Waldorf Quantum - Wavetable Oscillator

[@Robguitarjarvis]

Had my eyes on this for a long while and finally bought one, it arrived Monday. Wow it’s even better than I expected. Truly magnificent synth with endless possibilities and as usual they always sound better than online demos in real life. Waldorf are a brilliant team of designers and stand out as leaders in the synth world. The only down side is that it’s very time consuming because it’s so very deep. But I’m not complaining. Great tutorial, thanks 🙏🏻

[@michaels8597]

if you do get bored,send it right here...

[@lutalivre1983]

It is by far the most beautifully well built synth I own. I was also blown away by the sound! Love this piece of kit

[@Robguitarjarvis]

@@lutalivre1983 mines been sent back to the factory because of tiny bubble on the screen, I’ve known about it for a year but was reluctant to send it away. However I’m sure it will be ok but I’m nervous and missing it.

[@wajobu]

You took the deep dive! Thanks for this, Tim.

[@InFamousProductions]

Thanks to you, I bought a Quantum a few months ago, had to put it in the closet for a month, and now, I'm watching your vid. Tim, you are cool dude. you love music like I love music. Thanks.

[@xenosiswha7955]

Thanks for the video , keep them coming !

[@lolhleplol]

what an excellent channel! many thanks for the awesome content

[@Firstmajortomlikestoticker]

Great content of this Synth

[@trevor4835]

You captured the beautiful grey of the synth nicely, so nice

[@TimShoebridge]

Haha! Yes, it is very grey, a white balance nightmare!

[@peteinindia3914]

Excited to see your wonderful videos on the quantum! This complex Synth requires a detailed look in parts otherwise you get confused. Good explanation in clear language with a nice voice, Tim! Eager to see the next parts! (Do you own all this great hardware around you? Phantastic!)

[@NextroneOfficial]

Tim, im thinking on ordering one in future. Have you had any problems with it? For example, i heard some common issues with it like not responsible lcd screen, or any kind of power issues. I love the idea behind the quantum, and i cconsider it as a very powerfull synth, but 4.000e is a big price for it to have issues. What is you experience so far? Cheers!

[@TimShoebridge]

Milan Bajcetic Hi. I have not yet updated the firmware since buying the synth. It is running 1.2.3 whereas latest version is 1.3 with 2.0 coming soon. The reason I did not update yet is that I wanted to see what issues I encountered. So far, I have encountered one issue when I decided to go through every single sample and preview them one by one. I eventually got an issue. Switching off and on solved it. It is very likely an issue that is already fixed in 1.3. Occasionally the screen seems unresponsive but it is not a hardware issue, it is a combination of my poor technique and having dry fingers! The screen is not as sensitive as a smartphone or tablet, if your fingers are dry then it is more likely to appear unresponsive. It’s something I am getting better at. I have tried many different stylus but they don’t work. I am going to make a short video about my findings on that since a number of people asked about using a stylus. I read some early quantums may have had hardware issues with the screen but I hope that is a problem of the past. This is a very hitech synth, there will be bugs, but so far I am very pleased how stable it is. I had a major issue with my DSI PX and ended up returning it. I lost confidence to be honest. But with the quantum, if you look at the software download page and check out the release notes for the firmware, everything is listed there. Every bug fix, every enhancement. I am very confident with Waldorf, they have an excellent approach to software development and a great track record so far.

[@NextroneOfficial]

Thanks for quick reply, it is an impressive instrument.

[@andrewgenner2613]

The question I always have is whether wavetable synths can generate the raw power of a PPG Wave 2.2 or 2.3. Unfortunately, unless one has both, in hardware, that question will no doubt go unanswered. Alas. Nevertheless, yet another great video from Mr Shoebridge. Thank you.

[@6195ryan]

Thanks for making this!

[@squoblat]

I was going to treat myself to a Novation Summit next month, but I'm wondering whether I should wait a bit longer and get this instead. I'd be interested in your thoughts here, you seemed to enjoy the Peak and not all of us are such accomplished noodlers.

