The Many Faces of the Waldorf Wave

The Waldorf Waves, without a doubt were most beautiful synths to me. There are gorgeous synths out there and then there are the Waves. Click here for Till Kopper's Unofficial Waldorf Wave site. One of the coolest things about the Wave, aside from its massive Wavetable synthesizer power with analog filters, was that for an extra fee you could order a custom color for it. The physical design of the synth came from Axel Hartmann of the Hartmann Neuron synth. His design is pure art.

Some jems to make sure to check out:

http://www.unofficial.waldorf-wave.de/big_sahara_wave.jpg
http://www.unofficial.waldorf-wave.de/waveabout.html

The Classic Blue Wave


The Sahara Yellow Wave


The Shadow Wave


And my favorite, The Crimson Red Wave

Hohner Adam Digital Synthesizer

via this auction

"Here is an "Advanced, Digital / Analog Musical Instrument" = ADAM.
A piece of jewelry designed by Waldorf. [& Axel Hartmann]

Features:
18-voice sound synthesis
24-voice advanced PCM_Klangerzeugung with up to 12 MB PCM memory
Sine drawbar organ with 8 real-time drawbars
Excellent PCM Drum Sounds
Real Time with professional Arranger Styles
Stylekompatipel for Technics, Roland, Korg
Multi-Effects Processor
Four audio sections, organ and Stylsektion direct access
16-track MIDI recorder with direct track access
Keyboard Split
Master Keyboard functions including two keyboard areas, especially to control external MIDI - Device
Two LCD displays for optimal overview
Ground-breaking parameter control via eight input wheels
Hohner Chord functions
Memory cards for access dierekt
Floppy Drive
Stereo Speaker out with 2 X 15 Watt
Comes with instructions
Only living room, light scratches top right of about 4 cm long, other condition is new.
Rear connections: MIDI In, Out, Tru, 2 Pedal, Audio in L and R gain control, Main Out, EFX send, 1 organ and 1 Headphone Out, Speaker Out R and L, the power switch."

You can find some additional info on the Hohner ADAM on Till Kopper's site here.

New Waldorf Nave Videos & Official Press Release - Available Now!

Nave Sound Demo Published on Jun 12, 2013 WaldorfMusicChannel·3 videos

iTunes link: Nave - Waldorf Music

"Pure Nave sounds, no external FX, no external processing!
All sound examples were directly recorded in Nave´s 4 track recorder."

Programming a Nave Sound in 120 seconds
Published on Jun 12, 2013

"This tutorial shows how to program a wavetable sound within a short amount of time."

"Waldorf advances wavetable synthesis to iPad with Nave

'Nave is wonderful — by far the most impressive iOS synthesizer I have laid my hands on to date.'

- Richard Devine, 2013 (electronic musician and sound designer)


BAD NEUENAHR, GERMANY: high-quality synthesizer developer Waldorf is proud to announce availability of Nave, its first synthesizer app for Apple’s all-conquering iPad, as of June 13...

Jointly created by Stefan Stenzel (audio algorithms), Rolf Wöhrmann (iOS development), and Axel Hartmann (graphic design), Nave transforms any iPad into an advanced wavetable synthesizer fit for truly mobile 21st Century composition, performance, and sound design!

Speaking of which, Nave comes complete with over 500 presets from highly acclaimed sound designers like Richard Devine, Sacha Dikiciyan (of Sonic Mayhem fame), Laurence Rapaccioli (Arksun), David Boldini (7 Skies), and Fletcher Kaufman (Sunsine Audio), amongst many others. All seriously showcase the depth and diversity of this impressive and inspirational iOS synthesizer — so much so, in fact, that Richard Devine was suitably moved to create no fewer than 95 presets alone, all of which are included for free!

For the benefit of those who want to indulge in some serious sound design of their own making, Nave does not disappoint. Its powerful sound engine includes two trailblazing wavetable-based oscillators, leaving all previous attempts at wavetable synthesis severely wanting. While the sound spectrum can cleverly be transposed independently of pitch, the waves can be rendered from perfectly periodic to very noisy and anywhere in between.

Nave’s clear-cut GUI invites both beginners and advanced users alike to experiment both sonically and musically while the hosting iPad’s generous display helps make wavetable creation and editing a blast! Besides integrated speech synthesis, wavetables can also be formed from analysing audio files. Furthermore, stretching, rotating, and shifting in the spectral domain allows wavetables to be refined or distorted in the fullscreen Wavetable Edit Mode. Here users can edit and fine-tune the wavetables using several 3D views that are as easy on the eye as they are to use. And in a reverential nod to Waldorf’s illustrious past and present, factory wavetables from the breakthrough Microwave, mighty Wave, and price barrier-breaking Blofeld synthesizers are all present and accounted for, complemented by an abundance of tasty new ones that make extensive use of those enhanced possibilities!

And if that’s not enough to get your creative juices flowing then Nave additionally includes a classic oscillator with an ultra useful selection of basic waveforms, plus a super-fat-sounding Überwave function for beefing up sounds by up to eight individually detuned oscillators a la Waldorf’s recently released Rocket synthesizer. Nave is, indeed, truly a sound designer’s dream machine!

But, Waldorf being Waldorf, that’s not all: Nave’s flexible Filter section delivers that high-quality synthesizer sound recognisable right away by anyone at all familiar with Waldorf’s noteworthy name, and, as such, features LP (low-pass), BP (band-pass), and HP (high-pass) filter types with either 12 dB or 24 dB slope settings. Its neighbouring Drive section offers contrasting characteristics by being positioned Pre Filter or Post Filter or as a summing overdrive Pre EQ or Post EQ — perfect for those who prefer harsh and screaming sounds rather than delicate wavetable sweeps.

An extended modulation matrix and diverse realtime control functionality also awaits anyone wishing to animate any Nave sound in any desired direction. In addition to the classic virtual chromatic keyboard, Nave can be played with the Blades that allow for dynamic triggering of polyphonic modulation by simply sliding fingers in X and/or Y direction.

Yet more flexible fun is to be had on the FX & Arp page with pro-quality ModFX (Phaser, Flanger, Chorus), Delay, Reverb, parametric Equalizer, and a highly effective Compressor all adding to Nave’s sound and performance possibilities, as does a full-featured Arpeggiator. And last, but by no means least, the Tape & System page plays hosts to an old school, four-track recorder — replete with virtual tape spools. Use it to record complete compositions or simply sketch some musical ideas inspired by the superlative sounds of Nave!

So how does Nave naturally sound, then? Totally in a class by itself. Just like Waldorf! After all, the well-known Waldorf name has been synonymous with high-quality synthesizers for nigh on 25 years; indeed, its innovative position in the musical instrument marketplace dates back to 1989 with the release of the wavetable-based Microwave, an extraordinary reincarnation of the legendary PPG Wave series — arguably amongst the most coveted high-end synthesizers of the early Eighties. Time and technology stand still for no one, of course, and today Nave takes those heady heavyweight hardware developments of yesteryear — and a whole lot more besides — and serves them up to thankful iPad-adoptees at a fraction of the cost of its forebears.

Any adventurous musical iPad owners out there intrigued by the creative possibilities of wavetable synthesis surely owe it to themselves to check out Nave, the advanced wavetable synthesizer from Waldorf. Going for a song on Apple’s App Store, right here, right now!

iPad owners can purchase Nave directly from Apple’s App Store for a five-day special introductory price of €10.99 EUR/$11.99 USD. (Thereafter it will rise to €17.99 EUR/$19.99 USD.)"

iTunes:
Nave - Waldorf Music

Aliens Project Toy of the Month #82 - Waldorf Blofeld

on Aliens Project

As always, the text is in German and the samples are in Synth.

Update: translation via Qwave in the comments: "Why the company Waldorf named this synthesizer 'Blofeld' will stay a mystery for me for all times.

The clear design was drawn by Axel Hartmann, who also designed the other "Waldis" (rem: shortened german version for Waldorf, not a real german word).

The desktop housing is very clear structured, and the big graphic display makes it user friendly to operate. The synth is 19" rack mountable with optional rack ears (rem: where to get them?). Very nice.

From the specification point of view, the Blofeld could be a direct successor of the MicroQ.

