Waldorf Blofeld | An AWESOME Cheap Hardware Synth 🎹
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
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Howdy doody, frienderoonies! Today we're here to explore the legendary Waldorf Blofeld - an amazing hardware synth that you can find for next to nothing online and packs a massive punch of wavetables, multimode filters, multitimbral patching, and a small form factor.
The Blofeld is a great introduction to hardware synthesizers for beginners and experienced users alike, and will keep you busy patching away and exploring its powers for years to come.
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▼▼▼TIMESTAMPZ:▼▼▼
0:00 Yogurt Monsters
1:16 Why I Bought One
2:29 Dress to Impress
3:37 Sonic Aesthetics
8:56 F to the M
12:01 Custom Wavetables
12:46 Stacks on Stacks
16:12 Mod My Matrix
18:37 Twin Peaks
20:49 Touchy Touchy
22:40 WTF Machine
24:03 Reverb
25:58 Closing Thoughts
Stay classy!
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Disclosure:
If you make a purchase using any of the affiliate links, I will earn a small commission with no extra cost to you. This is a great way to get cool new stuff, and support the channel so I can make more videos like this one!
I only promote products and services that I love myself, and I'm sure you'll love them too!
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linkk just goes to a page with a bunch of random stuff
So your raving review is not biased?
@@DominicJacksonFilm It takes you to a synth website. From there you can look for the synthesizer in question. How hard is that?
One useful trick: if your Blofield starts to make cracking sounds, go to the global settings menu (Shift + Global) and turn off the external Midi clock (Clock = Internal)
That and try just turning off the clocked delay, that is the largest culprit of clock based clicks in the years I've had mine.
So you can't use your daw or something else to sync it? Does the blofeld have to be the master clock?
You're "an antique" because you remember when the Blofeld came out. Oh... kay.... So I guess I'm a fossil 'cause I remember when the Juno6 was the new kid on the block? :D :D :D
How timely you're posting this TODAY as my decade long lust for this synth has resurfaced
Your voice is fantastic. Love this synth. It's simultaneously one of the smallest synths I've come across and yet packs one of the biggest punches out there. Such an incredible bang for the buck too.
Great sounds, great playing! And thanks for a few nice reminders! I haven't done any new sounds on my Bio in years, but now started to dive in again and created some beautiful stuff - more to come. Indeed the options feel endless.
I share your admiration for the sonic breadth and pleasing character of this little machine (in the right hands). Re: the pain of using a multitimbral synth like this for MPE, you will love this little 2-step setup process that makes it pretty effortless thereafter. 1. In non-multi mode, reserve one specific preset number as a special MPE patch "slot" that will hold whatever preset you presently want to play in MPE. 2. In multi-mode, reserve one specific multi as your special MPE playback multi. Set all 16 midi channels of this multi to play your reserved special preset number from step 1. Setup complete. USAGE: When you want to play any preset as MPE, *copy* it to your special MPE preset slot (in non-multi mode) and then open your special MPE multi to play it. Quick and easy!
I love your channel man. You are literally my go to youtube tutor, among a couple of others. I seriously would buy an in depth course from you. Keep being amazing!
Only 5 minutes in and this thing is already giving me chills. I dig those sounds already. Wow! I got the Streichfett a while back, but I'm thinking I might have to look into the Blofeld as well.
Blofeld is a gem! Aside any weird encoder issues, I think it's a pretty worthy addition and not a super steep investment.
Got this thing for about 10 years,
Didnt realy used it, but this video made me wonna finaly explore it.
Thank you brother!
I'm glad I found your video on the Blofeld. Been looking for a small form factor synth that excels at pad sounds, and looked like the Blofeld fit the bill. Picked it up, and it is amazing!
Amazing piece of kit for the sound designer. It's probably one of my fav ever. Enormous sound palette and super creative synth! Love its multi part too ;)
I got my Blofeld this past summer and I think it has the best value for jumping into the hardware pool. I also bought Largo on sale. The preset management could use some work (largo), but overall these synthesizers have character. I'm satisfied with my purchases.
Yea love the sounds that come out of this device. Truly give me shivers of music creativity again. Reminds me a lot of old but strong music creation back in the days. And still an amazing form factor be great to have one myself indeed.
This was an enjoyable vid. Thanks for giving a thorough runthrough. It's not something I'm looking for, but you made it sound great.