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi Koss, Yes I definitely enjoyed programming and playing the Peak, and I am sure the Summit is also a very fine instrument, I have not had the opportunity to play one myself but I have drooled over the reviews! I can only really speak for myself personally but there are a couple of reasons why I would choose a Quantum over a Summit... First, the Quantum is a synth that allows you to combine classic synthesis waveforms with organic, sampled sound content. You can play samples very simply or you can manipulate the hell out of them. There are very few synths that do that and do it well. I was very interested in the DSI PX for this same reason, I think being able to combine organic sounds - like acoustic guitars, voices, orchestral instruments, ethnic instruments and percussion - and then manipulate them, play them backward, twist them to make something new, opens up a whole new dimension to a synthesiser. Second, the Quantum is extensible. You can put samples or wavetables on an SD card and import them, you can play a stereo audio signal into the synth and sample it or turn it into a wavetable, and you can sample what you are currently playing. You literally have unlimited possibilities with a synth that allows you to import your own sounds in the way the Quantum does. The Summit on the other hand is a closed architecture, it has a fixed set of waveforms. Of course you can create a massive variety of sounds with a closed architecture synth but an extensible synth like the Quantum should keep you occupied for, well, forever in theory! Like I said in another comment about the Quantum, it is not as immediate as a synth like the Summit will be. If you are one of those many people who has a busy life and a tiring day-job, and you just want to sit in front of a synth for an hour in the evening to relax and unwind, then maybe the Summit will give you the gratification that the Quantum won't. With the Quantum, I don't think an hour will ever be enough! It's a difficult choice and I don't envy you. And as a caveat I have not yet fully explored the Quantum, I can not yet say definitively hand on heart that it is the ultimate synth for me.

[@squoblat]

@@TimShoebridge thanks for the considered response. I'm definitely on the "lose 6 hours to one patch" end of synth exploration rather than the "sit and get a sound" end, so I think you've given me the answer I needed. I've delved into wavetable manipulation quite heavily on VST synths and DAWs, the Quantum definitely looks very refined in terms of how it goes about using them. However, I suspect that's because you've made it look easy. I'll see if I can go and get my hands on one in any of the local music shops. Thanks again. My only reservation about the Quantum is the sum to mono filter (as far as I can see), the summit has some excellent stereo separation capabilities.

[@MadelnMachines]

@@TimShoebridge Has your opinion changed since the Novation update with user wavetables? What do you think of the Prophet x X compared to the Quantum?

[@cronenbergj]

Great demo and explanation. Thanks. Do you think the Sound Charater - Brighter / Warmer, is pretty much the same throughout all the different (5 ...in the 2.0 Beta) Synth Engines ?

[@RayyMusik]

Which fifth synth engine? Will there be an additional LED colour aa well?

[@cronenbergj]

@@RayyMusik it is called Kernel, allows FM abd a bunch of other stuff. Have no ideia of how it is implemented.

[@cronenbergj]

@@RayyMusik kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp61g4CKiruAm9E

[@RayyMusik]

cronenbergj Thanks :)

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Do you find the quantum wavetables more dynamic in variety and generally more modulation options than the peak or summit wavetables? My only disappointment as I dig in deeper is the granular engine, it’s very limited.

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi, Although it is nice to see wavetables in the Peak/Summit the implementation is basic. You have so much more flexibility with the Quantum to modulate the wavetables and create variety in the sounds you generate from them. You have got one-shot vs cycle vs ping pong and global synced versions just with the travel option alone. You have smooth vs stepped and the various stepped resolutions. There are numerous sound quality options which I did not go into in the video. And you can modulate the wavetable choice itself, not just the position within one particular wavetable. The visual representation of the wavetables in the Quantum is extremely helpful, it is so much easier to manipulate them when you have that excellent 3d terrain map to look at. But best of all, you can create and import whatever wavetables you want. You are not restricted to a fixed set. Your sound creation options are literally unlimited.

