Waldorf Microwave 1 - Upgrade v2 (Digital product)

A Legend Returns

Introducing the Microwave 1 Plug-in, a revival of the iconic instrument that first captivated musicians 35 years ago. The original Microwave transformed the sound landscape of the 80s with its vibrant wavetable sounds, paving the way for the electronic dance music of the 90s. With its massive bass lines, enigmatic wavetable modulations, and smooth pads, this instrument has inspired countless artists and defined hybrid synthesis.

The Microwave 1 Plug-in has been meticulously recreated from the original hardware, preserving all its distinctive features. This multi-year project was a labor of love, where Waldorf analyzed and modeled every sonic detail of the original instrument. The unique sound of the Microwave is rooted in proprietary digital and analogue designs, developed long before modern DSP-based instruments emerged.

At the heart of the first-generation Microwave and the Waldorf Wave is a custom-developed integrated circuit known as the Waldorf ASIC. Collaborating with Wolfgang Palm, the inventor of Wavetable Synthesis, Waldorf crafted a chip that delivers a unique flavor of wavetable sound. The effort to analyze and recreate this integrated circuit within the plug-in was extensive, ensuring an authentic experience.

Digital Section (ASIC)

• Internally operates at a 250 kHz sampling rate to match the original ASIC
• Modeling of digital-to-analog converters for each voice
• Two oscillators per multi instrument, based on the same wavetable
• Unique digital noise generator utilizing ASIC technology
• Digital mixer of oscillators and noise, including overflow bug
• Faithful recreation of non-interpolated pitch generation

Wavetables

• All original wavetables from Microwave 1, bit-identical to the original
• Includes algorithmic and speech wavetables
• Faithful recreation of 8-bit quantization and aliasing
• User-friendly wavetable editor based on internal control tables
• Access to the full waveform catalog of the original instrument
• User waveform editor available

Filter

• Accurate modeling of revision A and B analogue filters
• Individual calibration of cutoff and resonance for each voice
• Modulations for cutoff and resonance
• Animated frequency response graphic reflecting live modulations

Amplifier

• Modeling of voltage-controlled analogue amplifiers and panning section
• Faithful recreation of control voltage DACs, including stepping effects

Modulators

• Recreation of unique envelope and LFO timings based on original code
• Modeling of micro variations in timings due to hardware limitations
• Filter envelope with ADSR and additional delay parameter
• Volume envelope with ADSR
• All envelope timings and levels can be modulated
• Unique 8-stage wave envelope with variable key-off point and looping
• Modulation capabilities for wave envelope levels and timings
• Attack-Decay envelope for LFO1 with additional delay
• Two LFOs with various waveforms, symmetry, and humanize parameters
• LFOs can be phase-shifted relative to each other
• LFO1 features global options, rate, and level modulation

Non-Standard Tunings

• Four user tunings that can be individually edited
• Stored within user presets

Multi-Mode

• Supports up to 8 instruments, allowing layering and splitting
• Split by key zone and velocity range
• Multi-instrument mixer with volume, panning, detuning, and transpose options
• Individual tuning per instrument available
• Extensive catalog of original multi sounds

Polyphony

• 8 voice polyphony, mirroring the original hardware
• Dynamic assignment of voices to multi instruments

Presets

• Includes all factory single and multi presets
• Five additional original sound sets
• Two new sound sets from contemporary sound designers
• Import capability for original .mid and .syx files
• User presets store additional data such as user wavetables and tuning tables

Hardware Control

• Plug-in can control original hardware in single mode via MIDI
• Optional live mode for automatic control transfer

Extras

• Configurable spectrum analyzer
• Resizable graphical user interface

What's New in Version 2.0

• Additional voice cards, increasing original polyphony from 8 to 32
• New multi modes like Round Robin and Random Robin
• Polyphonic Arpeggiator for each instrument part
• Global Arpeggiator with round robin modes
• Creative delay effect with diffusion and pitch shifting
• Redesigned preset browser with favorites and direct instrument part loading
• Multi-level Undo / Redo for parameter editing
• Simultaneous editing of multiple instrument parts
• New presets from renowned mixer, engineer, and producer Chuck Zwicky

Features

• Rebuilt digital noise with its unique artifacts
• Creation of user waveforms alongside user wavetables
• Access to all original wavetables with their control structures
• Modeling of old-school digital-to-analogue converters with non-linearities
• Inclusion of artificial detuning and recalibration of analogue components
• Enhanced GUI revealing aspects of the synthesis engine previously hidden
• Easy editing of existing wavetables and creation of new ones
• Implementation of sophisticated functions like tuning and velocity tables
• Graphical representations of wavetables, envelopes, and filter response curves
• Bit-by-bit comparison of recreated digital waveforms to ensure 100% identity
• Ultra high sampling rate of 250 kHz, independent of DAW sampling rate
• Additional randomization modes for fun and surprising wavetable editing
• Quick layering of single sounds for complex sonic structures