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Waldorf Iridium Digital Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer Certified Open Box

Digital 16-voice Dual Timbral Polyphonic Synthesizer Module with 3 Stereo Digital Oscillators, Dual Filter, 6 LFOs, 6 Envelopes, and Modulation Matrix
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Item ID: IridiumModd1
Waldorf Iridium Digital Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer

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Waldorf Iridium Digital Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer
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Massive Waldorf Synthesis in a Desktop Module

With Iridium, Waldorf has taken the best of their advanced synthesis technology and put into a formidable desktop module. Containing Waldorf’s groundbreaking wavetable oscillator along with a host of paradigm-shifting sound sources and modulators, Iridium excels at generating complex, evolving soundscapes, from brilliant celestial pads to boneshaking synth bass and laser beam leads. Synthesists at Sweetwater found Iridium’s numerous parameters and fathomless tweakability easy to access via its tactile control knobs, high-resolution display, and 16-pad touch matrix. An elegantly crafted module for serious sound designers, there is no end to Iridium’s creative potential and ability to inspire countless hours of sonic exploration!

Expansive sound generation

With three oscillators capable of operating in five different modes —Wavetable, Waveform, Resonator, Particle Generator, and Kernel Synthesis, Iridium starts the signal chain with a bang! Like the Waldorf Quantum, Iridium features Waldorf’s proprietary wavetable oscillator, which produces dramatic, sweeping sound-generation. Standard waveforms, such as sawtooth, triangle, and square, are available, with additional waveshaping options, including warp, which lets you dynamically morph between waveforms. Resonator, Particle Generator, and Kernel Synthesis modes push the boundaries of synthesis, providing revolutionary ways for manipulating raw sounds into never-before-heard auditory emanations.

Limitless signal manipulation

Iridium is a sound designer’s dream synth, packed with a slew of powerful modulators. Leveraging its digital topology, Iridium serves up a dual filter, six envelope generators, six LFOs, and a Komplex Modulator that exhibit a level a precision and flexibility unavailable on other synths. Additionally, Iridium’s Digital Former gives you access to even more modulation tools — comb filtering, bitcrushing, and ring modulation, among others. Gritty and grimy, clean and surgical — Iridium’s modulators can do it all. Moreover, Iridium empowers you with limitless routing options through its 40-slot Modulation Matrix.

Immersive controls and multi-touch display

With a synth this deep, one might expect to encounter convoluted menu navigation that can bog down the creative process. However, Waldorf went out of their way to deliver a streamlined experience. With its numerous knobs and classic synthesizer layout, Iridium is an impressive instrument that can be played like the subtractive synths of yore. But if you want to fully immerse yourself in Iridium’s sonic potential, dive into its gorgeous and intuitive high-resolution multi-touch display, which is designed to keep pace with your creativity and inspire you to sculpt evermore complex sounds

Waldorf Iridium Digital Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer Features:

  • 16 voices polyphony; dual-timbral in split or layered mode
  • 3 stereo digital oscillators per voice, each capable of five synthesis algorithms
  • Wavetable creation from audio and sample-based synthesis
  • Digital dual resonant filter with selectable 2-pole and 4-pole slopes
  • Visualization and deeper sound editing via multi-touch display
  • 6 LFOs, 6 envelope generators, and multi-curve LFO
  • 32-step sequencer and arpeggiator
  • 40-slot modulation matrix and 4 x 4 pad matrix
  • Master FX section with time-based and modulation effects
  • Internal Memory plus expandable SD slot for firmware and samples
What is Certified Open Box Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call "Certified Open Box" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

Certified Open Box (also known as a demo) means we’ve had it out of the box for our YouTube channel, displayed at events, tested in our studio, or maybe it was in a customer’s hands for a few days and isn’t ‘factory fresh’ as a result. Every Certified Open Box item we sell has Sweetwater’s 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty and has been tested and verified up to ‘new’ specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it’s in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

When you buy a Certified Open Box item at Sweetwater, you get:
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Tech Specs

  • Type: Desktop Synthesizer and Sequencer
  • Analog/Digital: Digital
  • Pads: 16 x RGB Backlit Pads
  • Polyphony: 16-voice, Multitimbral
  • Presets: Over 1000 Factory, 7000 Patch Memory Slots
  • Oscillators: 3 x Stereo Digital Oscillators, 5 x Modes (wavetable, waveform, particle, resonator, kernels)
  • Waveforms: Sine, Sawtooth, Triangle, Square ; Warp Parameter
  • Noise Generator: Pink Noise, White Noise
  • Envelope Generator: 6 x EG ; Looping, Curve Control, Modulate Timings
  • LFO: 6 x LFO
  • VCA: Yes
  • Filter: 3 x Stereo Filters per Voice, Independent Modes ; Nave, Largo, PPG, Quantum, State Variable
  • Sample and Hold: Yes
  • Effects Types: Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Reverb, Drive, Bitcrusher, Comb Filter, RingMod
  • Arpeggiator: Yes
  • Sequencer: 32-step Sequencer
  • Analog Inputs: 2 x 1/4" (L/R)
  • Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (L/R)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8"
  • MIDI I/O: In/Out/Thru/USB
  • Other I/O: 4 x CV In, Clock In/Out, Gate In, Start In
  • USB: 1 x Type B, 1 x Type A
  • Memory: 2GB Internal Sample Flash Memory, microSD Card Slot
  • Power Supply: 12V DC power supply (included)
  • Height: 3.34"
  • Width: 17.32"
  • Depth: 12.00"
  • Weight: 11.9 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AMS-IRIDIUM-DESKTOP

