Waldorf Iridium Desktop MK2 — a 16-voice digital synthesizer

Waldorf has introduced a second-generation desktop version of its popular synthesizer with many improvements.

Photo: official website waldorfmusic

The new model keeps the oscillator modes from the original model: Wavetable, VA, Particle for sampling and granular sampling, Resonator and Kernel, and adds Seeds. These can be combined through Ring Mod, FM, Wavetables and Partials. An improved CPU board increases RAM to 4 GB and flash storage to 6 GB. Per-Note Parameter Locks, developed with Aphex Twin, allow up to 16 separate parameter variations for each of 128 sequencer steps by holding a note and turning knobs. PNP locks can be saved per patch and edited on a dedicated page.

Photo: official website waldorfmusic

Iridium MK2 adds the Flavour control from the Protein, affecting Timing, Timbre, Pitch and other parameters. Multitimbrality expands from two to four layers. Round Robin and Random Robin modes create deeper, more complex textures. Connections include stereo input/output, CV, MIDI In/Thru/Out, USB-A, USB host and microSD. An updated operating system and shared firmware update are planned for Quantum and Iridium users. Version 4.0 will add a patch mutation randomiser first introduced in the Microwave plugin, a new polyphonic arpeggiator, patch-stored microtonal functions and more.

Photo: official website waldorfmusic

Waldorf Iridium Desktop MK2 will be available for around $3,000.