| Content | Arranger Keyboards
A Special Middle Eastern Edition of the Pa500
A History of Innovation in Professional Arrangers
Twenty-five years ago, Korg introduced the first interactive keyboard - the SAS 20. In the years that followed, the i-Series, iS-Series and the Pa Series have defined the interactive workstation category and set the standard for excellence. Every day, tens of thousands of musicians worldwide make a Korg Pa arranger keyboard their musical partner. The combination of breath-taking sound quality, professional features and musical versatility - teamed with our powerful Style engine - provides the perfect instrument to satisfy all of your musical ambitions.
Baby Blue" - The Professional Arranger Keyboard At An Entry Level Price
For the musician, composer, performer and entertainer, the interactive Pa500 arranger keyboard is the perfect musical partner. Like its big brothers - the Pa800 and the Pa2XPro - the Pa500 accompaniment keyboard uses our RX (Real eXperience) technology to deliver a sound unprecedented in an average arranger keyboard. In addition, the Korg Pa500 combines hundreds of stunning sounds enhanced by our industry leading FX processors and is driven by some of the most sophisticated and realistic music Styles ever created. With exclusive Korg features such as the XDS Dual Sequencer, intuitive TouchView interface, and a four-way joystick for realistic articulation, the only thing really missing is a big asking price.
THE Pa500 Oriental Music is the Universal Language
True enough, but it helps to know the local dialects. To that end, Korg has created the Pa500 Oriental (Pa500 ORT), our first totally dedicated and specialized PA instrument designed for - and by - Middle Eastern musicians. The Pa500 Oriental includes everything from the standard Pa500 - and more! In creating the Pa500 Oriental home keyboard, Korg drew inspiration from the thousands of musicians in the Middle East who already use Korg Pa products. Produced by a team of the best musicians from various countries in the Middle East, the Pa500 Oriental features a complete range of freshly produced instruments and Styles showcasing the sounds that make Middle Eastern music so energetic and exciting, so seductive and enchanting. These new sounds and Styles are provided in addition to all the sounds, Styles, FX and other features of the standard Pa500.
"In-Demand" Middle Eastern Features of this Arranger Keyboard
Quarter Tone Sub Scale: Surely one of the most significant features of the Pa500 Oriental is the addition of the Quarter Tone Sub Scale keyboard. A miniature keyboard has been added to the front panel; and each key is equipped with an LED indicator. This allows the user to quickly select the notes that will be flatted to the nearest Quarter Tone. This function is always available, so that the Quarter Tone selection can be made quickly and on the fly during performance. In addition, four preset buttons provide one-touch access to the most commonly used Quarter Tone scales.
Joystick: Many of the keyboard players in the Middle East have told us that they prefer using the famous Korg joystick for pitch bend and modulation, rather than using wheels. The Pa500 Oriental joystick can be used to create different scales in real time, in addition to providing the normal pitch and modulation controls!
Sounds: There are 104 new instruments used in traditional classical music: Kanon, Nay, Ud, Kawala, Arabic Strings as well as a special Orchestra sound with 11 Oscillators, Arabic strings (Legato and Staccato), Stereo Strings Ensemble, Kanon Tremolo, Ud Tremolo, Timpani, Orchestra Crash, and French Horn Ensemble. For folk music, we've added instruments such as Mejwez, Mezwed, Yargohol, Zukra, Chubebe, Zurna, and 10 different Chabi sounds. The Pa500 Oriental also provides 805 dedicated drum samples featuring important instruments such as Tabla, Req, Daf, Bandir, Tabel, Katem, Kasur, and Khishabah. And for a final touch of authenticity, there are rich Voices such as Halla, Yalla, Hey, Zagruta and more.
Styles: There are dozens of especially composed music Styles available immediately in the Pa500 Oriental! For each Style, the user can access 6 different intros and 6 different endings; each playing in a different Arabic scale. The Pa500 Oriental also provides 128 Oriental PAD Sequences. These PADS are compatible with the Arabic Scales. Also included in the new Styles are Classical Music Styles such as: Wahda, Maksum, Baladi, Ayoub, Masmudi, Samai 10/8 and Folk Music Styles such as; Saidi, Katakofti, Nawari, Fallhi, Laf - and many more. The Pa500 ORT arranger keyboard also includes special regional Styles:
Tunisia; Fazzani, Ghita, Bounawara, Zaby / Sougua, Saadawi, Alleji.
Morocco; Karatchi, Issawi, Sahrawi Shaby.
Iraq; Chuby, Gnuby, Gorgina, All Rub3, Khashaba.
Khaligi; Khaligi Rumba, Khbeaty, Bandary, Dosary, Shaby and more.
