WALDORF Q - Synth Review, Sounds & Demo | A Powerful Digital Synthesizer From 1999
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- Waldorf Q synth review, sounds and demo featuring an overview of Waldorf Q's features, patches and music making capabilities. In this Waldorf Q synthesizer review I do a walk through of the synth, play various sounds, and showcase the Waldorf Q's live performance and sound design abilities.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Overview
02:10 - Oscillators
04:15 - FM
05:30 - Osc Sync
06:11 - Osc Layering + Glide
06:49 - LFOs
09:02 - Ring Mod
09:38 - Noise + Summary
10:13 - Filter Routing & Types
13:14 - Filter FM
14:38 - Filter Pan Mod
15:39 - Amp Mod
16:03 - Effects
20:13 - Arpeggiator
22:56 - Arp Pattern Editing
24:39 - Envelopes
25:21 - Step Sequencer
26:11 - Patch Morphing
27:09 - Mod Matrix
27:31 - Multi-timbrality
29:48 - Drum Maps
30:11 - Summary
30:33 - Sounds, Presets & Patches
50:23 - Pros
55:57 - Cons
01:02:28 - Final Thoughts
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Released in 1999, the Waldorf Q is one of the most powerful virtual analog digital synthesizers ever created. It comes in 16 or 32 voice (rare) versions and is 16-part multi-timbral, which allows for many sounds at once in live performances, and features a ton of hands-on control.
The Waldorf Q has 3 oscillators (saw, triangle, sine, square w/ PWM and 2 wavetables on osc 1/2), a ring modulator, oscillator sync, FM between osc 1-3, glide, noise, pitch mod, and supports external audio-in and a vocoder. The Waldorf Q also has 3 LFOs with 6 waveshapes (sine, tri, saw, square, S&H, random) which go into audio rate and support sync, delay, keytracking, fade, clock, and phase.
The filter section of the Waldorf Q is very flexible thanks to a dual filter setup for both serial and parallel filter modes, and the routing can be adjusted by various amounts. There are multiple filter types (LPF, PPG Lowpass, BPF, HPF, Notch, Comb), slopes (12 and 24 dB), and controls (cutoff, resonance, keytracking, envelope, pan and pan mod, FM, drive) for the filters.
In addition to this, the Waldorf Q features 4 envelopes (filter, amp and 2 mod envelopes), all of which can be looped. It also has 2 FX engines with multiple effects (chorus, delay, phaser, reverb, downsampler, 5.1 delay, tap delay, overdrive and more), a programmable arpeggiator (accents, timing, swing, glide, chords, velocity and more) and a 32-step polyphonic sequencer with saveable patterns.
Furthermore, the Waldorf Q has a 16-slot modulation matrix which runs at audio rate depending on the type of routings, has "modifiers" (addition, subtraction, multiplication, XOR, AND, OR, min, max) to further enhance routings, and has a patch morphing capability (Xphorm) between 2 sounds at once.
The Waldorf Q's extension output options, including digital S/PDIF, provides pristine sound quality, and the 61-key aftertouch keyboard feels great. With room for 300 custom patches, drum maps and 100 performances, there is plenty of room to store your sounds.
The Waldorf Q is exceptionally powerful and versatile for sound creation and live performance, and can do everything from pads, leads, basses, effects, FM tones, to all types of soundscapes and wavetable-based sounds. It is a fantastic synth to get lost in and can take you places most digital synths can only dream of. From my observation they are available on the second hand market but are somewhat difficult to come by, and prices have been rising over the years.
The Waldorf Q represents the pinnacle of their virtual analog digital synthesizer design and even though it was released in 1999, it still remains far ahead of its time even 20+ years later. If you have the opportunity to get your hands on one, you won't be disappointed.
#waldorf #waldorfq #review #synthesizer #synth
A true exotic and one of the most perfect synths. Last year at my university we had a synth gathering for the keyboardists at the music studies. And my Q Halloween edition ended up mopping the floor with everything people had with them (people thought it sounded and felt amazing to play even vs the prophets, moogs, UDO Supersix'es etc. Of course I gave the programming my all, just to show them what amazing sounds that you can get out of these things on the fly. Its in the character, the controls, the feel and build quality and quality of keybed. Something can also be said for synths that have just what they need instead of having everything, This synth has everything that you want from a subtractive synth without it being overkill, which also serves the user for it to be programmed on the fly. Its very immediate and suitably "temperamental" as sounds can be taken in so many directions spontaneously, and it also got that beautiful 90's Waldorf sound character, it all inspires the programmer in so many ways. I would not switch mine in for a Quantum if anyone offered me. Still relevant in 2024!
Thanks for sharing your story! The Q is still very relevant today thanks to its sound, interface and features. Glad you still have yours.
