The Microwave XT is a great big orange polyphonic rackmount synthesizer. While combining the power of the Wave and the compact design of Waldorf's Microwave II, the XT adds a bit of knob-laden heaven. At first glance the top section completely resembles the 2-space rackmount version of the Microwave II. And then there are three more rack-spaces full of knobs and lots of knobs means lots of control.

As far as enhancements, the XT model has 20-bit DSP functions but that's about it. Its true power and features lie in the 44 hands-on knobs which make editing in real-time quick, easy and perfect for performance and studio work. All of the knobs transmit MIDI information as well!

The Synthesizer engine is relatively the same as the Microwave II and Wave synths that came before it. Digital wavetable synthesis and FM synthesis in which there are 64 waves that are mixed and combined into new sounds. The Microwave XT can easily emulate the sounds of the PPG wavetable synths as well as create squelchy acid-303 lines or boomy Moog bass. Also onboard is a nice arpeggiator, digital effects and more. The Microwave XT is definitely a powerful rackmount synth that can generate some highly unique and quality sounds. It is used by Astral Projection, The Crystal Method, Mirwais, and Cirrus.

mike

February 12, 2009 @ 4:16 pm

kind of random quesion but can anyone tell me the dimensions of this synth.

width/height/depth/weight ?

Marklar

February 11, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

The oscillators are purely digital of course, but the filters do model analog. It is capable of some really convincing analog sounds.

Savo Jr.

February 4, 2009 @ 3:58 pm

Lush, juicy, warm, raw.. unik. =) I love the sounds it can produce. I even like the only drawback some people say it has -external power. I think its a wise move if any! A bit easier to replace than internal if it gets broken.
Theres some extremely bizarre functions in this machine. Find and read the manual. And for wannabeanalogueuers -yeah, it can pretend one pretty well.
Good filters. Mediocre effects.

teast

January 24, 2009 @ 4:36 am

is this analog modelling synth? or is it pure 100 % analog?

planetplayer

January 13, 2009 @ 7:26 pm

Nice machine. Sounds warm. Like the PPG, but much much lighter.
Never tried brass on this one, but other sounds are nice.
Thank You to the whole team who made and designed this!
The knobs a re great and it is nice creating sounds on this thing. Quickly? I'm good but it still takes time from scratch. Love the orange color. Wish it had more memory and could create own wavetables and add samples cycle waveforms without computer. If I recall correctly, pulse width modulation simulation is done through wavetable stepping. Went through multiple OS changes too, but it's like a new PPG everytime. Take care of its power supply!

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