Waldorf Quantum - First Impressions

[@busch028]

My Quantum Impressions Thus Far (not like my views are important): It's a GREAT synthesizer. It's probably the best workflow I have had with a synth. While it is very deep, the workflow makes it easy to navigate. The touch screen, for me, really enhances the workflow. Sound wise it is solid. All of the engines provide really nice image and are rich. The Granular (Particle) engine is one of the best I have personally used. I love the sound of it in comparison to other granular algorithms I have heard. The dual analog filter section is great but GOD I wish it was stereo. If this bothers you, one work around is bypassing the Analog filter and having the oscillators go into the Digital Former where there are a TON of stereo filters to choose from. Can everything with this synth be done on a computer. Well, yes and no. Yes, if you have various software (Serum, Omnisphere, etc.) then yes, this can mostly be done ITB. The Quantum does have its own sound and the different engines can all be done under one hood. Also, having a synth like this doesn't tax your computer's processor. Lastly, for me, it's all about workflow. I don't mind using Serum, Omnisphere, etc. but I am much faster and much more inspired using hardware. I can get to different areas and crank out my ideas on this much faster than I can with Omnisphere. The other thing I will say is Rolf from Waldorf has been working his but off bringing various new updates to the Quantum. Since inception, this machine has received a new Synthesis Engine (Kernal Mode - which is FMish), new analog filter types, refinements to the Particle sample workflow/behavior and other things. It's a very forward thinking machine and they are striving to make the machine better for their users. In summary, is it worth the money? I can't answer that. Everyone has their own budget/expectations, etc. For me, I think it is worth the money. I can see this being a big workhorse for many people who want to dive DEEP into sound design. There are not many alternatives in hardware that cover THIS much ground. If you are looking for a big analog poly, then look elsewhere. This machine can make beautiful poly subtractive synth type sounds, but it probably won't give you the analog character you are looking for from a Memorymoog or something like that. I hope this helps somewhat.

[@trevor4835]

M Busch I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the quantum, thanks for sharing

[@station2station544]

To put your mind at ease a little bit, the Synclavier II which was used on some of our favorite music of all time…? Mono analog filters! :)

[@ghavinga]

Thanks Tim, great first introduction to the Quantum. I really enjoy the calm and relaxing way in which you present your videos, especially this one. I must say after a stressful day at the office and on the motorway, my inner peace returned quickly while watching your discovery of this great synth.

[@el_dani]

are you watching this on the motorway?oO

[@paulbailey1399]

Tim you don’t know how happy I am knowing you’ve purchased a Quantum. I can’t wait to see your up coming series. Many thanks for the hard work you put in I appreciate everything you do.

[@jkonrad]

I know it’s not “that” kind of video but Jesus man you cannot wait 18 freakin minutes before you play a note so we can hear something! Love your vids man, always good info, well thought out, delivered like a proper gentleman. Cheers!

[@philphil4295]

Well done video ... extremely educational. You have laid out the whole Quantum concept in one great video. I am now on my way :)

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

So far you have given a great explanation of how the Quantum works. I don't have one but your explanation gives me a good introduction to how it works. Thank you

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Looking forward to next video in this series. Nice job

[@WilfredFumbly]

Other than the expense, is the Waldorf Quantum a good candidate for someone learning synthesis? Would it make a good 'my first synthesizer'?

[@tianxing7795]

Tim, thanks for your video! I just want to ask, how do you feel about Waldorf Kyra? It made me struggle, I like Quantum and Kyra both, I don’t know how to chose, I like cinematic pads and drone sounds, ambient music. Need your opinion. By the way, I have the Waldorf Blofeld, love it so much!

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi Tian, I have not had the opportunity to play the Kyra but I have watched demos and read the specification and it looks fantastic. It certainly beats the Quantum in terms of multi-timbrality and polyphony alone, it does not have all the capabilities of the Quantum but with over 4,000 PCM sampled waveforms and 128 LFO waveforms I think there is enough there to feed everyone's creativity for decades! The main reason I like the Quantum (and it is the same reason I was drawn to the Prophet X) is the sample manipulation capabilities combined with the ability to import and record your own samples. And with the Quantum you can import and record your own wavetables too. These facilities make the Quantum quite literally boundless in terms of what you can get out of it, there is no limit to the variety of waveforms you can create. The synths are very different in terms of form factor, I'd personally have preferred a desktop version of the Quantum rather than the keyboard, but this is very personal taste. I'd definitely recommend trying the synths out before buying but if you can buy from a mainstream dealer that offers 30 day return then that could work just as well.

