Waldorf M Review // Reincarnating 8-bit, lo-fi aliasing wavetables // vs Iridium // Full tutorial

[@011001er]

The design of the new Waldorf gear is fantastic. Spacious and well organised. Making an unapologetic reissue that is what it is sans bells and whistles for the sake of bells and whistles is bold, and has been well received. Good move. I'm a fan.

[@ActualKaktus]

The M seems like a fantastic character synth. Its unapologetically Waldorf. If you can afford them, I think there's a place for both.. One does virtually every form of synthesis imaginable, and the other is very tightly focused on one. Both sound great.

[@CharlesFerraro]

The Iridium doesn’t do every form of synthesis as you know. And in fact does granular poorly. I’ll be making videos about it once I get one.

[@analogsynthtim8823]

Got a bunch of Synths and I did a big shootout during the last weeks. I sold a lot of stuff after this competition. I want to reduce to the max and just want to have synths that got a real own character. Bought the Iridium first, because it can do really anything and the sound is awesome. Then I tried the M and I fell in love with it really quickly. It is a Maschine with a really own soul and sounds incredible. It is a really different synth compared to the Iridium. You can really tweak them to sound close to each other. But the gritty, dirty sound that comes out of the M is outstanding. I am very happy with both and if you dive into the M it can take you for hours. Thanx for your videos. Great work👍

[@kristosvidinakis]

Thank you for your review. I've own the M for a few months now and could still really learn something from you. Thanks for that! The biggest surprise is the simple waveforms at the end of 61-63. I didn't notice that at all. Now I'm obsessed! I can really recommend the M. It fits perfectly between my Moog Sub25 and the OB-6. The sound doesn't take up too much space in the mix but still sounds super analog. Exactly what I was missing. The Moog and the OB-6 don't leave much space in the end. But the M still fits in the gap. That's why I love him. For techno music it is also very suitable individually to make the typical 90s sound. I couldn't give it away anymore. Thank you, keep it up!

[@XanderEwald]

It certainly has THE Waldorf sound, and if that’s what one is after, it’s definitely worth the price tag. I am sure it will make a lot of the old school cats happy.

[@percussionboy4357]

It’s very pleasing to hear, especially in person-I have access to an M, also to a Modwave, a Blofeld, and Serum, and while I like them all, the M is different, really classy-sounding. Warm, full, but clear. Sounds like what it is: a nice digital engine feeding VCFs and VCAs. Never used Iridium or Quantum, so don’t know how those compare sonically. But the M definitely SOUNDS expensive! I wish it did a little more, but adding the digital LPF-BPF-HPF in the update helps.

[@irondragonrides]

Great review of the M's features. I own both Iridium and the M and your review was spot on. I love each of them for what they are great at. They are definitely different and not totally worthy of a direct comparison in my opinion. I'm curious what Synths and devices you actually keep or own. Maybe a studio tour video is in your future :)

[@loopop]

Thanks and yes I am planning one soon hopefully

[@thejoshuathomas]

I have always been quite curious on this myself (loopop's studio mainstays).

[@loopop]

@M Castile check out my matrix synth video - that’s what I was referring to. As odd as it may sound that’s the smaller set up, just because it has the smaller synths. Maybe I’ll get to the bigger set up one day…

[@marzzz1]

The original MWI had a unique sound, and I had always wanted one. Did get an XT and tried the Blofeld, but they just didn't have that sound. MWI's were going for $2500+ on Reverb, and that was before intl shipping and converting to 120V US. The M has THAT sound, it doesn't need effects, very full and powerful without the digital sheen. And as you mentioned, way more programmable than the rack mount box. I am very happy with mine...!

[@jlolivermusic]

The XtK I have def sounds way more like the original microwave than this does …just my opinion. The blofeld sounds kinda muddy

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Still enjoying your M?

[@TheReynoldsTV]

My thoughts so far for the first week or so has been positive. I guess it may be considered pricy but it is holding its own against the similar priced OB6. I too was concerned for for the lack of fx but surprisingly I do not miss them. The synth sounds quite wonderful before adding any fx and it has been both interesting and liberating to hear it without a wash of chorus or even reverb. Still running the same firmware but the original engineer has been working on a number of updates. Really in the end, it is a niche synth that is so far filling a gap for a quality wavetable based solution that I was looking for. What prompted my interest was the intention of doing one thing but doing it well rather than many types of synthesis that competing products clearly have and experience has shown it is those types of synths that are the keepers in the long run. Great video @loopop

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Good for 80s synth stuff for instance Depeche Mode A Broken Frame era? Still enjoying it?

[@TheReynoldsTV]

@@TwinCitiesOxygen I think it fits perfectly to provide those types of sounds, yes. Havn't explored any waveforms outside of the those provided but it always manages to create something that nothing else does. It has those striking metallic stabs and very capable for strong bass that are indicative of the 80's. A few quirks here and there like the need to confirm when loading each patch but certainly no regrests. I still havn't upgraded from stock firmware as it always manages to be inspiring with what it currently has. No plans on selling it and it is still one of my favorites yes, very much still enjoying it.

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

@@TheReynoldsTV thanks. Do you think there are there are any cheaper alternatives that might get me that sound I’m looking for?

[@TheReynoldsTV]

@@TwinCitiesOxygen Certainly check out the Hydrasynth. It really gets in a similar ballpark, a brilliant synth that will not dissapoint.