I love that you saved the reverb epic-ness for the very end! Great vid thanks Cameron.
That final patch made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end - which is good going since i don't have any - so that's how powerful the effect is ! Came across this by chance recently and think it's a must have - sounds great - in the right hands.
Just got mine in last week, and even with the limited time I had, I am sure I would love this to bits! Need a decent sequencer for some multi patches, that’s a sure thing!
Nothing but love for this little machine!
It’s a great synth and can do so many different sounds. Great pads, hard digital sounds, weird modulations and fantastic multi modes. It seems to be able to do stuff that no other synth can. A nice external reverb and delay it can be magic.
time to plug in my blofeld again! thanks for this amazing vid. some stuff i never knew about!
Great vid, very underrated (or forgotten) synth. I like using my Blofeld for atonal ambient/glitchy weirdness, but like you mentioned it can do so much more. Waldorf makes great stuff, my first hardware synth was a Waldorf Pulse 2, same form-factor and just like the Blofeld it's built like a tank!
A superb demo of this unit. I have the pulse 2 and uQ, waldorf make great synths that reward experimentation and exploration. I only skipped the blofeld due to the encoder problems you mentioned. I know many hate it, but I really like the matrix editing system, and ability to route modulators wherever you want, combine them and do logic functions.
Love how the world is shaking on the bass notes of the second patch xD
People definitely underestimate the range of sounds this little box can do!
I'm kinda fascinated by the variability of this. It limits you in what you have, but not in what you can do with it. Cool!
Just got a second hand unit (desktop) after years pondering... Yep, I was "scared" if it's depth and matrix but in the end was proven wrong. LUSH and FLEXIBLE are the words that come to my mind :)
With some external effects (currently swapping between a Mooer Ocean Machine and a Neunaber Immerse V2 - A Blofeld with a good shimmer reverb is something special.) it's is still one of the first things I go to for inspiration.
Ignoring the known hardware issues some units have, the only downside for me is that an editor is pretty much essential to get the best out of it.
A KeyStep Pro is a perfect companion for exploring the multi-timbral possibilities.
23:50 that 3rd random patch is fantastic. Sounds like the kind of weird shit you can come up with with modular.
I just discovered the Blofeld's many wonders a couple of months ago, and it has quickly become one of my go-to pieces of gear. Initially I got a 2008 original with some iffy encoder repairs, decided I wanted a Blofeld for the longhaul, so found a second one - a 2014 - on eBay with Bourns encoders and upgraded power supply. Sold the 2008 for a profit even! I'm super happy.
Want to put in a quick good word for Edisyn, an awesome and free open-source synth editor which supports both single and multi modes on the Blofeld (and a raft of other synths), for those who dislike knob twiddling. Personally, I consider the Blofeld incredibly easy for being a menu-heavy device, unlike, say, a Mininova - hahaha.
you can buy bournes encoder/pot replacements that will last forever, and also an inverted screen is available! both of which i have done and i love my blofeld now!
Ooh tell me more about the inverted screen!
Super useful video as always, thank you for this one!
If you want a good starting place for archetypal glassy, icy wavetable sounds, Conforce's Frozen North soundset is well worth looking into. Some secret sauce there for sure!
I have paired with Keystep Pro and Streichfett on my dawless rig. I’ve loaded in a sampled drum machine library for my
This and use it as a controller for editing softsynths.
Cool material, thanks! Blofeld is love!
(and yes, this vid was recommended to me by BipTunia, hehe)
Be careful there's a button on the Blofeld that activates the chair release for the shark tank...
The Blofeld is going to be my first serious hardware synth (I've bought the Behringer TD-3 to mess around).
I've been putting my eye on the Blofeld for a long time, multi-timbralness is a major feature for me and for that price it's unbeatable.
Solid choice for sure, with a bit of time to learn the ins and outs it's incredibly flexible for most applications.
The Blofeld is GREAT Gear ! i also have two of them (One in Black and one in White) and i also have his Brother, the Pulse2 ! Cheap, but Powerfull !
The Raising Sun preset gave me a huge Mirror's Edge (so basically Solar Fields) vibe. Since it has been my favourite game for 10+ years, this hit close to home. Highly recommend Solar Fields' work. I basically consider him the modern Vangelis. The 2000s digital sounds Vangelis
Makes sense since he uses one of these. I too get a very strong Solar Fields vibe from the ambient sounds here.