Stunning Sound
It all begins with sound. Based on the EDS (Extended Definition Synthesis) engine found in the Korg M3, M50, Pa800 and Pa2X Pro, the Pa500 Oriental provides 80 voices of polyphony and an incredible quality of sound. Over 1,024 fully editable sounds are preloaded (including a full GM soundset and nearly 100 drum kits), representing a full range of musical instruments from almost every genre - each exploding with depth, nuance, subtlety, accuracy and richness. This includes all of the additional Middle Eastern sounds unique to the Pa500 Oriental.
Effects Everywhere
For many years, Korg workstations, synthesizers and digital recording studios have included outstanding studio quality effects that are simply spectacular. In that same tradition, the Pa500 Oriental offers four stereo processors plus a Final semi-parametric three band EQ containing a treasure trove of effects, from rich reverbs and dazzling delays to guitar-type modeling effects from Korg's renowned REMS series - 124 different effects in all. And you'll appreciate the separate three-band EQ on each track so you can shape the tone for that perfect sound.
Done With Style
No doubt about it: Korg's Style programming is world class. The Pa500 Oriental arranger keyboard delivers a deluxe set of Styles, programmed by some of the leading arrangers in the world; each of whom worked according to their musical strengths. With the addition to the Middle Eastern Styles, the Korg Pa500 Oriental contains over 300 preloaded Styles that provide unparalleled realism and detail, adding anything from tasteful guitar picking, a tight bass and drum groove, a powerhouse R & B rhythm section all the way up to a full orchestra! Styles follow your timing, voice leading and chord changes to create an amazingly defined musical performance in real-time. With up to eight parts, four variations, three intros/count-in, three fills/break and three endings, each Style is a complete musical environment. Additional parts or "riffs" can be sequenced and triggered in real time using the assignable Pads. Advanced features such as Syncro Start/Stop, Fade In/Out, Assignable Pads, Tap Tempo and Manual Bass allow you to spontaneously add complex and professional touches to your performances.
Guitar Mode
Creating convincing guitar parts from a keyboard has never been easy - until now! When creating a guitar part for your Style, you can chose a chord, capo position, and literally transform the keyboard into the fretted strings of the chord to allow realistic picking patterns, strums, chokes, slides, hammer-ons and other "guitar-specific" artifacts. The result is stunning! Best of all, the Pa500 Oriental can automatically enhance the guitar tracks of existing Standard Midi Files.
All Together Now
Need to switch sounds fast? Four STS (Single Touch Settings) buttons allow you to have up to four sounds split and layered across the keyboard and switch them all instantly with a single button press. The STS assignments can be saved independently for each Style. Each of the 256 Performance settings can instantly recall the Style, Sounds, effects, tempo, key and scale used to perform a particular song.
Creative Sequencing Scenarios
In addition to traditional "track at a time" workstation sequencing, the Backing Sequencer allows you to create songs quickly and easily by capturing multiple Style driven parts at once. You don't need to be a master programmer - even beginners can write their own song in minutes. In fact, you don't even need to play at all! Using the Step Edit/Entry feature, you can simply type in the chord changes, fills and Style changes in step-time - a big boost for arrangers and non-keyboardists. This quick approach to programming is also useful in the studio for creating professional, great-sounding backing music for commercial, film, video, multimedia or internet applications. The sequencer provides massive editing power - you can even edit the tone parameters of each track.
Non-Stop Entertainment
With Korg's XDS Dual Sequencer, one can load as the other plays, and a DJ-style cross fader can blend between them, providing a seamless, continuous musical performance. The Pa500 Oriental can playback SMF (Standard Midi Files), Karaoke files, and GM (General MIDI) files - and is able to display lyrics in most popular karaoke formats. There is also a practical Marker function to allow you to jump directly to a given position in the song: you can fix the markers using the internal sequencer (or using a computer based one - the marker format is standard) and then remix your favorite songs during a live performance for added spontaneity.
Expanding SongBook
The exciting SongBook feature was developed to make your life easier while playing live. The SongBook is a Musical Database, completely user programmable, containing all the settings needed to play a particular song. You have only to search for the song you would like to play by Song Title, Genre, Artist, Tempo, or other music category and press "play“. Each SongBook entry will instantly recall every setting you've saved in order to play that song perfectly - Sounds, Style, Performance, Volumes, Muted Tracks, FX settings, Easy Edit, STS settings, Master Transpose and more. This indispensable musical feature is unique to Korg.
Less Is More
With all the technological power packed inside this professional arranger, it was vital that we also made the Pa500 Oriental easy to understand and easy to use. But we went even further, creating an instrument that provides an intuitive, musical, fast and foolproof experience. With our amazing TouchView display you can simply think, see and touch the panel for easy and intuitive control. So that musicians of all levels can make great music quickly, there are two interface modes: Easy and Expert. Easy mode shows only the essential elements with bright, bold icons - useful for beginners or playing live - while Expert mode provides full editing control. And when you need more information, check out the on-board contextual Help System - in any of seven languages! In addition to 61-velocity sensing keys, the Pa500 Oriental provides a four-way joystick, assignable switch, assignable slider, assignable pedal jack and four pads which provide the tools to spice up your performance by changing effect settings, adding or muting parts, slowing the tempo, or even adding "mini-sequenced" solo, arpeggio, or backing riffs. Nothing stands between you and your professional performance!
