Waldorf Music XTk, MicroWave XT Owner's Manual
Bedienungsanleitung
User's Manual
➤
Vielen Dank für den Kauf dieses Waldorf Produktes. Es zeichnet sich durch
Zuverlässigkeit und Langlebigkeit aus. Dennoch können Material- oder
Verarbeitungsfehler nicht völlig ausgeschlossen werden. Daher bieten wir
Ihnen eine verlängerte Garantie. Damit Garantieleistungen in Kraft treten,
müssen Kaufrechnung und Garantiekarte vollständig ausgefüllt innerhalb
von 14 Tagen zurückgesandt werden. Diese Garantie erstreckt sich auf alle
Defekte in Material und Verarbeitung für den Zeitraum von 1 Jahr ab Kauf
des Produktes. Während der Garantiezeit ersetzt oder repariert Waldorf
Electronics das durch Waldorf Electronics oder ein autorisiertes Service
Zentrum als defekt befundene Produkt, ohne dem Kunden Material- oder
Arbeitsaufwand in Rechnung zu stellen.
Um die Garantie in Anspruch zu nehmen, muß sich der Kunde zunächst
telefonisch mit dem zuständigen Vertrieb in Verbindung setzen. Produkte,
die ohne vorherige Absprache eingesandt werden, können nicht kostenfrei
ausgetauscht bzw. repariert werden.
Das Produkt muß frei und versichert in Originalverpackung eingesandt
werden. Detaillierte Fehlerbeschreibungen sind beizufügen. Unfrei und/oder
nicht originalverpackt eingesandte Produkte gehen ungeöffnet zurück.
Waldorf Electronics behält sich vor, das eingesandte Produkt auf den neusten
Stand der Technik zu bringen, wenn dies erforderlich sein sollte.
Diese Garantie deckt keine Defekte ab, die durch unsachgemäße
Behandlung oder Eingriffe von unautorisierten Personen verursacht wurden
und ist beschränkt auf die Behebung von Defekten, die während der
normalen Nutzung durch Material- oder Verarbeitungsfehler aufgetreten
sind.
Thank you for choosing this Waldorf product. It is a dependable device and
is designed to last. However, the potential for defects in material or
workmanship cannot be eradicated completely. This is why we provide an
extended warranty for you.
To ensure your unit has full warranty coverage, mail the receipt and the fully
completed warranty card back within 14 days of purchase.
This warranty covers all defects in material and workmanship for a period of
one year from the date of original purchase. During this time, Waldorf
Electronics will repair or replace the product without charge for materials or
labor, provided the product was first inspected and found faulty by Waldorf
Electronics or an authorized service center. You must first contact your dealer
or distributor by telephone. Products that were mailed without prior
agreement cannot be exchanged or repaired free of charge.
The unit must be insured and sent prepared in its original package. Please
include a detailed description of the defect. Products that were not send
prepared or in the original package will be returned unopened.
Waldorf Electronics reserves the right to upgrade the unit with the latest
technological advances if necessary.
This warranty does not cover defects due to abuse, operation under other
than specified conditions, or repair by unauthorized persons. The warranty
covers only those malfunctions caused by material or workmanship defects
that occur during normal operation.
Bitte schicken Sie die Garantiekarte vollständig ausgefüllt zusammen mit
einer Kopie der Kaufrechnung zurück, um die Produktgarantie in Anspruch
nehmen zu können.
Please fill out this warranty card completely, include a copy of the purchase
receipt and send the two items to us in order to ensure the warranty is valid.
Garantiekarte / Warranty Card
Produktgarantie / Product Warranty
✁
Produkt / Product:
Sonderausstattungen / Custom features:
Sonstige verwendete Geräte / Other used equipment:
Seriennummer / Serial number: Kaufdatum / Purchase date:
Name Ihres Händlers / Name of your dealer:
Ort Ihres Händlers / City of your dealer:
➤
➤
➤
Waldorf Electronics
Support Department
Neustraße 9-12
53498 Waldorf
Germany
Straße / Street:
PLZ, Wohnort / ZIP Code, City:
Land / Country:
Telefon / Telephone:
Telefax / Facsimile:
Name / Name:
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
micro
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
4
Produktunterstützung / Product Support
✁
Wenn Sie Fragen zu Ihrem Waldorf Produkt haben, gibt es vier
Möglichkeiten, uns zu kontaktieren:
If you have any questions about your Waldorf product, feel free to contact us
via one of the four options listed below.
Schicken Sie uns eine E-Mail. Das ist der mit
Abstand effizienteste und schnellste Weg, uns zu
erreichen. Ihre Fragen können sofort an die
richtige Stelle weitergeleitet und innerhalb
kürzester Zeit beantwortet werden.
Senden Sie uns ein Telefax. Fast so schnell wie EMail, allerdings für Sie und uns weniger
komfortabel.
Schicken Sie uns einen Brief. Etwas langsamer,
dafür jedoch genauso zuverlässig wie ein
Telefax.
Und wenn es ganz dringend ist, rufen Sie uns an.
Wir versuchen, Ihre Fragen möglichst sofort zu
beantworten.
Send us an e-mail message. This is the most
efficient and fastest way to contact us. Your
questions will be forwarded immediately to the
resident expert and you will quickly receive an
answer.
Send us a fax. This is as fast as e-mail, but not
quite as comfortable for you and us.
Send us a letter. It will take a bit longer, but it is
just as dependable as a fax.
