Playing With a Wavetable - Waldorf Blofeld

[@HOUSEWARMING]

One of the best demos embracing wavetable modulation on KZbin. Not a big friend of the interface but damn, this badboy can really shine.

[@devonhansen7705]

so hypnotic. amazing how well this synth holds up after almost fifteen years.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Indeed, great design .. a synth to last :D

[@Malcoladdin]

I am thinking about getting a blofeld and this video just about convinced me. Thanks!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Its a killer synth.. It really should get more press than it does... take time to learn it and you will love it :D

[@wax83]

One of the BEST digital synth of our age!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Compared to the used prices for the Legacy Waldorf Wave products ( or anything blue and PPG ) the Blofeld fills a void in the market at a very reasonable price. There is so much to discover in each of the wave tables :D

[@wax83]

+100 Things I Do In my country (Hungary) its getting cheaper and cheaper each year (used) so I picked up the desktop version last year and Im plannig to get me a key version too soon cause its a reeeal bargain I think it beats laps on all the cheap korgs 'n such.. Cheers!

[@nichttuntun3364]

Beautiful.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@jamescrue]

wow, great video...i'm seriously considering getting one of these

[@100ThingsIDo]

Do it! incredible value for the price :D

[@XanderEwald]

Great demo, sounds lovely!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks Dacci Pucci :D

[@PreciseSense85]

This synthesizer is so fire. I'm surprised it's not way more popular. I'm fine with that, this little guy is in a class of its own.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Indeed, many people find its menu diving a little frustrating which is what I think has held it back over the years. Its been out there for a long time now and still in production so it can't be doing that bad :D

[@philkop]

Great vid. I am thinking of getting a blofeld but heard a lot of complaints the editing/programming. This is a great video and I'm so glad you showed that programming on the blofeld is more about the journey than the destination by making great sounds the whole time and not tweaking.. stopping and tweaking some more. There are plenty of other blofeld vids thats sold me on the tone, but you sold me on the programming aspect.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks for checking out the Video, for the price the Blofeld sells for its a must have as far as I am concerned :D

[@mattkaz9604]

I got a Blofeld without doing much research into it, as i just wanted a cheap synth with a lot of parameters to go with my drum machine. As it turns out, I got lucky here, as it turns out that the range of sounds it can produce competes with the top of the line synths out there, and it's hugely fun to program. People complain that there is not one knob per parameter, but in this case you would need 100 knobs to do this. People complain about the interface, but there's not a parameter in i that you can't quickly access with one button push and a quick spin of an encoder.

[@100ThingsIDo]

The trick of using the multi FX option in the effects section , and keeping only the S&H on at low levels which gives you 8bit grit is gold! :D

[@shadowsoflife000]

I'm with you on this. I wasn't too interested in wavetables or their "sound" when they first came out, but now I have a lot of catching up to do on how (and where) to use the sound, and what they do best. This makes some really nice, evolving tones. I'm probably still partial to what you're doing with the Synclavier and CMI (mostly because you have to work a bit harder at those), but this is pretty sweet, too! ;)

[@100ThingsIDo]

I must say Wolfgang Palm has become one of my instrument hero's in the last few years. That he managed to create the wavetable synths in the 70's blows my mind what the limitations of technology. Once again I find its all about experimentation but using them along standard analog waves to keep things evolving is a great use :D

[@shadowsoflife000]

@@100ThingsIDo Much like the gang from Fairlight and those from Sequential (with their vector synthesis), many early developers were ahead of their time, it seems. I don't think we've seen anything similar since, do you? No one seems to be taking huge chances anymore, though of course, that's easy for me to say, since it's not my money on the line. ;)

[@foggydrifty]

Beautiful patch

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thank you and thanks for checking out the clip :D

[@MarctheDarc]

Amazing sound(s)! The Blofeld is such an awesome instrument. My friend/bandmate was recently forced to sell his for financial reasons, a damned pity. I've played with it on several occations, and it's just SO deep and lovely. Hope there'll soon be less analogue craze so we start to see cool digitals again. So boring it's always one or the other, never together.