Save It For Later
In addition to providing a USB/MIDI computer connection for moving and saving data, the Pa500 Oriental can also save and read data from SD / MMC memory cards for instant access to your custom data, MIDI files and songs. The back panel also features MIDI (In, Out), Audio Ins (1, 2) and Outs (L, R), headphone jack, plus a damper pedal and an assignable pedal connection.
All-In-One
Hiding inside is a full stereo sound system with two double cone speakers in a bass reflex enclosure, providing the best sound in a small box. The Pa500 Oriental is completely self-contained and easily transportable - perfect rushing to perform live in front of any size audience, jamming with friends, or teaching a new tune to other players. We couldn't fit any more fun in here if we tried!
KEYBOARD
Keyboard
61 keys with Velocity
SOUND DATA
Tone Generator
80 Voices, 80 Oscillators - EQ for each track - Filters with Resonance
Multitimbral-Parts
Internal: 40 channels - Midi: 16 channels
Factory Sounds
1,024 (incl. Stereo Piano and GM2 sounds) + 64 Drum Kits
User Sounds
128 Sounds - 64 Drum Kits
Sound Edit
On-board full editing for Sounds and DrumKits
Effects
4 Stereo Master + Final Master EQ
Real Time Tracks
4 (Upper 1/2/3, Lower) - 4 Pads
Performances
256 User Programmable
STYLES DATA
Factory Styles
Up to 448 locations - Preloaded Styles: approx. 320
User Styles
64 User (all Styles are re-writable)
Arranger Tracks
8 Tracks
Style Edit
Record & Edit functions, Guitar Mode
Patterns/Chord Variations
Up to 42 patterns for each Style including 3 Intros, 3 Endings, 3 Fills
Single Touch Setting (STS)
Up to 512 x 4 (Real time tracks + Acc. tracks) all programmable
SEQUENCER
XDS Double Sequencer
Separate transport controls for each Sequencer - Balance Slider
4 STS saved with the Song
In SongBook Mode
Tracks
16 + 16
Sequencer Edit
Record & Edit functions
Backing Sequence (Quick Record)
Real Time Record - Step Record & Edit
Lyrics/Chords
On-Screen (compatible with most popular formats)
OTHER FEATURES
SongBook and SongBook List
Fully Programmable
Arabic Scale
Programmable - Direct access from the front panel
Pads
4 + Stop button
Compatibility
i-Series: Styles - Pa-series: Style, Perf., Sound, Song, Song Book
Operating System
OPOS Multitasking System - Load while playing - Upgradable
Internal SSD Flash memory
16 MB for Operating System and Musical Resources
Data Storage
Card drive for Secure Digital (SD) and
MultiMedia Card (MMC) Memory Devices
Amplification
2 x 15 W
Speakers
2 Double Cone Speakers (10 cm)
USER INTERFACE
Display
320 x 240 Graphical Touch Screen Display
Controls
Joystick - Dial
Programmable Controls
1 Switch + 1 Slider
Cursors
Real Time: Master Volume - Acc/Seq-Real Time Volume Balance
Switches
Transpose, Memory, Manual Bass, Fade, Tap, Synchro, Ensemble,
Quarter Tone Sub Scale, SC Preset
Help System
Multilanguage Hypertext - Contextual
CONNECTIONS
MIDI
IN - OUT
USB
1 Device (1.1 Full Speed)
Outputs
2 Analog (Left/Right)
Inputs
2 Line Inputs
Headphone
1 Jack connection
Pedals
1 Damper, 1 Assignable Footswitch/Pedal
Power Supply
DC 12 V external power supply (supplied)
OPTIONS
Expression/Volume Pedal
Korg EXP-2 - Korg XVP-10
Damper Pedal
Korg DS-1H
Switch Pedal
Korg PS-1
PHYSICAL DATA
Consumption
15 Watt
Dimensions (W x D x H)
42.2 x 15.9 x 7.5 inches (1074 x 404 x 183 mm) - without music rest
Weight
21,8 lbs (9,9 kg) |
Krome
Music Workstation
On Stage. On the Go. On Top.
Offering full-length, unlooped samples of every key for a spectacular piano sound, this new keyboard redefines your expectations for an instrument in this class. Taking its name from the Greek word meaning "color," Krome is the new standard for sonic excellence in a gigging musician\'s keyboard, providing a limitless palette of sound to bring vivid inspiration your music. Introducing the Krome Music Workstation.
