the brand’s Streichfett solo engine. It includes two detunable oscillators based on square and saw shapes, along with two phase envelopes with attack/decay and attack/sustain/release options. The Lines engine also offers tremolo, vibrato, and PWM modulators.
The Texture engine features 24 sound types based on strings, wavetable, and FM synthesis, with the Streichfett Ensemble effect available on all three modes. Strings mode includes the original full Streichfett polyphonic string engine, with an attack/release envelope, position, vibrato, and phaser modulators. Wavetable mode combines classic Waldorf wavetables with new selections, plus a virtual-analog filter and ADSR envelopes for wavetable, filter, and amplitude. It also features position, vibrato, and cutoff modulators, which you can control via a mod wheel and aftertouch. FM mode provides six 4-operator FM algorithms, each with feedback, along with two ADSR envelopes: FM amount and amplitude. It also includes FM amount and vibrato modulators controlled via a mod wheel and aftertouch.
Packed with performance features
The Crema is jam-packed with performance features. It houses an advanced arpeggiator that you can assign individually to the Texture and/or the Lines engine, as well as a step sequencer with up to 32 steps and a scale mode. Additionally, the Crema is MPE compatible and supports MIDI CC learning. The Crema comes with more than 130 factory patches, 360 patch memory slots, and a category filter for the patch list. You can also import and export patches via MIDI SysEx and manage everything with the free Chutney Librarian app. Finally, the Crema sports stereo Audio Out jacks on 1/4-inch TRS connectors, a headphone output on a mini-TRS connector, MIDI I/O on mini-TRS connectors, and USB-C for power and MIDI.
Waldorf Crema Features:
- Portable module melding the Streichfett string module with modern wavetable, FM, and virtual-analog synthesis
- Delivers string ensembles, layered pads, and evolving textures with equal confidence
- 2 polyphonic sound engines: Lines and Texture
- Lines engine offers virtual-analog synthesis, supported by 2 detunable oscillators, vibrato, PWM, and stereo tremolo
- Texture provides 24 types with Streichfett strings, 17 Waldorf wavetables, and 6 FM types, processed through the Streichfett Ensemble
- Flavor control yields subtle pitch and waveform variations for organic character
- Arpeggiator and step sequencer expand your creative palette, complete with external clock sync
- 2 FX sections with serial and parallel FX routing and independent MIDI channels for each engine
- 130+ factory patches and 360 total preset slots, easily managed using the free Chutney Librarian app
- USB-C power/MIDI, mini-TRS MIDI I/O, stereo Audio Out jacks, and a headphone output