[@nathanbell6962]

You bought a quantum! When does it stop! Great content and real passion for hardware synths. I bought a peak on your review and not disappointed!!

[@TimShoebridge]

Haha! I don't think it will ever stop! Well, I hope not :)

[@nathanbell6962]

@@TimShoebridge try to bit more fun in your videos, your content and photography is great but a bit dry. Just some positive input my synth loving buddy:)

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

@@nathanbell6962 It just proves the point that you can't please all of the people all of the time :-) I actually like Tim's style - I find it authoritative yet calming.

[@nathanbell6962]

@@tonyrapa-tonyrapa some positive criticism, nothing to be angry about, it's all good! Tim's videos are great and he's a master already, so no bad feelings:)

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

@@nathanbell6962 I wasn't being angry... did you miss my smiley face? I was trying (obviously unsuccessfully) to be philosophical. Hey ho. :-)

[@anoopsahal1202]

The effect of some implementations are difficult to discern with the wave table that is used. I wonder if using a wave table of a some one saying something like “WALDORF” would help, making travel along the wave table is easy to follow. This would have been useful in the key tracking demonstration of the wave table.

[@compfox]

Thats what I wanted to know about this machine, before I got mine in a few weeks.

[@zariisofficial]

How's it been? im seriously considering getting one for sound design

[@RayyMusik]

Well explained. If somebody would like to experiment with wave tables without immediately buying a Quantum or Novation, the Arturia Pigments VSTi is an inexpensive first step. You will want the Quantum sooner or later nevertheless.

[@Paul_Y_T]

Rayy‘s Musikladen a cheaper way is waves codex via a reseller discount when they're doing a silly sale - it has been as low as a shade over $20. Plus you can use the codex wavetables in the quantum after.

[@mooseinbeesocks2700]

Its frustrating because the actual aliasing of the wavetables doesn't sound THAT much better than the Blofeld (They actually share most of their respective wavetables too). I would think this would have to be on the level of the Kyra or Novation Peak in terms of the sample fidelity to really be considered a luxury flagship synth. Waldorf seems to focus on either sound fidelity OR number of features. NEVER both which is really frustrating. I'm speaking of the Kyra vs. the Quantum.

[@MadelnMachines]

Peak has higher resolution wavetables? What about ones you import into the Quantum yourself?

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

Here's a (silly) hypothetical question. Assuming that no one synth can do everything you are going to want it to do (and clearly some can do more than others), and assuming you could afford to buy a Waldorf Quantum, and assuming that you can only have one synth, the question is this: is the Quantum the synth of choice for this scenario? I ask this simply because the Quantum seems a very substantial synth, very versatile, with a hugely impressive sound.

[@cronenbergj]

I too have some seirous doubts, if this can cover Bassy or Lead Gritty sounds...don't see much Demos with that sort of stuff...

[@nathanbell6962]

@@cronenbergj it's a lot of cash man. I'd wait until the verdict is out.

[@cronenbergj]

@@nathanbell6962 I have seen in the other comments that you have a Peak...altough it has Waveforms / Wavetables...from the demos i have...the sound of this 2 synths seem to be "worlds apart"

[@nathanbell6962]

@@cronenbergj for sure, peak and quantum are are very different, I wasn't comparing them. Wavetable isn't my thing, I don't know enough to give opinion. I know Serum has good wavetables but if you like hardware then Waldorf is industry standard. Peace

[@cronenbergj]

@Boofsquad Thnaks 1

[@steveelbows3797]

Scope tip: If you tap on the vu meters at bottom left of screen, you can replace them with the scope!

[@TimShoebridge]

Fantastic tip. Thanks a lot, you made my day!

[@jumpingman8160]

You better wipe those keys Tim 24:19 gotta keep the machine squiky clean

[@TimShoebridge]

Haha. Bloomin' cat has been on my keyboard again!

[@sumchi3690]

Ty

[@dvamateur]

This looks like a synthesizer for home use. I mean, one wouldn't want to gig with it to have someone spill beer on it...

[@thelantern9075]

Damn... I’m scared to watch this.