2015 NAMM Show: Waldorf has introduced the nw1 Wavetable Module for Eurorack modular synthesizers.
nw1 is Waldorf’s debut module for the Eurorack format. The nw1 includes an advanced wavetable engine, with independent control of spectral envelope and noisiness – like its Nave software synthesizer.
The nw1 Wavetable Module For Eurorack
Wavetable scanning is cyclic with optional modulation of travel speed, position, spectrum, and more besides. By providing the Waldorf wavetable set from the classic Microwave and Wave synthesizers, nw1 ‘will enrich your Eurorack modular system as a potently powerful sound source’.
The nw1 sound engine also allows for onboard creation of user wavetables via time domain multiple foldover analysis. All you need to do is connect any sound source to the nw1 to transfer audio into a wavetable. Or use the integrated speech synthesizer to translate typed text into wavetables.
Wavetable synthesis is an extremely powerful sound source suited to producing all kinds of vivid metallic hues and digital clangorous tones. It can create organic, bell-like timbres, as well as spectacular-sounding scans through various waveforms with truly ear-opening results. It was almost impossible to create these kinds of sharp-edged, digital sounds back before the invention of wavetable synthesis in the late-Seventies.
Specifications
- nw 1 front21st century advanced wavetable engine
- Cyclic wavetable scanning with modulatable position and travel speed
- Control of spectral envelope independent of pitch
- Adjustable periodicity up to noisy reproduction
- Classic Waldorf wavetables included
- Integrated speech synthesizer for wavetables
- User-recordable wavetables
Connections
- Gate input for triggering wavetable travel and recording
- Main 1V/Oct CV input with trim for pitch control
- 3 additional CV inputs for modulation and realtime wavetable recording
- Audio output
- USB port with galvanic isolation for wavetable transfer and text input
- Eurorack power connector
Power requirements
- +/- 12V, 150mA
Interface
- Powder coated metal surface with:
- 10 rotary knobs
- 1 wavetable select/encoder
- 1 2 x 7 segment display
- 6 x 3 position switches
Dimensions
- Width: 32HP (162.6 mm)
For more info, see the Waldorf site.
Man they keep dragging me back in!!!
Super sick!!!!!!
nice
very nice
very very nice
cant wait for the audio demos
Please please please! — make this into a hardware synth with an analog filter as well!
well choose your favourite analog filter and make a little eurorack case 🙂 but be aware it will grow …
was going to say the same thing people don’t seem to understand modular
All you’d have to do is get a mini euro enclosure, get a filter of your choice, and get a midi to cv converted if you need one. And there you have your desktop hardware synth with analogue filter. It’s probably monophonic though. Alternatively get a Mutable Instruments Shruthi for 150 Euros and a soldering iron!
Or go to eBay or Craigslist and get a Waldorf Microwave if you’re that dead set on an analog filter, or get a Microwave XT and Waldorf 4-Pole or a Pulse+ that has the 4-Pole filter built in and an input for feeding the XT through the filter. Any of this will probably set you back as much as setting up this module as a stand-alone synthesizer.
Mini cases suck
Just bite the bullet and get a real 6u or larger case.
Once you start in Euro, there are lots of new things that you will always want to add.
If that usb socket was an interface for a keyboard that would be off the hook!
I’m pretty sure it’s for uploading your own wavetables, and probably updating the OS of this… but what you want would most likely be possible by a simple OS upgrade if not allready there.
if by “keyboard” you mean type keyboard, it would appear to be the case:
“Or use the integrated speech synthesizer to translate typed text into wavetables.”
maybe an ios app which would be nice
I’m speechless, which the NW1 is not.
What do we think price wise? The Blofeld is pretty similar minus the cv control and they’re 250 pounds new or so.
i would say 300 pounds upwards
a module at this size with this kind of functionality
at sequencer.de they say the street price will be about €300,-.
This could start me building my 1st modular
I had exacly the same thought. In a small rack, mind you….Otherwise I`ll never finish what I`m already trying to do!
you’ll never finish anything again if you go euro,but then you’d never care
sweeeett
So many Eurorack wonders this year. This is particularly tempting, time to add another euro-case maybe. Too bad Moog missed the train.
Glad to see they included the Waldorf-Big-Red-Knob on this, modular here I come…
on the other side this could be the fundament for a new Waldorf Microwave, after the modular hype
one can only hope. although i think Nave is really where they want to go with this stuff… but i’d just about kill for a Microwave 3 XT…..
Nave on a tablet or PC/mac is not the same as hardware
knobs, feeling and nearly no dependency on an operating system
anyway … id like to have it
Yes…..just, yes.
yeah… def 3
Amazing! That settles it, I’ve got to start a Eurorack. Good bye bank account and wages for 2015.
ok as far as i could gathering information the price will be 329 €, streetprice 299 €
Really interesting, reminds me kind of the layout of the rocket and streichtfelt.
My money is on the big red eye(?) lighting up when it speaks… “Daisy, Daisy…”
is it going to be as buggy as all the other Waldorf products?
At least waldorf is committed to their products. Blofeld came out in like 2007 and they’re still doing OS updates, the latest of which has removed almost all/any remaining bugs for me..and somehow has enhanced the sound. It’s now my favorite synth in 2015. Waldorf make unique instruments not to everyone’s tastes and that works for me. I just picked up my streichfett yesterday and it’s freakin awesome. ???? I almost have fulfilled my boyhood dream of being Nick Rhodes on the first Duran album.