I have a Quantum and whilst it won’t replace the Q it’s really one of the best synths I’ve owned and I’ve owned a lot. The only thing they missed in my opinion was the four part multi timbreality.
@@Robguitarjarvis Agreed! Awesome synth.
What a super video. It’s about time the Waldorf Q got such an in-depth review and detailed explanation of it’s features.
Thanks so much! There's so much to cover with the Q and its well worth showcasing
Actually in depth overview of this synth and well chaptered! I'd love to see a review of a Virus in this style. subbed
Thank you. If I get my hands on another Virus perhaps someday
As always - love your channel - Thanks, amazing Synth & Demonstration !
Thanks so much for watching!
Super great walktrough and review!!! Very well done! Now need a walktrough and review of the Waldorf XT :)
Thanks! Someday I will take a look at the XT I hope.
I had most of the popular VA synths of the era. Novation Supernova, Roland JP8000, Access Virus C etc. And they where all great in their own ways and could often sound similar to each other but none of them could sound like the Q. The Q is the only one I still have from back then. I will never get rid of it.
Indeed, the Q has a distinct character which makes it unique in its own way.
Come on! Everybody has a price ?! 😀
Love my Q. Great video as usual
Thanks! Glad you are still enjoying your Q today.
Really nice and extensive review!
Thanks so much!
Love this vid. As an owner of a Quantum, 2 XT’s, one of which has the 30 voice board, and a micro Q..I always lusted after a Q. Never seen one in person. Love,y machine.
Thanks! 30 voice XT is monstrous, and the Quantum... Q's do pop up from time to time. Hope you can grab one at some point!
I LOVE your work here!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the review.
1999 was my magic year in relation to music.. more precisely, to everything. A playstation on my birthday influenced me also to.
That was a great year indeed
Was a proud owner of the Original Waldorf Q+ ruby red version. 100 Voices with 16 true analog filters! I should have never sold it!!!!
Wow that's a great version of the Q! Maybe someday you can get it back?
Amazing sounds, I got Waldorf last year and thinking some of sounds from Q in it, and technologically it based on Q also :)
Great to hear that!
I have the desktop and it’s bloody lovely.
Very nice!
Nice demo. came here from reddit :)
Thank you for watching! :)
:) I replaced all the knobs with a new set i 3D printed. I had your same issue rubber degradation. Mow are in hepoxy resin. I love my yellow Qkb. Nice video!
Nice! Thanks for watching
Thank you for this detailed demonstration. I also love the Waldorf synths. I own the MW 1, MW XT, Pulse and soon the Iridium Keyboard. But I still wonder why they didn't just call the Q Microwave 3? Probably because the MW 2 was released 2 years earlier and they simply wanted to participate in the VA synthesizer hype at the end of the 90s.
Thanks for watching, appreciate the comment!
I had a Microwave XT, Micro Q , Blofeld and the Softwares ( Largo,Nave ) but always wanted that one too... sounds so good.. much better than most of todays synths !!
Awesome! That's a lot of Waldorf gear. The Q is still relevant today!
Really is a unique gem to this day, I have the blue rack version expanded to 32 voices and it is the workhorse of my studio. Great sound and flexibility. Still need to give the vocoder a whirl.
Awesome, its great to have the 32-voice version.
@@synth4ever yeah I was lucky to find an expander card at a reasonable price, blue version doesn’t have the nextel paint, and instead has something that has sort of a satin gloss to it.
Get one as long as you can.
You can have an extremely deep polysynth with a very characterful and beautiful sound for 1200 euro. A very unique and special instrument.
Watch the legendary wc old garb Q demos.
always loved Waldorf products.
digital sounding? yes.
however, the amount of possibilities they offer customers are really worth it.
Agreed, always pushing the envelope! :)
Those knobs are so Waldorf!
Yes :)
Awesome.. What reverb settings do you use for the Q? I just got the Q a little while ago and am having a hard time dialing the reverb as there are so many settings, it goes from way too subtle to way too powerful. Also adding the effects mix brings the volume of the synth way down. Trying to figure out how to better balance it. Awesome synth and awesome walk through!!
Thanks for the comment. For reverb, I find a 50% mix or less is usually enough, and to reduce distortion in the reverb adjust the lowpass and highpass levels in the reverb menu.
Love mine ( key and desktop) and the micro Q can be a great option too
Really cool you have both. More Q power! :)
I had a grey waldorf Q with 30 voices . A really great synth. I made powerful screaming sounds with the morphing function 😁. I sold it for my first quantum.
That's great you've had experience with the Q and Quantum! Both great synths.
Great video. I'm the proud or better said lucky owner of a Waldorf Phoenix Q (only 500 pieces) 32-voice version. Non Nextel. With v3 knobs and v2 main board. That is the one to collect and pretty rare. But overall, the Q is an 'exotic' (vintage) synth and direct reminiscent of the PPG 2.3 that is able to sound from digital harsh to mellow, honey analog eargasm type sounds. It combines VA and Wave tables. Simply said, it is your best alternative to an overpriced 3rd Wave. Buy now as prices are going up and up and up...