Product Highlights:
- The Korg workstation ideal for any style of piano playing
- Kronos-derived full length, unlooped piano and drum sounds, plus new electric pianos designed to shine on stage
- Electric pianos with eight-level velocity switching for unmatched expressive power
- Clear, intuitive control with Korg\'s exclusive 7-inch color TouchViewTM display
- Drums offering separately mixable direct and ambient sounds for studio-grade quality
- Drum Track plays back realistic, inspiring grooves at the touch of a button
- Expertly created, in-demand sounds including 640 Programs and 288 Combinations
- Powerful Effects with 5 Inserts, 2 Master, and 1 Total FX, plus per track/timbre EQ
- Distinctive aluminum panel design exudes a sense of quality
- USB connection to your computer, plus an SD Card slot for data storage
- You can use the Krome editor to edit sounds on your computer
- Available in 61, 73, and 88 key models.
In addition to Korg\'s well-proven workstation features, Krome features a carefully chosen selection of the top sounds available today for bread-and-butter keyboard instruments such as piano and electric piano, as well as vital and dynamic drum kits, giving you the best of the basics. These highly usable piano, electric piano, and drum sounds by themselves set Krome apart from any other keyboard in its class. With sound quality and features normally found in much more expensive instruments, Krome aspires to set a whole new value standard, and become a unique and irreplaceable partner for real-world musicians.
Specifications
Keyboard
Krome 61: Semi-weighted keyboard
*velocity-sensitive supported, after touch is not supported
*Standard C2-C7 (transposable in the range [C1...C6]-[C3...C8])
Krome 73: Semi-weighted keyboard
*velocity-sensitive supported, after touch is not supported
*Standard C1-C7 (transposable in the range [C0...C6]-[C2...C8])
Krome 88: NH keyboard (Natural Weighted Hammer Action] keyboard
*velocity sensitive is supported, after touch is not supported
*Standard A0-C8 (transposable in the range [A-1...C7]-[A1...C9]
*The NH keyboard reproduces the touch of an acoustic piano, with a heavier feel in the low register and a lighter feel in the upper register.
System
EDS-X (Enhanced Definition Synthesis-eXpanded)
Sounds
Maximum Polyphony:
120 voices (120 Oscillators) / Single Mode
60 voices (120 Oscillators) / Double Mode
*The maximum simultaneous voice polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading.
PCM Memory:
3.8 GB, 48kHz/16-bit linear equivalent
583 Multisamples (Including 12 Stereo multisamples)
2,080 Drumsamples (Including 474 Stereo Drumsamples)
Program:
Oscillator
OSC1 (Single); OSC1 + 2 (Double): Stereo multisamples are supported
8 velocity zones per oscillator with switching, crossfades and layers
Filters
Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB)
Two multi-mode filters per oscillator (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)
Driver
Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost
EQ
Three bands, with sweepable mid
Modulation
For each oscillator: two envelope generators (Filter & Amp)
Two LFOs
Two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp)
Two AMS mixers
Pitch EG
Common LFO
Two common key tracking generators
Combination:
Timbres: 16 maximum, each with split/layer/velocity switching with crossfading, plus modifications via Tone
Adjust function
MIDI Controller Functionality: Customizable MIDI channel and Internal/External/Both settings per timbre
Master Keyboard Functionality
It\'s available for controlling external MIDI devices
Drum Kit:
Stereo and mono drum samples
8 velocity zones switch (crossfades and layers)
Sounds:
Program: 640 preload, 768 total locations
Combi: 288 preload, 512 total locations
Drumkits: 32 preload, 48 total locations
The number of Combination / Program / Drum Kit:
User: 512 Combination (288 Preload)
User: 768 Program (640 Preload)
User: 48 Drum Kit (32 Preload)
Preset: 256 GM2 Program + 9 GM2 Drums Program
Effects
Insert Effects:
5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out)
2 Master Effects (stereo in/out)
1 Total Effect (stereo in/out)
Timbre / Track EQ:
3-band EQ per timbre/track
Effect Types:
193, useable as Insert, Master, or Total effects. Note that a double-size effect cannot be used as a total effect.
