Blofeld Synth Tips and Sounds by Mark Mosher

Work on the Modulate This! Waldorf Blofeld "Sample ROM" Begins!

 

I have begun work on a new software “Sample ROM” for the Waldorf Blofeld Synthesizer. I'll be posting the ROM on the new micro site http://blofeld.modulatethis.com. These samples will be optimized for Blofeld and placed into a single Spectre file that can be easily uploaded into the the 60M  of non-volatile sample RAM on the Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard or Desktops with the License SL.

There are over 1,000 factory patches in the Blofeld using the wonderful on-board waveforms and wavetables. Rather than cover this ground again I felt it would be more interesting to provide some very different harmonic content that could be used as an oscillator source (wave shape). I’ll also release patches based on the ROM – and of course you can program against this ROM as well. 

My current plan is to release the ROM in phases. With each new update, I’ll add to the end of the table of samples so that each update is backwards compatible. You’ll also be able to assume the ROM sounds will be in the same position so your patches won’t break when a new updated ROM is released.

Phase 1 is underway and I am optimizing samples from my popular “Sounds from a Distant Outpost” Ableton Live Packfor Blofeld use. For those not familiar, the samples in this library were derived from field recordings, analog synths, resynthesis, and additive synthesis.

As you might imagine this is time consuming work so I don’t have a release date for phase 1, but I am actively working on the project so if you want to stay informed here are some options.

1. RSS: Subscribe to this microsite
2. RSS: Subscribe to the Sample ROMS topic
3. Email Notification: Opt-In to the Modulate This Newsletter and check boxes related to “Blofeld”

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO

Blofeld Tips & Sounds: blofeld.modulatethis.com
Official Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Listen/Download Albums: www.MarkMosherMusic.com/music.html

Blofeld Tip: How to Stop Playback of the Arpeggiator

 

Here is a handy way to stop arpeggiator playback without going into the menu system. Simply hold down the "Shift" and "Play" buttons simultaneously.

You can of course also stop the arpeggiator by setting the setting the arp "mode" to off within the menu system. The manual also says you can turn the arpeggiator off by sending "All Notes Off" via MIDI.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO

Blofeld Tips & Sounds: blofeld.modulatethis.com
Official Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Listen/Download Albums: www.MarkMosherMusic.com/music.html

How to Make Your Waldorf Blofeld Synthesizer Go to 11!

As you walk through the factory patches, you might notice some patches are louder than others. Or perhaps you programmed your own patch and can’t quite get it to be loud enough to be in balance with other patches in your set. Here are a few quick tips to take a quieter patch and make it go to 11.

Make Sure the Amp Volume is set to 127

Hit the “Shift” button and navigate to the “Amplifier Page”. Verify that overall “Volume” is set to 127. Note the “Velocity” parameter is a global patch parameter that determines how much velocity effects volume. If you play with a light touch, you might want to take this parameter down some. If it is set to 0 velocity does not effect the volume.

Crank Up Your Oscillator Volumes

Make sure the oscillators that are active are high enough for your needs. Click the Oscillator button in the matrix to turn select the first menu for Oscillators, and crank the 4th knob over. Repeat for other oscillators.

This Parameter Goes to 11!

Now for the secret sauce. Let’s say you have a patch and all the levels are perfect and in balance, yet it’s still too quite relative to other patches in your set. You can get a volume boost quickly with on parameter set, Filter Drive.

The “Tube” drive curve with values down in the teens can add a volume boost without distortion. To make the patch rip the audience's face off, set the value to 127! Experiment with other drive curves.

More Blofeld Please
I hope you found these tips helpful. You can view other posts on the Blofeld category of Modulate This here.

I’m slowly working on some patches that I plan to make available as a library down the road. If you’d like to be notified opt-in to the Modulate This! mailing list and check the box for “Patches for Waldorf Blofeld”

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO
Synthesist | Composer | Keyboardist | Performer
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.Modulatethis.com

Waldorf Blofeld Desktop & Keyboard Special Edition in Black

Waldorf is releasing my favorite hardware synthesizer in black as a limited edition. As always, I love their tongue-in-cheek marketing on this.

