Keyboard version of the Blofeld Synth Module in Black

The Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Black has a gorgeous user interface with a huge graphic display giving you precise visual feedback. Seven endless rotaries plus a volume knob all made of steel invite you to explore the depth and power of Blofeld.

Selecting sounds is a breeze, making Blofeld a joy to navigate. If you just want to browse through the available sounds, use the dial above the Play button. If you want to jump to a different soundbank, use the left dial under the display. Selecting a category with the right dial (under the display) causes Blofeld to show only sounds belonging to that particular category.

Editing sounds to suit your needs on the Blofeld Keyboard is just as easy. The most frequently used parameters are laid out on the front panel. Just select the appropriate row with the four buttons to the left of the parameter matrix and turn the knobs.

This parameter matrix allows instant control over oscillator waveforms, semitone offset, detuning and levels – filter cutoff, resonance, type and envelope amount – envelope rates and levels (two of the four envelopes), LFO speed and shape (two of the three LFOs) – the modulation matrix, the effect mix – arpeggiator mode and clock.

As soon as you press one of the buttons of the parameter matrix, the display switches to the most appropriate page for that parameter set.

Selecting one of the oscillators brings up one of the oscillator pages. Each oscillator, the ring modulator and the noise generator can be mixed freely into the two separate multimode filters. A special overview page displays this routing as well as the levels and shapes of the tone generators. Of course the two filters have dedicated pages showing filter response curves. Here is an example of the response of the 24dB low pass type. Even the comb filter types are displayed graphically. The two filters can be routed in series or parallel, the latter allowing you to pan both filters individually.

Next, there are the Envelopes, which can be the classic ADSR type, looped or without hold and release stages (one shot). All in all, there are five different types and this is how the ADSR type is displayed. The three LFOs offer separate parameters for delay and fade in/out.

So what can you do with all these envelopes, LFOs and the other control sources? Apart from serving as direct modulation sources, you can easily connect them to other modulation destinations in the modulation matrix.

And if that's not enough, you can even create new modulation sources by modifying an existing one with algorithmic operations. Sounds too complicated? Maybe. But it is great fun even if you don't know what you are doing! By the way, the Modifier above creates a "steppy" modulation based on the original continuous waveform of LFO 1, whatever that LFO waveform might be.

Last but not least, the Blofeld Keyboard has a freely programmable arpeggiator that displays the pattern you have created, which might very well look similar to this one.

Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Black Features:

• 60 Megabyte sample memory
• Class compliant USB MIDI for PC,Mac and Linux
• 16 Part multimode
• Maximum 25 voices polyphony
• Highest quality standard keybed with 49 weighted keys and aftertouch
• Internal power supply
• Pitchbend and modulation wheel
• Virtual analog, wavetable, and sample based oscillators
• MIDI in/out
• Sturdy metal case
• Stainless steel rotary encoders
• Backlit 128x64 pixel LCD
• Over 1000 sounds
• 3 oscillators, 2 filters per voice
• Selectable drive curves
• Frequency modulation for oscillators and filters
• Three LFO, four envelopes per voice
• Extensive modulation capabilities
• Complex arpeggiator
• Powerful effects section