[@ToyKeeper]

If it was Yamaha or Roland, they'd call it a Reface MW or Boutique MW-03 and sell it for like $400. If it was Korg, they'd put 32 voices and their entire effect suite into a slanted plastic case with keys, call it the MicroWave, and sell it for $850. Elektron would put it in a little black box, add a 4-track sequencer, call it a DigiWave, and sell it for $750. Arturia would make it a VST as part of the V collection, or free demo with purchase of a KeyLab. Akai would release it for free as part of their next MPC firmware update. Moog would just laugh, because it's digital. For Waldorf though, it's designed as a pro-level instrument for $2500.

[@LukezyM]

Good👍

[@Abakhan]

Thx! I understand this market better! 🤣

[@l8sk8r86]

Totes!

[@compucorder64]

Arturia already stuffed our Christmas Stockings early. With an awesome free baby wavetable model crammed into the MicroFreak. Mmm, M&Ms. Tbh, I wish Arturia would release a QuadFreak at this price point. A Keystep Pro keybed+sequencer, and a four-part, 16 voice QuadFreak sound engine, with four freely assignable VCFs, and per voice digital filters based on their VSTS. 3 or four LFOs, and double the Envelopes/cycling envelopes. Then add four channels of their VST effects. Then later, they could add a four-part drum machine, in collaboration with NE, based on Basimilus voices. That'd be nice for next Christmas.

[@ToyKeeper]

@gary burrows The Blofeld is 14 years old and very unlikely to get any more changes. For people who want classic Waldorf wavetables though, and don't mind an extremely minimalist interface, it's definitely an inexpensive solution. I don't really use mine any more though, because the things it's good at aren't what I need these days. The Wavestate is nice, but it's not comparable to anything else mentioned here. It's a pretty unique algorithmic sample sequencing device with very few relatives in its family.

[@rgcmusic]

I have owned a lot of different Synths and I would say that the M creates sounds that nothing can make. I got it the same time as the Korg Modwave, and the Modwave sounds like a synth covered in trashcan under a blanket after I play with the M. I think the headphone outputs between the two also have a huge difference in quality as I am using the same headphones. I don't have a VST that gets close, the Iridium as compared is a better deal for the price, but also not even 80% of that M sound. To truly experience the M you just need to play it and plug headphones directly into it, it will make you smile and not understand why it sounds so good.

[@kenkeidnb2342]

Bold statement re:Modwave. Do you think it sounds that different coming out of studio monitors?

[@gravyguns]

When can a synth ever create something without a programmer? Never!!! Making a nonsensical comment as you did let's me know that you're not a consummate sound designer, but an amateur and therefore you wouldn't know how to create something on the M that can't be recreated on any other synth. When you create something on the M that can't be recreated on another synth then upload it to KZbin to prove your point. If you have great sound design skills and have a wild imagination, you can use your imagination and apply your skills to create limitless, beautiful sounds on the modwave because you as a sound designer possess the power to bring out the best in a synth. If you can't sound design, it don't matter if your synth has the best oscillators, fliters, or has all the modulations features in the world, it would sound like junk and be useless in an amateur's hands.

[@gravyguns]

@@kenkeidnb2342 Don't be discouraged by this amateur's nonsensical opinion about the modwave. Check out the KZbinr named LFOstore. He has several demos of the modwave, and he makes it sound extremely beautiful. These amatuer sound designers usually judge a synth based on its factory presets or listening to horrible patches made by other amateur sound designers. LFOstore is a superb sound designer and brings out the beauty of his synths.

[@annother3350]

@@gravyguns Stop making an arse of yourself. You must realise that all synths are different and have a different pallette of sounds -- like a painter choosing from a pallette of colours. Some synths just cant make certain colours --- some synths just aren't as good. I suspect you're a modwave owner, sensitive about your precious purchase

[@cl516]

Loopop is a master at his craft. Wonderful video. Btw, M is the fastest synth I've ever encountered that went from "news" to "release" to "purchased" to "favorite".

[@seanephram]

that MOTIF AT THE BEGINNING WAS AMAZING

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

If I just want PPG sounds like on Depeche Mode’s A Broken Frame for instance should I get this or buy one of the following and just load the PPG waves into a microfreak or modwave..maybe an Argon 8? Any suggestions? Thanks so much

[@savoirfaire8979]

The blue Waldorf’s aesthetics look so clean and 80s future-retro.

[@delibedriful]

may fav youtube channel is loopop. thx for everything dude.

[@noodlingaround2023]

Sorry to be a complete newbie here, but how do you actually hold a note in the Waldorf. Do you need hold function on your midi keyboard or does the Waldorf have a hold function. Very nice sound. I'm tempted by the this.. Thank you for your answer.

[@ryanperrault8174]

I'm obsessed with this synth...I will 100% own a Waldorf M one day. It sounds so good....so unique.

[@audiolego]

I'm Gassing for M . One day oh yes one day

[@ryanperrault8174]

@@audiolego Same....It just has that magic something that I can't explain. Makes me want to tinker around with it in a way I don't always want to with some digital or hardware synths.

[@audiolego]

@@ryanperrault8174 I hear something too. I'm sure Iridum does more but the M has this twang I can hear. Must be the 8 bit setting. Only reason my I didn't buy it because I stil have my Virus TI2 digital synth. I'm just done with buying and selling due to GAS. When I get the next stimulus check lollll, I'll get the M. Jk but the M I can get for 1700.00 on reverb used.