If you’re in big hurry, call us, we’ll try to answer
your questions right away.
info@waldorf-gmbh.de
+49-(0)2636-976499
+49-(0)2636-976464
Waldorf Electronics
Neustraße 9-12
53498 Waldorf, Germany
4
3
3
2
2
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1
Contents
Control Features and Connections of the MicroWave II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Additional Controls and Connectors of the MicroWave XT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Additional Controls and Connectors of the XTk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Highlighted Control Features and Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General Safety Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setup and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Analog Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Power Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Powering up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Adjusting the Master Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Selecting Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Selecting Sound and Multi Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Editing Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Edit Buffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
The Compare Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Recalling Edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Storing Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Play Access Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Panic Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Randomizing a Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Initializing Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Editing Parameters on the MicroWave XT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Switching the Octave Setting on the XTk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
About Wavetable Synthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Sound Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Overview of Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Oscillators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oscillator 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Oscillator 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Wave 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Wave 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Play Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Filter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Filter Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Filter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Volume and Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Portamento and Glissando . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Arpeggiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
5
Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Filter Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Amplifier Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Wave Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Free Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Low-frequency Oscillators (LFOs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
LFO 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
LFO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Modifiers and Modulation Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Modifier Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Modifier Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Modulation Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Program Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Multi Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Multi parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Instrument parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Selecting an instrument for editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Tune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Arpeggiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Global Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
MIDI Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Selecting Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Calling Programs via Program Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Influencing Sounds via MIDI Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Controllers as Modulation Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Changing Sound Parameters via Controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Pitchbending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Aftertouch and Poly Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
System Exclusive Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
System Exclusive Data Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Sending System Exclusive Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Receiving System Exclusive Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Other Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Updating the System Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Converting MicroWave Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
MIDI Controller Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
System Exclusive Data Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
MIDI Implementation Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Diagrams
Diagram 1: Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Diagram 2: Parameter pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Diagram 3: Block schematic diagram for single sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Diagram 4: Arpeggiator patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Tables
Table 1: Wavetable overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Table 2: Play Access abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Table 3: Modulation sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Table 4: Modifier functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Table 5: Modulation destinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
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User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
Control Features and Connections of the MicroWave II
Front Panel
Rear Panel
쐃 Power supply socket DC 12V
with cable clip
쐇 Main Out Left/Stereo
쐋 Main Out Right/Mono
쐏 Sub Out Left/Stereo
쐄 Sub Out Right/Mono
쐂 MIDI In jack
쐆 MIDI Thru jack
쐊 MIDI Out jack
햲 MIDI status LED
햳 Display
햴 Page dial for selecting sounds and
parameter pages
햵 Parameter pages
햶 Power switch with Standby LED
햷 Select key for sound parameters
Alternate function Utility
햸 Select key for sound parameters
Alternate function Undo
햹 Select key for sound parameters
Alternate function Compare
햺 Select key for multi-/instrument
parameters
Alternate function Recall
햻 Select key for global parameters
Alternate function Store
햽 Play button for selecting the play
mode
Alternate function Shift
햾 Value dials for adjusting
parameters
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
7
햲햳 햴 햵
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
Sound / Multi
Instrument
Sound
Osc.1
Filter 1
Osc.2
Filter 2
Wave 1
Amplifier
Wave 2
Pan
Quality
Mix
Play Access
Recall
햺
Glide
Trigger
Arpeggiator
Play
Shift
Store
햻
Compare
Name
햹
Filter Env.
Volume Env.
Wave Env.
Free Env.
LFO 1
LFO 2
Modifiers
Mod Matrix
Multi Global
Volume
Tempo
Controls
Name
Instrument
Sound
Tune
Range
Arpeggiator
Undo
햸
MIDI
Controls
Volume
Tables
Tune
System
Utility
Standby
Power
햶햷햽햾
POWER
12V DC 900mA
+
MAIN OUT
Left / Stereo
-
쐃 쐇쐋쐏쐄 쐂 쐆 쐊
Right / Mono
Left / Stereo
SUB OUT
Right / Mono
In OutThru
MIDI
Made in Germany
This device complies
to the FCC rules part
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
! !
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover. No userserviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service
personnel.
Vorsicht! Gerät nicht öffnen. Gefahr eines Stromschlages.
Additional Controls and Connectors of the MicroWave XT
The MicroWave XT features the same controls and connectors as the MicroWave II. In
addition it offers individual controls for the most parameters. The items labeled on this page
indicate special features that are available on the MicroWave XT only.
Front Panel
Rear Panel
쐎 Analog In jack for processing external audio signals
햿 Main Volume rotary control for setting the overall volume.
8
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
micro
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
Oscillator 1 Mixer
Semitone
Octave
FM Amount
Detune
Oscillator 2
Wavetable
Octave
Semitone
Detune
Sync
Wave 1
Startwave
Env. Amount
Wave 2
Startwave
Env. Amount
Sound / Multi
Wave 1
Ringmod
Wave 2
Noise
Instrument
Cutoff
Keytrack
Wave 1-4
Wave 5-8
Free Env
Filter
Amplifier
Envelopes
Filter
Resonance
Env. Amount
Time 1
Time 5
Time 1
Attack
Type
Env. Velocity
Level 1
Level 5
Level 1
Decay
Shift
Amplifier
Volume
Env. Velocity
Time 2
Time 6 Level 6
Time 2
Sustain
Sound
Osc.1
Filter 1
Filter2
Osc.2
Amplifier
Wave 1
Pan
Wave 2
Effect
Quality
Play
Store
Speed
Level 2
Level 2
Release
Glide
Mix
Trigger
Play Access Arpeggiator
Recall Compare
LFO 1 Mod Amount
LFO 2
Speed
ShapeShape
Time 3
Time 7
Time 3
Attack
Multi Global
Filter Env.
Volume
Volume Env.
Tempo
Wave Env.
Controls
Free Env.
Name
LFO 1
Instrument
LFO 2
Sound
Modifiers
Tune
Range
Mod Matrix
Name
Arpeggiator
Undo
Mod 1
Mod 2
Level 3 Time 4
Level 7 Time 8
Sustain Release
Decay Sustain
MIDI
Controls
Volume
Tables
Tune
System
Utility
Standby
Power
Glide
Time
Main Volume
Active
Level 4
Level 8
Rel.Level
Release
햿
12V DC 900mA
+
micro
-
Left / Stereo
MAIN OUT
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
Right / Mono
Left / Stereo
! !
Made in Germany
SUB OUTPOWER
Right / Mono
In OutThru
MIDI
ANALOG IN
This device complies to
the FCC rules part 15
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover. No userserviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
Vorsicht! Gerät nicht öffnen. Gefahr eines Stromschlages. Servicearbeiten nur von geschultem Fachpersonal durchführen lassen!
쐎
Additional Controls and Connectors of the XTk
The XTk features the same controls and connectors as the MicroWave XT. In addition it
offers a 4 octave keyboard, a pitchbend and a modulation wheel, as well as numeric keys
and a select button for easy program access. The items labeled on this page indicate special
features that are available on the XTk only.