Modulation:
Dynamic Modulation, 2 Common LFO
Effects Control Busses:
Stereo sidechain (Limiter, Gate, Vocoder, etc)
Effect Preset:
32 preset per effect
Polyphonic Arpeggiator
Program Mode:
Single polyphonic arpeggiator
Combination, Sequencer Mode:
Dual polyphonic arpeggiators
Number of pattern:
900 preload, 1028 total locations
5 preset arpeggio patterns
Drum Track
637 preload, 1000 total locations
Configurable Trigger Mode/Sync/Zone
Sequencer
Tracks:
16 MIDI tracks + 1 master track
Number of Songs:
128 Songs
Resolution:
1/480 PPQ
Tempo:
40.00- 300.00 (1/100 BPM resolution)
Maximum memory:
210,000 MIDI events
Template Song:
16 preset / 16 user template songs
Cue List function:
20 Cue Lists
99 steps
Pattern:
605 Preset / 100 User patterns
RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play and Recording):
1 pattern set per song
Format:
KORG (KROME) format, SMF format 0 and 1
Media
Load, Save, Utility, data filer functionality (Save and Load MIDI System Exclusive Data)
Controllers
*Joystick, SW [1], SW [2]
*Realtime Control
[SELECT] Switch:
REALTIME CONTROL (TONE, USER), ARP
4 Knobs;
REALTIME CONTROL: Real-time Modulation, Arpeggio control
*Drum Track
[DRUM TRACK] Switch On/Off
*Arpeggiator
[ARP] Switch On/Off
User Interface
Display:
TouchView(tm) Graphical User Interface
7-inch color TFT LCD, 800 x 480 pixels
Onboard LCD brightness control
Mode Switch:
[COMBI], [PROG], [SEQ], [GLOBAL], [MEDIA] switch
VALUE controller:
[VALUE] Dial, [INC], [DEC] Switch, 10 key block ([0] - [9], [-], [.], [ENTER], [COMPARE])
BANK Switch:
[A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F] switch (in Combination mode, [A], [B], [C], [D] switch are available)
SEQUENCER switch:
[PAUSE], [REW], [FF], [LOCATE], [REC], [START / STOP]
TEMPO:
[TEMPO] knob, [TAP] switch
Others:
[PAGE] switch, [WRITE] switch, [EXIT] switch, [VOLUME] knob, Contrast knob
Outputs
AUDIO OUTPUT (L / MONO, R):
6.3mm (Mono) Phone jack, Unbalanced
Output Impedance: 1100Ohm, 550Ohm with Mono output
Maximum level: +16.0 [dBu], Load Impedance: more than 10Ohm.
Headphone Output:
3.5mmStereo phone jack
Output Impedance: 33Ohm
Maximum level: 60 + 60mW with 33Ohm load
Control Input
DAMPER pedal (Half Damper supported)
ASSIGNABLE SWITCH
ASSIGNABLE PEDAL
MIDI
IN/OUT
USB
USB-MIDI Interface (TYPE B) x 1
SD Card Slot
Max: 2 GB / SD memory card
Max: 32 GB/ SDHC memory card
Note: SDXC memory cards are not supported.
Power
Power supply (DC12V 3.5A), POWER switch
Dimensions (W x D x H)
KROME-61 = 40.43 x 12.32 x 3.66 inches / 1,027 × 313 × 93 mm
KROME-73 = 46.89 x 12.32 x 3.66 inches / 1,191 × 313 × 93 mm
KROME-88 = 57.01 x 15.08 x 5.16 inches / 1,448 × 383 × 131 mm
Weight
KROME-61 = 15.87 lbs. / 7.2 kg
KROME-73 = 18.08 lbs. / 8.2 kg
KROME-88 = 32.41 lbs. / 14.7 kg
Power Consumption
13 W
Accessories
AC Adapter
Quick Start Guide
Accessory Disc (Operation Guide PDF, Parameter Guide PDF, Video Manual)
Option
XVP-10: Expression/Volume pedal
EXP-2: Foot Controller
DS-1H: Damper Pedal
PS-1, PS-3: Pedal Switch
PC System Requirements for Krome Editor/Plug-In Editor
Windows
OS:
Windows Vista SP2 and later (32- and 64-bit, all editions),
Windows 7 (all editions, including 64-bit)
Computer:
USB port required
Macintosh
OS:
Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later
Computer:
USB port required
PC System Requirements for Krome Editor/Plug-In Editor
Windows
OS:
Windows Vista SP2 and later (32- and 64-bit, all editions),
Windows 7 (all editions, including 64-bit)
CPU:
Intel Pentium 4/ Greather than 1 gHz, later Core Duo recommended.
Memory:
More than 512MB (Greater than 1 GB recommended)
Monitor:
1,024x768, at least 16-bit color
Others:
Computer with USB port, running Windows 7, Windows XP, or Windows Vista
Macintosh
OS:
Mac OS X 10.5 or later (32-bit and 64-bit kernel modes supported)
Note: This plug-in is not 64-bit.
CPU:
Intel Mac supported
Later Core Duo recommended
Memory:
More than 512MB (at least 1 GB recommended)
Monitor:
1,024x768, at least 32,000 colors
Others:
Apple Macintosh computer with USB port, running Mac OS X.
*Krome Plug-In Editor supports VST/RTAS in Windows, VST/ Audio Unit/RTAS in Macintosh.
*Only a single instance of the Krome Editor or Krome Plug-In Editor can be used at once.
*All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
*Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice for improvement.
|
Korg Volca Keys, the new Analogue Loop-Synthesizer from Korg!
