Waldorf - Iridium Core

The Waldorf Iridium Core is a compact, richly equipped duo-trimbral digital synth with 12 voices that combines an extremely versatile sound-engine with ease of use and Eurorack compatibility.

The Waldorf Iridium Core is the portable but equally powerful version of the Iridium synth. The latter evolved from Waldorf's flagship Quantum, which Waldorf creators Rolf Wöhrmann and Joachim Flor developed together with synth designer Axel Hartmann in 2018. The Quantum approach has even been expanded in several ways with Quantum patches being compatible with the Iridium series. Only Quantum’s analog filters are missing.
Each of its three oscillators can take on one of five sound garments, providing a powerful sound arsenal. The classic wavetable approach has been complemented by the strengths of the Nave synthesizer, which is capable of voice synthesis and can generate wavetables from external audio sources. In addition, there is a virtual-analog approach for extremely rich sounds. This one can come up with up to 8 copies (detune/chord) of the oscillator if required. Also on board are a multisampling sampler with granular option (Particle) and a resonator filter bank with click/noise exciter (also multisampling capable). The Kernel oscillator is new to the scene. It gives you up to six Kernel operators per oscillator covering the (sound) fields of phase FM, true FM and wavetable position modulation (wow!).
It is the filter that determins most of the character of a synth. Iridium Core (also) has two digital multimode filters. They include lowpass, bandpass and highpass filters in various configurations. These are based around a state variable filter and other filter models based on the Waldorf designs for Nave, Largo or PPG-Wave. In addition, the so-called "Digital Formers" are available, which provide further digital filter types (e.g. comb filters) and can also function as sound shapers using Bitcrusher, RingMod and Drive.
The synapses of oscillators, filters and digital formers can be linked via a biiig routing system. Among the sources are six LFOs in poly or global mode and six loop-able envelopes. The extensive modulation matrix has up to 40 entries. Add to this: 4 knobs, numerous push buttons, 6 user-assignable macro buttons and the generous tablet-like touch display, all of which provide an extremely convenient introduction to sound editing. Sound refinement takes place via the fully equipped effects section with all common types of effects and the master compressor for the main output. The effects are also part of the Mod-Matrix.
Other parts in this scheme are the Arpeggiator, sequencer, as well as microtuning options and MPE/Poly AT. The so called connection to the outer world is a bit reduced compared to the larger Waldorf-Synths. You will find stereo inputs and outputs, MIDI I/O, 2 CV inputs, analog clock I/Os and 2 USB ports. The latter are responsible for USB-MIDI as well as for reading/saving samples and software updates. The internal flash memory for samples is 2.6 GB in size and comes with a preset library from well-known sound designers such as Richard Devine, Reinhold Heil, BT, Jörg Hüttner and Kurt Ader.
A great synthesizer for anyone who wants a synth that goes “all-in” and a robust, compact, yet complex companion for studio and stage. Just like with Quantum, the traditional company from Remagen in the Rhineland has delivered a benchmark for modern synthesizer design. And one that fits into your backpack.

Features:

• Polyphonic synthesizer with digital sound creator and up to 16 voices
• Duo-timbral
• 3 oscillators
• Five oscillator modes: wavetable, waveform (virtual-analog), particle (sampling and granular sampling), resonator (with click/noise exciter) and kernel oscillator (up to 6 operators for FM, phase FM and wavetable position modulation)
• 2 digital filters with 12/24dB LP/BP/HP filters in various characteristics and other filter types (SVF, Raiser, Largo, Nave, PPG)
• 2 "digital formers" (additional filters as well as bit crusher, drive, boost, ring mod etc.)
• 6 LFOs
• 6 envelope generators
• Komplex modulator (complex LFO with two different curves that can be mixed together if required)
• Mod Matrix with 40 slots
• Arpeggiator with 7 different algorithms
• Step sequencer with up to 64 steps with step recorder, transpose function, parameter automation and scale-based pitch quantization
• 6 User-definable Macro-buttons
• 4 Potentiometers and several push-buttons for editing purposes
• generously dimensioned touchscreen (also allows modwheel, pitchbend and aftertouch control)
• 6 GB internal flash memory
• Up to 7000 sound programs that can be filtered by banks, attributes, sound designer and patch number
• 2GB factory sounds from Richard Devine, Reinhold Heil, Mike Huckaby, Thorsten Quaeschning, BT, Matt Johnson, Jörg Hüttner, Kurt Ader etc.
• MPE functionality
• 2x 6.3mm jack input (TS)
• 2x 6.3mm jack output (TS)
• 2 high-resolution CV inputs, which are available as modulation sources in the mod matrix
• Clock I/O (with Clock-Divider)
• DIN-MIDI (In/Out) via Mini-TRS-A (adapter included)
• 2x USB for USB-MIDI, connection to computer/DAW, sound import/export
• SD card slot
• Headphone-Out
• Power supply unit included (12V DC)