Waldorf Microwave Rackmount Wavetable Synthesizer

This Waldorf Microwave Synth module is in very good shape and working order. Lots of great sounds and creativity to be had!

An 8-voice, two oscillators per voice synth with 4-pole lowpass analogue filter, two LFOs per voice, and three envelopes per voice. Although the later stages of the voice architecture are conventionally analogue, the oscillators use complex digital wavetables as their sources, and each wavetable contains a set of sampled waveforms with progressively changing timbral characteristics. By sweeping through a wavetable, each oscillator can generate a sound that has enormous movement and depth, even before further sound-shaping tools are brought into play – this is the basis of what Waldorf describe as Dynamic Spectral Wavetable Synthesis. Extensive modulation is possible at almost every stage of the voice architecture, using the envelopes, LFOs and almost any MIDI source you care to think of.

The analog side of the Microwave enables it to produce fat bass and lush synth string sounds with ease, but it’s the wavetable synthesis that makes it special. The effect of sweeping through a wavetable can be like adding a whole new dimension to a sound – it can be subtle, or totally gut-wrenching. The choice of waveforms in the wavetables gives the Microwave access to a wide range of metallic, bell-like, and just plain unearthly textures that would otherwise be out of the reach of analog electronics.

The sounds of the Microwave can be played in one of two play modes – Single and Multi. In Single mode, you can play any of the 64 Single patches, which are arranged in two banks of 32. A further 64 Single patches can be stored on optional ROM or RAM cards. In Multi mode you can play any of the 64 Multi patches, each of which combines eight Single patches into one, enabling such set-ups as multitimbral combinations for use with a sequencer, or performance arrangements using keyboard splits and velocity switching. Again, a further 64 Multi patches can be stored on ROM or RAM cards. All sound locations are fully user-programmable.