[@tianxing7795]

Tim Shoebridge Thank you soooo much! I also want a desktop version for quantum, it gonna be very handy for sound design.

[@EarlyMist]

@@tianxing7795 definitely factor in price my man. I just picked up a Kyra for $1700 AUD. The Quantum is sitting right around $7599 AUD. They are different beasts beyond just engines and functionality...also massively different in price, if that's a factor to you.

[@EarlyMist]

Aaand yes...I just realised I responded to a two year old post!

[@LesFarrington]

I just put my iridium keyboard up for sale so I can buy a quantum mk2! I can’t wait. You’re awesome Sir Shoebridge!

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

Thanks... great video. The WQ looks like a beast... I can't wait to hear it properly in action.

[@DestroyER82]

PPG wave and lot more for 21st century... Amazing and full of quality work by Waldorf. Also I really enjoy from of your videos, always pleasure. All the best, looking forward for next one.

[@666JGNotts]

Thanks for another great video mate, much appreciated. Being a software developer myself, this user interface and o/s really do appeal to me :)

[@Thyrnheimr]

Awesome! For me: King of the Synthesizers. Endless fun, top quality. Fine Video!

[@briansherling5515]

Tim you have really done the best job of showing why the quantum is a pinnacle of synth design to date. And you’ve also done a great job of inception; I have sold several synths to buy the quantum. Soon I will have a Moog Subsequent 37 CV and a Quantum and my computer. Who could use more?

[@jonb7525]

A tutorial showing people how to assign Quantum sounds to MIDI channels that can be used in a DAW like Logic or Ableton would be great

[@markquavertune2003]

Thank you .This synth seems quite deep .A very positive outlook from the beginning .Looking forward to more .Just a question concerning the sequential X .Would the videos about it be the final word or would it be worth a second look ? Has the sequential X improved since the videos ?

[@TimShoebridge]

Mark QUAVERTUNE You’re welcome. Regarding the PX I think I will add a discussion about it in an up coming video about system instability, bugs and crashes. I think it’s an increasingly important subject to talk about openly and honestly given how synths are becoming increasingly technically complex and firmware dependent. This is a topic equally concerning the PX as it does other flagship synths such as the Quantum and Moog One...

[@markquavertune2003]

@@TimShoebridge Thank you .I will look forward to this .These instruments are not cheep .It gets me away from being reliant on VST instruments .Although they have a place .Ideally I would want to sample what I produce with Voltage modular and use it in the sequential X .

[@jfishnotes9177]

Hi Tim, I have a Korg Kronos, that I love and am seeking a synth to compliment it. I am probably 80% pianist and my level of technological knowledge is probably 20%. I’ve been trying to decide between the Quantum, the Prophet XL and the Novation Summit; I realize they are all completely different. Do you think the Quantum may be too complex? I figure there will be more online tutorials for the PXL and the Summit. However, I did learn how to use the Kronos (probably 10% of it 🙄) and can always learn the Quantum, just not sure how steep the learning curve will be. I welcome your input! Thank you kindly

[@TheRealSasquatch]

when I've regrown a kidney I'll sell it again to buy this ;-) great video. Thx

[@RayyMusik]

Very helpful introduction to the Quantum. I‘m constantly annoyed by the 20th century UI of my Prophet X. The Quantum is lightyears ahead regarding usability! Sound-wise, I guess one can cover the whole world of synthesis with just two synths: the Moog One and the Quantum.

[@wackenthaljef]

Tim,im french and i wanted to buy a Quantum.Yur vids R very useful thks a lot.

