Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 10:03:12 -0400 From: Kent Friedman To: analogue@hyperreal.org Subject: Re: Has anyone used the microwave 2 [offtopic?] >Yeah ! Second that request. I'm picking up a Microwave XT to run my Waldorf >Pulse through (A sort of Waldorf chain , I suppose). Been deep into Mark's >midiwall search engine, (thanks, nice work), AH archives and the Waldorf site >and its links. Now, to hear from someone who has had the actual experience of >the XT also .............well.......*much* obliged. I think any analog junkie who buys a uWAVE XT will not be disappointed. The only time I've ever been this excited with a new synth was after getting a sampler (E64) and maybe my Jupiter 8 or Pro-1. Those particular purchases opened sonic doors for me that haven't been added to since this uWAVE came along. The thing that is just so impressive about the uWave 2/XT is it's diverse sonic character. I think I could happily create entire tracks with just this synth if I had maybe 2 more of them. The 40 or so dials on the XT make this a knob-twiddler's dream. If you're going to buy a microwave, by all means get the XT! This synth is a perfect example of why we're all so sold on analog-interfaces, and Waldorf were very smart to combine a non-analogue synth with a old-skool analog-type interface. I think alot of us on analog heaven would feel different about the history of modern synths if we we still had all these knobs and sliders on our Wavestations and JV-1080s! In addition to wavetable synthesis there are tons of analog-style modulation capabilities such as FM, RingMod, Osc. Sync, and there is a filter type that can be modulated by the pitch of oscillator 2. 16 mod routings and 4 mathematical function generators make this thing as capable as an Oberheim Xpander and best of all it can go from sounding rich and smooth like a Jupiter 8 all the way up to grungy and badass like an overdriven Minimoog. Then there are all the wonderful metallic, electronic sounds to be generated by combining wavetable synthesis with all the modulation routings. The LFOs are superfast and the programmable arpeggiators (one for each patch) are impressive as well if you're in to arpeggiation. The filters are really nice on this synth. In addition to the normal LP, BP, and HP there are some filters that modulate their cutoff based on the actual shape of the currently selected wave. There is a sample-and-hold filter type and a dual BP/LP filter along with some others which allow you to really wreak havoc on your patches! In addition to the wavetable synthesis this synth is great at analog emulation and I find it's digital filters to be a fine substitute when I've run out of analog chips. The lowpass filters are not unlike the analog one in the Waldorf Pulse and together these units make a great combination. I have to say that there aren't too many sounds coming out of my pulse these days that wouldn't sound just as good made on the microwave. One word of warning: The audio input is stereo but until waldorf upgrades their software the channels are combined into a mono source going into the mixer. So until they fix this bit of false advertising the audio input is essentially a summed mono. So much for processing stereo submixes... Other than that this is a wonderful synth. Check out the Waldorf website for a look at the new Q, their first foray into analog modelling. Additionally Waldorf are working with Emagic to develop an editor module that will allow user created waves and wavetables as an adjunct to the already available editor. keep tweaking, Kent _______________________________________________________ Kent Friedman kfriedman@sun.uchc.edu Panda Records http://www3.uchc.edu/~kfriedma/panda/