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Reviews

It's Everything You Think It Is....
I just took delivery on mine a few days ago, so I'll report back in a few months time. But I wanted to leave a couple of initial impressions while they are fresh:

1) If you are wondering if this is a "glorified VST" in a box, stop. This is an amazing piece of hardware, packed full of some incredible synthesis technology AND all wrapped up in an accessible UI/UX experience. Hats off to Waldorf on making this much power accessible. It can look a bit intimidating, but after spending a day or two with it, navigation and the logic behind its interface falls into place pretty quickly.

2) The synthesis on hand is pretty deep. Each oscillator offers 5 different synthesis methods, scads of filter and modulation possibilities, and pretty comprehensive effects. ALL of it is available in just about any combination you care to think about.

3) I agree with the reviewer earlier who would like to see an improvement in the way modulation is assigned. It could be more straightforward. (Check out Loopop's YouTube video for an overall excellent review of the Iridium and a brief discussion of this issue in particular.) I don't think the current method diminishes the machine, but I think it could be smoother. I also think this can be fixed rather easily in an update, so I am not too concerned about it.

I think the range of sounds this thing is capable of is tremendous.
Inexhaustible Synth Laboratory
I could go on and on about the vast oscillator resources, the filter choices and routing options, the great effects, etc. What I rave about is the user interface which I find very intuitive and usable. There are multiple ways of viewing modulation routing and multiple ways to make changes with knobs and touchscreen. Utter perfection would include separate outputs for the second layer, but it's a minor inconvenience. Oh, btw, it sounds amazing! Bravo Waldorf!!
Music background: Songs, scoring, ambient electronica
Deep, Heavy, Addictive
This box is Heavy! Solid! Funny that the on off switch is so tiny!
I sold my Argon 8 and JD-XA to afford this both for financial reasons and Space. I Will admit that initially I had more fun browsing through the presets of the other two synths more than with the Iridium……then I started exploring the guts and glory of the iridium and realized what a powerhouse it truly is.
It is an inexhaustible resource of inspiration once you start making it your own and the option to sample your own raw material and apply the synthesis is what really makes it a production tool beyond almost anything I've ever worked with.
This is not for the meek.
The sound is Bold and it punched through a wall of my Korg prologue 16 and compliments it like a marriage made in heaven. The upper frequencies are so sweet! It can cut like a razor but never is harsh.
The ability to use it with a swivel mount is REALLY cool! I've never seen that in a synth and hats off to Waldorf for this addition to an already capable and useful instrument. There are admittedly some cheaper alternatives. The Hydrasynth, wavestate and the Argon 8 come to mind, but if you have the financial means I'd recommend the Iridium hands down.
Love it.
Music background: Professional since 1989. Top 40 composer and performer.
An Amazing Instrument!
I finally got my Iridium and it sounds amazing, and so many sound design tools,I also recommend the review by Loopop and i have no doubt it will only get with firmware updates,So it's not to difficult to get some great sounds out of it quickly, i made a good patch in the first 15 minutes out of the box, but there is a little leaning curve, sa with all Waldorf synthesizers, but it's so worth it!! I recommend a good keybed for it (studio logic midi keyboard!) I highly recommend this synth!!
Music background: Sound engineer/synth player/Producer
Excellent and quite deep
This synth is excellent ans really quite deep and I really want to give it 5 stars but there are a few key features missing in my opinion, like the ability to cross modulate oscillators (FM,AM, etc) although you can do this and more in Kernel mode you can only do it in kernel mode, which gives you six oscillators to play with within the one oscillator which is really amazing and very fun and deep BUT I fully expected to be able to do this across the main three oscillators (imagine FM between a sample from the particle engine and resonator engine) I assumed it had all the features as something like the Blofeld or Microwave in addition to all of the other synthesis power it has but unfortunately it doesn't at the moment, though I am holding my breath for more features in the updates because I have faith in Waldorf. Don't get me wrong although I have a list of feature requests that I hope they add (like polyphonic step sequencing) I do love this instrument, it's quite deep and has more synth engines packed into one machine than I've ever seen in any other hardware synth. This is a synth for sound designers and sonic explorers, you won't be disappointed with it if that's the kind of person you are. I've dove in deep and I've enjoyed every moment of it, it's very easy to use and to navigate and also sonically very impressive as well. I highly recommend it and would give it a full 5 stars if they add just a few key features to tie the whole synth together.
Music background: Professional sound designer, experimental electronic musician
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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?
Brandt York
This extremely powerful synthesizer can create any sound imaginable with its extremely flexible and deep programming capabilities, easily visualized within its color touchscreen. Starting with its triple wave oscillators, you can stack similar oscillators for fat basses and lead, then take it further with its 4x4 modulation matrix and effects to expand tones into another dimension. Waldorf is a veteran synth-maker and have condensed their decades of wisdom in an all-in-one 'pandora's box', one that begs you to dive deep into the universe of sound exploration.