As with the Iridium keyboard, the Quantum MK2 now also features a new FATAR TP/8SK keyboard with 61 semi-weighted keys and polyphonic aftertouch.

While monophonic aftertouch makes all played notes respond in the same way, polyphonic aftertouch provides specific modulation of individual notes.

For example, the behavior of the envelopes or the oscillator pitch can be modulated very sensitive, which offers a completely new range of expression.

The internal flash memory for samples storage has also been expanded to 59GB.

The flexibility emanating from Quantum’s powerful oscillators and their interaction with one another is simply breath-taking. Never before has it ever been possible to create such a wide sonic bandwidth with one synthesizer. Stretching from classic analog, with precise sample playback, through to harsh or animated digital sounds, escalating all the way up to sound and sequence clusters, that can only be achieved with a huge modular synthesizer system or modern plug-ins.

Its 3 Oscillators offer five synthesis algorithms each:

• Waldorf-style Wavetables with the latest additions from Nave, including speech synthesis and wavetable generation from audio samples

• Classic Synthesizer Waveforms with multiple waves for an ultra fat sound right out of the oscillators

• Granular Sampler with multi sampling plus traditional sampling mode

• Resonator for virtual sound sculpting

• New Kernel synthesis with possibilities from classic 6 operator FM to innovative audio rate wavetable modulations

Quantum’s beautiful ergonomic and intuitive user panel supports an artist’s workflow with a previously unknown elegance. The carefully crafted array of aluminium knobs and encoders surround a high-resolution multi touch display. Waldorf engineers spent many long hours perfecting the interaction between the display and the physical control elements. The stunning display is a highly flexible extension of the tactile experience, and is light-years ahead of any synthesizer currently on the market today.

To help understand functional correlations between one knob and another, each control knob is individually illuminated by a multi color LED. This makes it instantly obvious when viewing complex settings and modulation settings, where related parameters can be adjusted quickly and efficiently. With the help once again of the gorgeous central display, precise settings can be handled with ease, much the same as the experience when using your cutting edge computer tablet.

When Waldorf decided to develop Quantum, little did they realize it would take several years of painstaking work. There were areas of Quantum that our years of experience with sound generation were bought to the fore. But Quantum is so powerful it took us into uncharted territory, involving both sound and the way it was felt the musician would interact with it.

Quantum was designed and developed in Germany. All essential components have been designed, manufactured and assembled here in Germany and Italy. This has allowed us to manufacture Quantum with an unparalleled build quality. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank a world class array of sound designers that have contributed to a multi-facetted factory sound set:

Richard Devine, Howard Scarr, Reinhold Heil, BT, Matt Johnson, Joerg Huettner, Kevin Schroeder, Sascha Dikiciyan, Kurt Ader, Mike Huckaby, Thorsten Quaeschning u.v.m.