Front Panel
Rear Panel
쐅 Pedal / CV In jacks for connecting foot controllers or analog voltages
헀 Keyboard Section
헁 Numeric keys for selecting programs
헂 Select key with Hold led
헃 Controller Section with pitchbend wheel, modulation wheel and Octave Up /
Octave Down buttons
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
9
헀헁헂헃
쐅
Foreword
Thank you for purchasing the MicroWave II/XT/XTk. You now own a wavetable synthesizer
featuring a wide range of unique sounds.
To ensure your instrument functions properly and enjoys a long life, please read and heed
the instructions in this manual.
Software development: Stefan Stenzel, Niels A. Moseley, Jürgen Fornoff
Hardware development: Thomas Kircher
Design: Axel Hartmann
Manual: Oliver Rockstedt
Revision Date: 25.10.99
We would like to thank:
Wolfgang Düren, Axel Hartmann, Frank Schneider, Wolfram Franke, Erna Moormann, Beate
Walkowiak, Achim Lenzgen, Claudia Nähring, Martin Neideck, Philipp Dahlhausen, Birger
Degen, Michael Haydn, Dr. Georg Müller, Drew Neumann, Holger "Tsching" Steinbrink,
Gunther Gräfe, Kurt "Lu" Wangard, H.-P. "Bonni" Bonnenberg, Frank Müller, Hubertus
"Hubi" Weller, Sigi Barishi, Holger Bahr, Jörg Hüttner, Piera Caccia, Evi Mognol, Mike
Caroll, Steffi vom Berg, Cordula Müller, Sabine Weiland, Achim Flor, Thilo Kloft, Martin
Herbst, Alex Sauff, Geoff Farr… and anyone we have forgotten.
Very special thanks to the FSF for the GNU Compiler gcc.
Waldorf Electronics is not liable if this manual contains erroneous information. The
contents of this manual may be updated at any time without prior notice. We made every
effort to ensure the information herein is accurate and that the manual contains no
contradictory information. Waldorf extends no guarantees in regard to this manual other
than those required by local law.
This manual or any portion of it may not be reproduced in any form without the
manufacturer's express written consent.
Waldorf Electronics GmbH, Neustraße 12, D-53498 Waldorf, Germany
10
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
About this Manual
This manual was written to help you become familiar with the Waldorf MicroWave
II/XT/XTk. It will also help experienced users with routine tasks.
To avoid confusion, the terminology in this manual is based on the MicroWave II/XT/XTk
parameter names. You will find a glossary at the end of the manual; it explains the various
terms used herein.
We also used a uniform set of symbols to alert you to topics of particular interest or
significance. Important terms are highlighted in bold letters.
Symbols
Caution: The comments that follow this symbol will help you avoid errors and
malfunctions.
☞Instructions: Follow these guidelines to execute a desired function.
Info: Additional information on a given topic.
Paragraphs marked with this symbol refer to the additional functions of
the MicroWave XT.
Paragraphs marked with this symbol refer to the additional functions of
the XTk.
Highlighted Control Features and Parameters
All of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s keys, pots and parameters are highlighted in bold letters
throughout the manual. Also every control element has an unique position no. 햲…헃
which refers to the diagrams at the beginning of this manual. The connectors on the rear
panel are referenced by position no. 쐃…쐅. We suggest you make a copy of this page to
have it at hand when necessary.
Example: • Press the Play key 햽.
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s diverse modes and parameter pages are illustrated in a
depiction of the display:
A given parameter’s value range is indicated from low to high with the two values shown in
italic letters, separated by three dots.
Example: Semitone
-12…+12
Octave 1|Semitone | Detune |Keytrack
-2 | +07 | +00 | +100%
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
11
General Safety Guidelines
Please read the following safety tips carefully!
They include several precautions you should always observe when dealing with
electronic equipment.
Read all of the instructions before operating your device.
Suitable Operating Conditions
• Use the device in enclosed rooms only.
• Never use the device under damp conditions such as in bathrooms, washrooms or
around indoor swimming pools.
• Do not use the device in extremely dusty or dirty environments.
• Ensure adequate ventilation is available at all sides of the device, especially when
you mount it in a rack.
• Do not place the device near heat sources such as radiators.
• Do not expose the device to direct sunlight.
• Do not expose the device to extreme vibrations.
Power Supply
• Use only the included AC adapter (MicroWave II and XT only).
• Plug the adapter only into wall sockets that are properly grounded.
• Make sure the available power supply has the required rating indicated on the
adapter. If you have any doubts, consult a qualified electrician.
• Never install a different plug. If the included cable is not equipped with a suitable
plug for your local sockets, take it to a qualified electrician.
• Unplug the device when you are not using it for longer periods.
• Never touch the plug with wet hands.
• Always pull the plug when unplugging the device, never the cable.
Operation
• Never place objects containing liquids on or near the device.
• Place the device on a stable base only. Use a suitable platform or rack.
• Make sure no foreign objects find their way into the chassis. If for some reason this
should occur, switch the power off, unplug the device and consult a qualified
repair center.
• This device, used on its own or with amplifiers, speakers or headphones, can
generate volume levels that may do irreparable damage to your hearing. For this
reason you should keep the volume at tolerable levels.
12
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
Maintenance
• Do not open the device or remove the cover. Refer all service and repair tasks to
qualified personnel. The interior of the chassis contains no components that require
user maintenance.
• Use only a dry, soft cloth or brush to clean the device.
Never use alcohol, cleaning solutions or similar chemicals. They will damage the
surface of the chassis.
Proper Use
This device is designed exclusively to produce low-frequency audio signals for the purpose
of generating sound. Any other use is prohibited and voids the warranty extended by
Waldorf Electronics GmbH. Waldorf Electronics GmbH is not liable for damages due to
incorrect use.
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
13
Setup and Operation
Inventory
The Waldorf MicroWave II/XT/XTk comes complete with:
• the MicroWave II or MicroWave XT or XTk
• 12V/1000mA DC adapter (MicroWave II or XT only)
• warranty card (inside the manual)
• this manual
Please ensure all the items above were included. If something is missing, contact your local
dealer.
We recommend that you save the original packing material for future transport.
Make sure you fill out the warranty card and send it to the appropriate distributor or
the address printed on the registration card. This is the only way we can keep you
informed of upgrades and updates. Other available services are listed on the warranty
card.
