Waldorf IRIDIUM Keyboard

The Waldorf IRIDIUM Keyboard:

• Digital Synthesizer
• High quality 49 keys Fatar keyboard
• Polyphonic aftertouch
• Touch-sensitive
• Dual timbral: split, layered or Unisono mode
• 16 voices
• 3 Stereo oscillators with five synthesis shapes each
• Wavetable: Waldorfstyle with the latest Nave technology including speech synthesis and generation of Wavetables from external audio sources
• Waveform: Waveform with up to 8 simultaneous waveforms per oscillator in detuned or chordal mode with hard sync, warp, PWM as well as pitchable noise
  
• Particle: granular sampler with multi-sampling and traditional sampling mode
  
• Resonator: exciter with multi-sampling and filterbank modeling
  
• Kernel: a meticulously structured tool for creating futuristic experimental and FM-like sounds
• Two digital Multimode filters per voice with innovative link mode
• Digital shaper: additional digital algorithms per voice like comb filter, high, low & Bandpass as well as notch filters (Nave, Largo or PPG models), bit crusher, Drive and more
• Flexible routing system for the arrangement of digital filters, digital formers and oscillator routing
• 6 LFOs
• 6 loopable envelopes
• Complex modulator
• Arpeggiator
• Extensive modulation matrix with up to 40 entries
• Master effects with 5 slots each for both timbres with effects like phaser, flanger, chorus, reverb, drive, EQ and more
• Step sequencer with parameter automation and scale-based pitch quantization
• Visual sound editing via the high-resolution multitouch display

Synthesis

At the heart of the Iridium are its three digital oscillators, each with five selectable synthesis modes:

• Wavetable: Waldorfstyle with the latest Nave technology including speech synthesis and generation of Wavetables from external audio sources
• Waveform: Waveform with up to 8 simultaneous waveforms per oscillator in detuned or chordal mode with hard sync, warp, PWM as well as pitchable noise
• Particle: Granular sampler with multi-sampling and traditional sampling mode
• Resonator: exciter with multi-sampling and filterbank modeling
• Kernel: a meticulously structured tool for creating futuristic experimental sounds and FM-like sounds

The oscillators on their own do some incredible things and offer an enormous range of different sounds. Since there are even more parameters under the hood that can also be modulated at various times, new sound creations are likely to be an ongoing process in the best sense. The filter of the Iridium is an excellent, dual Multimode filter of digital origin and covers a wide spectrum of resonant and attenuated sounds. The elaborate signal chain is completed by five simultaneously available effects like delay, reverb, chorus, Flanger or Phaser and the Master compressor.

Modulation

With six loopable envelopes and LFOs as well as the Complex Modulator, which is a mixture of two LFOs with self-drawn(!) waveforms and envelope, you have enough options at hand besides the usual modulation sources like e.g. Velocity or Aftertouch to fill the 40-entry modulation matrix and thus breathe life into the sound at almost any point.

Access

The high-resolution multi-touch display allows convenient access to every parameter and visually implements every move on the control panel. With captivating precision, it displays real-time changes in the sound at various stages of the synthesis process. It is the same size as the Quantum's, plus it is surrounded by the same set of knobs and buttons.

Sequencer, Arpeggiator, Chord & Macros

To the left of the keyboard is the so-called performance section; in addition to proven standards such as the octave selection and the two handwheels for Pitchbend and modulation as well as the hold button (latch), some direct accesses are offered here. Mono switches between monophonic and polyphonic playing for the current patch. Chord allows you to create a chord. Seq/Arp leads directly to the appropriate menu page on the touchscreen and changes between sequencer and arpeggiator when pressed again. The six self-definable macros are a great help when using the IRIDIUM keyboard, because you can define yourself which function you want to get to the fastest and which action. For example, you can directly jump to the recording area of the sequencer or switch Glide on/off.