TabMuse — a Home for Digital and Analog Music Inspiration

Tag: Waldorf Streichfett

  • The Best New Synths from NAMM 2018

    The Best New Synths from NAMM 2018

    Each year I cover the most intriguing synthesizer announcements from the NAMM show in Los Angeles. Maybe sometime I’ll actually attend, but the costs involved for little old TabMuse also pays for a bright and shiny new synth, audio interface, or music computer. Priorities simply matter.

    korg-prologue
    The Korg Prologue in all its glory. Photo copyright Korg.

    If you are interested in reviewing our previous NAMM dispatches, please check out the links for 2017, 2016, and 2015.

    The Hybrid Analog Beast of the Korg Prologue

    This year’s NAMM lacked the copious amount of synth product announcements of previous editions. One exception to this rule is the Korg Prologue. It features a hybrid architecture with two instances of the analog oscillator design from the Minilogue as well as a digital “Multi Engine” oscillator.

    This Korg’s singular LFO rapidly became a meme among the synth grognard community. It does provide a unique sound quality, beyond the Minilogue (or even the Volca Bass and Volca Keys). Check out the demo video for additional insights.

    The Prologue comes in two versions. The $1,499 model sports 8 voices and 49 keys, while the $1,999 model features a 16-voice design and 61 keys. Black is the only color – as it should be.

    Personally, I feel both models are priced $500 too high, considering they’re essentially part of the Minilogue/Monologue family. Considering my already hearty supply of Korg synths in the studio, I’m likely not in the market for the Prologue. Still, it looks to be a great product worthy of further exploration.

    The Waldorf STVC String Synthesizer of your Creamy Dreams

    While Waldorf’s new Quantum synth is arguably more powerful, I hold a soft spot for their STVC string synth, also announced at NAMM 2018. When I shared my review of his iOptigan app with Waldorf’s Stefan Stenzel, designer of the Streichfett, he mentioned the soon-come announcement STVC. Essentially a Streichfett with a keyboard and vocoder, the STVC brings an immense cool factor to the synth marketplace.

    126 programmable patches get you sound surfing quickly, plus you are able to save your favorite patch tweaks to 12 memory slots, similar to the Streichfett. The Vocoder circuitry features gender modification (always a treat), and a full polyphonic carrier signal. The STVC is expected out soon at a street price of $899.

    My Streichfett rivals the Moog Sub 37 as my favorite piece of gear, so you need to consider picking up the STVC.

    The Studio Electronics EX+Box is a Must for your SE-02

    The Roland SE-02 is arguably the best piece of kit in their Boutique series. Featuring a full analog design from the folks at Studio Electronics, its sound quality is top notch. However, many synth aficionados complain about their small knobs. Enter the EX+Box.

    Essentially a breakout box for the SE-02, the EX-Box provides a VCF knob without the digital stepping that hampers cutoff tweaking on the Roland unit. All the audio connections are accessible from the box, with the added benefit of ¼-inch connectors and more. It’s expected to be out in two months at a price of $89. In short, this is a must buy for SE-02 owners.

    Well, that’s it for this year’s NAMM digest. Hopefully it inspires you to pick up a new synth. Thanks for reading!


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  • Review: The Waldorf Streichfett: the Modern String Synth of Creamy Dreams

    Review: The Waldorf Streichfett: the Modern String Synth of Creamy Dreams

    Two-thirds of the way through recording my new Church of Hed album, I thought some tracks needed a bit of icing. I previously noted Waldorf’s new Streichfett string synthesizer; digested some online sound samples, and felt confident it would serve nicely in this role. After discovering its street price was under $400, I decided to make my move.

    Needless to say, the Streichfett is a beast; providing powerful, yet milky, sonic textures to frighten the rest of my synth gear, including the Moog Sub 37. In short, it is the most “analog” of my digital synthesizers. Oh, Streichfett apparently is German for “spreading fat.” Indeed.

    Waldorf’s Square String Synth

    The Streichfett is housed in the square casing typical of Waldorf’s other desktop synth modules. Thankfully, this small footprint lets it reside comfortably on top of my Yamaha MM8. Since the thing sounds so huge, only a few notes are needed to cut through a mix, leaving your left hand free for real-time tweaking.

    The Waldorf Streichfett in Action
    The Waldorf Streichfett rests comfortably on the Yamaha MM8.

    An array of knobs and switches control the synth’s straightforward architecture, while four buttons and a switch navigate the unit’s 12 memory locations. Speaking of which, since it’s so easy to dial up sounds on the Streichfett, I found myself rarely using memory to save or recall patches. It really is an “analog” digital synth from a control standpoint.

    Two sections make up a Streichfett patch. The Strings provide the meat of the sound, while the Solo section offers extra “percussive” color suitable for melodic lines or arpeggios, not unlike the percussion setting on an organ. The balance knob mixes these two sections.

