Waldorf MicroWave I vs. MicroWave II

[900GTi]

When I think about wavetable synths (especially PPGs) the first sound that comes to me is the one at 4:43

[thisisyaren]

It really is a matter of personal taste... For some the sounds of the Microwave 1 will be better for some it will be the Microwave 2...

In this demo, I prefer some of the sounds of the Microwave 2 over that of the 1... it really is up to you and how you plan to make it blend and cut the way you want it to with your track or overall feel... Enjoy because these are a hidden gem that will soon die.. It is like holding gold to own one of these. OAHHH MICROWAVE(s)!!!

[10hz]

Ich bin hier anscheinend einer der wenigen, die den Klang der MW2-Filter besser finden. Mir gefällt das klare, schneidende. Die Curtis-Filter klingen für mich eher muffig und dumpf - passt für mich nicht zu den Wavetable-Oszillatoren...Gutes Video!

[retrosound72]

@10hz nee, ich auch. ;D der MW1 ist schon lange wieder verkauft, aber der MW2 verläßt das rack nicht. sicher haben beide ihre vor und nachteile. Der MW1 glänzt mit guten Bässen , während der MW2 die schöneren Flächen und Atmos zaubert. was man eben bevorzugt....

[pierstheoneandonly]

Not perfect conversions. I'd imagine a little extra work post-editing the M2 might bring it closer to the M1's sound.

[anonymusum]

Ich empfinde den MW2 als vielseitiger und daher für mich als besser. Außerdem wird der 1er meistens von Techno- und Arpeggiator-Jüngern benutzt, was beides glücklicherweise bei mir nicht der Fall ist.

[fabiovsroque]

Same story: Micro Q and Blofeld (Micro Q banks for Blofeld), Microkorg and Microkorg XL, Nord Lead 2x and Nord Lead 3, JV-2080 (with expansion boards) and Fantom-XR. Why do they do this? Why do they decrease in quality? Maybe it's a way to make money...

[EvilDrFish]

I can't believe I had a Microwave I with the Access programmer and sold it. Biggest musical instrument fail ever! lol

This thing is still the dog's danglies!

[xelpmok]

massive difference!

[rgipson191]

I have a MW II XTk and was desiring the original MW 1. I bought an SPL Vitalizer and it gets the II XTk real close to the sound of the MW 1 Not exactly but it comes close enough. Much fuller sound, and added fizziniess in the high end. Very nice!!

[Flipjunkie1]

#1 takes the cake ! and i used to have this illusion that the newer product would always be better but i have learned that that is so untrue !

[KaslarProductions]

2 sound more brittle on the high end...

[AnalogAudio1]

Interessanter Vergleich, der MW 1 scheint durch den Analogfilter besser zu klingen... allerdings konnte ich mit dem Microwave, bzw. PPG Sachen noch nie was anfangen... bei diesen Sounds schüttelt es mich ;-)

[retrosound72]

@AnalogAudio1

doch so ein PPG Wave , das wäre mal noch was ;)

[TheLynxie]

Microwave 2 was better on the third sample.

[Riskteven]

0:16

Sync mod?

[Funmichi]

Sorry, aber ich glaube der microwave 2 klingt nur deswegen besser weil du ihn mehr nachbearbeitet hast als den einser.

[retrosound72]

@Funmichi

also für mich klingt der MW 1 hier besser. das muss er sogar, denn die patches sind für den MW1 programmiert und werden nicht perfekt vom MW 2 konvertiert.

[drtritri]

Doesn't MW2 and XT have filter modes that MW1 lacks?

[Jauly]

interessant - dass der MW2 gleich soviel lebloser und fast schon penetrant statisch klingt, hätte ich mir nicht gedacht.

bei 4:08 filterresonanz, bei 4:14 keine?

[phfrixion]

Naja ;-) Der MW2 kann viel kranker als der MW1 klingen (habe auch beide im Studio stehen), so ein Direktvergleich ist wie PPG Wave 2.X Vs Microwave 1. *LOL*

Ich mag beide sehr gerne, aber der MW2 ist halt an sich digitaler (klar, ohne analoge Filter), aber das macht IMHO gerade seinen Reiz aus.

Trotzdem würde ich den 2'er nie für klassische Microwave1-Sounds verwenden, da verschwendet er sein Potential.

[retrosound72]

@phfrixion

Hallo Phil, ich mag auch beide MW´s auf ihre Art. Beide haben ihre Vorzüge, deshalb sind auch beide bei mir im Rack . Der Vergleich hier ist ein bisschen unfair da nur MW1 Sounds verwendet wurden. Der MW2 konvertiert die Parameter ja nicht 1:1. Der MW2 kann aber Sounds die der MW1 niemals hinbekommen würde.

[Tittlekopf]

Finde den Klang vom 1er besser irgendwie... klingt schon sehr nach PPG Wave.... irgendwie gefällt mir der Klang des 2ers nicht so richtig

[MyCosmoTube]

my favourite sound on microwave I is "dasboot"...

:-)

[alexmauer]

on the microwave 2... cant you adjust the "quality - aliasing" parameter to get certain sounds to be brighter? or did you already use that to create this video? - also... is there a way to convert microwave 1 patches to microwave 2 automatically?

[retrosound72]

I use only Microwave 1 patches, the MW2 convert the patches automatically

[therealdoron]

great video ! very educational !

6:56 sounds exactly like the beginning of the great funny track "one track lover"

[bombm]

You've read a lot of the marketing. From all the synthesizers I've owned in my life it is perfectly clear, hardware with an analog signal path is better.