[@RustyTonesJr]

Incredible synthesizer. They're getting more affordable, I saw one on the internet for 1350 open box with the 3-year warranty.

[@ryanperrault8174]

@@RustyTonesJr oh wow? That price is a steal for this synth.

[@jeremydbjbjbjb]

I got one of these last week. Yes, it's costly, niche and limited in scope. But this synth oozes character. I have a lot of versatile synths which can make all kinds of sounds, but very few of them sound special like this (MFB Synth Pro has a similar limited scope/magical sound thing going on). The analog filters make a huge difference (and presumably are part of what is pushing the price point up) to my ears. I don't regret the purchase at all.

[@jeremydbjbjbjb]

LOL, at 37:00 you also say "ooze character". I wrote my comment before I heard that. So I guess it's true!

[@loopop]

Lol whew lucky I made my video before your comment :)

[@aretwodeetoo1181]

@@loopop 😂

[@worldofmuu]

I can’t imagine someone who’d be after this particular synth would NEED an included sequencer/fx section. This isn’t targeted at someone looking for an all-in-one groovebox; it’s a niche product.

[@thomas.moerman]

I agree. People in the market for this kind of specialized box probably have most bases covered already.

[@fmagic2000able]

Personally, I'd just go with my Korg Modwave with more polyphony at a fraction of the price. But I agree with what everyone else said in these comments.

[@rumbepack]

literally all hardware synths are niche products.........

[@Xul]

Sequencer, sure. But FX? Some decent FX that you can save with your user preset are extremely valuable - especially for hardware synth setups. FX are such a huge part of the sound and you don't want to fiddle with extrernal FX for every seperate synth or even program some complex software FX. Though I have an H9, a Oceans12 and a ModDuoX, I find myself quite often to be very glad not having to deal with setting them up for every damn synth or patch.

[@danielcraighead6901]

With the new Firmware 1.07 the issue with the additional static analog waveforms in a wavetable is now fixed: - Implemented various WT scan limiting settings for the Modern Mode. The new sound parameter called TRAVEL for both Waves has the next settings : Analog On (An. On) - regular 0 ... 63 scanning Analog Off (An. Off) - top 3 waveforms (analog) excluded. Scanning in range 0...60 Analog Only (An. Only) - scanning possible in range (60...63) Circular - scanning is in range 0...60 with wrap. I.e. if modulation sum lays over 60 (or under 0) there will be a wrap-around over border and scanning continue from the «other side». For example, modulation Sum 66 will lead to wave 6 if you have chosen wave 0 as start and wave 26 if you have chosen 20 as start (20 + 66) = full overflow + 6 wave positions.

[@loopop]

Great!

[@Lainer1]

Why don't you have more viewers? You are the best!

[@mastermachetier5594]

Hey loopop great overview as always! I’m curious if you think the hydrasynth’s wavetable option can approximate something similar to one part of the Waldorf M ? Also curious if they have already addressed some of the wants in later firmwares!

[@loopop]

Thanks! They've added quite a few features actually! Hydrasynth can't load user wavetables, and has only 8 waveforms per table, but it has quite a few features this doesn't (cross mods, effects, modulation and more)

[@adrianmuller4189]

I have both, and yes Iridium is packed in features, but M just has “it” sound wise, you can combine all the type oscillators, mod-matrix routings in Iridium, but you wont get the M factor. Yes M does not have MPE, built in effects (btw without it already sounds class), sequencer, etc. But if you are after sound with character/personality, M kicks Iridium out the ballpark. IMHO

[@TokyoScarab]

That's a pretty bold statement

[@lordbachus]

Sounds like a statement based on emotions? (Which is not good nor bad)

[@aretwodeetoo1181]

@@lordbachus All timbre appreciation statements are based on sensation and emotion. So whether good or bad it's unavoidable and your statement/question neither adds nor removes anything from it.

[@RustyTonesJr]

The M is the ultimate lo-fi synth! That's because the Random LFO is so adjustable. I've used the Gen Loss MK2, Demedash T-120 and even the incredible Bygones Pro. The M is just an amazing sounding synth.

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

the outro performance was amazing very 90s goodness. this synth is the best sounding Waldorf of the last 25 years the fundamental timbre is spot on and the filters ( SSM type like the PPG ) make the difference here.

[@s.f.n.641]

No wave interpolation?? Is it something they can add or not possibile at all?

[@Claude_van]

Good review! Thanks! I would have liked to listen to the speed of the attacks, decay, transients. Because that’s what the Microwave makes so direct sounding. Also to form a bass drum out of the selfoscilating filter via envelope would give you so much information about the speed of the attacks and overall filter sound compared to the MW 1.

[@loopop]

Noted!

[@jakspin]

The M does not only emulate a microwave but also a ppg wave. The analog filters are very close to the ssm filters on the ppg wave. In fact closer than the microwave I filters which were Curtis filters. Hence the price is pretty decent compared to a ppg wave for over 10k 😉

[@andrewgenner2613]

It will also be more reliable and easier to programme. I seriously considered buying a PPG Wave 2.3, but in the end, the maintenance etc. obligation that comes with a vintage instrument scared me off.

[@hansolo989]

Wake up honey, new loopop video

[@lokelosk]

I wonder how it compares to the Blofeld, since it also has the classic Microwave wavetables (as far as I know) and a lot of similar functions. I even think it would've been fairer to compare against the Blofeld than the Iridium. So far, my impression is that it's a knobby version of the Blofeld with an analog filter and a touch more of grit. Is this accurate?

