|
I finally got my Microwave XT after a few months of waiting. Since I've had friends that have owned the XTk version I knew how powerful and characterful this machine is.
The XT is excellent for recreating those classic PPG Wave timbres, as well as heading off to uncharted territories. Excellent sounds, excellent implementation--all around an excellent machine.
As everyone should know by now, the XT is NOT a virtual analog and it shouldn't be treated as one. It can do some "analog" like timbres, but this is not its strength. The power of the XT is the ability to achieve first rate "hybrid" tones (digital/analog) ranging from hard to soft, ordinary to wierd.
If you are a mid-career Depeche Mode fan, this synth is a must have as DM utilized the PPG quite a lot. However, this is not all it's limited to.
The Microwave series itself has graced the music scene for well over a decade since its original incarnation--the MW I. Possibly the most notable users of the MW I were Lord of Acid. The main advantage of the I is the analog low-pass filter; however, I think that the XT surpasses the original by offering a more flexible digital filter capable of low, band and high pass filtration--as well as some "unusual" filters.
The filter (and real time control) are the two aspects that set the XT apart from the MW I and II. The XT can run two filters simultaneously--one is a 12/24db HP/BP/LP, notch or sin(x) style filter whereas the other is either a 6db low pass or 6db highpass filter. This huge versatility on filtering gives the XT an edge over most synthesizers. The MW II is almost identical to an XT other than some of the filter types and the real time control knobs.
For roughly 1000 dollars for a 10 voice XT, I think this synth is a great value. First class everything and loads of fun to boot.
Thumbs up to Waldorf--they've done it again.
|
listings
