Yes I did edit it and produced a few patches of my own. I messed around sweeping through wavetables, modulated the filter etc., searching for gritty, grungy, clangerous textures but nothing leapt out at me. I have a Waldorf Pulse. I really like my Pulse - it can produce metallic, gritty, clangerous, stonking tones and punchy bass and doofs and squelches and so on. I thought that, both being produced by the same company, I would be getting some of that same character with the MW, but in polyphony. Alas I ound that they have little in common sonically

I agree with the reviewer who said that it can sound somewhat like a Matrix 1000. Sort of a bit plain, mid rangey. The (digital) envelopes don't allow for punchy sounds as the fastest attack is too fast at 0.5 ms (I think) and causes an audible click, whereas the next attack time is 5 ms, which is too slow for, say, a snappy bass. I had the 2nd revision MW, with CEM filters, which I felt lacked any real character, though they do the job in a smooth workmanlike manner.

The real selling point of the MW, is I suppose, the wavetable. Though, as it is digital in conception, there are many computer programmes that will give you wavetable synthesis for a lot less money, and are easier to use. Reaktor has an instrument - OkiComputer - which does everything that the MW does more than adequately enough for my needs. The only thing that the MW has are the analogue filters, and they didn't do it for me.

Obviously my dislike of the MW merely reflects my subjective taste which is perhaps best represented by listing my other likes and dislikes: As I mentioned I have a Pulse that I really rate; I also have an Odyssey, which again I love; I have a Matrix 1000, which I'm sort of indifferent to - it's good for pads and general filler, and was cheap; I also once owned a Pro One which was OK, though I prefer the Ody; and a Virus C, which I really, really did not like.

If you are thinking about getting a Microwave I would recommend trying before you buy and perhaps take the hype with a little pinch of salt. Happily I was able to sell mine on without losing any money, though it does look as though they're getting cheaper at the moment. I can't believe that these things were once £1000!