Solar Fields music is amazing!
@@matt_one Indeed it is. "Leaving Home" is my favorite electronic album. Haven't heard another artist quite like him.
@@Whirlybird88 I have all Solar Fields albums in my CZcams's playlist, that's really amazing music. Fortunately, there are many artists making quite similar music. I love Aes Dana, Ascendant, Astropilot, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Koan.... and there are many more!
@@matt_one Oh I've heard of Aes Dana, CBL, and Koan, I don't think they're quite like Solar Fields though lol. I'll have to look into those others you mentioned.
I've had both a desktop and a keyboard version for about 5 years now. LOVE them. The poor man's PPG Wave. 👍
Wonder what the Behringer PPG will bring to the table!
@@VenusTheorystill waiting to find out… 😩
I just picked up the Hydrasynth Desktop which seems pretty similar to this in many ways. I believe it supports MPE too :-)
Thanks for this overview and review, I knew almost nothing about this synth and am now interested in learning more.
Question..VT..What do you think of a Blofeld on top of a HydraSynth Deluxe or Iridium Synth keyboard?..OR..Should I meld it with a Jupiter XL or Sledge 2?
Hi, good video, thank you. Have a question. Am thinking of getting the Blofeld desktop sequenced with VCV Rack modules on my laptop. Basically I need something that has good multi-channel capacity to use multiple sequencers on my computer, and unload the sound generation to an external device that has decent sound such as the Blofeld. Definitely from your video the Blofeld's sound exceeds computer sounds. Let me know if you have a second to think about this one. Thanks once more and all the best.
Picked one up this week I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY 🙂
21:35 HAHA I'm sitting here watching this, wanting the Blofeld so bad based on just now discovering it, and loving all the softness and subtlety I've heard, and thinking "finally I found a cheap-ish hardware synth that sounds cloudy enough for my quiet music project, so I can stop using only Kontakt + Sensel Morph to make all my music" but then wondering "maybe I should spend extra for the keyboard version because who knows if this 2007 desktop will take kindly to an MPE controller" and then BAM!!!
Honestly lots of people seem to think digital bad at the moment. But you look at much things like the wave station where all over tv shoundtracks. This looks super useful as a fm and pad synth.
I remember buying this back in 2007 or 08. Love thr Waldorf sounds but could never afford the big blue one. I played a lot of shows with this patched into a korg triton pro x along with laying down pads in the band at a church band
Amazing sounds
Still have my Blofeld. Love the sound of it. Now I’m sampling every bit of it because I already had the internal power unit replaced. Also had to replace the output jacks too. Build quality stinks though.
Yep..awful build quality despite feeling like a tank. Bad encoders, poor sync with midi. I was very disappointed with my two Units which were both totally impossible to use
Yes would like a sample pack
Great review, thank you
yes, as soon as i saw it i knew i needed one
Tbh when you said most synths can’t do a 16 part multi, I thought to myself “even the blofeld” because it will freeze/lag/crash if you try to have it do too much.
Other than that it’s an amazing machine. I’ve been considering getting another one recently since I used to have one and sold it.
It's really a fun thing to play with considering its price. I got mine in 2016, and my only regret is that I never managed to make the stereo output work, which is pretty much a shame for the long lush multi patches. So I mainly use it to get experimental mono one shots.
Oh that's lame haha. Did yours arrive with the stereo out not working or did it just stop over time?
Either way though, still a worthwhile sound design box!
@@VenusTheory It wasn't working right from the start :/
i love Waldorf .. so many Serious producers like Jeff mills are using them..the ultimate weapon for abstract textures
It is a great tool! Im not surprised of the new price, couple of years back these were out of the store around 300€ here.. I picked mine up for 170€ as a bargain deal not knowing too much about it and neither did the owner haha, a housewife who wanted to ''play some keyboard like she used to do'' hahah.. goes for 500€ now!
The Don Solaris Analog sound set is incredible!
Hey i konw the Blofeld is the main theme, but you used the Valhala plug in and my question is: what's is a good substitude for the Strymon Big Sky (reverb pedal [you must know for sure] )???
19:21 What you did there to turn down the volume won't really help.
All you are doing is lowering a distorted sound to your input on your mixer/interface.
Rather for gain structure, I keep my system volume fixed at 90, and adjust the oscillator levels, and filter drive to get the correct volume and timbral integrity.
