Waldorf M Wavetable Desktop Synthesizer Reviews
The Waldorf M 8-voice wavetable synthesizer module pays homage to their legendary Microwave and PPG synthesizers, combining a powerful wavetable synthesis engine with a luscious analog lowpass ladder filter, plus analog VCAs for each voice. Two wavetable oscillators allow you to choose from 96 factory wavetables, or load your own to create truly unique soundscapes and textures. M also offers big modulation potential, featuring two LFOs with different waveforms as well as four envelope generators, including an 8-point loopable envelope generator. Melding the sonic complexity of wavetable synthesis with the undeniably vibrant character of an analog filter and VCAs, the Waldorf M synth module is sure to inspire your creativity.
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Highest Rated Reviews
I Think I’m In Love!
So, many many years ago I had the Microwave Rev.2 then I got the XT and recently sold that.
Ok so the XT has effects, the M does not. I got the M. I have fantastic outboard effects for the M. So, nothing is lacking. I also upgraded it to 16 voices of polyphony. Plus the newest firmware giving ability's Waldorf never had in mind. The digital filters are very nice, the analog filters and envelopes are glorious! Same ones the UDO Super 6 has.
I did try the 3rd Wave wavetable synth. It's really nice and out of my price range. The M is not trying to be too much more than the Microwave but plenty enough more to justify an upgrade from the Microwave. I swear the new analog filters and VCA sound as good and yet better, more encompassing and 3 dimensional, really very organic.
MIDI up some effects processors and being so customisable instead of "all in one" you can build around it and make it your own. If you want high resolution wavetables, get a plug-in.
I love this thing. It's really something special.
Great for DAWless Awesome Synth. Sounds Fantastic.
Very organic, intuitive, beautiful to look at it, analog filter and VCA add true magic. No, not as feature rich as Wavetable plug-ins but, this has analog magic those don't. Hear it, play it. You'll understand. Really a joy to program and play. I recently upgraded it to firmware 1.08. and I added the 8 voice expansion board giving the M 16 voices. Now I can play big chords full of movement and beauty. New firmware features which there are a lot are deep and many unexpected features. Compatible with Microwave 1 but much more advanced.
To be clear. This is-not simply the Wavetable section of a Quantum or Iridium. Different filters, vibe, tone, and feature set. It's dedicated to Wavetable synthesis at its Waldorf origins.
I absolutely love it.
Great for Experimental music!
Many of my favorite underground artists used the Microwave 1. Now I'm able to get very similar sounds. I love the M!
I've put my own wavetables in it and it's amazing how deep you can get. I only have a few hardware synths. This is my first wavetable synth and I would never trade it. I tried some plugins but they don't do what this can or sound as good IMHO.
More polyphony would be great, maybe some effects. Either way it's an awesome piece of gear.
M for Magical
I have not heard anything like it before. Not in hardware or software. I have and have had too many synths for many decades.
The sound is very organic, alive and it just begs you to experiment as well as play with emotion.
Out of the box, the M ranges from old-school analog poly synths, that had that very drifty and pensive sonic capability (depending on how programmed), to exhilarating, breathtakingly, beautiful Ethereal textures and movement that is just so inspiring (partly because it's intentionally left much like the Microwave I). It's dirty yet pure, and purely gorgeous!
It sometimes reminds me of Wave-sequencing and Vector Synthesis. It is doing that in a very old-school way that is just different in a very nice, and in an approachable way.
The knobs make programming a pleasure and it's screen is bright and the graphics are beautiful. It's just the right size.
In person, it looks like a gorgeous piece of modern / retro Industrial art. Very beautiful!
It doesn't have any effects which is pretty much "OK" it would be nice to have some basic algorithms such as reverb, phaser, flanger.
But! It doesn't "need" them. A lot of patches sound like there is reverb, delay, etc.
It has a panning capability that is part of the synthesis (not an auto panning effect). It sounds like dancing orbs of organic living light that you can hear but not see. Very jaw dropping!
I have -NEVER- heard a digital / digital-analogue hybrid synth sound so gorgeous with absolutely no onboard effects processing. What a mark of quality!
Build quality is superb! It can be mounted to a VESA stand. I have mine on an adjustable mixer stand and it's a fantastic setup for my studio.
If you like old-school Ethereal, Dream Pop music, this is just perfect. For Ambient? Absolutely! Used for this genre, adding some reverb is a great idea. You don't need much.
The 8 voice limitation is its biggest drawback as it sometimes begs to be played in big chords! Thankfully, Waldorf will be making available an 8 voice expansion board. Wow, that will take the M into vast new territories.
Load your own Wavetables! Want granular? Create samples that are stitched together with lovely snippets of audio. Make a 4 part Multi and use up to 8 Wavetables of your own design, and you will be feeling inspiring exhilaration!
The M's own Microwave I Wavetables are full of inspiration on their own…
I haven't loaded the latest firmware but, now you can load PPG Wave "TRANSITIONS" and other audio samples. Very small ones that work only on oscillator 2. With oscillator 1 reserved for a Wavetable.
I feel it's worth the asking price. It's so unique in nearly every way.
Not even modern Waldorf Wavetable capable synths sound as good. The M is laser-focused on excelling at one thing and one thing exceedingly well. The most gorgeous Wavetable synthesis you will ever have the pleasure of playing and programming.
I own a Waldorf Blofeld, many Waldorf plug-ins, every Wavetable soft synth on the market.
For sparklingly beautiful Wavetable synthesis. The M is the Mother of them all.
WALDORF!!!!
THANK YOU, WALDORF. 5 STARS.