- 3-Voices polyphon.
- 3 VCOs.
- 1 VCF.
- 1 VCA.
- 1 LFO and 1 EG.
- Voicing-Function.
- Delay-Effect.
- Loop Sequencer.
- Motion Sequence-Function.
- Active Step and Flux Function.
- Selftuning-Function.
- Multitouch Trigger Pad / Step-Button.
- LED-Display.
- Build-in Speaker.
- Sync I/O 1/8" Mini-Input female Mono.
- MIDI In.
- Headphone-Out 1/8" Mini-TRS Stereo.
- Power via 6x AA Battery or optional Power Supply (KA-350 not included).
- Dimension: 193 X 115 X 45 mm (WxHxD).
- Weight: 372gr.
|
- 4-operator FM Sound Engine offers dynamic and expressive additive synthesis
- A new feature of this engine is continuously variable feedback on every operator allowing for a wide-range of sound creation
- Two programmable effects blocks with seven effect types per block:
- The effect types are: VCM Touch Wah, VCM Flanger, VCM Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and Distortion
- Multi-touch control interface gives direct access to four simultaneous parameters
- 32 Voice memory locations allow storing and recalling favorite Voices
| Waldorf is back in the game. With the Blofeld. This synthesizer offers all the unique qualities that made Waldorf a truly legendary brand.
The engine inside the heavy duty, full metal chassis of the Blofeld delivers the same fat and rich sound that so many Waldorf users worldwide love when they play their Pulse, Q, Q+, Micro Q, Microwave, Microwave II/XT, or even the flagship Wave.
Yes, you've heard it right. The Blofeld is not only capable of producing these warm, organic analog sounds known from the Q synthesizer line, it also sports a wavetable engine like its predecessors with "Wave" in their names.
This unique synthesis system is based upon the revolutionary PPG Wave synthesizers of the early 80s. So when you listen to the Blofeld for the first time, you will instantly recognize those edgy, hard-hitting and bell-like timbres that have been an integral part of so many world hits from the PPG era on, and become increasingly popular once more.
In fact it is amazing to realize that nowadays this complex technology fits into such a slim and elegant device. And for a price no-one would have imagined a couple of years ago.
Oscillators
Each of the three oscillators offers authentic circuit-models of analog waveforms: Pulse with variable pulse-width, sawtooth, triangle and, as found in relatively few analog synthesizers these days, sine wave.
Furthermore, oscillators 1 and 2 feature the two wavetables that were introduced by the Waldorf Q and appeared shortly thereafter in the Micro Q series.
Not only that, the Blofeld includes all ROM Wavetables from the mighty flagship Waldorf Wave as well as Microwave II/XT. Plus, lo and behold, the desperately requested "Upper Wavetable" from the good old PPG Wave! But, for the first time in the history of Waldorf and PPG, each of these two oscillators can have its own wavetable.
What's more, you have control over the brilliance of these wavetables, which is especially important for waves with lots of harmonics in the bass end. You decide if you prefer pure and perfect harmonics or the same edgy timbre you know and love from the earlier Waldorf and PPG synthesizers.
Brilliance also affects the sawtooth and pulse oscillator models. From warm and soft (for those typical L.A. string pads) to the hard shapes you need for punchy and biting bass sounds. But note, Brilliance is not a simple filter applied after the oscillators, the model itself is modified.
Each of the three oscillators can be frequency-modulated by any of the other oscillators, the noise generator or one of the LFOs. With low FM amounts, you can add a little dirt to the oscillator sound, with higher amounts you get typical FM effects.
On top of all that, oscillator 2 can be hard-synced to oscillator 3.
Ring Modulation and Noise Generator
Oscillators 1 and 2 can be ring-modulated to create bell-like or metallic sounds, eerie sound effects as well as pumping basses and leads.
The noise generator delivers white noise that can be filtered low or high pass, depending on the Noise Colour setting.
The three oscillators, the ring modulator and the noise generator can be freely mixed into filter 1 and filter 2. This allows fine control over the harmonic content of each of the tone generators.
Filters
The Blofeld has two multimode filters per voice that can be routed in series or in parallel. Each Filter has its own Pan parameter for easy creation of stereo sounds.
The selection of filter types includes low pass, band pass, high pass and notch (band reject), each with 12dB/oct or 24dB/oct slope. The filter models are based on several famous Waldorf filter algorithms found in all our products. They offer resonance up to self-oscillation as well as frequency modulation (filter FM).
Furthermore, the Blofeld features the same comb filter types (with positive and negative feedback) that we first introduced in the Waldorf Q. These can be used to thicken bass and pad sounds or to create percussive, string or flute sounds reminiscent of physical modelling.
