Waldorf Quantum MK2

With a polyphonic aftertouch keybed, expanded internal memory, and additional digital filters, Waldorf’s Quantum MK2 is the enhanced, definitive version of their flagship analog/digital hybrid keyboard synthesizer. With their roots established in beloved legacy synths like the Microwave, Wave, and Q, Quantum incorporates the latest and greatest Waldrof wavetable technology along with other cutting-edge synthesis methods. And with abundant panel controls, a marvelous touch display, and the Fatar TP/8SK keybed with poly aftertouch, your sounds are always subject to your exacting needs.

Quantum MK2 offers up to eight voices when using its analog filters, but the addition of eight digital filters brings total voice count up to 16—plenty for elegant, layered pads or fun bi-timbral applications. But within each voice are three oscillators, which themselves may be independently assigned to one of five difference synthesis algorithms.

As mentioned before, Quantum employs the best Waldorf wavetable techniques to date, including speech synthesis and auto-generating wavetables from audio samples. Beyond wavetables, there are also traditional synth waveforms for classic and instantly gratifying sounds—but Quantum quickly ramps things up from here. The Particle Generator mode covers everything from traditional multi-sampler functionality to intensive granular synthesis techniques to stretch and mangle source material beyond recognition. Resonator mode ventures into physical modeling territories—a style of synthesis rarely explored on keyboard synthesizers. Finally, Kernel synthesis mode is a digital modular environment, not unlike patching a Eurorack system or using an environment like Max/MSP or Reactor, and allows for super niche applications that wouldn’t be possible in the other modes. This includes FM synthesis—with support for DX7 patch imports—and other techniques like phase distortion synthesis, and whole lot more.

Following the oscillators are a number of filtering and shaping tools, which elevate the capabilities of Quantum even further. The Dual Analog Filter provides two resonant lowpass filters per voice, which may then be arranged into a number of joined or independent architectures. Next, the Digital Former section applies digital filtering methods, including models of classic analog filters to comb filtering, distortion, and bitcrushing.

Quantum also offers an abundance of ways to modulate your sounds, with six sophisticated envelope generators, six LFOs, and a Komplex Modulator, which is a super-charged LFO with blendable curves. There are also beautiful internal effects, including delays, reverbs, phasers, and more, which may be assigned to five FX slots and routed into each other in numerous different ways.

Quantum MK2 is more than just a sound designer’s dream synthesizer—it’s a powerful performance machine as well. Click into Perform mode to access Sets of 20 patches saved to Favorites, powerful arpeggiator and sequencer tools, as well as Pad Trigger and XY assignments for more ways to interact with your sounds. In short, Waldorf’s Quantum MK2 just might be the last synthesizer you would ever need—it’s a true jack of all trades and master of all.

Quantum MK2 Features

Hybrid analog-digital polyphonic synthesizer
61-note Fatar TP/8SK poly-aftertouch keybed
Bitimbral functionality for keyboard splits and layering
8-voices with analog filters, 16-voices with digital filters
3 oscillators per-voice with five modes each
Wavetable: the tried-and-true Waldorf approach, incorporating the latest features like speech synthesis and wavetable generation from audio files
Waveform: classic subtractive synthesis wave shapes with detuning, warp, unison, hard sync, and more
Particle: multi-sampling combined with granular synthesis
Resonator: deep physical modeling capabilities
Kernel: digital modular environment for custom FM, AM, PM synthesis arrangements and more
Dual analog lowpass filters per voice, 12dB or 24dB slopes, and numerous link modes
Digital former: analog filter models, comb filters, distortion, bitcrushing, and more
Flexible touch-routing system for highly custom audio configurations
Six LFOs
Six envelope generators
Komplex Modulator with blendable, multisage LFOs
Deep modulation matrix
Five master FX slots for delays, reverbs, and more
Step sequencer and arpeggiator
Microtonality and alternate tuning ssupported through Scala files
USB MIDI Host and Device ports