Setup
Place the MicroWave II/XT/XTk on a clean, even surface. If you choose to take the device
on the road, we suggest you mount it in a 19" rack or keyboard case. The MicroWave II
takes up 89mm, equivalent to 2 rack spaces, the MicroWave XT takes up 222mm,
equivalent to 5 rack spaces.
Connections
In order to get started with your MicroWave II/XT/XTk you will need an AC wall socket, a
MIDI keyboard, a mixing console, an amp and an audio monitor such as a speaker cabinet.
You can also use a computer or sequencer rather than a MIDI keyboard.
Diagram 1: Connections
14
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
MIDI Keyboard
MIDI
Out
micro
S Y N T H E S I Z E R
Main Out
Left/Stereo
Line
In L
MIDI
MicroWave
In
Sound
Main Out
Right/Mono
Line
In R
Multi Global
Instrument
Line
Out L
Line
In L
Power
Power
adapter
Mixer
Line
Out R
Line
In R
Amp
☞ Follow these steps to connect the devices:
• Turn all units off.
• Connect the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s main audio outputs Main Out Left/Stereo 쐇
and Main Out Right/Mono 쐋 to your mixing console. Optionally connect the two
auxilliary audio outputs Sub Out Left/Stereo 쐏 and Sub Out Right/Mono 쐄
too.
• Connect your keyboards MIDI Out jack to the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s MIDI In jack
쐂. If you own a XTk, you can use the internal keyboard.
• Connect the included adapter to the MicroWave II/XT’s Power Supply 쐃 socket
and fix the wire with the cable clip beside the socket. The XTk model does not
need an ac adapter an can be connected to a wall outlet directly.
• Insert the adapter plug in a suitable wall outlet (MicroWave II or XT only).
• First switch on the connected MIDI keyboard (if any) and then the mixing console
and amp.
If you do not choose to connect a mixing console, you can patch the MicroWave
II/XT/XTk’s output signals directly to an amp. Use an input usually called Aux or Tape
input. If you do not want to send a stereo signal, use the Main Out Right/Mono 쐋
output. If you do not insert a plug into Main Out Left/Stereo 쐇, then the mono
master signal is routed via the right output.
Before connecting and disconnecting the MicroWave II/XT/XTk to a power supply
source, turn your amp’s volume control all the way down to avoid damage due to
on/off switching noise.
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk produces a high level output signal (see technical data).
Please take care that the connected playback device is suitable for the high level of
an electronic instrument.
Never use the mic or phono input of the connected amp!
Analog Input
The MicroWave XT and XTk provides an Analog In jack 쐎 that can be used to feed in an
external signal into the mixer section. Therefore, the signal can be processed via the filters
and the effects section in the same way as the oscillators.
As the external signal is treated like any other sound source within the MicroWave
XT/XTk, it is necessary to trigger the Amplifier Envelope to get the signal passed
through. To do so, notes must be sent to the MicroWave XT/XTk’s sound generation,
either by receiving MIDI notes, the XTk’s keyboard or via the internal arpeggiator.
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
15
Quick Start
This chapter gives you a quick introduction into the MicroWave II/XT/XTk and its features. It
is written for those people that want to get a quick success without reading tons of manual
stuff. Although the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is a very complex device with many capabilities,
its basic operation is quite easy to understand. But there are also more complicated things
that make it necessary to take a deeper look into this manual from time to time.
Basic Setup
1. Press the Power button 햶 to switch on the MicroWave II/XT/XTk. The display 햳
will show a startup message which disappears after a few seconds.
2. When you want to switch off the power, press and hold the Power button 햶
again. The display now shows a countdown from 10 to 0. When 0 is reached, the
MicroWave is switched off. If you release the Power button before, nothing will
happen. This is just a precaution to prevent data loss by accidently hitting the
button.
3. Before you can start playing the MicroWave II/XT/XTk, you have to ensure that its
MIDI receive channel is set properly. When you power up for the very first time,
channel 1 is selected. To change the setting, press the Utility button 햷. The display
now shows:
Use the first value dial 햾 below the display to change the MIDI receive channel.
Sound Mode
In Sound mode, the MicroWave II/XT/XTk can play one sound at a time. You can select
between 256 Sound programs, which are organised in two banks
A001…B128
and
B001…B128
.
Selecting Sound Programs
1. Press the Play button 햽 to return to the program select page. The display now
shows the program number and the name of the currently selected program:
Play some notes on your MIDI keyboard and listen to the sound.
2. If you want to adjust the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s volume, use the rightmost value
dial, labeled Main Vol.
3. Use the Page Dial 햴 to select other sound programs. Turning the dial clockwise
increases the program number, turning the dial counterclockwise decreases it. On
the XTk, you can also use the numeric keys 헁 to enter a 2 or 3 digit program
number in the range 001…128.
Editing Sound Parameters via Play Access
Now it is time to do some edits on a sound program. The easiest way for editing sound
parameters is using the so-called Play Access page.
Play Sound A001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
Channel |PrgChange|BendRange|Device ID
01 | multi | 012 | 000
16
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
1. First, switch back to program
A001 Saw Repeat WMF
.
2. Press the Play button 햽 again to access this page. The display then shows 4 sound
parameters that by adjusted directly via the corresponding value dials:
3. Use the value dials to change the sound parameters and listen to the effect on the
generated sound. Actually, you can define the parameter set in this page on your
own. This is described later in the manual.
Comparing edited and original Program
You may always check your modifications against the original version of the program.
Though you can decide whether editing is going the right way or not.
1. Press the Compare key 햹 while holding the Shift key 햽.
2. The MicroWave II/XT/XTk now uses the original parameter values as they were set
before editing was applied. The display also shows these values. Play some notes to
listed to the unedited sound.
3. Press the Compare key 햹 while holding the Shift key 햽 again. This brings you
back to the edited sound program.
Recalling Edits
If you don’t like the changed sound program, you can void the edits at any time and return
to the original.
To do so, press the Recall key 햺 while holding the Shift key 햽.
Storing Programs
After editing the program you have to store it to keep the changes permanent.