Deep in the subterranean Waldorf Laboratories, our scientists have finally discovered the finish that delivers the best sound. We almost had forgot about them when the resurfaced and proudly presented the result of their almost endless struggle to find the ideal material: Neither Mauve nor Lavender nor Ochre result in optimal sound, but a special electron absorbing coating in deep black.

The explanation is simple: as more absorbed electrons reach the inner digital and analog workings of Blofeld and casue each bit to be stronger pronounced, resulting in a very defined and detailled sound. This makes our new Black Blofeld sound even better than before. The new black Blofeld is produced 100% in German Schwarzarbeit and is available only on the black market.

According to a Matrix Synth post on this, this is a limited edition run of 250 units.

More here http://www.waldorfmusic.de/.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO
www.ModulateThis.com

patchlab.modulatethis.com
www.MarkMosherMusic.com

Free Blofeld Patch - SwtchdOn 02 MM

SwtchdOn 02 is an arpeggiator patch for the Waldorf Blofled. The timbre is reminiscent of switched-on works from artists like Wendy Carlos.

Modulation notes:

• Velocity = Volume
• Last note played sets velocity for arp
• Mod wheel dirties the patch up
• After touch engage a pitch LFO

Performance notes:

• Play chord and notes to trigger arp
• Play around with Cutoff and Res for Filter 1 for extreme timbre changes
• Press shift button and dial to Tempo parameter and fluctuate temp as you play
• Use Clock knob to change arp clock
• Press shift+play to temporarily stop arpeggiator

 

Patch Lab - Blofeld SwtchdOn02 Patch by MarkMosher

Download: MIDI Version | Sysex Version

Top 10 Things I Love about the Waldorf Blofeld

I’ve been going on about the Waldorf Blofeld a bit. As you know, I’m pertty much 100% laptop based with piles of VSTs and many have been asking me why I’ve added a hardware synth and why I picked the Blofeld.

To put it simply, there are times when I just don’t want to mess with a computer and I’m looking for instant-on. However, if I was going to go with a hardware synth, I wanted something that would compliment my Ableton Live rig. In a nutshell, a synth that:

• I could throw in a backpack
• Had contemporary sound with built-in fx
• Had a strong interface that would allow quick tweaking with visual feedback without using a computer
• Supported Mutli-Mode so I could pair with Tenori-On
• Had a USB and MIDI In so I could use it with either a computer or a generic MIDI controller
• Had an option for loading and playing back sample-data
• Was affordable

While there are a number of instruments in the sub $1,000 range, I found the Blofled to have the richest and widest variety of features at a great price point that met my requirements. After using it for a few months I’m still very happy with my decision.

What are my favorite features? Checkout my top-10 list below.

10 Build Quality/Form Factor - A metal enclosure with 7 endless metal knobs. It’s built like a tank. It’s also heavier than you might think so the weight of the cables won’t pull it off your stand or controller. It’s plenty small enough to fit in a backpack.

9 Quick Editing – The physical parameter matrix with default mappings set to common parameters is fantastic.

8 16 Channel Multi-Mode

Like the Tenori-On 16 layer sequencing model find yourself wishing for an a more aggressive pallet? Blofeld 16 channel Multi-Mode is a great answer. You can setup splits and layers making this perfect for gigging.

6 Computer-Like Display Without a Computer 

The display is fantastic. It’s like using a soft synth. You see immediate feedback of envelopes, waveshapes etc… when you manipulate parameters.

5 Robust Synth Engine
Subtractive, wavetable, FM, adequate sample playback, built-in FX, arpeggiator… there is plenty under the hood for producing a wide variety of sounds and for those who like to program. Ships with more than 1,000 sounds for those who want to play and not program.