The technic:
virtual analog modeling technology
3 oscillators (pulse, saw, triangle, sine, osc.1 and 2 also wavetables)
frequency modulation + hard sync
25 voices (rem: wrong! up to 25 voices!) / 16 time multitimbral
2 multimode filters 12dB / 24 dB (HP, LP, BP, combfilter)
4 envelope generators
arpeggiator
1000 sounds / 100 multi programs
effects
Midi in, USB, stereo out, headphone

I think the compact Blofeld is very well suited as a synth for the live stage.

It is user friendly, small, lightweight and very stable (steel sheet housing).

Despite the compact measurements, it offers the very big Waldorf sound, as known from the Microwave and the Q (but a little bit limited).

I looks nearly ideal as deliverer for moving pads and atmospheres."

Hohner Adam Digital Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Sep 8, 2017 Musicnectar

via this auction

"Very rare and fully working keyboard in nice condition.

It was partly designed and produced by Waldorf."

Physical design by Axel Hartmann. Check out additional posts featuring the Hohner Adam here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Piino Portable Synthesizer by Jack Marple

Note this appears to be more of a design concept vs. an actual product in the works. An upcoming Axel Hartmann?

via Jack Marple's website:

"Jack Marple graduated from Arizona State University in May 2016. He is currently an industrial designer at TEAGUE in the Seattle area."

on the Piino:

"electronic music equipment can be bulky

The goal of PIINO is to create a compact, versatile and intuitive tool for musicians to capture ideas while on the go."

Teenage Engineering's OP-1 immediately comes to mind. Still cool though. New ideas are always interesting.


And via iF World Design Guide:

"Piino is a portable synthesizer that allows electronic musicians to create music on the go. Designers and artist have ways to record thoughts and ideas by sketching it in a sketchbook. Musicians have no such thing. Piino is the solution to this problem; it helps musicians express and compile musical ideas while they are traveling. It is a synthesizer and workstation that includes a 10 key range, customizable effect knobs and sliders, an interactive touch screen, and a trackpad for extra sound manipulation. Piino folds up and becomes a portable device that can go anywhere with you. Piino makes creating music on the go finally possible."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Supercharges FANTOM Synthesizer Series

Roland FANTOM EX Synthesizer | Performance featuring LZARUS
video upload by

"FANTOM EX is the latest chapter of the FANTOM legacy. Watch producer and session keyboardist Laurence Jepson, aka LZARUS, perform with the most advanced creative synthesizer ever. Check out an array of FANTOM EX features in action, including German Grand V-Piano Expansion, JUPITER-8 ACB Expansion, live bass recording with JX-8P Model Expansion, TR-REC step sequencing, vocoder, n/zyme Model Expansion, and Shimmer Reverb.

About FANTOM EX

FANTOM EX provides a complete creative ecosystem for professional sound design, sequencing, and performance.

Explore the most advanced Roland sound engines—ACB, ZEN-Core, V-Piano, SuperNATURAL, Virtual ToneWheel, and other Roland technologies. Plus, SH-101, JUPITER-8, and JX-3P* ACB Model Expansions and six additional pre-loaded ZEN-Core Model Expansions, including n/zyme for advanced wave design, vintage-inspired instruments, premium pianos, essential organs, and more.

Integrate seamlessly with any computer-based setup with dedicated modes for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, MainStage, Cubase, and Studio One. Sample directly into the synth and trigger, loop, program, create new tones from partials, or use multi-track sampling to stack sources into complex sounds. Then, refine your sound with Master FX and preset templates.

Developed in collaboration with renowned synth designer Axel Hartmann, the FANTOM EX hardware and user interface is built to support your creativity with intuitive operation and world-class playability."

Roland Fantom EX - Expansion In Use - Sonic LAB

video upload by sonicstate

"Roland's latest iteration of the Fantom is now the Fantom EX which is essentially the same Fantom you could buy yesterday, but now with the EX software expansion.

David aka @superfrogsavestokyo has a look at the new EX features, but with the regular Fantom hardware. He builds some musical sketches to demonstrate the new ACB models and the n/zyme Wavetable synthesizer."

