Wavetable Synths - Waldorf or Ensoniq ?

[aciddance]

Hello,

I'm about to increase my sonic palette, and want to get a wavetable synth (instead of my Roland SH-2 I think.. ). There're two synth I really like- Ensoniq Fizmo Rack and Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard. Right now I have good offers for both of them, so I'm trying decide which one will be better for me. Also there are Microwave XT with analog filters, and Ensoniq VFX, but they're more rare and expensive, but maybe it's worth the price and time for findig them? I'm quite familiar with features and possibilities of those synths, but I'm wondering which of them will have more 'exotic' but 'pure' sound, effect of 'presence', will be more usefull on concerts, etc..

Another idea, is to wait for Waldorf Stromberg, but for how long?

Also I must say- I'm using virtual synthesizers (like NI KORE 2 and Omnisphere ) more and more. Maybe I shouldn't concentrate on hardware wavetable synths too much and just explore the plugins. The problem here is that sounds coming from my laptop are a little weak, "empty", they don't have enough 'pressure', and I think it's the main disadvantage of this technology. They not fit well into guitar music, don't cut through mix well. But at the same time possibilities are great- morphing, various effects and shapers, it possible to create very complex, layered sounds.. Maybe the compromise here is to combine hardware and soft synths in a live and studio situation (for lives it's possible to use laptop, and one hardware synth, like Fizmo or Blofeld for example.. )

And the music I'm working at right now is quasi pop/new romantic. A band with two key players, two guitars, bass, sax, vocals and some exotic instruments. The sound is a little close to David Sylvian/Japan style. At the same time I'm doing a lot of 'cinematic' experimental electronica, ambient as my solo projects..

At first I had no doubts and just wanted to add Blofeld to my laptop setup (for lives.. at the studio I have a couple of mono analogs, one VA and couple of fm synths.. ), but suddenly recieved an offer for 'brand new' Fizmo and now I shoud decide..

Thanks for any suggestions and ideas in advance.

[paugui]

Hi

The only Wavetable from Waldorf with analog filters is the MicroWave I (the Q+ has analog filters two, but you only have two wavetables on that one).
From what I've heard, the XT has a really nice filter section, despite it is not analog.

I only experience I have with Wavetable synths is with my Ensoniq Fizmo, but I only got it this Christmas, so my experience with it is really limited.
But during this time it was clear that I like the sound. I think it definitely will suit ambient music (I do that kind of stuff too and it definitely sounds good).

If you have a good offer on a Fizmo rack, I would say take it.
The Fizmo keyboard is nice, but you don't gain anything by getting the keyboard instead of the rack and the rack is really rare.
If I could have bought the rack instead, I would have done it, especially because I am running out of space for keyboards...
Also, you can always get the Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard later, while a Fizmo rack for good price might not be that easy.

If you really want a Wavetable synth, I wouldn't wait for the Stromberg.
You can get one later, but if you get the Fizmo now, you will always get a different sound from it when comparing with the Stromberg, so I think it will be worth having both.
And if you get the Fizmo rack, it won't take too much space in your studio.

If you want other Ensoniq synth for wavetables, I've heard the TS-10/TS-12 is really cool and you can do your own wavetables on it, but I think those are not that cheap and it is not easy to create your own wavetables (you have to use special software on old computers...).


Hope this helps,
Best regards

Paugui

[Joey]

the fizmo interface is very limited and requires editing software to access every feature

the blofeld keyboard would be good, and would certainly cover a lot of basses. if you are worried about your VST's cutting through the mix, then the issue is that you arent carving enough of a sonic niche for yourself within the grand scheme of the band, you either need to EQ them right, process them differently, or play different parts/have your guitar player play less.

it is harder to fit synths in when a guitarist is doing huge chords, have him slim it down a bit, or make the arrangements more keyboard friendly.

[tom Cadillac]

Microwave racks are a good deal where I live. You can add a midi controller (such as a kenton control freak) on top of the rack. Sounds great and easy to carry if you're playing live. Fizmo racks are, as far as I know, rare and consequently expensive.

[pflosi]

The only Wavetable from Waldorf with analog filters is the MicroWave I (the Q+ has analog filters two, but you only have two wavetables on that one).

That's not completely true. There's also the mighty waldorf wave

[meatballfulton]

I'm using virtual synthesizers (like NI KORE 2 and Omnisphere ) more and more. Maybe I shouldn't concentrate on hardware wavetable synths too much and just explore the plugins.