[@100ThingsIDo]

I could not agree more about the current analog craze. The analog stuff is amazing but it seems everyone is in a race to make things that sound the same (or the same as something from 30 years ago). There are so many interesting other synthesis types that have not been fully explored. :D

[@firehandszarb]

There is something to the waldorf sound that other synths cannot replicate. I used to own a djembe and i thought that it did not sound like other djembes and I wanted the "authentic" djembe sound after trying many I realised that my drum had the best sound and everyone loved its crisp yet mellow tone and window shaking bass. This blofeld sounds metalic in very good way.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Yep, its a keeper for sure. And that you can create your own wave tables and import them and use them is a killer feature I feel Waldorf just had not made viable enough! :D

[@byrdy60]

Great tutorial I've picked up some great tips of it . Thanks a load ☺

[@100ThingsIDo]

When I started playing with Wavetables I could not understand what all the fuss was about... Then I was able to play the PPG Wave in person and it was a revelation :D

[@smokymountainblogger5509]

Nicely done video! You deserve a commission on Blofeld sales, in my opinion.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D I've spent most of my life playing analog gear with the occasional LA or Wave Synth over the years. I was lucky enough to get to play with a PPG Wave 2.3 recently and discovered the versatility of wavetables. The way you can create your own and import them into the Blofeld is amazing for such a low priced synth (especially second hand like mine)

[@AsphaltKobold]

Love this Blofeld... When you start to work with Wavetables, you´ll be lost in space and time... :-)

[@100ThingsIDo]

Yep, wavetables are pretty amazing :D

[@WARDISWARD]

@@100ThingsIDo TRy the waldorf xt

[@100ThingsIDo]

@@WARDISWARD I know I would love it .. but the prices are a bit heavy :D

[@JurekPrzezdziecki]

One of the most underrated synth. I've sold mine long time ago. Poor me. :)

[@100ThingsIDo]

You should get another one. They are really amazing... shame it isn't just a little more knobby :D

[@JurekPrzezdziecki]

I have expanded my Buchla system so much and working with Easel a lot lately. Blofelf would be a nice refreshment to my modular system.

[@sarys73]

For crack?

[@Beephouse]

Awesome synth! Love the interface!

[@100ThingsIDo]

The interface is great, I'm sure the Blofeld is more than a few peoples special audio secret :D

[@darlakein]

Beautiful

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@telekollektiv]

Thats just beautiful!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@maval4537]

It strongly reminds me on Klaus Schulze's early seventies sound... Great device, awesome performance, too!

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks, My fave Klaus period BTW :D

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I have been looking at Waldorf desktop as well as the Waldorf modular stuff. Looks like fun affordable way to learn wave table synthesis as the Access Virus is 5x more expensive!

[@100ThingsIDo]

I have the VirusB and used to own a TI. The Virus can use the waves as osciallator sounds but just cant do the wave morphing and wavetable scanning that the PPG and Waldorf stuff can! Each is great in its own way but the Waldorf compared to the Virus sounds a lot more fresh and modern. Such a damn shame the Virus has been stuck in time for the last 10 years+ without a real update!

[@TheDjpredator]

dope

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@prodigalson56]

Such an amazing Synth, I used to have the keyboard but sold it... Recently bought the desktop to use with the Arturia Keystep, they go well together :)

[@100ThingsIDo]

Indeed! the synth is so deep and amazing ! :Would be interesting to use with Keystep :D

[@PreciseSense85]

I bought these two recently, so many possibilities.

[@edgarduartegutierrez9860]

This would be a far cheaper way to go but i really want to test the waldorf's keybed. They say its good.

[@neuesmusiker]

at 2:11 you go to Modifier 1 and add LFO 2 to Minimum, and then turn the Mix up. I'm curious as to what that accomplishes. I've never utilized maximum or minimum.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Well spotted. It does nothing... I was adjusting the wrong setting and when I did a reshoot I did not like the way it came out so left it as is! :D I felt it was almost like a little hidden joke for those in the know!

[@nathankirklambo1986]

thanx for clarifying because I'm sitting here with my blofeld and I'm. like "what is it not working for me?" also, mine doesn't have a mix function for the modifiers, but rather a "constant" amount.

[@wallbrown1876]

@@100ThingsIDoI was kinda searching along in the video where the modifier have been used,I guess that answered my question 😂Amazing patch,the ones I love to create as well,but really you can do ANYTHING with it. Having long notes been modulated by modifiers tho,it’s heaven.I still can’t get the full grasp of the calculations but the experiments usually pay off. Great one👌

[@RhythmAddictedState]

Beautiful :)

[@100ThingsIDo]

Thanks :D

[@shaunm1030]

Really enjoyed your video. Not sure if you still have your Blofeld but do/did you have any issues with clicking/crackling with patches that had a lot effect on them, and in particular with rapid soft pressing of the keys?