Roland press announcement follows:

The Acclaimed FANTOM Synthesizer Series, Supercharged with the Latest Roland Sound Technologies and Updated Creative Tools

Los Angeles, CA, April 25, 2024 — Roland announces FANTOM EX, a new flagship synthesizer series for professional musicians and producers. Updating and expanding the popular FANTOM platform with the latest Roland technologies, the next-generation FANTOM EX delivers a complete creative ecosystem for sound design, sequencing, and performance. In addition to the FANTOM 6 EX, FANTOM 7 EX, and FANTOM 8 EX models available to new purchasers, current FANTOM owners can expand their instruments with all EX sounds and features through the FANTOM EX Upgrade for sale on Roland Cloud.

Introduced in 2019, the Roland FANTOM has received worldwide acclaim for its diverse range of high-quality sounds, powerful synthesis tools, premium playability, and free-flowing user interface. FANTOM EX builds on the original’s foundation, supplementing the core feature set with Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) engine and numerous sound expansion titles, including the recently developed JX-3P ACB Expansion. New effects and a host of fresh workflow enhancements are also included.

Each FANTOM EX model provides the most expansive collection of premium sound engines available in a hardware instrument. Roland’s ACB, ZEN-Core, V-Piano, SuperNATURAL, and Virtual ToneWheel technologies spark inspiration at every turn, providing expressive and inspiring sounds for every musical style.

With FANTOM EX, users can compose and perform with over 7000 genre-defining Roland sounds and go further with premium sound content on Roland Cloud. Eleven sound expansion titles come as standard, including JUPITER-8, SH-101, and JX-3P ACB Expansions; n/zyme, JD-800, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JX-8P, and SH-101 Model Expansions; the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01; and the SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion.

The powerful custom processors in FANTOM EX provide smooth and precise operation with plenty of overhead, enabling loads of polyphony and full patch remain for seamless transitions. There are dozens of simultaneous effects, including new studio-grade reverbs and updated Master FX for shaping the overall sound. A characterful analog filter is also available, perfect for infusing tones with extra warmth and grit.

FANTOM EX is primed to be the center of any production universe. Users can directly shape sounds and develop musical ideas with a friendly, ergonomic panel filled with buttons, knobs, and sliders. The color touchscreen dynamically changes to support the task at hand, and it’s now possible to personalize the look by importing custom images for the screensaver and startup view.

The deep onboard sampling and composition tools in FANTOM EX support fast sound creation and quick arrangement of song ideas. Multiple workflow options include the classic Roland TR-REC step sequencer, real-time recording with piano roll editing, and 16 RGB pads for triggering sounds, samples, and clips.

FANTOM EX flows effortlessly into any computer-based production setup. There are dedicated modes for popular software platforms, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, MainStage, Cubase, and Studio One. With the built-in 16x3 audio/MIDI USB interface, users can mix and layer soft synths with hardware sounds, send sequencer parts to computer tracks, route DAW sources through FANTOM EX effects, and more.

The loaded FANTOM EX rear panel supports connections with a wide range of gear. There are XLR combo connectors for mics and instruments and eight 1/4-inch outputs to route sounds to external destinations. MIDI I/O is also available, along with dual CV/Gate outputs for driving modular and analog synths.

Each FANTOM EX model comes equipped with a premium keyboard and aftertouch support. The FANTOM 8 EX offers the ultimate weighted experience with 88 hammer-action keys, while the 61-note FANTOM 6 EX and 76-note FANTOM 7 EX feature semi-weighted synth action. Precision-crafted with decades of Roland development knowledge, these inspiring keyboards deliver the most expressive playability available.

Released in November 2023, the FANTOM EX Upgrade on Roland Cloud allows owners of the original FANTOM 6/7/8 models to outfit their instruments with the newly added EX features, including JUPITER-8, SH-101, and JX-3P ACB Expansions, n/zyme and JD-800 Model Expansions, two new grand pianos, and all other EX enhancements.

Availability & Pricing
The Roland FANTOM 6 EX, FANTOM 7 EX, and FANTOM 8 EX will be available in the U.S. in April for $3,199.99, $3,699.99, and $4,199.99 respectively."

