Waldorf Blofeld vs. Shruthli-1

[adekoyote]

I have heard nothing but good things from each of these synths and I would like to settle on one of them. I am so far impressed by the form factor of both devices(both are small and pack a wallop), and that each seems to have modern functionalities like mod matrixes, etc.

So what does the vintagesynth crew think?

Are these devices similar?

I am asking because they go for about the same $ and they both seem to be VA...correct me if I am wrong...

[James Mandible]

I am asking because they go for about the same $ and they both seem to be VA...correct me if I am wrong...

Shruthi is not a VA and Blofeld is only 'technically' a VA. Shruthi is monophonic and has analog filters (unless you get the digital filter version), Blofeld is polyphonic, multitimbral, and has digital filters. Blofeld comes pre-built, Shruthi does not. They are both wavetable synths, they're both pretty cheap, that's really about all they have in common.

Also a Shruthi sells for 200 (maybe closer to 300 for a built version) and Blofeld (module version) goes for 400-700 dollars, depending. That's a pretty big difference.

[adekoyote]

ok thank for clearing that up. Which one sounds better, though? I am really eyeballing them for the form factor...in regards to performance synths it would be great to have them connected to the rs7000....mainly because they are so TINY...hooked up to a proper sequencer you could really get some amazing sounds...I I really dig the fact that they offer so much yet take up so little space.

[samuraipizzacat29]

another difference (AFAIK) is that the shruthi-1 is only monophonic and the blofeld is poly. the blofeld is a lot more flexible from the digital side, but the shruthi-1 just sounds dern good. If you're using it primarily as a monosynth, I'd stay with the shruthi. If you're going to use it for pads and sound effects, blofeld.

[th0mas]

blofeld is polyphonic and polytimbral, so connected to the rs7000 it can do up to 16 parts split by channel or by midi map. My favorite VA I think (still learning my virus indigo 2 and deciding if I like it better)

struthi will be much more limited as it's monotimbral. You're comparing an apple with a case of oranges imho, unless you REALLY like apples you'll get more value out of the oranges.

[jeffrey1121]

struthi will be much more limited as it's monotimbral. You're comparing an apple with a case of oranges imho, unless you REALLY like apples you'll get more value out of the oranges.

gotta go with th0mas. in this case polyphonic > monophonic. also, the LCD on the blofeld is much more useful than that tiny one on the Shruthli-1. My mopho has a similarly small display and it's shortcomings only became apparent after a month or two of ownership.

[SSquirrel]

Of course now Mutable has the Ambika coming out. 6 voice poly Shruthi with a lot more going on to boot. Sounds pretty cool

[tallowwaters]

They are both wavetable synths, they're both pretty cheap, that's really about all they have in common.

Are the wavetables sweepable on the Shruthi?

[deeplow]

yup

[Projectile]

Also, you should know that the 8-bit limitations of the oscillators on the Shruthi make it somewhat more low-fi. This is usually a good thing IMO (it gives it some subtle grit), but sometimes it can be hard to get a perfect, pristine sound out of the oscillators at their extremes. For example, there are two different versions of the square waveform, and I find one sounds better in the high register, and the other sounds much better in the low register, so I have to select a different waveform depending on the range I'm playing in. Some might see this as a limitation.

The 8-bit oscillators combined with the analog filter makes the shruthi noticeably more FAT sounding compared to other synths in its class, but the Blofeld is certainly more flexible.

The big attraction of the Shruthi-1 is the fact that it's by far the cheapest way to get a feature-packed, ripping little monosynth with a real analog filter.

The demos on the Mutable instruments give a very good preview of what the Shruthi-1 is capable of. I would also recommend skimming the manuals of both synths to get an idea of what it's like to program them.

[HideawayStudio]

I have both in the studio and they're really very different beasts.

The Blofeld is a suprisingly powerful synth capable of making some huge textures and is also very flexible. It is equally at home rendering epic pads and warm washes as the hard, bizarre and cold. It also has a superb built in arpeggiator. The Blofeld is one of very few new digital synths that I've been guinuely impressed with in recent years.

The Shruthi-1 is a quirky combination of PWM DACs running on a little microprocessor driving a real VCF/VCA combo. If it was to be compared with something from the Waldorf stable then it would have to be the uWave I which is also a combination of digital waveform generation into analog filters. It is quite capable of making some nice bass, buzzy leads, bizarre wavetable progressions, pseudo FM timbres and arpeggios but in my opinion is perhaps more a synth to add some interest to a mix rather than becoming it's backbone like the Waldorf could, if required.

If it were my money I'd go for the Blofeld because I think it's capable of rendering a much wider sonic palette but not in some 'orrible GM MIDI workstation way - with power, class and character.

I like the Shruthi but in truth I got a bit bored with it a little too quickly.

I personally think that where it might just be a little wanting as a monosynth, it could be the basis for a very nice polysynth - which is, of course, something Olivier has been working on.

He's a clever chap and, if you are into your electronics, where the Shruthi may just win is that it's really easy to drive your own analog filters and VCAs with the CPU board by tapping it's CV channel outputs (something I've done to good effect with tube circuits).

Here is the Blofeld into my Dual Tube Hybrid Filter with the cutoffs being hand cranked in wispy self resonance:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ziublt

Here are some examples of the Shruthi-1 modified to drive 3 out of the 9 CV channels on the same filter.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/np58jy

http://www.sendspace.com/file/edmv0y

http://www.sendspace.com/file/9rfg6n

NB: SendSpace is confusing... click on "Click here to start download from sendspace" to download.

It's probably possible to find a very affordable second hand Blofeld these days - just make sure the data wheel is ok - they sometimes develop a life of their own!