Is this possible: hooking up a Korg nanoKEY to Blofeld?

[Hugo76]

Would it be possible to hook up a Korg nanoKEY to the Waldorf Blofeld?
The nanoKEY is usb-powered, and on the spec sheet it says a computer is needed.
However; the Blofeld has both a usb port and an external power supply, so I was thinking about the possibility of connecting these two.

Anyone?

[Bitexion]

AFAIK, the USB port on the Blofeld both sends and receives MIDI. You can use the USB port to import firmware updates and new soundbanks.

I bought a Blofeld this saturday, best investment I've done in years. But haven't tried what you're asking. Check the manual, you can download it off waldorfmusic.de

[Stab Frenzy]

No you can't, both the Blofeld and the Nanokey are USB client devices and need to be connected to a USB host to function. As neither is a host, nothing will happen if you connect them, although you couldn't connect them unless you made up a special USB B-B cable.

[Hugo76]

Oh well, too bad. I've been looking at the Blofeld for a long time, and realised I would need some keys to go with it. I'll be using im conjunction with my RS7000, but it would be cool to be able to design sounds without the two being connected.

Is there any way to trigger the sounds from the Blofeld itself?

[Bitexion]

Doesn't the nanokeys have a MIDI output at all?

In any case, the blofeld can be triggered on its own, but it's cumbersome and not how it's supposed to be used.
Just get a really cheap MIDI keyboard, there are loads on the market besides the korg Nanokeys. Or control it via your computer. Just plug a MIDI cable between your computer's soundcard and the MIDI in on Blofeld, and you can play it through any softsynth with a keyboard on it, or MIDI sequencer software like Cubase.

If your soundcard has no MIDI, there are adapters that let you use the "gameport" (a big plug) as MIDI ports.

[Hugo76]

Bitexion;
Yeah, I'll probably go find something cheap and small. The nanoKEY has only a usb connection.

[Bitexion]

Surely, a 3 octave MIDI keyboard can be had for very little money. THen you can control your blofeld all you want.

[Hugo76]

Heh, how cool would it be if Waldorf released a mini Blofeld, by the likes of the microKorg?
I think I'll hold my breath until NAMM, keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

[Bitexion]

Hehe, they already released the ultra-blofeld (Blofeld keyboard + 60MB sample memory for sampling)..so who knows. I don't see why they would do it though, since the Blo can be controlled by any cheap-a*s MIDI keyboard in the galaxy. Or even software on a computer.

[Hugo76]

Yeah, Bitexion, you're probably right. But it would be awesome nevertheless, and I think it might prove to be a success.
Personally I like integrated packages, so the fewer boxes, the better! But when in my studio I'd probably have it hooked up to the rs7000 most of the time, anyways, so no big problem. The main appeal with the Blofeld for me is using it to supplement the rs7000 - away from the computer. Ahh, I'm lusting bad now...

[Bitexion]

It is by far the most refreshing and impressive synth I've owned for the past few years. And my gearlist is pretty big already. Wavetable synthesis is something I've never had before. Each oscillator can produce the standard analog saw/square/sine/tri waves, but 2 of them also has wavetables. A wavetable is a collection of strange waveforms (128 or 64) that are similar to eachother, lined up after eachother. And you use the PWM knob to sweep through them seamlessly, or sweep it with any other movable parameter like a modwheel, envelope, LFO etc. Or you can just pick a single waveform within it, and use that as oscillator and filter it and whatnot. Don't have to sweep the entire table, you set the PWM amount too.
The wavetables are named after the kind of sounds they contain, like "Mallets2" or "Malevocal". You just start at some point and sweep through it and get this amazing texture. They always contain some radically different waves in there, so you suddenly get an abrupt change in harmonics/sound when you sweep it slowly. Even cooler is to use a S&H LFO to just pick waveforms randomly when you hold down the keys. Can get seriosly glitchy and cool.

And there's more than 60 different tables on each oscillator, including a "best of" of the PPG Wave. Also has lots of filter models, and a PPG Wave emulated filter that is dead-on according to people who have owned that. Plus there's some wonderful overdrive emulations that let you go nuts with distortion, and the filters have their own overdrive sections.

I'm in love. You shouldn't let something as simple as a MIDI keyboard ruin it for you. Blofeld is small enough to rest on top of the keyboard you control it from usually (unless it is covered in knobs already)

[Hugo76]

Bitexicon;
Yeah it sounds like you're enjoying your synth, there!
I'm gonna buy it as soon as I can, been watching some vids on Youtube today and it looks absolutely lovely.
Come to think of it, I read somewhere that the flash ram chip inside the Blofeld is supposed to be the same as the one in the keyboard version, that is the 60mb chip for samples. Have you heard anything about this?
It sure would be awesome if they upgraded the os in the desktop to include the possibility for user samples.

Nevertheless, the Blofeld is a killer deal which ever way you look at it.