Wavetable Synthesis - Waldorf Q Keyboard User Manual

Wavetable Synthesis

The sound generation of the alternative waveforms (Alt1 and Alt2) of the Q is based on wavetable
synthesis. This type of synthesis combines analog access and digital flexibility in a simple way.
Although wavetable synthesis is a form of "sample playback" in principle, you should avoid this term
because functionality, operation and results are totally different. Each of Alt1 and Alt2 contain one
wavetable with 128 Waves each.
Please keep the terms "wavetable" and "wave" in mind. Don´t bring them into confusion.
The following overview will clearly explain the system of the Wavetable Synthesis:
A wavetable into the Q is a table consisting of 128 waveforms. Each waveform is classified by its own
very special sound character. The main difference of wavetable synthesis compared to other sound
generation principles is the facility not only to play one waveform per oscillator, but also to walk
through the wavetable via different modulations. Therefore you can create wavetable sweeps. The
results can be very drastic - much more than any sample playback based system could ever produce.
That is a unique feature of wavetable synthesis.
The capabilities of this principle are very strong. To give some examples:
• Each note on a keyboard can access a different wave of the wavetable.
• Different waves can be played depending on key velocity.
• A LFO can modulate the position inside the wavetable. You can create subtle to drastic
sound changes.
• Random controllers like e.g. the modwheel can change the position inside the wavetable.
When you turn the wheel while playing a chord, each note´s wave will be modified
instantly.
• Wavetables are perfect as FM Source when you want to create very strange sounds.
You should keep the following sentence in mind because it describes the essential of the wavetable
synthesis:
A wavetable is a table of pointers to up to 128 waves, among which you can move at will.
If you like the sound and possibilities of the wavetable synthesis you should try out the Waldorf
Microwave II, XT or XTk. These are pure wavetable synthesizers. Also the Waldorf PPG Wave
2.V as a VST Instrument is capable of this synthesis.
71
Sound Parameters – Oscillators
Waldorf Q User's Manual