1. Press the Store key 햻 while holding the Shift key 햽. The display now shows:
2. Use the rightmost value dial to select a memory location for the edited sound. You
can also leave the setting as it is. In this case you’re going to overwrite the original
sound program. Don’t do it here, we will need it further on in this tour.
3. Press the Store key 햻 while holding the Shift key 햽 again. Your program is now
permanently memorized.
Doing further Edits
We are now moving deeper into the sound editing capabilities of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk.
In the next steps we will show you how specific parameters act on the MicroWave
II/XT/XTk’s behaviour. At first we like to play along with the filter.
1. Switch back to sound program
A001 Saw Repeat WMF
.
2. Press the second parameter select key 햸. This is the same key that is used for the
Recall function, but in this case, it is used without the Shift key 햽. The display
changes to show the parameter page for Filter 1:
Store Sound A001 A001 ?
Saw Repeat WMF
F1 Cutoff|F1 Reso |F1 EnvAmt|FE Decay
092 | 000 | +29 | 084
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
17
3. Use the first value dial to change the cutoff frequency of the filter. Play some notes
to hear the effect. Reduce the value to get a darker sound. Also change the
resonance setting. The sound gets a narrow character the more you turn up the
control. Rise the setting to its maximum value. You will notice that an additional
tone is generated. This is the self oscillation of the filter!
4. After playing around a little, turn the cutoff down to
70
and the resonance to 20.
This should give you a good starting point for the next step.
5. Turn the Page Dial 햴 clockwise to select the next parameter page. The display
shows:
6. Press a note on your keyboard and hold it down for a few seconds. You may
notice, that the sound starts very bright but then gets darker more and more. This is
the effect of the Filter Envelope that modulates the cutoff frequency. The
modulation depth is controlled here by the Cutoff Env. Amount parameter.
7. Turn its setting down to
0
and look what happens: The sound starts in its dark state
and no cutoff change can be heard.
8. Now set the value to a negative value, e.g.
-10
and press any note again. The
sound then starts much darker than before and gets a little more brilliant after a
while (you may raise the cutoff setting to get better results).
9. After playing around recall the original sound to get prepared for the next step.
The heart of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk are its wavetables. They build the sound source from
which everything derives. In this step we are going to change the sound program’s
wavetable.
1. First, call the first parameter page for Wave 1. To do so, press the first parameter
select key 햷, then use the Page Dial 햴 to select the page. The display must look
like this:
2. Change the wavetable via the third value dial and play some notes. You may notice
that the sound changes dramatically when moving from one wavetable to the next.
Try to check out the following wavetables:
014 Clipper, 021 Robotic,
028 FmntVocal, 054 Wavetrip2
and
060 Xmas Bell
.
3. After checking out the different wavetables, set the parameter back to the original
wavetable
036 PulSync 1
.
The next feature we want to explore is the ring modulation. It is useful to add nonharmonic components to the sound that gives it a metallic character.
1. Use the page dial to select the Mixer page. The display now shows:
Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Ringmod | Noise
127 | 000 | 127 | 000
Startwave| Phase | Wavetable W1
60 | free | 036 PulSync 1
Cutoff Env. Amount|Env.Velocity Amount
+29 | +00
Cutoff |Resonance| Type |Keytrack
092 | 000 | 24dB LP | +050%
18
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
2. As you can see, the Ringmod parameter is already set to its maximum value. This
is the reason why the basic sound character is so hard. Turn it down and play some
notes. The sound gets much softer.
3. To understand what the ring modulation does, you should listen at its pure signal.
Turn the level of Wave 1 down to
0
and raise Ringmod to
127
again. Play some
notes and listen to the result.
As you have seen in the mixer page, the level of Wave 2 is down at
0
, which means that
the whole sound is made upon one wave. We are now going to use the second wave, too.
1. Initially, turn the levels of Wave 1 and Ringmod down to
0
to get a better
impression what’s going on.
2. Raise the value for the Wave 2 parameter and play some notes. You will notice a
total different „fall down“ sound.
3. Mix in Wave 1 again. Now both sound components are audible. Try to find a good
balance for the levels.
The two waves are driven by two independent oscillators, that means they can have
different pitch setting. Try out the following:
1. Use the page dial to select the Osc 2 1 page. The display now shows:
2. Change the Octave setting and play some notes. Check out
-2
as a value.
The last thing we want to do in our little tour is to work with the envelopes. They determine
the time characteristic of the sound program.
1. Select the Filter Envelope page. You must use the third selection key 햹 to do this.
The display shows:
2. Play some notes on the keyboard and decrease the Decay parameter. You will
notice that the sound gets darker more quickly now.
3. Increase the Attack parameter. The effect you get is that the sound now starts dark
and gets more brilliant. Finally it falls down to its dark state again.
To change the whole sound to a short and percussive hit, we have to use the Volume
Envelope.
1. Select the Volume Envelope page. It is the next page after the Filter Envelope, so
just turn the page dial one step clockwise. The display shows:
2. Decrease the setting of the Decay parameter. The whole sound gets shorter and
shorter. At very low settings you will just hear a kind of click.
AE Attack| Decay | Sustain | Release
000 | 089 | 000 | 019
FE Attack| Decay | Sustain | Release
000 | 084 | 000 | 070
Octave 2|Semitone | Detune |Keytrack
+0 | +00 | +06 | +035%
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
19
Multi Mode
In Multi mode, you can combine up to 8 sounds. Each sound in a Multi program is called
an Instrument because it has some additional settings that belong to the Multi and therefore
are not stored in the Sound program itself.
The are two main reasons for using a Multi program:
1. Using the MicroWave II/XT/XTk with a sequencer. In that case you want to use
several Sound programs at once, each assigned to a different MIDI channel.
2. Building layered sounds. By doing this you can get interesting combinations e.g. a
chord sound that fades into a string pad.
Of course, you can use both methods in combination.
Selecting Multi Mode
The first thing we have to do is to switch from Sound to Multi mode.
1. Press the Play button 햽 to return to the program select page. The display now
shows the program number and the name of the currently selected program:
2. Turn the third value dial 햾 clockwise. The Mode setting changes to
Multi
. The
display now looks like this:
3. Use the Page Dial 햴 to select other Multi programs. Turning the dial clockwise
increases the program number, turning the dial counterclockwise decreases it.