I have the rack Phoenix Q version. I really like it.
You lucky one! But I would have thought the Q+ Phoenix was the one to collect with its dynamic voice management up to 100 voices?
I also have the Phoenix edition but just 16 voices.
V3 knob caps? Are these the one with the little windows? The I have them too.
And what do you mean with v2 main board? Why do you mention it? Is there something special or are there different mainboards in the Q Phoenix edition?
What's the deal.
I always loved the q to this day.
Congrats on your 32-voice Q Phoenix! Sounds like a great version. And yes, Q prices have been climbing over time.
My favorite synth! Great sounds and sound design parameters. I especially like the Multi patch function, allowing up to 16 different zones. This can be exploited by using the midi assignment for each zone, so that some zones can be played on the Q keyboard (local only), other zones can be played on a remote keyboard (midi only), and some zones can be played on both (local + midi). For this I use a D70 keyboard with its 76 note keybed. In addition, I can add the D70 sounds in separate zones or layers. My main complaint has been the encoders with erratic values. In my experience this is due to grease from the shaft of the encoders migrating down and getting past the "O" ring on the bottom of the encoders. Once I dismantled my Q and cleaned every encoder (and coated each with Deoxit D5), it has worked perfectly without a glitch. I posted this in the Facebook users group. I also uploaded a demo using the D70 as an additional keyboard triggering only Q sounds: ua-cam.com/video/ao4drxZF6kc/v-deo.html
Great insights! Indeed, the 16-part multi-timbrality is pretty advanced and allows for all sorts of cool live performance options,. Thanks for sharing!
I have a Micro Q Phoenix with 90 voice expansion, its fantastic
Awesome. That's a lot of voices to play with!
AMAZING MACHINE
Yes, very powerful synth!
@@synth4ever I had a Q+ line up…the Red one, you know. I opted, instead, to buy a John Bowen Solaris-serial #59, white.
I sold it after having a MUST BE ANALOG fit. This led to SOLARIS number 3, BLACK-a gorgeous thing.
I never did own a Q. Many many Waldorf vintage synths didn’t own, but never did snag a Q.
WHO knows what the future holds.
By now. I don’t even recall what the “+” added to the Q.
My 16 Voice Yellow Q will always be with me ;). Bought it used and in not so good condition and completely reworked every bit. But this was 17 years ago and now the encoders start to jump again. And also the old knobs are all gone in the last few years. I have thought about a full encoder replacement with nearly undestructable hall effect encoders, a complete recap of the PCB and a new power supply. If I only had the time to do it... ;-)
Glad you still have your Q and hope you can get it back to 100%!
Sounds gorgeous. I wish I bought one at the time, but the reviews weren’t particularly positive, with complaints of reliability and bugs, if I remember correctly. Just goes to show, you should follow your heart, not the reviews.
With time, perspectives change... but the specs don't lie. :)
I owned the XTK and it was very awesome and very orange!! 🎹😁 I also borrowed one of these (the blue version) and it was very nice, but as the reviewer highlights, it had a lot of personality traits which made you want to pull your own teeth out! 🤣
XTK is a beast! Q is great too, of course.
thank you for your excellent test, I won't part with my Waldorf Q rack for anything in the world !
Thanks for watching! Hold onto your Q rack! :)
i got the rackmount version of this... just missing all those cool knobs etc. but it has some knobs. still use it. 2024.
Awesome, the rack is great!
@@synth4ever just relaized, i have the micro Q rack... so, not as big as the regular Q rack... . Great video btw!!!
All good, MicroQ is still nice! Thanks for watching. :)
butiful
I kind of regret selling mine, it was an absolute power house and I’d set up such brilliant four part mutis that were hard to believe it was just one synth doing everything.
Yes, it is very flexible for layered sounds! Great to have the 4-parts avail on the front panel.
8:35 this S&H sound reminds me of my KURZWEIL K2600S preset called Gremlin Groupies😈
Are those factory presets you’re playing?
Yes, I believe so. They were what came with the synth.
Un sintetizador increìble, me hubiera encantado tener el placer de tenerlo, lamentablemente vivo en latinoamerica jaja
You can still import synths to LATAM! :)
These algorythms... I was just thinking of getting me a Q yesterday and this really triggers me a lot 😂
It's a sign to get a Q! :)
28:55 I am pretty sure this feature was already in the Nord Lead probably since version 1 in 1995 (Nord Lead 2 for sure), but it is indeed much more useful on a synth with 16-32 voices.
Thanks for sharing those insights!