Overdrive, Saturation, Distortion, Shaping
You name it. The Blofeld offers a freely controllable "Drive" behind each filter with more than a dozen curves. These include such standards as the drive from the Q and Micro Q, low/medium/hard saturation, tube saturation, two types of electric pickups, a rectifier, digital overflow as well as esoteric stuff such as "binary distortion“, a sinusoidal waveshaper and even a distortion controlled by oscillator 1. And because the Blofeld has two filters that can be routed in series, you can control the timbre of the drive output of Filter 1 by dampening or emphasizing certain frequencies with filter 2.
Effects
The Blofeld has two effect slots with various types. In Multimode, the first effect slot is available per Part, while the second one is used for all 16 Parts (i.e. global) with controllable mix levels. Part 1 determines the settings of the second effect.
The first effect slot offers such modulation effects as chorus, flanger as well as a combined type called "Triple FX“. The latter gives you several effects at once, but with a reduced parameter set.
The second effect slot offers all the same types as the first, but with the addition of delay, clocked delay and reverb.
Envelopes
Four envelopes with different types and trigger modes affect any sound parameters you choose.
Each envelope can be either polyphonic or single trigger. This is especially interesting with the monophonic voice allocation, as the filter envelope can be set to be triggered only by the first note(s) while the Amp Envelope is triggered anew (i.e. on each note). Think "organ percussion register“, for instance.
The Envelope types include the standard ADSR as well as an enhanced ADSR-variant (with controllable attack level and two decay and sustain stages), two different loop envelopes and a "one shot" Envelope.
The Loop types can be used to act as additional LFOs, while the One Shot is perfectly suited for percussion sounds (which typically ignore the note release).
LFOs
Each of the three LFOs offers sine, triangle, square and sawtooth waveforms, plus sample & hold and random.
LFOs can be synchronized to MIDI clock, they can be polyphonic or monophonic, reset on key trigger to a freely definable phase, and the speed can be scaled by MIDI note (key follow). There are separate delay and fade in/out parameters for e.g. delayed vibrato (positive Fade values) or a burst of vibrato at the start of each note (negative Fade values).
One important feature of the Blofeld LFOs is that higher rates reach well into the audio frequency range, thus making them useful extra FM sources. There are two basic modes: either linear FM as seen in classic digital synths, or logarithmic FM, which is primarily the domain of analog modular systems.
Modulation Matrix
Here's where the real Waldorf power lies. Each and every instrument designed and built by Waldorf lets you connect dozens of modulation sources to all the important sound generation parameters.
Individual or multiple oscillator pitches, their pulsewidths and waveforms, their levels and filter-balances, FM modulation amounts, individual filter cutoff and resonance, filter FM amounts and stereo panning, or just the good old sound output level – everything can be controlled from internal modulation sources or from a variety of MIDI messages such as velocity, keytrack, continuous controllers (including wheels, breath and foot controllers) etc.
You can of course "modulate the modulators" i.e. control LFO speeds and individual envelope rates and levels. But in Blofeld you can even specify that these sources modulate themselves – recursive modulation! For instance, modulating an envelope rate by the same envelope (or another one) can alter the shape of the slope dramatically from the standard exponential curve to linear to inverse exponential.
And how many slots do you get in the mod matrix? Two? Three? Four? No, we're talking big here. You get 16 freely definable slots plus all the pre-routed modulation destinations such as pitch, Osc 1, 2 and 3 frequency and PWM (pulse width modulation), filter 1 and 2 cutoff, panorama and amp level modulation. And let's not forget that the filter envelope is already routed to filter 1 and 2 cutoff, and the amp envelope is routed to the amp level. Makes a total of 33 simultaneous connections if we counted correctly.
Modifiers
What if you want something really really crazy, like controlling a pitch vibrato done by LFO 3 with the modulation wheel. Although there are a few such composite modulation sources such as "LFO1*MW" (LFO 1 controlled by Modulation Wheel) and "LFO2*Press" (LFO 2 controlled by monophonic Aftertouch), there's nobody doing the "LFO3*MW" thing for you.
But, don't worry, that's where the Modifiers come into play. In seconds you can set up a new modifier, with the two sources set to LFO 3 and modulation wheel, and the "operation" set to "*" (multiply). You can use such custom-made modulation sources in any of the modulation slots described above.
Okay, maybe you are more the regular musician who simply wants to perform a binary OR between two modulation sources? Okay, go for it! This operation is just one of several at your service.
Arpeggiator
Okay, Blofeld's arpeggiator could very well become the biggest chapter of this page but let's try to keep it short...
It features variable clock divisions from 1/64 triplets to more than 1000 bars, with variable swing/shuffle, a range of up to 10 octaves. Up, down and alternate figures, selectable play order from low to high note, low to high velocity, as played or reversed, variable note length, different velocity modes. And Hold or One-Shot, if you like.
But more importantly, it has the most powerful Pattern Editor we have ever seen.
You can set each Step to either play the note it would do so anyway, to pause, to play the previous note again, play the first or the last note, play those together, play a chord consisting of all held notes or a randomly selected note.