Waldorf Wave 32 voices Cadmium Red Edition

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

This one appears to have sold for $18,948.66. Soviet Space Child spotted it. Just capturing the pics in this post. The video in the listing was previously posted here. What's interesting is this appears to be a smooth coat vs Nextel. I think this one is Nextel. It's hard to tell in the image.

From the listing:

"Also available is the new, expanded, flawless software system 1.092 , officially accepted from Waldorf. More information is available on the Waldorf Wave site from Till Kopper.

you will not find anywhere in better shape Wave

The Waldorf Wave is unquestionably the highlight of synthesizer history - a milestone in design from creator Axel Hartmann. Legendary in history, unique in design, mammoth in sound and size. 20 years after its creation, the Waldorf Wave is still timelessly stunning.

As far as the Wave's sound is concerned - words are not enough. Digital meets analogue in wavetable synthesis of the highest level! The inspiration that comes working with the Wave will expand your musical creative world. Sound design is not at all limited and analytical as the Microwave 1 was; the 16-voice sound is intuative, spontaneous, vivid, uncomplicated, and fun! The analogue filters offer a special touch of fullness. No plug-in or hardware can compare!

With this synth you can really build your wavetables with a lot of features and control. And the filters are analog. This one has 32 voices, and all voices present ."

Pic of the inside below.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Rare Hohner ADAM 1994 Grey Vintage Keyboard Synthesizer by Waldorf Germany

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Very rare and vintage Hohner ADAM Synthesizer Keyboard"

Demo in the listing previously posted here. A search on Hohner ADAM will bring up just a handful of previous posts as well. This one is indeed pretty rare.

Classic Axel Hartmann design.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The River, gestion des modulations issues du clavier

Published on Feb 19, 2017 laurent

"Présentation rapide de la gestion des modulations issues du clavier : pression, velocités d'attaque et de relâchement et molette
ainsi que le mode pseudo polyphonique...."

The UI screams Axel Hartmann's Waldorf designs. See the River Creative label below for previous posts.

The Waldorf Wave II

You are looking at renders of what was to be the Wadorf Wave II, designed by Axel Hartmann, the man behind the upcoming 20 Electronics synth, and hardware designer for numerous manufacturers including Access, Moog, and of course Waldorf. There was also the Waldorf Stromberg that never made it into production.

"Got to pull these out again . . . from somewhere in our archives. This baby was supposed to be the "Wave II", back in the days, somewhere around the year 2000. We have been working on some wicket ideas then; - wanted to use huge trackballs, to create animated surround sound coming directly out of that machine. Also, for the lefthand controls, we were trying to implement some ideas that I had years before, when working on the "Gambit" study. I was asking myself; - why should a keyboard player, who is capable of doing the wildest things with his left hand, be limited to using just the hand or the thumb to control things . . . so we came up with the 4 dynamic switches array; - one switch for each finger, in combination with a pitch bender, that we stole from Hans / Nord (sorry for that, but it is such a GREAT thingie . . .). The switches have been located ergonomically perfect, just below the left edge of the wheel block . . . Also, look at that display . . . oh man . . ."

"A synth with balls."


"The entire front panel is a glass surface; - printed from the back. Of course, the pots are all encoders with lightrings. OK; - it is a bad rendering; - but not too bad for the time, when it was created ;-)"

"Achja; - klar - polyphonic pressure . . ."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The SynthSummitShow episode 18: John Bowen synth designs

Streamed live 5 hours ago Flux302 of Fluxwithit.com

Fascinating bit of synth history with John Bowen who started his career with synths during the early days of Moog Music, followed by Sequential Circuits. Dave Rossum in the early days of E-mu is mentioned as well. John now of course runs John Bowen Synth Design, and is the creator of the Solaris. You can find previous interviews with John at various synth events in the archives here.