[@squoblat]

You need to start getting credit card companies to sponsor your videos Tim. This feels very much like a hardware version of serum in some respects, really looking forward to the inevitable noodling rabbit hole that you go down with the quantum. As a side note, love the choices you've made for the camera work on this one.

[@superprim12]

I don't own this..... But being a synth patch programmer there is nothing better than having physical pots..... There is nothing that can replace it..

[@josephfelice601]

No line on the Komplex Modulator. Is this standard?

[@winddealer1]

Another great video and content piece from Tim. The Quantum would make a great addition to your studio. Understandably eclipsed the Summit with Quantum. Waiting now for the foreseeable Moog One first impressions video in the not to distant future. Is the Quantum now a permanent part of kit or just passing though? Gratefully.

[@TimShoebridge]

Dan Drew Thanks very much. I’m hoping the Quantum becomes a permanent fixture, the jury is still out, I’m still assessing it but I have to say the more I discover the more I like. Ahhh a Moog One review, that would fantastic, but I think the only way that will happen is if I rent one.No matter how much I spend on lottery tickets I just don’t seem to get lucky ;)

[@H-4-D3423]

Did you stick with your Quantum Tim? If you still have it, OS2.0 brought a huge raft of changes, an exciting time for owners...

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi, Yes I still have it. I'm looking forward to installing v2, but I need to sort out the space in my studio first! :(

[@H-4-D3423]

@@TimShoebridge Brill news, good luck with the tidying lol, stay safe...

[@superprim12]

brother.... You did an awesome job!!!!

[@DanielFlanigan]

I love your videos, but I wish you would run the audio through some sort of mastering chain... I always have everything at 100% listening to them and they are still quiet.

[@synthshoot1026]

Thank you very much.

[@davidsobel3303]

funny, I've just looked into getting different colored knobs to identify sections of the controls. Waldorf has of course taken it to the zenith in their flagship synth.

[@trevor4835]

Tim does the Quantum come with a printed copy of the manual?

[@TimShoebridge]

It comes with a printed quick guide (can't remember what exactly they call it) but it is not the full user manual available online

[@trevor4835]

Tim Shoebridge thanks Tim

[@rjbush7955]

Just found you and I will be watching all of the episodes on Quantum. Is it me or has Waldorf gone over NI Massive and Serum; essentially made it into hardware?

[@mooseinbeesocks2700]

Loved the video! I have a request to see the sample to wavetable functionality I'm wondering how that would sound. Also a deep dive on the Kernal synthesis algorithm. Only 8 voices is slightly a bummer on a synth like this but I know that is a caveat of having analog filters.... But if I may make a wish for Waldorf it would be if you make a patch that does not use any of the analog filters, the voice count is DOUBLED because you bypass the analog part.

[@EarlyMist]

Just finished watching your Kyra vid. After picking up the Kyra for $1700 Aussie $ then seeing you mention the Quantum...I thought, how much more pricey can another Waldorf be? Well...apparently only another $5800 AUD more pricey! 😂. So...obviously going to learn to love the Kyra! (Next to a Pro 3 and Summit etc so its not alone).

[@DolenecPhotography]

wow, nice review. thank you!

[@bluename4]

does it have "physical modeling"?

[@JosefK93]

Yes, that would be the oscillator mode called "Resonator"

[@trevor4835]

20:35 sounds super Burial-esque I love it

[@gretareinarsson7461]

I can’t afford the Quantum but I ca afford the Irridium. Just as good?

[@TimShoebridge]

The same synth engines, very slightly different firmware versions with the Iridium slightly ahead. You don't get analogue filters but you do get 16 voice polyphony instead of 8, so that's the basic trade off.

[@tazcerogers2947]

Love what you’re doing. Love it all night long

[@bluename4]

curious to see its FM capabilities in detail

[@TimShoebridge]

FM is supported in firmware v2. I am not on the beta program so will need to wait until v2 is released. If I get any news on that then will share it...

[@claudekaber609]

Well i'd say the video is not entirely uninteresting, but at some point the talking gets annoying, especially when it says now showing sounds and then starts talking about the preset menu for some more minutes.

[@anthonyb8994]

Thats all nice but how does it sound smh. 19:28 if u actually wanna hear it.