On the XTk, you can also select Multi mode by pressing the key labeled Multi in the
numeric keys section 헁 while holding the Select button 헂.
Initializing a Multi Program
The best method to create a new Multi program is to initialize an unused program and
adjust the disired parameters.
1. Use the Page Dial 햴 to select an unused program location (e.g. no.
100
).
2. Press the Utility key 햷 while holding the Shift key 햽.
3. Turn the Page Dial 햴 clockwise, until the display shows the Multi Init page:
4. Press the Utility key 햷 while holding the Shift key 햽 again. Your program is now
permanently initialized. The display shows:
Play Multi 100 | Mode |Main Vol.
Init Multi V1.0 | Multi | 100
Init Multi 100 Init Multi ?
[confirm with <Shift-Utility>]
Play Multi 001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Hit Me Bigga WMF | Multi | 100
Play Sound A001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
20
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
The initialization causes the Multi’s parameters to be set to default values. Each Instrument
is assigned to Sound program
A001
and its MIDI receive channel is set to the same value as
the Instrument no. E.g. Instrument no. 5 is set to receive on MIDI channel 5. This default
setting is optimal for sequencer setups.
Selecting Sound Programs for the Instruments
The next step is to select Sound programs for each instrument of the Multi.
1. Press the Multi key 햸 to call the Multi/Instrument parameter pages. The display
now shows the first page of the Multi parameters:
You can set the overall volume for the Multi program here. For now, leave it at its
default value.
2. Use the Page Dial 햴 to select the Sound 1 page:
3. Select a Sound program for Instrument 1 via the second value dial. In our example
we select Program
A018
. Play some notes on the keyboard to listen to the sound.
4. We are now selecting a Sound program for Instrument 2. You can switch between
the Instruments via the fouth value dial. Turn the dial one step clockwise. The
display shows:
5. Select Sound program
B003
for the second Instrument. To change the Bank from
A
to B, use the first value dial.
6. To play Instrument 2, ensure that your master keyboard or sequencer is sending on
MIDI channel 2. Play some notes on the keyboard.
You don’t hear anything? Don’t worry, everything went well, but you have to activate the
Instrument before it works as expected. As default, only Instrument 1 is active after
initializing.
Activating the Instrument
Each Instrument has a Status parameter, where you can turn it on or off. This enables you
to activate only those Instruments, that you really need.
1. Use the Page dial 햴 to select the Sound 2 page:
Bank | Sound Puzzling WMF
B | A003 Inst. #2
Bank | Sound Saw Repeat WMF
A | A001 Inst. #2
Bank | Sound PlayChords WMF
A | A018 Inst. #1
Bank | Sound Saw Repeat WMF
A | A001 Inst. #1
Multi Volume
100 1
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
21
2. Change the Status setting to on. Now the Instrument is active and you can listen
to it when playing on the keyboard.
The XTk has an extended status setting which allows you to determine whether an
Instrument can be played by MIDI, the internal keyboard or both.
Building a layered Sound
Another exciting feature the Multi mode offeres is the capability to layer sounds. Such a
layered sound consists of two or more Sound programs that are used in combination.
1. Select Instrument 3 and activate it as described above.
2. Choose a Sound program for the Instrument, e.g.
A008 chaOSC
.
3. As expected, you can play the Sound program
A008
on MIDI channel 3. But this is
not what we want to do here. In this case we want to combine it with Instrument 2
which is already setup.
4. The only thing you have to do is to change the MIDI receive channel of Instrument
3 in the Sound 2 page. Use the first value dial to set it to 2.
Both Instruments 2 and 3 now receive on MIDI channel 2 and therefore two Sound
programs are played when you use this MIDI channel. You can layer more Instruments if
you want.
Using an Instrument Arpeggiator
One of the outstanding features of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is its arpeggiator. In addition to
the arpeggiator that can be used in a Sound program, each Instrument has an arpeggiator,
too. That makes it possible to use arpeggios in a Multi program without editing any Sound
program. You can even use the arpeggiator on Sound programs that normally don’t use one.
1. Select the Arpeggiator 1 page via the Page dial.
2. Select Instrument 2 via the fourth value dial. The display now shows:
3. To activate the arpeggiator, change the Active parameter to on.
4. Now press and hold some keys on the keyboard. Make sure that is sends on MIDI
channel 2 first.
5. You will notice that the sound changes every 2 seconds. This time period is
determined mainly by two parameters: the Clock setting in the currently selected
page and the Multi Arpeggiator Tempo in the Tempo page. Change the Clock
setting to
1/8
and listen what happens: The arpeggio gets faster.
6. Play along with the other arpeggiator parameters and listen to the results.
That’s okay for now. You have seen the basic things, but there is a lot of stuff left. The best
approach to the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is learning by doing and so should you.
Active | Clock | Range
off | 1/1 | 01 Inst. #2
Channel | Volume | Status
02 | 100 | on Inst. #3
Channel | Volume | Status
02 | 100 | off Inst. #2
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User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
Operation
Power Switching
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk is equipped with a software-based power control, which means it
is initially in standby mode when you supply the device via the AC adapter.
Powering up
Press the Power button 햶 to switch on the MicroWave II/XT/XTk. The Standby LED will
go out.
First, the version number of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s operating software will appear in
the display:
After several seconds, the display will change to show the sound program; the MicroWave
II/XT/XTk is now ready to be played.
Switching off
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk has a special shutdown feature, that prevents data loss by accidently pressing the power button. When you want to switch off the power, press and hold
the Power button 햶 again. The display now shows a countdown message from 10 to 0:
After counting down to 0 the MicroWave II/XT/XTk will switch. If you release the Power
button 햶 before, the shutdown process is cancelled.
Adjusting the Master Volume
You can use the rightmost value dial 햾 to adjust the MicroWave II/XT/XTk’s master volume
via the Main Vol. parameter. This setting is global and therefore valid for all programs.
The MicroWave XT and XTk has a dedicated Main Volume rotary control 햿, that can be
used to setup the overall volume. Unlike the other dials, this control is made of a
potentiometer. Adjusting the volume directly affects the global Main Vol. parameter.
Selecting Programs
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk has an internal memory, which is is divided into two different
types of locations:
• 256 Sound programs (Program A001…B128)
In a Sound program, the MicroWave II/XT/XTk can play one sound at a time.
