Waldorf Wave

I am using system version 7.0.
I never have used the preset patches.
The Wave is very easy to use. Editing a wavetable oscillator synthesizer can be treacherous - a simple filter or amplitude envelope change is simple, but, turn the wavetable controls on the oscillator, and you can be in another universe! The Wave gives you reference whenever you need it - when you hit compare, the numeric value of each parameter is revealed, allowing you reference from wherever you are. Although this seems typical by today's virtual synth standards, the Wave's graphic interface is still better than most.
Apart from the wavetable creation part of the Wave, (which sets it apart from any other synthesizer ever made), the Wave is virtually intuitive, with only the file-storage priorities being an issue that one might wnat to read about.

The 32-voice instrument is the highest number of voices that Waldorf ever made, although it was advertised to expand to 48 voices. The keyboard is a spring action, but is very expressive. This is one of the few synthesizers that you can create patches that range the entire musical dynamic range - pp to ff.
There are no built in effects, but I don't miss them. This is one big, fat synth.
A fully optioned Wave has 32 voices, a 72 key keyboard, and a custom color. Aside from the extra 16 voices, there are no other extra cards available.
Midi is fully implemented, with the exception of midi timing synchronization (lfo sync or envelope synce) - the Wave has analog envelopes and lfos, so this is not implemented.
There is no sequencer.

The wavetable creating portion of the Wave offers several options for the creation of wavetables - sampling analysis, fm, fourier, or wave drawing and interpolation, and any combination of the previous are available. This feature, combined with the classic analog filter and vca, creates a synthesizer with analog warmth, but can have the very personal edge of original waveforms. This allows the instrument to blend very well with acoustic instruments in an orchestral context, while also performing in the role traditionally played by an Oberheim OB-8 in the rhythm section scenerio.

The Wave is pretty reliable - no major maintenence in 5 years. It does periodically wakes up brain dead, needing a total recall, (which I save periodically, usually after creating a project's performance file). Because the Wave has dynamic voice allocation, you can call up all the patches that you need on different midi channels, and then switch to whatever you need at the particular time from the keyboard assignment. Because of this, you really need only one patch for each tune, or piece of music, which simplifies operation during performances.

I live in Los Angeles, so maintenence is ok. I don't know about anywhere else....

This is my go-to instrument. It was a bloody fortune, but it is worth every cent that I paid for it. I would contact Waldorf to locate a used Wave if it were ever stolen or lost.
I have had the instrument for 5 years. It is one of those unique instruments that really doesn't compare to anything else. I have heard that others have had problems with reliabilty, but, knock on wood, this one has been reliable.

As big as many modular synths. Fold-Up Controlpanel just like the MiniMoog. Easy to use, because of many knobs and a huge display. You will never ask for presets on this one. The latest OS is the version 1.700. You can find the latest one at: ftp://ftp.waldorf-gmbh.de/pub/ The Manual is a bit outdated due to the OS-updates.

16 voices with 2 wavetable OSCs each. The 61 key keyboard is non weighted, but transmit velosity, aftertouch and relaese velosity. No effects ! You can order +16 voices up to two times. This will give you a max of 48 voices, each with 2 ANALOG FILTERS. There are knobs for a sequencer, but there is no one inside!

Fat synth sounds just like the Microwave I. The well known PPG wavetablesyntheis at its best. You can program many unheard sound. The update speed for the digital OSCs is much to slow for today. But was quite good 1994.

You can depent on it ! But make shure its hardware is not the very early design. Handle it with care, there are so many parts inside.

Waldorf is a very friendly company. No update had been sold yet. They put them on the net for free. There is a USA agent for this German company (mailto:gsfa@netcom.com)

It is one of the classical synths. I would buy me a new one if money would allow this. I own my WAVE since 1995. I bought it to sell my going weak PPG stuff. I made pages about this at: http://www.hafner-holzbau.de/till/wave.html