Waldorf Blofeld: Still Going in 2024

Waldorf music has just announced a new offer for the classic Blofeld desktop synth:

Offspring from a noble house – the little synthesizer machine with the big and evil sound. In this special offer bundled together with the License SL expansion in one package – License SL is the Sample Play Option for Blofeld desktop. With this license, 60 Megabyte of Sample Flash Memory are available for factory or user samples.

Although Waldorf offers the License SL option at a reduced price from time to time (I paid €29), this is the first time I've seen it included for free with the synth.

I think, even now, the Blofeld can offer a pretty compelling sound world - but I would like to see an updated version with a few more knobs and bug fixes.

Blofeld Pros:

• A large range of wavetables, plus the opportunity to import your own
• Unusual routing options, including a specific FM & Filter FM mod matrix - where oscillators and even samples can be modulators. This is pretty exotic sound design, even by today's standards
• Enough LFO's and envelopes to keep you busy for years!

Blofeld Cons

• Some owners complained of a low output level; by using tiny amounts of the optional tube drive, this can be boosted without distortion
• Arpeggiator MIDI-sync is reportedly still an issue, so an external sequencer might be the way to go
• The build quality is solid for a small unit, but reports of eventual encoder failure/skipping persist
• The SL license requires a long-winded manual activation. As far as I remember, you press a certain key combo on the synth, which displays a special code. You then need to email this to Waldorf, who will send you another code back. Pop this into the Blofeld & you're activated. I opened my new synth on a Sunday, but had to wait until Monday morning to get samples working!

Still, I think it's a compelling and inexpensive synth that will take you to another world. Here's a demo by Starsky Carr:

Read more at: https://waldorfmusic.com/

Posted by MagicalSynthAdventure an expert in synthesis technology from last Century and Amiga enthusiast.

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