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Waldorf Synthesizer Blofeld Plug-in

Waldorf Blofeld synth small

Blofeld expands its power: The versatile and most popular Waldorf synthesizer classic Blofeld is now also available as a software instrument. The original Blofeld hardware can be controlled by the plug-in. The sound generation of the Blofeld plug-in delivers the typical fat and rich Waldorf sound character that so many Waldorf users worldwide love when they are playing their Blofeld, Q, Q+, Microwave, Microwave II/XT or even the flagship, the Wave. The secret of its sound is a powerful wavetable engine that enables these intense and expressive sounds. This unique synthesis system is based on the revolutionary PPG synthesizers of the early 80s. The Blofeld sound remembers those edgy, assertive or bell-like timbres that have been an integral part of countless worldwide hits since the PPG era.

The ‘Synth’ section contains all the important parameters for the sound design, giving access to the oscillators, wavetables, filters, envelopes, LFOs and effects. The modulation matrix offers 16 freely assignable connections in addition to 9 fixed predefined routings. Additionally 4 freely assignable ‘modifiers’ are available that enable mathematical operations which can be used as a modulation source.

Waldorf Blofeld matrix

The Blofeld plug-in has a powerful preset browser with a database structure and is offering extensive sorting and filter functions. The arpeggiator of the Blofeld is one of the most powerful ones to be found in a Waldorf synthesizer. In addition to 15 basic patterns, it offers a complex pattern editor for creating own variations. This feature makes it a powerful tool.

Like the hardware, the plug-in also features a 16 part multimode. The MIDI channel, velocity and keyboard zone can be set individually for each part. This multimode allows the creation of complex layer sounds. The sample browser provides an overview of the imported and available wavesets. Users can also load their own samples and assign them to the oscillators.

The Blofeld plug-in is available as VST, VST3, AU and AAX for macOS and Windows through Waldorf Music’s growing global network of distributors at an introductory promo price of 119,00 € (including German tax) until 2nd January 2025 - rising thereafter to an SRP (Suggested Retail Price) of 149,00 € (including German tax) - and also directly from Waldorf Music’s online shop. Blofeld hardware owners will receive an extra 30 € voucher by entering the Blofeld serial number in their Waldorf account, making the plug-in only 89,00 € during the introductory period.

Technical Specifications

Oscillator

  • 3 Oscillators per voice, capable of wavetables, VA and samples
  • All Microwave II/XT/XTk wavetables
  • Frequency Modulation between the Oscillators
  • 38 slots for User WTs loadable from .midi or .wav file

Filter

  • 2 independent multi mode filters per voice
  • Filter FM
  • Filter Drive with selectable drive curves

Modulators

  • 4 Envelopes with multiple envelope modes
  • All envelope timings and levels can be modulated.
  • 3 LFOs with adjustable shapes, phase and speed as well additional delay and fade parameters
  • LFOs can be per voice or globally synced as well as clocked to DAW tempo
  • Modulation Matrix with 16 slots To modulate almost any parameter from a wide range of sources
  • 4 Modifier to create even more complex modulationsMulti-Mode
  • 16 part multi timbral, which can be layered or split
  • Split by key zone and velocity range
  • Multi instrument mixer with volume, panning, detuning, transpose and many more parameters.

Arpeggiator

  • Freely programmable Arpeggiator pattern with up to 16 steps per sound
  • Timing, accentuation and velocity adjustable for each step

Effects

  • 2 Effect slots per sound with effect types Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Overdrive, Triple FX, Delay and Reverb

Presets

  • All factory presets from the 2008 and 2012 banks included
  • 20 additional original sounds by synth_nyc
  • Can import original .mid and .syx presets and sound banks
  • Preset browser with search and sort options and preset maintenance
  • Custom preset format supporting tags, sound groups, author and comment attributes
  • Internal preset database
  • Import / export of sound and sound collection files
  • User presets contain sample data

Hardware Control

  • Plug-In can be used to control the hardware Blofeld
  • Editing all sound parameters on the hardware from the Plug-In
  • Directly import presets from the hardware into the Plug-In
  • Can send .midi preset, wavetable or sample files to the hardware
  • Covers full Spectre functionality

Samples

  • Each Oscillator capable of playing multi samples
  • Sample management with options to edit samples
  • Plug-In can import hardware sample content from .wpc files or user samples from .xml created with the Spectre software
  • Sample sets can be sent from the Plug-In to the blofeld hardware

Extras

  • Resizable graphical user interface
  • Freely assignable MIDI CC mapping via MIDI learn

Plug-In Formats

  • macOS: VST, VST3, AudioUnit and AAX
  • Windows: VST, VST and AAX

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