The INIT patch by Blofeld is a shame, as I have found that a good starting point is around 90 for saw and square, 64-72 for sine, varies by wavetable but no more than 90 on one oscillator and if mixing oscillators even less.
I generally run filter drive at 16 Tube, and my unisono at 3.
The Blofeld can sound wonderful with correct gain structure, but running everything at 127 will not usually yield these results
I love the book and my blofeld!
Maybe one day we'll get a proper movie haha. Need to re-read the book again someday.
This is one of those synth which would benefit from a crib sheet. A couple of laminated A4 crib sheets with all its options on one side, and its built in patches on the other side , plus another with its cc shortcuts to program an external controller. There's also an ipad app out there which allows you access to alot of its functions in real time. You'll find it under Patch Base for a small fee.
Make one?
I owned this twice, I did love the sound, but I did not like the feel of the encoders and they do wear out. I found it frustrating because it is 90% there, but they failed on the encoders which is a very important part
Hey Venus, like this new style.
Hi, I'm impressed by your video. I'm not familiar with synths so excuse my ignorance, how do you play this? I mean, it has no keyboard or anything similar...Thanks so much
5:45 man this sound is fantastic. I need it for my blofeld 😲
The Blofeld is a mod monster and can do a few things that even a VirusTi2 can't, like: 3 Osc FM, OSC FM+SYNC at the same time, Filter FM at audio rate, comb filter, more envelope options, Wavetable/sample import...just to name a few f the top of my head.
The intern FX are not the best IMO. Would be nice when waldorf creates a successor for those who can't afford a Iridium. It fits perfectly besides a Atruria Keystep and is therefore perfect for a holliday setup... it can do really complex pad sounds and (unexpected for me) very hard Kicks. But for cutting Leads and Basslines add a Pulse II.
This is standalone right? and are there any issues connecting it to powered studio monitors?
Can you assign the cutoff or other various tweekable parameters to the knobs? So you can mess with the cutoff live?
I do love my Blo. It can sound like a wizard sending you on a quest, or give you evil slabs of noise or bass.
Probably one of the best ways to sum it up right there haha. Some people really hate it for that same reason, but personally I think that's really what the magic of it is all about.
For a few years I gathered so SO many old hardware synths I craved. Setting them up was a pain I needed a sound card with many inputs, audio and midi cable management was a nightmare etc.. But with the new generation of VSTs and 16-32 core CPUs, there is absolutely no need for any hardware. I am so shocked that people still buy hardware, especially analog synths that cost $1000s when you can just buy Komplete, Icarus (better than Serum et al and all of Tone2 Synths have a very unique, satisfying sound), Sylenth (if you must, this is getting really old and the developer is super lazy and haven't really updated it for 10 years at least), Arturia V Collection for really good analog and other emulations and maybe U-He Diva / Zebra etc. And that's before talkign about Omnisphere, AVP Vengence, Falcon etc.
For those who say 'Analog sounds better' - bullshit. It used to be true in the 90s, and even then some hardware digital synths sounded just as good when emulating analog (if not better). At the end of the day you can have all the synths you can buy but it's the SONG you make that will be awesome, regardless of how you made it.
It's the just physical, tacticle, side that's the hook for me really
Analog sounds better.
Analog sounds better
I like the sound of analog synths. I also like the sound of analog synths going into outboard reverb, going into 4 track cassette. Aint no plugins that compare.
To all those who say 'analog sounds better'. I don't think I have worse hearing than you guys - I had a few analog synths and they sound the same as a GOOD, modern analog mimicing VST. And they can only do very limited pallette of sounds that are so just boring by now. You might have a certain analog synth that has a special 'sound' (maybe the filter or the oscillators have an interesting movement). Well that can be captured in a wavetable synth quite easily.
I had one ..has great sounds. But sold it because I got fes up with the nobs not working right. You turn a nd turn and the parameters would not change. I had about 10 synths and finally decided to use a midi controler tu use my 88 vsts and am perfectly happy with this configuration.
Same...
But now im craving synths again 😂
Hey man! Looking at getting this as a first hardware synth, along with the MiniFuse2. Would you say that's a good choice for a first synth? Or would you suggest I look at something else?
Definitely hard to beat so long as you like the sound of it! Otherwise, perhaps something like the new Hydrasynth Explorer would be a good alternative that isn't too expensive.
