Waldorf Microwave XT or Blofeld vs Poly Evolver

[Herbert West]

This versus thread probably isnt entirely original and has been discussed before, but I couldnt find an existing topic... I am stuck between purchasing a Waldorf or a Dave Smith Poly Evolver. I know the Poly Evolver costs significantly more, but I think it could be worth it (especially if I get a good used deal.) How does the wavetable synthesis and modulation options of the XT and Blofeld compare to the Poly Evolver? Are they similar? Does the Poly Evolver have better analog implementation than the Blofeld?

I am mainly interested in the modulation options here though. I need a poly-synth that can create 'far-out' sounds and great FM and wavetables. Plus an analog style sequencer would be nice, I dont think either Blofeld has one? The more options the better.

[Stab Frenzy]

They're both great but quite a bit different. The Evolvers don't have wavetables in the conventional sense, they have digital oscs that can be modulated by the sequencer but you can't morph between them while holding a note like you can on the Waldorfs. The poly Evolver has analogue oscs and filters as well, whereas the Blofeld is all digital modelled. Not that that really means a lot, they should just be judged on what sounds come out. They both have a lot of modulation options so you can't really go wrong there.

Maybe think about getting a Blofeld keyboard and a desktop Evolver? That would cost about the same as a PEK and you'd get both flavours, although not polyphonically. You could have a lot of fun running the outputs of the Blofeld into the Evolver's audio ins as well, when they're midied together.

[nathanscribe]

I've got a MEK and an XT, and they are pretty different, and both great in their own ways. I used a Poly Evo for a couple of months (on loan) and one of the things that struck me was how nice the keyboard was. That might not be important, but it was a sheer pleasure to play. In terms of UI, the MEK and PEK are too similar to be worth arguing about - the PEK is more spread out, but nothing on the MEK is particularly hard to find. The screen is a slight issue for me on the MEK, as it's on the mid-tier of an X-frame and is slightly awkward to see at that angle. Positioning is the thing. I can't comment on the module's interface, but plenty of folk like it.

The Waldorf XT is the knobbiest of the microwave racks; they did a keyboard version, but I hear it has buggy MIDI output. The UI is fine, with the knobs on the lower half of the panel giving direct access to many common parameters, but you'll still have to menu-dive to complete your editing. It's not hard to navigate though. The XT's filters are all digital too, it has several types, and they are capable of sounding warm and smooth - as well as harsh and brittle. There's an arpeggiator but no sequencer.

As for wavetables, the Waldorf has the ability to start at any wave in a particular table, and you can modulate from there via envelopes, velocity, aftertouch, LFO, mod wheel, etc. etc. The Evolver's waves are more static, but there's still a lot of flexibility in modulating everything. Each osc in the XT shares the same wavetable, and you can't change wavetables though modulation - only your point in that table.

There's some useful info on each at http://www.carbon111.com/

[Herbert West]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm starting to think I should get an MEK and a rackmount XT, which would come out to about the price of a PEK. That way Id be able to mess with both. Im still somewhat skeptical about 4-voices on an Evolver being necessary, I played a Mono Evolver before and without knowing I wouldve assumed it was polyphonic. A lot of the patches mixed in with the effects gave it that illusion for me.

[nathanscribe]

4 voices become necessary if you want to play more than one note at a time... depends what you want from it. Certainly the MEK sounds pretty thick when all 4 oscs are going at once, with various modulations from different sources in full swing - but not all patches will use that. It's happy doing softer, simpler sounds, some of which cry out for chords.

I find the XT and MEK go well together, but can't comment on the Blofeld at all. I think Stab's suggestion of a Blofeld keyboard and a Desktop Evo to sit on top would be nice...

[Herbert West]

Well I would have the XT for polyphony... and use the MEK for strange and rhythmic sounds. What I meant about the MEK, its not jarring like some monophonics are, the onboard effects really smooth over the transition from note to note. Of course polyphony would be nice on an Evolver, but I saw that option as a way to try out both. Plus 4 voices vs 10 (which is upgradable to 30 if Im not mistaken) is another deal kicker. But I dunno. Itd be nice to own just a Poly Evolver, its starting to get crowded in here