    The Registration knob in the Strings section selects between different sounds — everything from violin to choir. It also provides some really cool effects when controlled in real-time — the synth’s Animate effect does essentially the same thing powered by an LFO. Two knobs control the envelope, and Waldorf recommends always keeping the Ensemble button lit. Turning it off makes the Streichfett sound like a bad 80s synth.

    The Streichfett from the Top
    Gazing at the Waldorf Streichfett from the top.

    The Solo section’s main knob switches from bass to Pluto — the latter being a typical outer space synth tone. Tremolo and envelope controls round out this section, along with a switch to control the keyboard split. In addition to the previously mentioned Animate effect, there are also Phaser and Reverb effects, with a depth knob offering a variety of intuitive control options for all three.

    In short, the Streichfett is a synth you simply need to dive in, tweak, and have fun. The patch memory is nice for saving ideas when dinner is ready, but it isn’t essential.

    The Atmans swim in the Lunar Sea

    Sonically, the Streichfett stuns. I am not well-versed enough in the specific sound differences of the 70s-era string synths like the Solina or Roland to say Waldorf’s modern version emulates any model more accurately than another. I can say if your prog rock cover band does Kansas’s Incomurdo — Hymn to the Atman or Camel’s Lunar Sea — you need this synth. Pink Floyd’s Shine on you Crazy Diamond and most mid-70s porn music are right in the Streichfett’s wheelhouse as well. Boom.

    If you are looking for a unique synth to add a bit creamy froth to your work, put the Waldorf Streichfett on your wish list. Highly recommended.

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  • Virtual Dispatches from Musikmesse 2014 and Other News

    Virtual Dispatches from Musikmesse 2014 and Other News

    Musikmesse, held in Frankfurt, Germany, is the European equivalent of the NAMM industry show, and an opportunity for me to lust a foamy froth over new music equipment innovations from across an ocean. Now TabMuse’s budget doesn’t yet allow for a quick jaunt over the sea to attend in person, but I’ve been paying attention to coverage from other sources, and there are a few items that definitely pique my interest.

    Waldorf Streichfett
    Waldorf’s Streichfett is all its creamy glory. Photo copyright Waldorf.

    Let’s take a look.

    The Akai Rhythm Wolf — an Analog Drum Machine under $200

    The Akai Rhythm Wolf, an analog drum machine and bass synthesizer with a street price of $199.99, threatens to steal the thunder from Roland’s AIRA series. This device might be showing up in our studio shortly, if I can convince Quarkspace’s Jay Swanson to add it to his sonic arsenal. Boy needs some analog.

    Five simultaneous drum voices are possible: kick, snare, hi-hat (open and closed), and metallic percussion. The bass synth switches between sawtooth and square waves and provides a resonant filter with an envelope allowing for some proper acid bass tweakery. The built-in 32-step sequencer hopefully lets the users change the time signature (a common refrain from me).

    Six MPC pads, a ton of control knobs, and a full range of USB/MIDI connectivity round the Rhythm Wolf’s specs. The device is expected to hit the market later this summer. Can’t wait!

    Waldorf Streichfett channels the Classic String Synths of the 70s

    Waldorf releasing a tone module capable of the classic, milky string synth sounds of the 70s is one of Musikmesse’s biggest surprises. Cue Incomurdo, Hymn to the Atman.

    The Streichfett features a straightforward user interface centered on an “Ensemble” button capable of kicking the sound into creamy overdrive. Bass, electric piano, and clavinet sounds can be mixed into the overall milk-coma, adding a bit of punch. Reverb and phasing offer some effects to the final equation.

    12 user patches are stored in the unit, which also provides USB and MIDI connectivity. The Streichfett is expected to be available later this spring — hopefully in the US as well as Europe. The street price comes in at 235 Euros.

    Arturia KeyLab 88 — an Impressive Weighted Keyboard Controller

    While no longer in the market for 88 key weighted keyboard — we just bought a Yamaha MM8 a few months ago — Arturia’s new KeyLab 88 controller almost makes me regret that decision. Primarily known for the excellent software synths — including the iMini and iSEM on the iOS platform — recently Arturia is also garnering praise for their hardware.

    The KeyLab 88 looks to be a superior controller with a host of knobs, sliders, and pressure sensitive pads for virtual synth control. It also comes with their Analog Lab virtual synth with over 5,000 presets. It is expected to hit the market later this summer with an as of yet undetermined price.

    DM1 — a Top iOS Drum Machine Gets an Update

    Fingerlab’s DM1 is arguably my favorite iPad drum machine app. Yes, I argue with myself. A great interface, great sounds, odd time signatures — what more could one want?

    A fresh update to DM1 adds Inter App Audio functionality as well as 12 new drum kits. This is a highly recommended iPad beatmaker; check it out at the App Store for $4.99. There’s even an iPhone version too.

    A knob twist to the cool folks at Synthtopia.