[@ToyKeeper]

It sure seems to be a simplified Blofeld with more knobs and a couple analog components. Which makes sense, because the Blofeld's biggest flaw was its lack of physical controls. That's why the Sledge was made. So I thought it would be around the same price as a Sledge -- $1000-ish. Maybe less, since it has no keys, no effects, and the engine lacks a bunch of features from the Blofeld. But instead it's almost as much as an Iridium -- $2500. So I'm confused about the price. It's the only part of the M which doesn't make sense.

[@Frozirra]

Waldorf’s pricing never makes sense, look at at the STVC

[@lokelosk]

@@ToyKeeper Here in Europe, the M is 1800 euros, the Iridium is 2500. It's a substantial difference, but yeah, not that big when comparing features. It's worth noting, tho, that the Quantum is almost 4000 euros. It seems that every Waldorf synth is made in Germany, which could explain the price (labor costs and such), but I'm not really sure.

[@ToyKeeper]

@@lokelosk Yeah, the price differential is more reasonable in EUR. I'm not sure why the two are so close together in USD. The price still seems a bit odd though, compared to what pretty much any other synth company charges for modern remakes or reinterpretations of old synths. And it seems odd even compared to Waldorf's other instruments in the same family. They're competing against their own product line, with brand new Blofelds going for around $400 to $500 USD and covering most of the same territory. The main sound difference is that the M has more bit-depth artifacts, somewhat nicer overdrive, and it emulates the old integer overflow bug, while the Blofeld sounds cleaner and has waay more features. Anyway, the M seems like a good instrument, but I'm not surprised that so many comments are about the price. I recall there was some similar confusion when the Summit and Prologue came out, both retailing for $2000. But over time, both were adjusted, with the Summit going up to $2200 and the Prologue going down to $1100 or $1600 depending on the version.

[@lokelosk]

@@ToyKeeper If the synths are really made in Europe, that could explain their prices. I believe Arturia manufactures them in China, and Japanese companies in Japan (which has cheaper manufacture than Germany, as far as I know), so that could be it. But yeah, the M sounds nice, if I had the money, I would probably buy it to use as an effects-less knobby Blofeld.

[@squarelanguage]

I can hear the iridium filters, I can feel the M filters

[@tendrel_sound]

What’s that controller in the bottom right of the screen in the wide shot? The one with the three knobs and buttons. Great review btw! 😄

[@loopop]

Thanks! It's a loupedeck Live

[@compucorder64]

The price isn't that bad when you compare it to second-hand prices for fugly XTKs. Two synths I really regret selling were my Waldorf XTK, and Dave Smith Mono Evolver Keyboard. So, just maybe, this one is easy to overlook buying. The problem is more that ASM and Korg have both priced for power so aggressively. So, the Waldorf M is a throwback in both good (grungy digital character, VCFs, stepping, aesthetic) and bad ways (CPU, display, pricing, no FX). The second-hand pricing of Poly-Evolvers is another thing to bear in mind regarding price. But still, I'd rather have both a Peak AND a Hydrasynth Explorer together, than this.

[@isham16]

Great review as usual from this channel, what are the stands used for the M and the Iridium? Thank you 😊

[@loopop]

Thanks! FYI that info and all the gear in my video is listed in the description

[@isham16]

@@loopop many thanks

[@melomane2010]

What exactly does this unit offer that I cannot accomplish with a VST wavetable synth like Serum?

[@tdel1241]

1) Analogue LP filters (SSM2240 reissue) and VCAs, the latter of which can be over-driven slightly; 2) Seemingly careful/painstaking development intended to re-capture much of the character/quirks of the OG Microwave; 3) a decent physical UI. If none of these things matters much to you and the sound doesn't otherwise grab you in a way that Serum does not, then no reason to pick up an M.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Could you review a Waldorf Kyra and a Access Virus? Both support multiple midi channels and sounds at the same time. So in a sense both are plug out synthesizers. The Waldorf Kyra supports 8 stereo signals. The Access Virus supports 6 (I think). This feature is not talked about. Both can be used either in stereo setting. Or in a surround setting.

[@noisetheorem]

At very nearly the same price, I just don’t understand the M. I have the Iridium, and it’s just a better all around synthesizer. I think the M would need to be significantly less money to be attractive. Dirt on the iridium is optional. You can get it if you want it.

[@Garflips]

Yeah go figure. $200 difference at last check.

[@XanderEwald]

In Germany the price difference is 722 Euro, I wouldn’t call that nearly the same.

[@Garflips]

@@XanderEwald neither would I. I'm just quoting the US price difference as of today.

[@na-dj6ob]

@@Garflips agreed. If this was around $1500 usd, it would make more sense. $2500 is just plain ridiculous for what you get here.

[@noisetheorem]

@@XanderEwald the USD price is much closer, and I can’t figure why. It seems line the distributors here are jacking up the price a bit.

[@atuanoiniin]

Just ordered mine. NGNY-M 0-1 this time whoooaaa. :) It would be interesting to hear from the users which of these cons have been fixed with subsequent fw updates.

[@jonhamilton48]

Love your videos! Thanks just picked this one up.

[@cornerliston]

Good to see Waldorf is doing well nowadays and they dare put out this one. As a happy MW2XT owner it's a bit tempting to get this one … The VCF is one thing and having more screen estate is very nice. Unfortunately Waldorf's analogue filter design is not that great to my ears. Sounds decent but lacks some character. (On the other hand the digital filter in the MW2 sounds pretty horrible.) Also, something I'm really not enjoying is having pots that wobbles. I wonder what RRP would be if using proper pots/rotaries with firmer design (they made it very well on the MW2 and if Novation can do it on their Peak, I'm sure Waldorf can as well.) Another plus for getting an old MW2XT is the 10 voice standard. The extra 2 voices actually makes some difference.

[@tdel1241]

The filters on the M are not a Waldorf design, they are reissues of the SSM2044 (a la the PPG Wave 2.3, Korg Monopoly/Polysix, etc.). "Lacking character" is not how I would describe them.

[@cornerliston]

@@tdel1241 Good to hear, thanks for clearing that out. Still think they lack character and yet even more importantly is that the Iridium does a very good job with the digital filters.

[@Tvaroh]

Would be nice have a read-only list of enabled modulations somewhere, as getting it from all the pages can be tedious, after Iridium especially.

[@TheFuturetive]

had both ppg and microwave 1and 2 in the past loved them all think i'm going to have to get one of these is there an option to add our own waves?

[@loopop]

yes there is

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Did u get it? Do you like it?

[@WilmarBoer]

Would be great if you can review the Waldorf Kyra too. With some Kyra and M comparison.

[@antgreen3254]

hi, i had a kyra and sold it so ill review it for you lol........ its shit!!!!!! honestly tho, i liked the sound the sound of it but it was nowhere near a complete synth. editing it was a ball ache, lots of menu diving with no rotary encoder, i suspect the buttons would fail soon as you have to click them so much, especially when going thru wave shapes as there are over 4000 of them. simple tasks could take a long time as the options were deep in a menu somewhere. the synth was missing a lot of basic features and waldorf dont reply to any messages about it, they dont answer posts in the forum either. there are a lot of disgruntled customers and i was one of them so i sold it. there have been no new firmware updates since i bought it and sold it which was maybe a couple of years ago. it seems like waldorf abandoned it. the way waldorf ignored its customers nd didnt offer any fixes put me off buying anything waldorf again. also, i owned the waldorf svtc and that had bugs that prevented me working in a daw with it, no help from waldorf with that either. the m looks tempting but because of the 2 bad experiences with waldorf i wont be buying one

[@MrPAWorthington]

God that black keystepPro is so hawt.

[@stinkypete9070]

This sounds absolutely amazing. Been bored by a lot of other synths recently, but this one really tickles my ears. Thanks for the vid!

[@Septeemberpain]

Does that keystep have endless encoders? Thanks in advance.

[@loopop]

yes - see my full review re what you can do with them

[@Septeemberpain]

@@loopop thank you very much.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Love the gritty analog filters but way overpriced. I would get Iridium for more value.

[@mechanicom]

Intro sounds very retro Detroit techno…

[@martinvegas1327]

Anything that sounds Tangerine dreamy is a massive plus👍

[@neuztec]

All manufactures please take a note from Waldorf - 4 TRS AUX OUT is a quadraphonic nod and much appreciated.

[@lonelyfireband7758]

Hi Loopop :) Could you review Essence FM MKII? VFM37/61 from Kodamo are going to be released soon and I am very interested in. Happy Christmas!

[@edouardmusic]

Always a pleasure, Ziv.

[@nexuzeb79]

Nice Black keystep there, personally designed or an early bird?

[@loopop]

Got it from a local store - so it's out there!

[@HJPhilippi]

Oh god, how I love this synth. And this review. Must have watched it 100 times by now and have to buy this damn thing sometime in the future. @loopop: the outro tune is super cool, deserves to be released on Spotify, too. 🙂

[@starsky101]

It does seem a little expensive and not unlike a lot of manufacturers there seems to be a crossover between their instrument lines. I’m sensing that to get the most out of this unit you really need to have the ability to tweak and understand wavetables which are enjoying a resurgence at the moment, that said you can’t argue with 2048 presets ! That has to be enough for most, and imagine a strymon big / night sky type reverb built in ….dreamy!

[@RustyTonesJr]

The nightsky sounds amazing after the Waldorf n.

[@l8sk8r86]

Do you play it in this or just talk specs? I didn’t hear any music.

[@MichaelRohaly]

Yes he plays it.

[@lewisd56]

the iridium and M sit at such a similar price point over here in the UK (£1650 for the M vs £1950 for iridium), the M doesn't make much sense. I won't deny the M is a very nice sounding synth, but its lacking so many features you would expect on a synth less than half the price. Yes its got a very specific target audience, and its likely the buyers will already have pretty much everything else covered, but in reality, in the mix would the M really sound so significantly different to even say, a blofeld with its microwave wavetables and filter models if patched tactically (ok i'd argue it sounds a bit warmer, and has more 'dirt' to the tables). I guess waldorf has to create some product segmentation, but this seems strangely placed price wise, i mean, its not as if its going to be that costly to manufacture, its an el cheapo CPU and DSP (as shown by the issues noted at the end of the video) going through 8 dedicated analogue filters, not entire analogue voice paths, and given the interface may share some of its underlying code base with the blofeld (which could suggest a similar CPU and DSP). If any other company were to produce this, it would be half the price with more features that would let it compete with the other wavetable synths on the market, in reality all the M does is continue the microwave line of synths, but then, I don't really think it does that very well either, being, feature wise, more limited than the XT.

[@Xul]

Yeah, I got a used Iridium for even less than the M, but even for slightly more (as you mentioned) it doesn't really make sense to buy the M. The M's expansion to 16 voices alone costs 700 € (!!) while offering only a fraction of the capabilities of the Iridum. And then you still don't have proper effects, so you'd might also spend some money on a pedal if you don't already have a proper one. But I guess it's only smart by Waldorf to cash in on the analog hype as long as it lasts. As long as people are willing to pay basically anything just for slight differences of some analog filter, you might as well strip down your devices to a much more simple configuration. For me it wouldn't be an option since those small differences oin sound get lost in the mix most of the time anyways and overall they do not outweigh the huge limitations.

[@fjfrancois]

Pros: nice sounds Cons: price

[@fjfrancois]

@@loopop me?, no sorry is just the price nothing personal.

[@loopop]

I think that comment was a joke response to someone who now deleted their comment.. I’ll delete mine

[@kisho2679]

so the KORG MODWAVE is more feature rich?

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

My Waldorf NW-1 euro rack oscillator is a cheaper option, which sounds very similar to the M. Would love to try an M before even thinking of buying.

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

What a difference a year and another NAMM makes. Groove 3rd wave costs double the price of the M, though unfortunately for me with little studio space, has no desktop opinion. Disregarding price, I'm leaning towards a 3rd wave, as I love that PPG sound over the Microwave.

[@teddym2808]

Iridium is interesting and the core is only slightly more expensive than the M. Now THAT one I am interested in.

[@TheFBK69]

Well you can pick up a used M for about $800-1000 less than a used core from what I have seen.

[@WokeFree-sg2dn]

Very helpfull. Thank you

[@infantiltinferno]

Hey, look! Waldorf has made a good looking machine! I wonder how much it cost I could us a wave.... ARGH!!

[@SolidtraxNL]

Great review loopop - always cool to see and hear that you take the time for all your reviews. Kudos! - Question if we may: Is it also possible to import oldschool patches from the MicroWave I, II or XT? As there are loads of patches on the interwebs and we can imagine that a lot of old school wave riders will love this :-)

[@loopop]

Thanks very much for taking the time to write, it's my pleasure! I've not tried importing presets but I've seen the developer Vladimir post on the gearspace forum that it should import MW1 presets

[@vladimirsalnikov5806]

Hi Solidtrax, yes M is capable to load MW1 sound patch sysex and soundbank sysex. At this moment M is not capable to load the full card dump sysex of MW1, but it could be changed. Loading of MW2 patches is not possible, as the sound engine of M is based on Microwave 1 mostly. The major blocker here is that M has no mod matrix, but MW2 has. So 100% compatibility with MW2 is very hard to achieve.

[@SolidtraxNL]

@@loopop You are welcome and thank you for your quick reply! It would be really cool if you could send old SYSEX files from back in the day for example - or - we are dreaming now - having a sort of librarian (and perhaps editor) for backing up sounds. Would love to create some sounds on this some day in the future, the filter sounds really good to our ears.

[@SolidtraxNL]

@@vladimirsalnikov5806 Hi Vladimir, so cool of you to drop by! Ok, that sounds really like a killer feature, looking forward to that and fingers crossed for the addition of librarian software and of course the 16 voice upgrade board. Lastly and with dream mode on: Will you guys consider a M² mode for example that will incorporate a mod matrix like in the MW2?

[@dantarradellas7351]

Always excellent. Thank you. Would have liked Deno on randomization. Unísono?

[@MarkusCologne]

Danke!

[@loopop]

My pleasure and thanks!

[@RPLKTR]

I must be missing some important piece of information here because at first glance it looks like Waldorf M is very limited compared to Modal Argon8M which is 3X cheaper. Argon8M morphs between wavetables as well as interpolates wavetable positions, making for smooth modulation. As Ziv shows, the analog filters aren't really audibly different enough to justify the price difference. The only thing M has going for it is multitimbrality which at 8 voices isn't particularly interesting, and you could solve it by literally buying three Argon8Ms for the same money.

[@XanderEwald]

The sound is the information you are missing. If you’re looking for the sound of Microwave, go with M. If it’s Argon sound you’re after, go with that. Makes no sense to list and compare features when it’s the sound that makes you click or not click with an instrument.

[@joseph395]

I wish they would make a keyboard version of this

[@earlsfield]

I never owned too many Waldorf synths, but I loved the sound. I had Q (still have it), and it always had a certain set of tasks in my studio that it performed well. Then I got Iridium and it is an absolute beast. While I get the difference and I understand M is a new entry to a particular family, I think Waldorf overpriced it tbh. It does force user to fully explore wavetables, and it has a legacy crowd (if I want a wavetable bass, I fire up my old Q).

[@WARDISWARD]

11:23 Well that is mighty interestng that asic bug I experienced the same thing on my old yamaha tg77 , when the operators are too loud

[@celpabedn]

May I ask why lots of synths have less than 88keys?

[@loopop]

Lack of market demand I guess

[@chrisj5547]

Ideas in the comments for a similar sound in VST? I think it’s not as simple as Ableton Redux bit reduction after a Wavetable plugin… The Waldorf PPG VST is so old now…but is that the move?

[@na-dj6ob]

Ppg plugin still sounds good. No way is this synth worth $2500 usd just for the analog filters, and the same wavetables you can get on other Waldorf synths, plugins included.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

Waves Codex isn't bad, i think i paid $20 for it.