[@100ThingsIDo]

I still have it indeed (even though I also have the Quantum). Yes if you get very complex under the hood it can indeed get bogged down. I would suggest using external effects if you can if you want to make very complex patches. No matter how much processor power you throw at a synth there are always limits :D

[@shaunm1030]

@@100ThingsIDo Thank you for your prompt reply!

[@scoobysienna]

can i add other synths to this like microbrute ect...yes i no nothing im a newbie

[@100ThingsIDo]

You can use a midi out of the Blofeld to control another synth, but Wavetables are quite rare in the synth world :D

[@100ThingsIDo]

Keyboard version that is! :D Desktop version only has MIDI in!

[@elcasho]

Very relaxed sounds coming out. Love LCD display to help you along. How does it go with higher energy sounds?

[@100ThingsIDo]

Its very versatile as a synth , everything from Ambient washes to hard core WhopWhopWhopWhop distorted EDM sounds (It is designed for a modern market after all). The reverb is super smooth and lush so most sounds you put into it you can make very sweet.

[@michaelbauers8800]

How does that LFO-minimum modulation slot work? Operation is add, but source B is minimum? Minimum of what? ( I looked in the manual and it said something about 0, which was not that illuminating.) Based on another comment, seems like it's adding 0 to the LFO, so maybe that does nothing

[@100ThingsIDo]

Funny you ask, I couldn't figure it out myself so you will see int he video I give up and just add some Chorus effect instead. Maybe check with Mark Pigott. He has focused a lot more on the Blofeld than I have and extracted a lot more of the hidden features. Just search his name in KZbin for his great Channel :D

[@michaelbauers8800]

I do know who Mark P. is. The Blofeld programming master :)

[@sbookholt]

Michael Bauers I think you can send multiple sources to minimum, and then use minimum as a source for modulation.

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Michael Bauers just search (Mark Pigott Blofeld) and there are dozens and dozens of advance Blofeld programming tutorials. The guy is a Blofeld junkie. Has three Blofelds and a Sledge.

[@superultramegarobot]

Modifiers are where you create custom modulation sources by combining sources with an operator. You had the right idea, but minimum is simply a constant equal to 0. What you needed to do was set the modifier's first source to LFO1 and second source the minimum constant, and then change the operator from "+" to "min". Then you'd go into the mod matrix and map Modifier 1 to whatever parameter you wanna change like an ordinary modulation mapping. What you ended up doing in this video is adding "0" to an LFO (doing nothing), and then not mapping it to anything! :P

[@ventzovv]

Great channel! I'm about to order the Blofeld kb and im wondering for max 100-200$ more, what should be my 2nd unit that will give me some options to compose complex stuff.. Im into Vangelis, Mike Oldfield, Jean Michel Jarre.. Ambient gentle stuff.. Space atmospheres.. I was looking at Korg Sq-1, Arturia Keystep, Arturia Beatstep, Waldorf Rocket, Waldorf Streichfett, a 2nd hand Arturia Microbrute. Or should I get a 2nd hand Ipad and use some apps and connect it to the Blofeld Keys? Im basically trying to find out what are the possibitilies of getting a 2nd device, what can you do with it and etc. For example, is it possible to get the Keystep+Streichfett and play both the Blofeld and the Streichfett at the same time, or I have to control one with the other?

[@100ThingsIDo]

I think the Arturia beatstep is wonderful, you get so much for such little money! I'm not sure if you looking for a sequencer or another synth. For another decent price synth the Korg Mini-log seems quite versatile I hope this helps and Thanks for the Kind comments on the channel :D

[@amazeus1980]

I got one from my friend...for a few days about a year ago...and didn't like it. Now I want to buy this synth. :) Nice atmo!

[@100ThingsIDo]

I had that with my Prophet 5.. I never loved it as much as I thought... so I sold it .. Been regretting it ever since! Was recording with a Prophet 10 (bascially 2x Prophet 5's) recently and was amazed how awesome it sounded and worked with my 'style' of music :D

[@mynameistechno]

Most people dont realize this synth is far superior in his price range to any other synth.