Interesting little bit of trivia at 41:55 regarding John drawing some of the Prophet-VS waveforms as estimations of the waveforms on the front panel of I'm guessing either the KORG DW-8000 or DW-6000. It's interesting to know they are in there. It's worth noting all of the Prophet-VS waveforms and Waldorf, and therefor PPG waveforms, are in his new Solaris x 4, meaning four independent oscillators capable of having separate waveforms or wavetables from each. The Prophet-VS vector synthesis of course made its way to Yamaha's SY-22/TG-33, followed by Korg and the Wavestation where it morphed into vector sequencing. He also worked on the original version of the KORG OASYS which turned into the PCI card version. He then left to work with Creamware on Scope, on some of the first software models of vintage synthesizers. It's pretty incredible when you think of all the connections between synths John has not only influenced, but created over the years.

Note the Solaris 1U rackmount at 1:11:48. Two were made a couple of years ago but the idea was scrapped. John spoke with Axel Hartmann on it and they agreed that the lack of UI made it not worth it. The Solaris has over 1200 editable parameters and part of the magic behind the Solaris keyboard is the UI which makes it all easily accessible.

Funny note regarding the Yamaha DX7 at 1:23:00. John is referring to the Jellinghuas controller for the DX7 after that, and Flux is referring to the DTronics DT7 based on it.

Video description:

"The SynthSummitShow is a live streamed show dedicated to Synths, music technology and the people who make the gear we use possible.

Todays guest is John Bowen. http://www.johnbowen.com/about.html

John was instrumental in many of the products we all know and love, from the prophet 5 to the solaris John has been a staple in the music industry.

Host: Ken Flux Pierce is a sound designer, Music technology consultant and blogger you can find me at Fluxwithit.com"

Waldorf "machine data 2003" Product Brochure

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"15-seitige, Hochglanz Prospekt, gebraucht

Rarität, Printed in Germany

Design von Axel Hartmann / Design Box Deutschland

Format: 17 * 12 cm

Inhalt Machine Data 2003
- Waldorf Aktie (!)
- AFB16 Analog Filter Bank (never build)
- Q+ Analog Filter Synthesizer
- Q / Q Rack Synthesizer
- microQ Synthesizer
- RackAttack Drum & Perc Synthesizer
- Comparsion Chart"

AFB - Analog Filter Bank & Q+ pages pictured below.

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UDO Super 6 -just playing, no voice. Binaural polysynth

Published on May 10, 2019 FutureMusic.es

"El sintetizador híbrido polifónico binaural U.D.O Super 6 es una bestia binaural con detalles estéticos en su diseño -firmado por Axel Hartmann- tomados de Jupiter-8 y -6. Escucha cómo suena en esta evolución de ocho minutos realizada al vuelo por George Hearn. Se espera que Super 6 esté disponible este año por un precio comprendido entre 2.000 y 2.500€. #superbooth #superbooth2019 #superboothberlin #sintetizador #sintes"

Yves Usson - The Man Behind the Arturia MiniBrute

Marc-Henri aka RADIOKLOW, who has been featured on this site numerous times, sent in this image of Yves Usson's recent demonstration of the Arturia MiniBrute in Lyon, France. Yves is well respected in the synth community for his DIY work at http://yusynth.net, and most recently his work on the new MiniBrute.

I asked Marc-Henri if I could post the image and his words. Not only did he agree, but he sent some words from Yves Usson as well. Don't miss Marc-Henri's note on how design began in the modular realm.


Yves Usson on the birth of the MiniBrute: "I was contacted by Arturia in june 2010 to conceive and draw the whole chain of analogic sound production for the Mini Brute. I made a first model of the components. Then the engineers of Arturia created the transposition of the circuits into surface components, and their integration in product. Arturia developed the whole numeric control of the keyboard, of the Midi/Usb interface and of the arpeggiator. I took part in the integration process and creation of the successive prototypes until the final production was achieved. I also wrote several chapters in the user's guide, especially the didactic part about subtractive synthesis and the description of the Mini Brutes various functions."

Marc-Henri on the image, Yves Usson & the MiniBrute: "Here is a portrait of Yves Usson, the creator of the Mini Brute. He lives in Grenoble (one hour far from my city, Lyon) and is mainly a creator of modular synths (the one behind him is one of his unique pieces after various modules). Grenoble is also the home city of Arturia and this explains also why Yves Usson was asked to collaborate with this famous and beautiful label. I took this picture in my music store whose synths manager, a very good friend called Pascal, had organized the first french presentation of the Mini Brute last saturday. It was something great to face one of the six already built Mini Brutes ! Yves Usson explained us he started building the future Mini Brute in modular form before imagining its shape with the Arturia's engineers, because he is so familiar with this kind of system, it was for him the best way to conceive an analogue.

