Waldorf Quantum Mk2

With the Quantum Mk2 Waldorf presents the second generation of their milestone in synthesizer history. The polyphonic hybrid synthesizer has undergone several improvements and enhancements and now appears in a noble blue hue. The new semi-weighted 61-key keyboard is a Fatar TP/8SK with polyphonic aftertouch; this allows specific, individual control of single notes. The internal flash memory has also been expanded, providing 59 GB for sample management. Since Quantum and Iridium share a common OS platform, many features are identical and patches (apart from those using the Quantum's analogue filters) are fully compatible. The 8 respectively 16 voices of the Quantum Mk2 are distributed over two parts, so two sounds can be played simultaneously. These can be played polyphonic, mono, legato, Unisono or as a chord. More than 2000 patches are already pre-programmed ex works, the total patch memory is sufficient for 10,000 sounds. Thanks to the category filter and favourite list, you can quickly reach your goal despite the many sounds.

Synthesis & Sound Generation

At the heart of the Quantum Mk2 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 multisampling and traditional sampling mode
• Resonator: exciter with multisampling and filterbank modelling
• Kernel: up to 6 sub-oscillators that can be linked via FM at Audiorate; for futuristic experimental sounds and FM-like sounds

The oscillators on their own do some incredible things and offer an enormous range of different sounds. The number of parameters for an oscillator is already enormous, moreover, these are modulable in addition many times. The following mixer controls the volume and saturation of the tone generators. This is followed by two excellent analogue 12/24 dB Lowpass filters that have an innovative link mode and can even handle somewhat harder sounds. Instead of the analogue filters, the Quantum Mk2 can work with two excellent digital Multimode filters which include 12/24 dB LP/BP/HP combinations as well as filter models from Nave, Largo, PPG and State Variable. When using the analogue filters, the Quantum Mk2 is 8-voice polyphonic, when using the digital filters, the number of voices doubles to 16. The already impressive sound palette is complemented by the Digital Former in a remarkable way. This expands the sound generation with bitcrusher, distortion, comb filter and ring modulator. Thanks to the flexible routing system for the arrangement of the filters, the digital shaper and oscillator routing, other sounds are possible than a synthesizer with a fixed signal path. The signal path is completed with five simultaneously usable effect slots per layer, which lift the sound to the next level with delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, Phaser and EQ, among other things Level. A one-knob compressor is implemented for the main out.

Connections

On the rear panel, you will find all the connections of the Quantum Mk2. Two Stereo outputs and one Stereo line input, a separately adjustable headphone jack, two pedal inputs for Expression and Sustain and the MIDI trio. The USB computer port is for data exchange with the computer and MIDI in both directions. The USB controller port allows you to connect a controller or MIDI USB keyboard. An SD card slot completes the back panel.