Then you can adjust the Accent of each step (including silence), activate or deactivate Glide for each step, set the timing to play a step ahead or behind its nominal time, and finely adjust the note length between short staccato and full legato.
No wonder this arpeggiator had great reviews when it first appeared in the Waldorf Q. It will take you straight to arpeggiator-heaven, as has already happened to thousands of Waldorf customers. Dig it!
Sound
Now, how does all that sound? You probably know that Waldorf synthesizers are well loved for their sound character, and the Blofeld is certainly no exception. But who are we to tell you? Better listen to the Waldorf Blofeld demos or just believe us: it sounds great. Now go and get one!
Technical InfoMost important features
Unbeatable price tag
Sturdy Metal Enclosure
7 endless stainless steel Dials
Graphic Display 128 x 64 pixels, b/w, white background LED
More than 1000 Sounds
3 Oscillators per voice
Frequency Modulation between the Oscillators
All Q Oscillator Models
All Microwave II/XT/XTk Wavetables
2 independent Multi Mode Filters per voice
Filter FM
2 Drive stages per voice with selectable Drive Curves
3 fast LFOs per voice
4 fast Envelopes per voice
Powerful Arpeggiator
Freely programmable Arpeggiator Pattern with up to 16 Steps per Sound
General Features
Up to 25 Voices
16 part multi timbral
More than 1000 Sounds
Sturdy Metal Enclosure
7 endless stainless steel Dials
5 Buttons
Graphic Display 128 x 64 pixels, b/w, white background LED
MIDI LED
Volume Control
Power Switch
Stereo Output
Headphone Output
MIDI In
USB Connector for MIDI In / Out:
- uses standard USB MIDI Driver provided by host computer OS
- Windows ME minimum, Windows XP or newer recommended
- Mac OS X 10.2 minimum, Mac OS X 10.3 or newer recommended
External Power Supply
Per Voice
3 Oscillators
Virtual Analog Models:
- Pulse with Pulse Width Modulation and adjustable Brilliance
- Sawtooth with adjustable Brilliance
- Triangle
- Sine
Wavetables:
- Q Alt 1 and Alt 2 Wavetable with adjustable Brilliance
- All Wavetables from Microwave II/XT/XTk Series with adjustable Brilliance
- Separate Wavetable selectable for Oscillator 1 and 2
Frequency Modulation between the Oscillators
Oscillator Synchronization
Ring Modulator for Osc 1 / 2
Noise Generator with Noise Colour
2 independent Multi Mode Filters:
- Filter FM
- Resonance up to Self-Oscillation
- Low Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
- Band Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
- High Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
- Notch 24 dB / 12 dB
- Comb Filter with positive / negative Feedback
- PPG Low Pass Filter
2 Drive stages per voice with adjustable Drive Gain and selectable Curves:
- Clip
- Hard
- Medium
- Soft
- Sine Shaper
- etc.
Modulation Matrix with 16 Slots, freely programmable:
- Modulation Speed far into Audio Range
- Modulation Sources include all internal Modulation Sources plus various MIDI messages
- Modulation Destinations for almost all continuous sound parameters
Various pre-routed Modulation Destinations with selectable Sources:
- Pitch Modulation
- Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Frequency Modulation
- Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Pulse Width Modulation
- Filter 1 / 2 Cutoff Modulation
- Filter 1 / 2 Frequency Modulation
- Pan 1 / 2 Modulation
- Amp Modulation
4 Modifiers for transforming Modulation Sources with various Algorithms
3 fast LFOs:
- Syncable to MIDI Clock
- Note Retrigger with adjustable Start Phase
- Monophonic LFO
- Keytrack
4 fast Envelopes with selectable types:
- Single Trigger / Retrigger per Envelope
- ADSR
- ADS1DS2R (2 Decay/Sustain stages plus adjustable Attack Level)
- One Shot
- Loop S1S2 (Loop between Sustain 1 and 2)
- Loop All (Loop over all stages)
Poly, Mono, Dual or Unisono Mode with selectable Voice Count
Per Part
Powerful Arpeggiator:
- Hold and One Shot modes
- Syncable to MIDI Clock
- Direction Up, Down, Alternate
- Range up to 10 Octaves
- Various methods to modify Note Sort Order
Freely programmable Arpeggiator Pattern with up to 16 Steps per Sound.
programmable per Step:
- Accent
- Timing
- Length
- Glide on/off
- Pause
- Chord
- Previous note
- Random not from Note List
- first and/or last note from Note List
1 Effect slot per part
1 Effect slot globally for all parts
Effect types:
- Chorus
- Flanger
- Phaser
- Overdrive
- Triple FX (S&H, Ring Modulation, Chorus)
- Delay (only available on global Effect slot)
- Clocked Delay (only available on global Effect slot)
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