Yves Usson, as every great creator, is a very simple and passionate man, generous and open minded, and I think his instrument has the taste of genius. By pure chance, I discovered he is member of a small association of electronic music I belong to. This created a friendly connection between us. I will certainly have other opportunities to meet him in his studio and maybe try one of his fabulous self made modulars ! I love this kind of persons, highly creative with simplicity and generosity."

Note the MiniBrute filter is the Nyle Steiner filter, and I believe the physical controls and case was designed by Axel Hartmann also responsible for the designs by Access, Waldorf, Moog, and more - you can find the list on his designbox site here. Use the on-page scroll bar on the right to scroll through the list.

Big thanks to Marc-Henry and Yves Usson for this post!

Update: turns out the modular in the background is actually a custom MOS-LAB System 16.

The John Bowen Interview | Legendary Synth and Sound Specialist, New Solaris OS, Demos, & Prototype

video upload by Espen Kraft

"John Bowen is the man behind those Sequential factory synth preset sounds heard on so many classic tracks. The Prophet 5, Prophet VS, Six-Trak etc.
He later worked on the Korg Wavestation, Korg Oasys, the Creamware DSP plugin synths and finally his own hardware synth, the Solaris.
You've heard his sounds more times than you know.

In this interview you can hear how it all started, all the funny stories, and what happened in California in the 70s, at Sequential Circuits in the 80s and at Korg in the 90s. And more."

You can find v2.0.3 update details here: https://forums.johnbowen.com/viewtopic.php?t=17189.

The following are a couple of videos featuring the Solaris, the first featuring on the John Bowen site.
video upload by synthhaft

"Improvisation with a 'Noodle'-Sound, done with the SOLARIS.
One Sound, one take, no external fx."

And one more with a Nonlinear Labs C15 and Waldorf Quantum:
"Heizfläche"

video upload by

And last but definitely not least, some pics of the Solaris prototype via the John Bowen Synth Design forum where you'll find additional pics:

"I came across some of the old Solaris prototype photos, and I thought people might enjoy seeing them!

We introduced the Solaris at the Frankfurt Musik Messe at the end of March 2007. The original design features 2 rows of knobs below the Envelope section, so that you could easily adjust filter and amp envelopes without having to select them individually. (Note there are only 3 EG select buttons, as the idea was to select them in pairs.)

The wood sides were more rounded, as you can see these were quite nice, but a bit too expensive for production. The graphics of the front panel featured a design from my childhood friend, John Heisch (viewable on the left side). Also, the original silk screen for the front panel was not to my liking, so I requested an 'emergency' job from Axel Hartmann to revise the graphics look for the show (which he did just 2 weeks prior to the show!).

We went through 5 prototype stages, arriving at the production version you know now. It was quite the journey!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Hohner Adam Digital Synthesizer

Published on Sep 8, 2017 Musicnectar

Here's an interesting synth from the past. The physical design was by Axel Hartmann. You can find all posts featuring the Hohner Adam here.

The iconic Waldorf Wave

video upload by synthlegends

"The Waldorf Wave was the most sophisticated synthesizer, which was produced in Germany, maybe one of the most sophisticared synth ever made. It came out in 1993 as the successor of the Waldorf microwave (1989). It was designed by Axel Hartmann and was highly regarded as a great insdustrial design.

The Waldorf Wave has 64 internal waves and 64 custom waves. It has two oscillators, three envelopes and three LFO. It has a curtis CEM Filter design, with low pass, band pass and high pass. It is 8 times mulittimbral and has 16 Voices in the basic version. In the bigger version, which is on the pictures, it has 32 voices and 76 keys. In this video I demonstrate the basic version and mostly layered sounds.

As you can see, I am tweaking around the sounds, especially also the waves and the behavour of the wavetabele envelope. Later on my camera striked, so there is no video content anymore. I hope you dont mind. Thanks for watching and listening again."

Last Call for The Schmidt!