4 Ability to Load Your Own Samples and Use them as Oscillator Sources
The keyboard edition, or the desktop edition with the License SL option support 60M of non-volatile sample RAM which can be managed via a software app called – wait for it – Spectre :^)

3 A Killer Modulate Matrix
A 16 slots matrix! Includes the ability to assign custom MIDI CC’s to 4 controls W-Z (see my previous post for more on this).

2 Huge Sonic Palette
I personally love it. It can be warm, harsh, metalic, and you can radically change the character of a sound via the user interface or through MIDI control. I posted this previously, but if you missed it, check out this sample
Blofeld LFOs Gone Mad - One Patch Performance Series.

1 The Name 

 


 
And my number 1 favorite – why the name of course. I love Waldorf’s tongue-in-cheek naming and Bond branding. Check out the official product page to see what I’m talking about.

Links:

• Official Site
• Dedicate Modulate This Category

By the way, I’m not affiliated with Waldorf – just a fan :^). I also want to thank Jeff at Sweetwater who answered many questions and did some research for me before I bough the Blofleld – and no, I’m not affiliated with Sweetwater either.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.ModulateThis.com
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.REBOOTalbum.com

New Waldorf Blofeld Firmware V1.15

I know, I know, three Blofled posts in two days. Sorry about that. Next post won’t be Blofeld, I promise.

Anyway, Blofeld 1.15 Firmware is now online. Update includes:

• MIDI Clock reception improvement
• System Exclusive handling
• Workaround for USB on Apple computers
• Sample/Wavetable start as Modulation Destination
• User Wavetables
• Changing Multi Programs via Bank MSB (CC#0) value 127
• Local Off for Blofeld Keyboard
• Minor bugfixes

I can personally vouch that this update fixes a bug for sending Multi dumps back to the Blofeld. Can't wait to try "Sample/Wavetable start as Modulation Destination ".

Visit http://www.waldorfmusic.de/en/news for more info. Download the firmware from here.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.ModulateThis.com
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.REBOOTalbum.com

My Blofeld + Ableton Live + Lpk25 + AudioCube Couch Potato Setup

I wanted to create a small couch-friendly setup where I could play the Waldorf Blofeld with my little Akai LPK25 Controller and an AudioCube. Here is how I set it all up.

AudioCube Configuration
I use Percussa’s MIDI bridge to configure a sensor cube so that face 1-4 send CCs 10-13 (click image to enlarge).

Blofeld Global Configuration
The Blofled supports custom mapping of 4 CCs to controllers that are labeled W,X,Y,Z. Hold down “Shift”+”Global” to access the global params and turn the Display Parameter Dial to access the “Global Controls” page. In my case, i set W-Z to 10-13 respectively to match the CC numbers coming from the AudioCube.

Blofeld Patch Modification
Now I modify any patch to respond to AudioCube modulation by going to the Matrix menu and then setting W-Z as sources. In the example below I map Z (AudioCube Face 4) with Ring Modulation Level.

Ableton Live Configuration
Ableton Live 8 is running on a laptop which is the hub that makes this all work. The LPK25, Blofeld, and AudioCube are plugged in via USB and configured as MIDI devices in Live options. I create a Midi Track and specify the Blofeld as the output and arm the track.

At this point MIDI is merged from the LPK 25 and Percussa MIDI Bridge and sent through to the Blofeld allowing me to rock out from the comfort of my couch.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.ModulateThis.com
www.MarkMosherMusic.com
www.REBOOTalbum.com

Free Waldorf Blofeld Soundset

Quick post to share this find. 128 sounds from Boele Gerkes and Holger Steinbrink for the Blofeld. Download from here.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Musician, Boulder, CO
www.ModulateThis.com

Waldorf Blofeld 411

I've spent quite a bit of time working with the wonderful Waldorf Blofeld Desktop Synthesizer. I put together a mindmap of things I've learned that will help you understand the differences between the keyboard and desktop version including the License SL sampling option. Along the way I've also found many links and utilities (such as computer editor/librarians) which I've included in the map. This should be a real-time saver for you.

View map on Mindmeister.com | Download Clickable PDF

 

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher