Waldorf has done it AGAIN! | Waldorf Iridium Core Synthesizer Preview

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00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Macro Controls
01:02 - 12 Voices Instead of 16
02:19 - Connections
02:57 - GUI & Design Philosophy
04:03 - Conclusion
Phable is a german-based singer, vocalist, musician, and DJ with deep roots in House, Techno, Deep House, Dub and Tech House. In the last years, he released on labels such as #Armada, #Ostfunk, #LightMyFire, #WonneMusik, #Pure*, #AudioSafari and recently on #PlasticCity. Sometimes his tracks are melodically sensual, sometimes pumping groovy, his style unique.
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[@phable]

What is your favorite synth at the moment?

[@originalfallinggirl]

Favorite overall? I own a TON of synths. I also live in a house that is covered wall to wall with Eurorack. With that being said I have some good news for those just getting into synths. There is not necessarily a positive correlation between price and sound quality. I would take a Mother 32 with its buttery ladder filter over a MatrixBrute’s more harsh Steiner-Parker filter. And, oddly, I’d take my Dreadbox Erebus V2 over my brand new reissue Erebus. My favorite synth of all time is the Moog Mother 32. You can spend $5,000 attempting to recreate the sound of a Moog ladder filter with AJH modules (and I’ve done that too). But you can spend $650 and get the real deal. #2 My second favorite synth that is sometimes my favorite synth (depending on my mood) is the humble Yamaha Reface CS. #3 I’ve got to include my third favorite synth here too as it differs greatly from the first two. The Waldorf Blofeld is the mortar that holds every one of my tracks together. *** I don’t own it but I’ve heard that the Behringer Crave nails the sound of the Mother 32 for only $180.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

My Hydrasynth and Moog Matriarch.

[@Evian457]

It's high time Waldorf made a VST editor for this synth.

[@phable]

Really? Why?

[@Evian457]

@@phable 1: Easy access to parameters in DAW for automation during arrangement and mix down. 2: Ability to drag and drop wavetables and samples into the machine. 3: There's some parameters which aren't available for mod destinations, so having access to these in DAW would make it easier to modulate and save.

[@user-kx5fs9jy1g]

100% agree something like Elektron's overbridge for the Iridium would be amazing. Honestly, I kind of hoped/expected they would have done that by now. Seems like the obvious next step to me.

[@BoopPOPO]

lol see their vsts

[@Evian457]

@@BoopPOPO they suck

[@smallek2626]

Whats About Wavetable.Destortion? Phasedestortion capebilletys ? can i use Wavetables.or Modulators to chop other waves of Ringmodulate them this would be the Spectrum for me to use Digital Synthesizers because of Ther Own Odittys. And To Dyle in Brute Factor like on The Clavia Nord Lead. ?

[@meilstone]

Still happy with the sound and voice count of my Virus TI2 desktop...

[@phable]

Me too (usually) :D

[@jhdrummer4815]

What kind of sounds is more suited for? I have a Wavestate an Opsix, Deepmind and Moog Minotaur in my hardware set up.

[@phable]

That depends on your preference. Love it for crystal clear pads and arpeggios.

[@liothomasart]

A question: does it have audio over USB feature? If not can you run it through an RME Fireface UFX to get the same headphones signal? I have this problem with the Korg Wavestate where the audio signal through TRS cables is lacking character compared to the sound i get from its headphones output. Thanks

[@phable]

No, USB is available for samples and external controllers. The lack of character could come down to a multitude of reasons. The outputs of the Iridium are clear and punchy.

[@rodrigolaporte274]

Excellent review! I'm really interested in this one

[@phable]

Thank you :)

[@myceliumtechno]

A great design improvement also is the increased distance between the rotary knobs left and right from the screen. On Iridium Desktop they were so close together that you couldn't turn the knobs without awkwardly touching the neighbouring knobs.

[@phable]

Very good point! I though alone with this problem, haha :D

[@christdolphin69]

the voice count isnt the only difference in the software. it also lost the kimplex modulator

[@empirix]

thanksa lot, what keyboard would be best with this?

[@phable]

Depends if you want MPE or not :)

[@AdamsOlympia]

Not a huge fan of the pads, so would have much preferred 6 or 8 extra encoders in their place. But it's still an amazing synth -- probably the most power ever fit into such a small form factor.

[@liothomasart]

12 voices compared to th 20+ voices of the Virus, i think those 2 complement each other very well! Wishlist for sure!

[@phable]

Guess what’s sitting here next to my Iridium ;) Perfect match!

[@svenmify]

I’m in the market for a multitimbral sound making thing - basically a groove box without the sequencing, since I’ll be doing that from an oxi one. The only real options I’ve found are actual grooveboxes (mc101 or 707), and these Waldorf boxes. There seems to be a huge gap between those options. I can’t be the only one looking for a “one box that does most of my sounds” solution. Maybe a syntakt would work.

[@lumpichu]

In my country it seems Waldorf raised the prices for the regular desktop and introduced this for its original price. I guess I'll never buy the Iridium, even as this is the synth I'd like to have.

[@washingtoncharcopa1282]

This thing shouldn't be more than $1200 max. Why would you want to pay as much as the desktop version with less features. 🤔

[@LoveMeBack]

How is it going?

[@phable]

Love my Iridium Desktop :)

[@krustythechris9057]

shame its almost the same price as a full Iridium desktop..🧐

[@phable]

Yeah, that’s a bummer :/

[@blakec3323]

Taking currenting pricing from a large retailer there is over £440 difference in the two...

[@krustythechris9057]

£1872 v £1695 in Juno Studio UK... think my point is still valid @@blakec3323

[@lockyp204]

With nowhere near the same cv connectivity. You’d have to be mad to get this over the full version

[@matthewkinne7662]

Maybe this one functions.

[@phable]

Have you had issues before?

[@matthewkinne7662]

@phable I had to return 2, yes, 2 iridiums to sweetwater because of dangerous noise spikes, pops, and other issues. Sad, because it was otherwise a grand synth.

[@no_guarantees]

How is the 3rd iridium that replaced the previous 2?

[@wackerburg]

The Roland TB-303. Never changed since 1993.

[@phable]

Despite the sequencer? :D

[@wackerburg]

@@phable I love that sequencer, for real. Easy to use, quick and great results imho. #RolandTB303 🤘

[@Makebelieve123]

303 didn’t change since 1983 😊

[@duketranslucent3rd]

New Blofeld, please!

[@voteutopia7548]

the price though... ;)

[@dubmaverick69]

You should checkout the Synclavier Regen, its has so much power, the sound quality is incredible and the sound is amazing, sure does not have touch screen but the slider is very good, the effects are world class and you can have almost unlimited voices, also if you connect to usb interface you can separate the sound onto 4 stereo channels, multi timbral galore

[@phable]

Oh really? The reviews that I saw were not that positive about the menu diving and the overall GUI. Really cool, that someone is enjoying this instrument.

[@MetaIsland]

A software synth with only 12 voices? Common, upgrade the DSP and provide 128 voices! Roland and Korg can do it! You can buy a Rev2 or a Peak for the same price, who have more voices and are analog (partially for the Peak). Waldorf is so over priced. Ask Behringer to build it, it will cost $500 and you will make more money.

[@artephank]

For almost same price as the big Iridium I don't personally see the point. Without all those encoders and buttons - why not just buy an vst?

[@phable]

People are just different. Me personally, I’m way more motivated by hardware and knobs. And there are people that want the sound engine but like macros.

[@toumbas]

I agree, the price difference is so small that i would got for the desktop instead. it should be cheaper or the desktop higher to justify the difference.

[@artephank]

@@phable I love hardware, too. And I am thinking about getting Iridium (probably Keys becouse it has most controlling elements and polyphonic aftertouch keyboard). I also think that smaller Iridium in price range of Peak/Hydra would be smart move. I just don’t understand how come the price difference is so small. All three Iridium cost almost the same. If you want one and have space, there is no reason to choose anything but keyboard version imho

[@phable]

@@artephank To me that’s a clear indication, that the underlying synth architecture (ARM processor, DACs etc.) is the driving cost factor and not the casing or the keyboard.

[@ziggyzipgun]

​@toumbas Be careful what you wish for - the price of the Core is about the same as a used Iridium desktop. They can now sell to anyone who may have bought a secondhand Iridium but would prefer a smaller footprint, and raise the cost for those that will buy the larger model anyway.

[@phobheak4505]

It makes no sound ? It's a strange object .

[@gianfry1980]

A iPad with knobs 😂

[@phable]

Don't forget the converters ;)

[@e4bigler]

Personally, it looks like my nightmare synth. A complex VST in a not hands-on control hardware. But I would love to be wrong about it !

[@moe47988]

jeez, this thing is STILL $2400. Really?

[@levidowsett1297]

You forgot to show us how it sounds…?

[@phable]

Haven’t had that much time. Really sorry! But it is the same engine as the Quantum/Iridium. There are many sound demos on KZbin. Including on my own channel.

[@levidowsett1297]

@@phable Thank you. Understandable. I enjoy the channel and your well-presented videos. I just thought this Vid would include some sound.

[@phable]

@@levidowsett1297 completely understandable. Next time, I’ll try my best to include audio examples. Promised :)

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Its 100% VA synth no VCA,VCF or analog mixer. Its pretty much something like Arturia Pigments in a hardware box. So it should not sound that much different than wavetable VSTs etc..

[@leNotstrom]

@@videosuperhighway7655 It shouldn´t but it does. Has a very crystal clear snappy HiFi soundquality to it, which IMHO a VST can´t do.

[@KingzofSwing]

Way overpriced

[@user-ey5dw9ms7n]

cut down on voicecount.. heat? never heard about such stupid lie in my life

[@shitmandood]

Now I regret not buying the desktop a couple of years ago at the same price.

[@vjrei]

Get a Virus Ti2 tabletop, it has over 120 voices 16 parts and you can do 1000 times more than the Iridium. These synths are just very expensive accessories no one needs.

[@NERDOFUNK]

That is, IF one likes the tone of a Virus...and not everyone does, i hate it...

[@bangmateo7481]

I never understood Waldorf philosophy and goal with such overkill VST in a box.