[@100ThingsIDo]

I had to even keep this after to got the Quantum... Its such a great synth indeed. Easy to use and very fast to create great sounds :D

[@buschovski1]

the blofeld has so much life in it. i love this wonderful dark rainy piece you did. im thinking about picking up a used midule but i watched a couple vids where they were talking about the encoders being weird or something. and also that it cant really handle layering too much or it breaks down. idk. did u have any problems with this synth? And do u still have it?

[@100ThingsIDo]

Mine was second hand. Yes the encoders are a weak spot. I had to remove and clean then when I got the synth due to wear! If you have a good tech allow for them to do this in the future. If you can do basic work yourself then when they go bad tear them down and clean them and they will be good for a long time. Hope this helps! (BTW check out when I did the ASR-X restoration. I did the same for that box :D Good luck!

[@smokymountainblogger5509]

@100 Things I Do, are you importing the waveforms from a PC or a Mac? How do you come up with the initial waveform?

[@100ThingsIDo]

On this clip it is one of the internal waveforms that come with the Blofeld :D if you check out my latest clip you can see me importing a custom wavetable. I use a Mac

[@clrndalvare]

What did you do with the modifier? Shouldn't it be used in the mod matrix somehow?

[@100ThingsIDo]

If I remember correctly I think I changed my mind just before I added it and just turned up the Chorus effect :D

[@CZghost]

I guess I figured out how cave sounds in Minecraft were created. :D

[@100ThingsIDo]

It would not surprise me :D

[@Cr4z3d]

Really cool demo and sounds, wish I could do jack shit with sound design, lol. Very nice synth it would seem, didn't know about its existence till finding this video. Unfortunately I by circumstance am only able to use VST synths opposed to physical hardware, save for an inprovised MIDI controller which is an old Casio hooked up via a USB converter cable.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Sound design is just practice and sometimes just trying things and see what they do. My first synth setup was a Roland SH-3a and a Sony Reel to Reel ... oh and a chorus pedal :D Keep at it !!!

[@c.simonis123]

Hi, nice try. Could you share the Blofeld keyboard firmware update files version 1.23 on a Dropbox space as these are no more available on the Waldorf website. Thanks

[@100ThingsIDo]

Hi Christophe, I purchased the Blofeld second hand and 1.23 was already installed. I don't have the OS to share.

[@c.simonis123]

+100 Things I Do No problem. Thanks anyway

[@ricardlupus]

You can find it here: butoba.net/downloads/Blofeld123.zip .

[@c.simonis123]

Thank you very much 😀

[@geluix69]

Lovely sound, started using a novation zero SL as a editor. works great you can access things faster.

[@100ThingsIDo]

Nice control surface :D

[@geluix69]

Going to build a custom hardware controller for it made from a livid instruments brain v2. use the Zero SL mostly for automap.

[@pizzamanmep]

I've heard the encoders are enclined to break easily and skip values. Is it the reason why you prefer using an external MIDI controller for it?

[@geluix69]

+meparadis I've had mine 4 years , no knobs are loose or falling off so far. Using a controller to access parameters faster, many underestimate the power of this synth.

[@michaelx9079]

The blofeld is a great analogue synth..... though it's heart is digital it's output Is 100% analogue

[@100ThingsIDo]

It indeed sounds soooo amazing :D

[@thegumijagody]

Deepmind vs Blofeld - what do you thing?

[@100ThingsIDo]

I have not played the deepmind so I can't comment on that, but I do know that the Blofeld is seriously good value for money as long as the lack of knob's works for you! :D

[@100ThingsIDo]

I have not played the deepmind so I can't comment on that, but I do know that the Blofeld is seriously good value for money as long as the lack of knob's works for you! :D

[@srcodling]

@@100ThingsIDo complimentary in my opinion - I use the Blofeld for mostly wavetable stuff and to get that PPG kind of vibe... the DM12 has a roland vibe, more classic subtractive synth... the blofeld of course can do that too, but it still has a digital sheen to it... I got it as a cheap way to overcome my regret for having sold my microwave XT back in the day... :-)

[@filipzawadzki9424]

If it would have two real analog filters then the output would be usable. As it is is way to thin and digital sounding. It has potential but that's it

[@100ThingsIDo]

I think its best to just embrace it for its digital sound and use it in ways that that compliments your music :D