[emilshere]

I dont know about the microwave in particuliar, but some of the software vst based stuff is accurately emulating analog synths.. down to modeling the exact waveforms and distortion, envelopes and filters produced by a specific model. I feel no need to own the analog versions anymore EXCEPT for the fun of controllers, (sliders and knobs) , and tactile benefits... and pure gear lust of course... but at least I can use the plug in versions & get 99% there!

[emilshere]

m1 = more bite m2 = more smoothness

[77Tom77Tom77]

Thank you very much! For percussive & Bass sounds i prefer the Microwave I. The Microwave II sound at min. 1:13 surprisingly is a winner. However, the Microwave II misses the attack and aggressiveness of the Microwave I. Surprisingly, the filter of the Microwave II is still good, but not as organic as its precedessor. The Microwave II ist better for "non-attacking" sounds like Brass or Pads. Both of them are impressive synthesizers. How would they compare to to Blofeld?

[retrosound72]

Absolute agree with you. The MW 1`s real analog filter is better for bass and sequencer sounds but the MW 2 make the better pads and atmo sounds.

Both synths are great. The sound charakter of the Blofeld is different to the MW´s.

[Kjellson82]

@0.55 I had flash backs of the 80's, haha love it. :)

[HarterFall]

im confused!... is that a pure preset comparison?

[retrosound72]

absolut identische Klangprogramme

[pierstheoneandonly]

MW1 has more 'detail' , is more organic-sounding. This is evident in even the lower filter ranges, whereas the MW2 has to have the filter opened up to achieve any character.

[guitarharpsichord]

M 2 seems to display a sick chorus fx or instability in most examples?

[retrosound72]

the global chorus effect of the mW2

[VincentsVideoVisions]

In the first example I definitely prefer the Microwave I but in many of the latter examples I prefer the Microwave II's "glassier" sound.

[bishop1e4]

Microwave 1 is the winner!

[ToothMusic]

microwave I ftw. I wonder why most of the synths nowadays are just digital with analog emulation... this is good stuff.

[chiefie11]

i guess its horses for courses, sometime s the sounds from the mw1 will be what you are looking for and somtimes it will be the mw2. On average i prefer the mw1 more tan the mw2.

[Helderhugo]

I agree

[cdytcktt]

Wow, that filter makes all the difference in the world.

[epromenator]

MICROWAVE 1 RULEZ! it has this oryginal character that microwave 2 can only dream about it

[VacTrooper]

both sound vintage, the Microwave 1 is GRITTIER!!

[Helderhugo]

yes

[matthiasdevisser]

Very good comparison. I would be very interested to hear such a comparison between the MW1 Rev A and Rev B! Who has both?

[jkshkjsdg]

Waldorf MicroWave I sounds richer and more raw.

[9milNL]

MW2 sounds too polished :P

[MisfioPeton]

nice

[mikeycomputer]

MicroWave 1 FTW. Any day of the week.

[nanobotmutant]

I think I definitely perfer the MW1

[Capeau]

the waldorf1 has a much much much rucher stereo image

[downfader2]

Shows you how VAs hadnt quite caught up, what with all the extra processing power needed.

Close but no cigar.

[Capeau]

some sounds do sound better on the waldorf2 though

[downfader2]

I suppose it depends on the sound you're trying to make as with any synth. I got so used to working around the limitations of my Korg x5D you end up learning how to tweak and edit to make even the dullest sound come out nice. :-)

[Capeau]

off course, thats also why any serious producers has more then 2 different synths ;)

There is no such thing as a synth who can do it all

[downfader2]

Very, very true!

:-)

[dragonsagoth666]

WORD! I have the same board, it amazes me every time I edit it!

[NermalsChannel]

Wow, on some of those samples the MW2 is impotent compared to the MW1, especially the first one.

[retrosound72]

yes

1:0 for the MW1

[SoundsAndGear]

I like them both for different reasons, the m1 is very RAW and phat, the m2 sounds pretty good too though, just put them all together in one supersynth!

[weegerri1sm]

Interesting.. sometimes the MW1 sounds "slappier" and sometimes the MW2 does.

On balance, I perfer the MW1.. Meaty! :P

[thebrinksf]

MW1 for it's beefiness. MW2 sounds weak.

[deeroks1]

i used to own a waldorf pulse and the "rawness" of its sound reminds me of the mw1. I then purchased the mw2 and i use it for a variety of sounds , but its high notes are more pure (hence digital sounding), but its low is somewhat dim. MW1 has a lot of BEEF in the low end and its VERY noticeable when u compare the two.

[BRAKESUK80]

id say i prefer the sound to the microwave 1 more.those chords you played at 5:15 sound sublime-especially when it dropped an octave

[Korgator]

ist ja echt ein totaler Unterschied,hätte ich nicht gedacht.

[binnyman]

The MW2 sounds like it has a blanket thrown over it compared to the MW1. If there wasn't a MW1, the MW2 would be really good.....if. Peace:-)

[xlanciferionx]

The MW2 sounds like it has a 2-3ms delay on the envelope for the filter. Also, it sounds like some of the high and low harmonics are missing from the resonance. It's crazy how the two of them sound so different.

[retrosound72]

Yes

some sounds are similar but other sounds are very different.

[Posthuman2003]

Thanks very nice

[tekkentool]

you have both? nice

[retrosound72]

yes

the sound is absolute different.

the MW1 (real analog filter) is the perfect bass synth, the sound is very raw and hard

the MW2 is more hifi like and smooth, simply better for warm pads and atmo sounds

[tekkentool]

interesting!

[sentient1705]

cool sound demo

[retrosound72]

thx :)