• 128 Multi programs (Program 001…128)
In a Multi program, the MicroWave II/XT/XTk can play up to 8 Sounds
(Instruments) simultaneously, each with individual settings.
All memory locations are freely programmable, so there is no separation into preset and
user programs.
[Switching myself off 8]e |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
Waldorf Microwave XT Version 2.18
compiled Wed Aug 11 12:29:17 MET 1999
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☞ This is how you select a program:
1. Use the Page Dial 햴 to select the appropriated program. Turning the dial
clockwise increases the program number, turning the dial counterclockwise
decreases it.
2. The display shows the program type (Sound or Multi), the program number and the
name of the selected program (name may be different depending on the soundset
loaded):
Numerical Program Select
On the XTk, you can also select programs via the numeric keyboard section. Entering a two
digit or three number will select the corresponding program within the current bank. E.g. to
select program no.
014
, press 1 followed by 4. To select program no.
109
, press 109.
Bank Hold
The Bank Hold function gives further enhancement to the numerical program select. By
"freezing" the two leftmost digits of the program number, programs can be changed by
typing one single digit of the number. This feature is useful especially in live situations.
☞ This is how you use the Bank Hold function:
• Press the numerical keys 헁 section’s Select button 헂. The Hold LED above to the
Select button will go on.
• By pressing one of the numerical keys, you can select the last digit of the program
no. E.g. if program no.
A021
was selected before, you can switch from
A020
to
A029
by pressing the corresponding numerical key.
• To terminate the Bank Hold function, press the Select button 헂 again. The LED
above the button will go off again.
Switching Banks
By pressing the corresponding numeric key labeled A or B while holding the Select button
헂, you can easily switch from Bank A to B and vice versa. Before the bank switch is
performed, you have to enter a new 2 or 3 digit program number. This is just a precaution
to avoid "jumping" between programs.
Selecting Sound and Multi Mode
As mentioned before, the MicroWave II/XT/XTk can operate in Sound or Multi mode. When
the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is first powered up, Sound mode is selected.
☞ This is how you select the Multi mode:
1. Turn the third value dial 햾, labeled Mode, clockwise:
2. The display now shows the program number and the name of the selected Multi
program (name may be different depending on the soundset loaded):
Play Sound A001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
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User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
When Multi mode is selected, you can play and edit the multi programs and the single
sounds each program is based upon.
☞ This is how you switch back to Sound mode:
1. Turn the third value dial 햾, labeled Mode, counterclockwise:
2. The display shows the program number and the name of the selected Sound
program again (name may be different depending on the soundset loaded):
You can also switch between Sound and Multi mode when you are not in Play mode e.g.
when editing in a parameter page. To do so, you have to turn the third value dial 햾, also
labeled Sound / Multi, while holding down the Shift key 햽.
The XTk features another method to switch between Sound and Multi mode. Similar to
switching banks, you can activate the Multi mode by pressing the numeric key labeled
Multi while holding the Select button 헂. Switching back to Single mode is done in the
same way by pressing the numeric button A or B while holding Select. Remember that
you still have to enter a 2 or 3 digit program number before the switch is performed.
Editing Parameters
In order to change or edit a sound or multi in the MicroWave II/XT/XTk, you must access
the appropriate parameters. These parameters are arranged in various pages. The front panel
shows the headlines for each parameter page:
Diagram 2: Parameter pages
Play Sound A001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
Play Multi 001 | Mode |Main Vol.
Hit Me Bigga | Multi | 100
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
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Sound / Multi
Osc.1
Mix
Play Access
Osc.2
Wave 1
Wave 2
Quality
Sound
Filter 1
Filter 2
Amplifier
Pan
Glide
Trigger
Arpeggiator
Filter Env.
Volume Env.
Wave Env.
Free Env.
LFO 1
LFO 2
Modifiers
Mod Matrix
Name
Multi Global
Volume
Tempo
Controls
Name
MIDI
Controls
Volume
Instrument
Sound
Tune
Range
Arpeggiator
Tables
Tune
System
Store
Recall
Compare
Undo
Utility
The picture shows five page groups, divided into the sections Sound, Multi, Instrument
and Global. Each group has a select key 햷…햻 and an activation LED below.
• The Sound parameters refer to a Sound program. If you are in Sound mode, you
will edit the currently played program. If you are in Multi mode, the Sound
program for the currently selected Instrument will be edited.
• The Multi parameters refer to a Multi program. They determine the common setting
for all instruments in the Multi program. Obviously, you can access these
parameters only when the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is in Multi mode.
• The Instrument parameters also refer to a Multi program. They determine the
individual setting of each instrument in the Multi program. Again, you have to be
in Multi mode to access these parameters.
• The Global parameters provide the basic settings of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk,
valid for all programs.
☞ This is how you access a specific parameter:
1. Locate the page group on the front panel and press the corresponding select key
햷…햻 below.
2. The display changes to a set of 4 parameters from the first page of the selected
group. For example, if you press the leftmost select button 햻 the parameters for
Oscillator 1 will be shown:
For a few seconds the page name is shown in the upper right corner of the display.
In our given example
[Osc1 1] will be displayed for "Oscillator 1 Page 1". Some
units of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk, e.g. the oscillators, have several parameter pages
which are indexed by a page number.
When single mode is selected, you can only play and edit sound programs. If you try to
access a Multi mode parameter, you will get an error message in the upper right corner:
If you did some editing before the MicroWave II/XT/XTk was last powered on, the
display may show a different page than the first after pressing the select key. This is an
important feature: The MicroWave II/XT/XTk memorizes the last selected page to
speed up editing. When you re-enter the page group, you will find yourself where
you had left it last time.
3. Use the page dial 햴 to scroll through the page group:
Play Sound A001[Multi Mode not active]
Saw repeat WMF | Sound | 100
Octave 1|Semitone | Detune |Ke[Osc1 1]
-1 | +07 | +00 | +100%
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Turning the dial clockwise selects the next page, turning it counterclockwise selects
the previous page.
4. Use the value dials 햾 to adjust the corresponding parameters in the display 햳:
Turning a dial clockwise increases the corresponding value, turning it
counterclockwise decreases it. The dials have a built-in dynamic response feature.