@@synth4ever Actually the supernova / nova also had this feature with even more parts available 😄 ua-cam.com/video/QW_IFglfisI/v-deo.html
@@NiamorH Ah yes, that's right! 8 parts right on the front panel, even better. :)
I did have a the microQ for a while but i just couldn't get into it. The interface is manageable for the original Pulse but there's too much menu diving with the mQ for going in deep from the front panel, guess could of used an editor or hardware controller to open it up. Still have the v1 Pulse and mWXT which i brought new around the late 90's. I think I've managed to stop the orange Nextel melting but the knobs have long gone 😆
Not been tempted by the latest generations of Waldorf synths as of yet, though they seem pretty powerful.
The MicroQ rack does lack a lot of knobs so can understand the menu diving fatigue. Thankfully you have an XT which is very knob laden. :)
@@synth4ever The Pulse is no slouch either, its bit of a monster.
In spite of the Tom Brokaw BREAKING NEWS INTRO THIS THING REALLY TOUCHES ALL MY ASMR SOFT-SPOTS!! ❤😊😋🫠I’m feelin’ all WARM & FUZZY!!! 💦💧🐟
Hehe... glad you enjoyed it Mr Katnip :)
Its character always shows through the programming and its great for a certain sound but not so great for other VA duties where things like a virus C, supernova II, or Lead outshine it.
The Q definitely has its own character and sound.... just another tool in the kit alongside those others! :)
Don’t crave one, but I ain’t mad at it.
i dont crave ice cream, but i aint mad at it
@@YouKilledYourMaster Nah, I’m mad at ice-cream … its macros are problematic. 😏🙃
Halloween Q forever
Great choice!
Quite Karma-y in places
VA synth suffer from their branding till today cause people still compare them with real analog Synth. Leave that behind because they have so much character themselves.
And the Q is one of the most beautiful va synth ever. And it has filter fm.
It has such a nice character and is one of the deepest synth ever built.
Shimmery, gritty and the soundengine reacts unique and agreeable to modulation.
Agreed, the Q is very powerful digital synth. It has a great character, and showcases digital sounds very well.
I am a bit disappointed that you didn't show the nice effect of a small amount of filter fm while detune the oscillators a bit. Also fm is also nice with just a small amount.
Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it!
If I get the Q+ Phoenix Edition, will I get the same sound?
Yes it will sound exactly the same if you choose to use the digital filters.
@@japanlife8909 thanx! so the q+ has both, digital and analog?
Yes it has both. It’s kind of like 2 synths in one. It can be a regular Q or when using the analog filters the synth feels more organic and alive.
@@japanlife8909 The last question, please)
Ordinary Q+ and the Phoenix edition - it’s the same synth, just different look? Or Phoenix has 32 voices?
The original Q+ and the Phoenix edition are basically the same synth. Both have up to 100 voice polyphony when using digital filters depending on the complexity of the patches used. There are 16 analog filters which can be routed into a patch as desired. Using a single analog filter per voice would result in a 16 voice patch and using dual analog filters per voice would be an 8 voice patch. Digital and analog filters can be used in unison too. I have a Phoenix edition which occasionally will lose an analog voice. To fix this requires opening up the synth and switching the analog board positions. I heard this is an issue with some Phoenix editions. I’m not sure if this is an issue with the original. It’s ok you can ask as many questions as you like.
I had a chance to trade my polysix for one of these in 2021. Almost went through but the guy reneged right before it. Sigh...
That's unfortunate... hopefully you'll have another opportunity to grab one in the future.
Sounds like Diva
I have the rack version 3. I can expand the polyphony. Is very very deep. The filter smooth. Now, you really need to know what you are doing and really wrap your head around it. If not you are just wasting your time.
Great to hear you have the rack version. It's a very powerful synth for sound design.
what a gem
Yes, it's a great VA synth with so many possibilities!
Awesome synth.. if only it looked a bit prettier and was still available :)
Still avail on 2nd hand market! :) There are other color versions, too.
So gutted I sold this synth I had a desktop version 😢
Q racks are still avail on 2nd hand market if you want it back! :)
This and the virus are synths I regret not getting.
They are still avail 2nd hand :)
Waldorf synthesizers are very advanced in terms of sound design possibilities since the birth of their company than their american and japanese competitors imo
Yes they are, as are Arturia too. Waldorf have always taken centre stage in my studio since the 90’s.
Nice synth but I think I will get the 3rd wave and the Waldorf M instead so I dont have to visit the synth repair shop in the near future.
Hopefully the Q continues to live a long life! 3rd Wave and M are also amazing.
For some odd reason, you sound like the, "Seinfeld" version of George Steinbrenner. ( even the hand gestures)😊😮😅😊
Haha
stupid encoders , 9-5 knobs RULE
Synth makers should Watch this. What happened? It's 2024 and it's full of overpriced Toys.
🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤮………..Why??????????????????
?