I’m 50 - 50 on pulling the trigger on the sl license, not a big sampling person but just tempted to get it…
It’s definitely a unique beast. When nothing is plugged into the right jack, the left jack will output stereo over a TRS cable. When something is plugged into the right, though, then the left suddenly only outputs the left signal on the tip for (in theory) normal TS operation.
But how does it know? It seems like it must be running ring contact of the left jack to the sleave of the right such that, when the right sleeve is grounded, it grounds out the the right (ring) contact of the left as well? But I could see this causing all sorts of havoc with equipment doing balanced stuff. I would pay good money for an accurate block diagram of this beauty.
My rule of thumb is: only ever use TS cables with the blofeld outs. And if you ever want a mono signal, plug into just the right port (instead of the left, which is the standard for most gear). If you ever need stereo over TRS, just use the headphone port.
UPDATE: After a round of emails with Waldorf support, here is their conclusion:
"Yes, this issue is normal. The reason is, that a digital sound generator can not produce a true mono signal. All DSP generated signals are dual mono respectively stereo. The DSP works at 16Bit/48kHz and also with two clock generators, DSP clock and DAC clock. Synchronisation this 100% true required a very high ended system. Simply, a 500 Euro digital synthesizer is not able to perform this. Added to the facts, that your sound card can also shift the phase… more or less. Length of the line cables is also a theme. And interferences from outside.
So, when you need true mono in-phase, you have to record the Blofeld with one line output, use the right/mono and record mono (one channel).
Anyway, In normal usage, nobody will hear a different between your wav file 1 and 2… So I think everything works perfect."
So… That’s it! Another Blofeld issue that cannot be solved.
I kinda like their detailed response
I can highly recommend this. I updated it yesterday because the sample function is currently on sale for 30 euros. now i can’t even imagine the blofeld without this function.
very happy surprise to see @MarkPigott is a regular Elektronaut. a few years back his videos were a major inspiration for me to write a short album called “Bassambience” using almost nothing but singleton Blofeld patches. you can get an insane amount of motion and development out of this beast and i wanted to showcase that here.
sadly my encoders are almost completely inoperable at this point. that coupled with a lack of deskspace (i would love to use it with software controllers) has made it a living room decoration. its day will return soon.
edit: as acknowledged in the liner notes, the boss sp202 makes a cameo on the first track. otherwise this is all blofeld into a cheapo interface i have since misplaced.
It’s very interesting to be reminded that DSP works a bit different from the general computer processing or VST code. Looks like every voice (and channel) is being generated in real time on a dedicated unit (or maybe some fixed number of voices per CPU).
So there is no possibility to pre-render perfectly synchronized channels to a large memory buffer in different threads like and then play it (like it would happen in VST). Everything is generated in real time within strict latency limits, and the different voices/channels even with the same algorithm can have some fluctuations, because the controlling signals are not in perfect sync and the speed is not infinite.
(Probably some statements sound innacurate, just thinking aloud trying to recall the basics about CPUs and DSPs
as a last ditch as the encoders are toast anyhow, grab yourself some WD-40.
I am being serious here, not being trivial. I had to do this with my old tutorial Blofeld and it brought
the one bad encoder back to life.
Here is some Blofeld multi and Monologue
Came here to add my love for the Blofeld.
Where to start with this synth? It’s an absolute powerhouse. One of the first synths I felt limited by my imagination rather than by the design choices. Sample to sample FM is one of the crown jewels for me.
It’s great for textures and other strange sounds that are hard to find anywhere else (as far as I know, Assimil8or from Rossum is the only other currently available sample machine that lets you FM samples with other samples).
The mod matrix and logic operations are a dream.
The only thing I’m missing is a note preview function so I can make patches on the couch with just the Blofeld.
I’ve ranted and raved about the sample-to-sample FM on the Blofeld, and will continue to do so since mixing that with its filters and everything else yields very unique results. Few places let you employ FM with samples alongside wavetables and virtual analog tones.
The Roland MC-707 has something called XMOD which effectively lets you use one oscillator to modify another (including samples and virtual analog sounds). The synth engine in there, coupled with the effects, makes it a really nice option if you’re willing to menu dive. Internal resampling is also really useful if you find a sweet spot.
The Roland V-Synth also lets you do FM with samples, though that gem is 20 years old now. Incidentally, the V-Synth lets you do FM with any oscillator source: Virtual Analog, PCM samples, and External Audio. At one point, I sent the Blofeld’s audio into the V-Synth and I used the V-Synth to make the Blofeld’s audio FM itself in real time.
Live off the floor, starring a Korg Ms-20Kit wsg Behringer K-2, Waldorf Blofeld, Korg Modwave mk i and Korg Modwave mk ii.
Improvised, including the mistakes!
A whole lotta wavetable action!
Blofeld takes the lead, but the MS-20Kit/K-2 gets the last word!
Sounds great @MarkPigott. Was that the Korg MS20 or was it the K2? It looks like the MS20 but in the low light its hard to tell!
It was both.
The MS-20Kit (panned left) is Hz/v CV controller for the K-2 (panned right).
As the ADSR are different, you get the stereo imaging at the very end of the video.
Yes. Always want this on the Blofeld
A stubby midi plug with a little button where the cable should be. Sends out a note. Retrokits or someone, plz make
That’s a great idea. This is an option but not as minimal as you’re describing.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1455256307/one-button-midi-controller-bb-b1-midi
Freakin’ cool!!
I just picked up a used blofeld keyboard, mainly as a compact midi keyboard with high quality keys with bonus synth engine.
Unfortunately I’m pretty let down by the keys on it. I was hoping for a keybed similar to the one on my old Moog Matriarch, which has the same Fatar TP9/S keybed. Comparing it side to side the Blofeld is much lighter action and quite noisy too.
The previous owner mentioned using it in a band, so maybe these keys are just heavily abused. It is over 10 years old as well. Wondering if any blokey owners can chime in on their keybeds.