If you turn the control slowly, the value changes very smoothly, too. If you turn it
faster, it accelerates as well. This gives you the chance of adjusting the whole value
range in just one turn without losing accurate control when nessessary.
5. When you have finished all your edits you should save the program. Please read
the next topic for further information.
6. Press the Play key 햽 to return to the Play mode:
Edit Buffers
Whenever you edit a Sound or Multi program on the MicroWave II/XT/XTk, the program is
internally copied to an edit buffer. When you use the Store function to save the edits, the
program is copied back from the edit buffer to the internal memory. The MicroWave
II/XT/XTk has 8 separate edit buffers, so you can edit up to 8 programs simultaneously
without storing them. The display shows an e after the program name for every program
that is actually in an edit buffer:
Edit Status
Note that all edit buffers are cleared when switching off the MicroWave II/XT/XTk. Use the
Store function as soon as possible after finishing your edits.
The Compare Function
The Compare function allows you to compare the currently edited sound to its original
stored in the internal memory.
Play Sound A001e | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
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Sound / Multi
Instrument
Play
Shift
☞ This is how you use the Compare function:
1. Press and hold the Shift key 햽.
2. Briefly press the Compare key 햹.
3. Release the Shift key 햽.
4. The display now shows a c after the program name:
Compare Status
You will now hear the unedited version of your program when you play your MIDI
keyboard.
5. Briefly press the Compare key 햹 while holding the Shift key 햽 again.
6. The c in the display changes to e again. The edited version of the program is now
active again.
Please note that no parameters can be edited when the Compare function is active.
You can only view the original settings. If you select a new program while the
Compare function is active, the Compare status is automatically terminated.
Recalling Edits
You can void edits at any time and return to the original program.
☞ This is how you recall an edited program:
1. Press and hold the Shift key 햽.
2. Briefly press the Recall key 햺.
3. Release the Shift key 햽.
4. The e or c in the the display after the program name is cleared.
All edits have been recalled and the program is back in its original state.
Storing Programs
After you have finished editing a program, you must save it if you intend to use it again. All
memory locations of the MicroWave II/XT/XTk are available for this purpose.
☞ This is how you store a program:
1. Press and hold the Shift key 햽.
2. Briefly press the Store key 햻.
3. Release the Shift key 햽.
4. The display shows a page where you can select the store type, the source and the
destination:
Store
Store Sound A001 A001 ?
Saw Repeat WMF
Play Sound A001c | Mode |Main Vol.
Saw Repeat WMF | Sound | 100
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User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
5. Use the second value dial to select the store type:
• If
Sound
is selected, the current Sound program will be stored. When used
in Multi Mode, the Sound program of the currently selected instrument will
be stored.
• If
Multi
is selected, the current Multi Program will be stored. The Sound
programs that built the Multi are not stored by this task. You must do this
separately or by using the
All Edits
option. This setting is available in Multi
mode only.
• If
All Edits
is selected, the MicroWave will store back all edit buffers into
their original memory locations. Use this setting to save all edited programs
with a single task.
6. Select the destination program. The default value is the currently selected program
but you may want to change it to store your edits under a different location. This
setting is not available if you choose
All Edits
for the store type.
7. Briefly press the Store key 햻 while holding the Shift key 햽 again.
Whenever you store a program, the selected memory location is overwritten.
Therefore, any previously stored program under this location will be erased and there
is no way to get it back. So, if you want to keep your factory presets you should
dump them to a computer for external storage.
You now have stored the program. When you activate the store function, the Edit or
Compare status of the stored program is terminated.
By pressing any key before performing the last step, you can discard the Store process at
any time.
Use the Store function also if you want to copy programs. There is no need to edit a
program before storing it.
The Play Access Page
The Play Access page is a very exciting feature that gives you an easy accessible control
over 4 freely definable Sound parameters. To select these parameters, please read the
corresponding paragraph in the chapter "Sound Parameters" later on in this manual.
☞ This is how you access the parameters in the Play Access page:
1. When in Play mode, press the Play button 햽 again to call the Play Access page.
The display now shows:
Play Access
2. Use the value dials 햾 to change each parameter’s value.
3. Press the Play button 햽 again to leave the Play Access page and return to the
program select page. You can also you turn the page dial 햴 to select another
program directly.
When the MicroWave II/XT/XTk is in Multi mode, the Play Access page always corresponds
to the Sound program of the currently selected Instrument.
F1 Cutoff|F1 Reso |F1 EnvAmt|FE Decay
092 | 000 | +29 | 084
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Please note that – like any usual edits – you have to store your modified programs to
make the changes permanent.
Panic Function
The Panic function sends and executes an "All Notes Off" command. It is used to terminate
stuck notes. To activate this function, briefly press the Power button 햶. Note that using
Panic will also stop the arpeggiator playing when running in Hold mode. Panic will
immediately set all envelopes to their release phases. When holding the button a bit longer,
all sound is suppressed and the release phases are overridden.
Randomizing a Program
This functions initializes all parameters of a Sound Program with random values.
☞ This is how you randomize a program:
1. Press and hold the Shift key 햽.
2. Briefly press the Utility key 햷.
3. Release the Shift key 햽.
4. The display shows a page where you can select some utility functions. Most of
them are dump functions. Turn the page dial 햴 clockwise until the display shows:
Randomize
5. Briefly press the Utility key 햷 while holding the Shift key 햽 again.
The selected program is now randomized.
When you randomize a program, all action takes place inside an edit buffer.
Therefore no data will be lost until you store the program.
Initializing Programs
The MicroWave II/XT/XTk provides a special function for setting all parameters of a Sound
or Multi program to initial values. You can use it to create a program from the scratch.
☞ This is how you initialize a program:
1. Press and hold the Shift key 햽.
2. Briefly press the Utility key 햷.
3. Release the Shift key 햽.
4. The display shows a page where you can select some utility functions. Most of
them are dump functions. Turn the page dial 햴 clockwise until the display shows:
Init Sound
Init Sound A001 Saw Repeat WMF ?
[confirm with <Shift-Utility>]
Randomize A001 Saw Repeat WMF ?
[confirm with <Shift-Utility>]
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User’s Manual MicroWave II • MicroWave XT • XTk
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