[@tdel1241]

It's wild to me that the M is in the exact same price range as the Sequential desktop polys (P5/P6/OB-6), Super 6 desktop, etc., but people are dragging it for being "overpriced." I guess the MW1 never had the same cult popularity as the old Prophets, Oberheims, and Rolands. Not everyone wants half-baked onboard FX or sequencing that struggle to come close to what can be achieved with even a discount DAW; nor does everyone want to buy hardware synths on purely a features-per-dollar basis. The M sounds outstanding and has a very usable, no-fuss UI. Sequential, Moog, etc. have all demonstrated that there is a considerable market for such instruments. The Iridium already exists and is the perfect counterpoint to the M for those who want maximal synthesis opportunities; Elektron has you covered if you need an all-in-one box; ASM, Modal, etc. all have you covered if you need generally cheaper options. The M sits in its own corner of the market and I'm very glad it works exactly as it does.

[@orangenotviolet]

Thank you! Plus it sounds......like an old XT!

[@Goettel]

So do the encoders behave?

[@loopop]

Very well - though not as immediate as having pots

[@teddym2808]

I don't know about rest of world, but in Australia, you can buy a brand new hydra synth desktop and a brand new Argon8M desktop synth (or Modwave) and have $500 change. The M is nearly 3 grand here. I'd definitely choose the two different synths and change option, and Waldorf need to get a reality check on pricing. Of course you could get the Modwave, Hydra AND Argon Explorer rather than desktop which saves you 400 bucks, and get 3 synths for the price of one. It doesn't make sense to me. And soon the free XT plugin will be out from the guys that did the virus and Q plugins which are pretty much bit perfect. A miss for me. My Blofeld on the other hand? Yep. was cheap but so cheerful, good polyphony and with the sample add on (which everyone should buy) is an endless source of inspiration.

[@motherbrain2000]

at 3:25 it is stated: it doesn't support interpolation between waveforms! $2500!! Am I missing something?! bananas.

[@ToyKeeper]

That floored me too. On almost all modern synths, analog-vs-digital doesn't matter any more because the sound is nearly identical... but this one is specifically built to emulate the flaws of early digital synths -- like 8-bit audio (MW1 mode) and integer overflows (ASIC bug mode). People used to pay extra to get away from all that. Now I guess they pay extra to bring it back?

[@ActualKaktus]

You're missing the point of this synth entirely.

[@motherbrain2000]

@@ActualKaktus apparently.

[@seanluke3052]

The M's design goal is very specific: it is a Microwave I with an XT interface. The M has some more stuff as well of course, such as "modern" mode, certain Microwave II/XT filters, etc., but these things are not its selling point. If you always wanted a Microwave I, this machine is for you.

[@justdope1963]

would be awesome if they made a unit with similar analog components with sampling. keep it 8 bit.

[@seansnyder7744]

I seem to be failing to recognize the comments mentioning the fact that there's a BLACK Arturia Keystep Pro in this video... I want...

[@loopop]

the finally gave it the feature I wanted most!

[@rgcmusic]

I looked it up and it seems only Guitar Center/Musicians Friend have these in US for $499. : (

[@RikMaxSpeed]

I’m struggling to understand the point of this synth, it’s competing against second hand Waldorf XTs, the Blofeld, and the KORG ModWave - all of which are cheaper and offer more polyphony (and 2/3 have effects) ! Why didn’t Waldorf update the CPU power at least??

[@tdel1241]

Think of it as Waldorf's own version of the Prophet 5 reissue. It's a no-frills synth which sounds really, really good and also faithfully recaptures a lot of the nuance and quirks of its OG predecessor. If you need high polyphony and half-baked onboard FX, then you're probably not the target market.

[@andrewduncan529]

@@tdel1241 The difference is that an old Prophet 5 costs a lot more than a reissue. This is the same price (in the US). There's no reason there couldn't be an under-powered audio chip (if that would contribute to the sound) and a modern chip to control UI and mod routing. It's a lot easier to throttle a modern chip than speed up an old one :) I really really want one of these, but there's no way it makes sense with the US pricing right now.

[@tdel1241]

@@andrewduncan529 The same price as what? The only comparable wavetable synth with an analogue filter + VCA chain is the MW1, the going rate for which is in the $2k range. Add in a Stereoping controller to get a comparable UI and you've now exceeded the cost of the M. MWXTs are in the $1200-1500 range these days too and that's an entirely different beast (fully digital). We're also talking about 20-30 year old hardware vs modern hardware. In the case of the P5, it's 40 year old hardware which was never particularly stable to begin with (there's a reason why the old P5s were not P10s as originally intended).

[@andrewduncan529]

@@tdel1241 As you described, it's approximately the same price as a controller and an MW1. Could it be a little bit less, yes, but not 1/2 the price. A late P5 goes for 2x the cost of the new versions and the earlier ones seem to hover around 4x (!?!?!). The price around Europe seems to be about $1700 US which seems totally reasonable to me, but an extra $800 makes a big difference IMO given the limitations. Not that this is the usual price, but there's a Waldorf Quantum up right now that's going for $3k. I won't put anyone down who buys this just because they really want it. I have a PEK that I paid $2200 for. I bought it because I've wanted one since I first started paying attention to synths, but there would have been better uses if sound/UI were all I was after. I bought it because of nostalgia. If this is just the thing that fits exactly what you want, go ahead and don't feel bad about buying it. However, there seem to be more than enough reasons for people to consider it overpriced (in the US). I think this is a really cool synth and I have watched every video of it and would love to have one. If I could really say that I'd never buy another synth, maybe I'd go for it.

[@Claude_van]

It’s competing against a second hand PPG Wave, Waldorf Wave, and Waldorf Microwave 1. It‘s about THAT sound, like a Minimoog is about THAT sound.

[@anonymoushuman8344]

It's blue like a PPG. That's nice. Those big red knobs are an eyesore. I'd want to paint them a deeper shade of blue. It should have the ability to interpolate between disparate waveforms chosen by the player. This is an obvious feature for a modern Waldorf wavetable machine. It could let you choose between different interpolation methods, too.

[@liantrosretrospectiva4134]

I thought both synths were the same size, but the Iridium seems quite a bit bigger than the M

[@loopop]

It’s just the angle, they are the same size

[@liantrosretrospectiva4134]

@@loopop thank you for clarifying

[@brymilan]

I love my M. I got a Boss DC-2W to go with it and it's an "always on" effect. The M is amazing. It just sounds so good with moody electronic styles.

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Is it good for people who will just want to mess with presets?

[@brymilan]

@@TwinCitiesOxygen Yeah it's great for that. There's a ton of variation to be found in the factory presets. Many of them are great starting points to experiment with.

[@RustyTonesJr]

​@@TwinCitiesOxygen It's made to mess with presets. All the knobs and stuff. 😅

[@kirkegodfrey414]

Sounds like the idea of bit depth reduction is catching on! µFreak ahoy!

[@Tvaroh]

Black ksp is so nice!

[@supercompooper]

I bought an M!

[@maedaeburning]

I absolutely love the way this thing sounds- but I really don't like the menu. Maybe in terms of older (sorta) wavetable stuff, I'm spoiled by my ESQ-1 heh.

[@Mr.Tubster]

Hey ya 😋 rly thx for sharing this 😎😍😎 greetings c ya

[@inperfectsequence7840]

Honestly all Waldorf sounds, very nasal and I like some results, but I don't like only the wavetables, in that blofel combines many more extras with samples, wavetables and subtractive, and blofeld is already 15 years old next year . I don't see that impressive sound of the waldorf wave (only in Pulse 2 maybe because of the filter and its mooggy sound) blofeld sounds very close to waldorf Q, it's the only digital one that I like despite its short DSP capabilities, but it does something better in the 90s sounds. I think blofeld is still the most powerful in polyphony with 25 notes and 16 parts, also 2 filters with PPG 12 db's filter and even though it is digital it has better sound quality than a normal CD because it emits 16 bit 48 khz digital sound . Ok, the modern ones are very stable, because Waldorf has a better budget and business plan, but Blofeld is the one who saved the company from bankruptcy caused by bad business management with sales and marketing of the Waldorf Wave. And yet it's the only one that gives you 25 voices of polyphony with polyphonic aftertouch.

[@worldofmuu]

I got this new for 1700 so I have no idea where or how people are paying 2500.

[@mastermachetier5594]

Where did you get it ?

[@marzzz1]

$2499 is USA price.

[@worldofmuu]

I ordered new from a Reverb seller.

[@kylepatrick113]

Basically this is a ppg wave ? I’m on the hunt for anything ppg wave material.

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Find any alternatives

[@_DrumsArt]

M has warmer tone. So in reality you'd want a Quantum and a M.

[@markgriffiths5122]

I've always wondered why the traditional triangle, square and saw tooth waves were included in every wavetable. I think it was in the original Wave Computer, Waves, and the Microwave 1 (at least). It seems a bit of a waste of table space.

[@MetaFunction]

They are in my MW1 & MWXT. The same problem exists re mod into them when scanning through a table.

[@andrewgenner2613]

I think it was probably to enable "traditional" wave sounds to be created. The Blofeld has the option to limit the table to avoid those last 4 waves - not sure why that was omitted here. I think the Wave 2.2 and 2.3 had to use the same table on both oscilators.

[@jim6186]

No sequencer???

[@NOLNV1]

This sounds really nice! I don't know what it is, but I often don't find the Microwaves as characterful as the PPG stuff was for some mysterious reason

[@XanderEwald]

Not so mysterious: PPG has a different filter chip, additional upper wavetables and a different oscillator design with more audible aliasing and artifacts.

[@eternalvoid2678]

It sounds amazing, but at that price such drastic CPU limitations are a deal breaker imo. The slow UI doesn't help either.

[@andrewduncan529]

Agreed. If it were a "perfected" microwave, the cost would be high, but reasonable. I like this a lot and the sound seems great, but considering the (purposefully) low feature count, it can't also have hardware limitations like that. I'm a bit bummed, but my bank account is happier.

[@NullStaticVoid]

The basic shapes at the end of the wavetable are a part of the PPG DNA. It's the same way on the PPG, the PPG softsynths, Blofeld, Microwaves, Largo etc. If they weren't that way people would freak out. The way you limit from hitting those is by ear. Yeah it sounds fuzzy and annoying. You get used to it.

[@sK3LeTvM1]

You should do a Kyra review. That one eats the M in every aspect.

[@marvinkmooneyoz]

Filter per voice?

[@loopop]

yes

[@MikolaiStroinski]

M is in my opinion the only Waldorf which has some charm and character to its sound. The rest are dry and boring.

[@brymilan]

Pretty much my feeling too (except possibly the Streichfett which is a cool little guy for what it does). Just about all of Waldorf's synths get a hard pass from me, but this one... this one... I have one on the way right now!👽