I would definitely advise you to do this.

First, you already own them

Second, you have some powerful software there and if you dig in you should be able to create sounds similar to what wavetable hardware can.

Third, take a look at Waldorf's Largo, this is basically a softsynth version of the Blofeld.

[aciddance]

Hmm... The offer I have on Fizmo Rack looks quite good - the price is very low, the condition on photographs is perfect. But the seller looks very suspicious to me.

Maybe someone who live in London area want to meet with him and check it out (he also have Roland 202 strings and some other gear for sale.. )?

Also I can pass this offer to somebody who really want Fizmo, because now I think I'll go for Blofeld Keyboard or oldschool Waldorf. After listening demos online and testing my friend's Microwave 2 I felt in love with Waldorf sound again, I think it will work better for me. And for Fizmo kind of sounds Native Instruments will be good I think (not so warm, but much more complex and 'alive', with lot's of morphing and 'micro movement' inside.. )

I also suggest for all "openminded' synth lovers to put an eye on KORE 2 hardware from Native Instruments.. First time I didn't like it at all (I'm vintage synth lover, and for a long time it was impossible to make me love something modern and digital.. ) But after spending some time with it I discovered a lot of unique features inside, and found a place for it in my rig. But it's not cheap, and you will want to buy some additional sonic packs pretty soon, because they're very special and well made. For the price of my KORE 2 and all sonic packs and addons I could get a Poly Evolver, or VSynth rack for example... but it's another story..

[aciddance]

Yes Waldorf Largo is nice, but still a little more 'weak' than Blofeld. And with my not so high-end (TC Konnekt) DA convertors it will be even more thin sounding.

The price is a little too high - 230Euro... I can get Blofeld rack with adding 150Euro more for example, or Microwave...

The thing I really want (besides original Prophet, Arp and Fairlight and Synclavier... and of course MS-20 -) is Stromberg. If they will finish it next year, it will be just the right choice for me...

[aciddance]

So what? Waldorf wins? Or there will be some other FIZMO advocates? -)

(and yes... for FIZMO offer feel free to write me at [email protected] , I'll give your the sellers address, but as I said before he looks very suspicious.. )

[pflosi]

for your suspiciousness: how does that seller call himself? i caught a scammer that claimed to be in london on CL once... he tried to "sell" many nice pieces for very cheap on local CL here in switzerland. his / her name was Irene Miller. that was a very obvious scam which was clear after the first mail (did everything that's in the "scam attention rules" on CL, and never wrote back or put other things on the local CL here after i told him / her that this is clearly scam). if it's that person, stay away! if not, don't write the name here...

[Raiven]

I'm using virtual synthesizers (like NI KORE 2 and Omnisphere ) more and more. Maybe I shouldn't concentrate on hardware wavetable synths too much and just explore the plugins.

I would definitely advise you to do this.

First, you already own them

Second, you have some powerful software there and if you dig in you should be able to create sounds similar to what wavetable hardware can.

Third, take a look at Waldorf's Largo, this is basically a softsynth version of the Blofeld.

This is great advice. Lets be friends.

[tallowwaters]

There are 2 recent threads discussing the merits of the Fizmo in relation to the Waldorf synths, why not type a few words into that search box at the top of the page?

[balma]

Hmm... The offer I have on Fizmo Rack looks quite good - the price is very low, the condition on photographs is perfect. But the seller looks very suspicious to me.

Maybe someone who live in London area want to meet with him and check it out (he also have Roland 202 strings and some other gear for sale.. )? ..

there are no more than 80 Fizmo racks (+ or -),so finding if he really has one should not be hard. Ask for serial number and who sold it to him

[Computer Controlled]

Is the Fizmo a wavetable synth in the same way the Blofeld is? I know they called the ESQ-1 a "wavetable" synth, but they're Wavetable is different than the classic Waldorf/PPG wavetable.

[paugui]

Is the Fizmo a wavetable synth in the same way the Blofeld is? I know they called the ESQ-1 a "wavetable" synth, but they're Wavetable is different than the classic Waldorf/PPG wavetable.

I think so, and I have to say it sounds really good.
However, I have never tried a Waldorf Wavetable synth to compare, but to get a Fizmo Rack, it is not that usual, so that I would definitely jump on that one.
A Waldorf wavetable is much easier to find (you can get a Blofeld in almost every good synth stores), so that you can always pick up one of those down the road. At least a Waldorf wavetable should be much easier to find than a Fizmo Rack.