I bought a Blofeld because there were a couple of presets in there which have the sounds that I am looking for. I don't want to create them myself and waste all that time. At first, I thought I would have to get the Access Virus but I was lucky and the Blofeld had the sounds. Think the Yamaha DX7. There are so many of the factory presets in the DX7 that were used in film and in music without alteration. If none of the presets have the sounds you are looking, maybe choose another synth because the Blofeld is mighty complex.
Blofeld soundbank. Yes please!
Can the encoders easily be replaced with sturdier ones that are built to last?
What happened to morning coffee ? Anyway great video just got the blowfield and would much prefer to spend time with it than some of the Morden day synths I have like the microfreak
Blofeld is legit, 16-part multi-timbrality is serious business. Also, if you want a hardware MPE synth, get a Hydrasynth! What more could you ask for? 16-part multi-timbrality? Ok, yea that would be sweet.
Great programming!
Is there a way to get blofeld wavetables in vital?
Edit: And more to the point, get Blofeld like sounds out of Vital?
Love mine Blox Mystery Island vst-editor made it total integrated for me
Might have to grab that for myself, haven't heard of that one. Thanks for the heads up!
@@VenusTheory My pleasure, let me know if you want to hear more
www.mysteryislands-music.com/product/waldorf-blox-audiounit-vst-librarian-editor-plug-in/
This thing is awesome man... I have the wavestate.. Korg minilogue xd Module..and the microfreak...Man this thing can be my nexy purchase
you have a very pleasant voice
Uve just helped me decide how Im going to spend my next paycheck 😂😂
Jk, I was waiting for such a video to help me decide wether I should get it or not !
The answer is abvious I think ;)
And hey, with the holidays you might find them cheap as people are looking to sell them to finance new gear haha. Definitely worth checking out!
I'm wondering which version model you have? Mine e.g. has "system volume" printed
This is actually a normal model, that big 'VOLUME' thing is a sticker the original owner made up and placed on the unit.
You should make the sample pack
hi! it is possible to control blofeld directly with sensel morph? thnx!
You would need a MIDI interface, or at least a USB to MIDI converter but otherwise yes!
@1:23 "...because I'm basically an antique at this point."
What...??! You're kidding. If you're an antique, I'm positively antediluvian.. I grew up listening to vinyl on Dad's huge HiFi - the really old style with the upholstery cloth front over a massive 15" speaker and glowing tube amp. I learned to play keyboard on an ancient "upright grand" piano in the dining room that Mum used to teach piano lessons.
Enjoy your youth! You've still got LOTS of tread on the tyres...
Nice review, BTW... I love Waldorf
lol - suppose it's all relative. Cheers dude!
Sample pack would be great!
Ive had the microWaveXT for 12yrs and will never part with it.... Waldorf is my favoret synth company.
hell yeah blofeld one shots
Very interested in the synth now.. is there a official plugin editor for it?
There are a few! I use Bigglesworth, but there is a plugin editor called bloX that is apparently pretty good. Might have to try it out myself!
Do check the encoders if you intend to buy one, it's quite a common problem. I recently had mine fixed (for €100). The Blofeld is a tour through most of the best sounds and features of the PPG and Waldorf synths and it sounds fantastic. A modern classic.
Has it broken again yet? 🤣 I gave up buying Blofeld's because of this on two units
@@ComposerMichaelDow TBH I haven't touched it since checking if the fixed knobs worked (they did), working in-the-box is just so much easier. The useful part is that it's now caked in dust - again. I'll dust it off and play it soon(-ish) and will share.
I see this in a lot of producers' studios. I like what I've heard from it so far. I do a lot of Retrowave, so I think this will be part of my DAWless setup
@5:20 - elevation was dope
Does it support microtunings?
Anyone else have the problem where some presets are impossibly low, even with the gain all the way up on the mixer and volume knob on the Blofeld?
This guy is a blo hard
Comment of 2020
@@VenusTheory Lol and we will assume the man is a fan of your channel ...and puns
I’ve been waiting for this...I own one
I picked up a black version locally for $230. It’s very cool. The random patch feature makes some NUTTY stuff
Thanks
If you haven't already released a sample pack, I'd love to see a mono sample pack optimized for the Digitakt.
OK, now I have to go buy another one. I forgot how cool it is. Maybe I'll get the one with a keyboard this time.
I may wait a while, this video will increase the demand and thus the price.
5:55 this one really reminds me of the GameCube's start menu