If you have $25,000 to spare and want a Schmidt, now is the time! Just be sure to send some support my way for the tip.

"e:m:c calls last orders for final 25-unit production run of Schmidt subtractive super-synth

'I feel really honoured that musicians around the world love the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer, which simply started as a small-scale bass synthesizer project before I took a chance on building the synthesizer of my dreams. That e:m:c has decided to build another 25 units of this exclusive — and expensive — instrument makes me proud!'

- Stefan Schmidt, 2016


LANGENAU, GERMANY: e:m:c (electronic music components) — German distributor of several key electronic musical instrument brands, including Mellotron (Sweden), Moog (USA), Vintage Vibe (USA), and MIDI Solutions (Canada) — is proud to announce that it is taking orders on a second self-financed (and final) 25-unit build run of the exclusive (and expensive) Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer, surely one of the most ambitious analogue synthesizer projects ever undertaken...

The no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer was, without doubt, a showstopper when namesake hardware and software designer Stefan Schmidt’s hand-crafted first prototype unit debuted at Musikmesse 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany. Within a year it was being shipped Stateside for its first proper public airing at The NAMM Show 2012 in Anaheim, California. Indeed, it is somewhat fitting that following a repeat performance at The NAMM Show 2013 that same super-synth prototype made its way over to Santa Monica for an audience with none other than Hollywood hotshot Hans Zimmer, one of the most successful, influential, and prolific film composers of all time with a sumptuous synthesizer-filled studio setup second to none! It’s still there... the rest, as they say, is history.

History has it, then, that the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer is quite possibly the most expensive analogue eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer the world has yet seen and heard. Hardly surprising given the investment involved in its drawn-out development, both in terms of funding and man hours. Hardly the stuff of commercial viability in an accepted age of market value-driven optimisation, often resulting in compromised products. Put it this way, though: this is the synthesizer that Stefan Schmidt always dreamed of, created against all odds without any compromises whatsoever (with more than a little help from friends Axel Hartmann — co-founder and owner of renowned industrial designers designbox, whose distinctive design talents took the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer prototype to another level entirely, thanks to some serious funding from e:m:c President Stefan Hund).

But bolstered by those tradeshow successes, supported by his partners at e:m:c, Stefan Schmidt set about putting his dream synthesizer into (build-to- order) production. A limited run of 25 units was admirably announced. Anyone arguing about its ‘second-tier’ five-figure price point probably couldn’t afford one. But bear in mind that those that could were buying into a thoroughbred analogue eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer with a fully- analogue signal path (with precise digital control) that’s truly a sound designer’s dream machine.

More meaningfully, a quick glance at its complex four-oscillator structure should be more than enough to convince even the most skilled synthesist that the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer is capable of creating complex timbres that go way beyond the capabilities of conventional analogue synthesizers. Speaking of which, Oscillator 4 is worthy of special mention. Thanks to its chain of five ring modulators fed by six pulse-waves, each with different pulse-widths, it can create colder, wavetable-like sounds — despite being fully analogue. These truly unique features are hitherto unheard of in any analogue synthesizer, let alone an analogue polysynth! Subtractive synthesis clearly knows no bounds here, helping to make the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer a shining example of no-expense-spared synthesizer design, deploying discrete sound generation circuitry throughout — no integrated oscillator/filter circuits on a single chip, for instance — in keeping with the highest possible production standards, while each and every parameter is directly accessible via dedicated controls on a seriously spacious front panel to die for.

Fortunately, for Stefan Schmidt and his supportive e:m:c production partners, all 25 units subsequently sold; Hans Zimmer would not be the only seriously satisfied Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer owner, after all. And that could so easily have been the happy ending to this success story, with the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer surely going down in the annals of history as one of the bravest moves in electronic musical instrument design as a bold statement that flies in the face of the fast-paced and superficial age we unfortunately find ourselves living in today.

Today, though, with 25 instruments already hand-crafted in Germany and duly delivered to seriously satisfied owners around the world, e:m:c is proud to announce that it will be building a final batch of 25 more. Maintains"

Studio Electronics & Axel Hartmann

via @SE_BoomStar

"Big things ahead with the one and only #axelhartmann"