Hi!
 
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard - anyone got one? experiences? opinions?
 
FYI: I was actually looking for 49 key MIDI keyboard with (at least half-)weighted keys for hotel rooms, small gigs and other minor mobile applications when I stumbled onto this ... got to admit I'm not true a synths person (as regards hardcore sound tweaking, never done that), so far I mostly used synth preset with moderate tweaks; bass, drums, piano is what I call home ... but I quite like the idea to get more than just a MIDI keyboard (I'm quite blown away by blofeld you tube videos I watched) so that I could just plug in headphones and get creative ...
 
Does it come with a reasonable piano preset for live use? Or could I use the sample option to upload one?
 
Any serious alternatives (in let's say +/-50% price range)???

Waldorf stuff is usually based on wavetable synthesis, so I don't imagine there would be much like pianos inside, or much acoustic either.  But wavetable is some bad synthesis.

The Blofeld is a mix of "virtual analogue" (i.e. digital faking analogue) and wavetable synthesis.

It sounds very good if you like Waldorf's distinctive tones.

Unfortunately the Blofeld's operating system was very buggy at the first release and still has some outstanding issues. I strongly recommend searching for "Blofeld" and "bugs" before commiting yourself to a decision. Not sure about the current situation, but at one point the Blofeld dwsktop and Blofeld keyboard each had some bugs in common and others of their own.

An alternative is to try and get a used Waldorf Q or microQ. They have most of the Blofeld's features and few to zero OS bugs. For example, their arps and LFOs sync to MIDI without problems. I've a Phoenix edition microQ (a model released as a batch of 500 to get money flowing when the company was relaunched ) and really like it.

tlw
Unfortunately the Blofeld's operating system was very buggy at the first release and still has some outstanding issues. I strongly recommend searching for "Blofeld" and "bugs" before commiting yourself to a decision. Not sure about the current situation, but at one point the Blofeld dwsktop and Blofeld keyboard each had some bugs in common and others of their own.

Thanks for the tip. I did a search and it looks like Waldorf arrived at a "final" firmware and I can't find many complaints afterwards (none that I could associate with the 1.22 firmware) so it all seemed to have calmed down.
 
I'm too far off out in the middle of nowhere to have a shop close by where I could try it. So I might just jump in and and order one (on a return policy). I'm after a decent 49 keys keyboard and it got good reviews, but whether I personally like it I can only test anyway ...

The Blofeld certainly sounds good, to my ears anyway. Just wish they'd make a space-saving rack-mountable version as well as the desktop and keyboard.

Trying one before making a firm decision is a good idea. Waldorf synths are like Moog or Korg MS synths in that they have a distinctive sound quality that's quite unique. I really like it, but only you can tell if you do.

I owned a Blofeld desktop for a period of time.  I bought it used, got a decent deal on it, but later sold it...perhaps a bit prematurely.  I sold it in favor of not having redundancy next to the Q, which I kept...and Largo. 
 
Here's my take on the Blofeld, if it helps you any -- PRO's and CON's:
 
PROS:
1.  The keyboard version, though I've never touched one, is reported to have a great, high-quality keybed.
2.  Sound is unique, the Waldorf way.  It is versatile.
3.  You can upgrade/unlock the Blofeld to allow user samples to be uploaded and also get new sample-based waveforms to use.  This can create more dynamic patches.
4.  Good, graphic LCD screen.
5.  USB interface.  Some freebie patch editors are available.
 
CONS:
1.  Waldorf synths seem to have very quiet outputs.  The Blofeld is no exception.
2.  Time-based FX can only exist once.  This means you can't have a delay and a reverb in the same patch.
3.  Limited knobs.  You must get used to menu diving.
4.  Polyphony gets hammered to next-to-nothing if a comb filter is used plus FX.
5.  USB connection can create an annoying ground-loop and hum.
6.  No unison.
7.  No sub-oscillators.
8.  Largo.
 
Con #8 is quite important, and also owning Largo further bolstered my liquidation of the Blofeld.  Largo, IMO, sounded (and continues to sound) awesome...much better than the Blofeld.  Blofeld sounded "tinny" and fragile.  Largo can sound rich and full.  Largo also has 256 voices of polyphony.  And if you run out, then simply load another instance of it.  On the other hand, Largo does not have the comb filter or the PPG filter, but I'm not sure if Blofeld has the latter anyway.
 
Well, that's my two cents.

Thanks for taking time to write such a detailed review. I much appreciate it!
 
I meanwhile ordered a Blofeld on a return policy, hopefully get it by Monday and put it through a test.
 
I'm really curious about the keyboard (as this was more or less #1 motivation to try it) and the synth I would regard more as a creative tool while on the road or in writing sessions / rehearsals (hence the hardware solution is appealing). Nevertheless, it's great to hear about Largo, which could come in nicely when taking this one step further and tuning sounds for studio session ...
 
Regarding your listed CONs:
1. heard about that and it worries me a bit; I hope that noise floor is way down so that I can just make up gain at the mix desk
2. ok. good to know. i might end up sending it through some external FX ... given that it's producing sound I like ...
5. this I observe with almost any device hooked up via USB. even latest eventide gear produces hum that you don't want to hear on any recording when connected via USB (but gone when disconnected) ... so if it's gone when not in USB-programming mode I could live with it ...
 
 
 
 

Regarding the quiet outputs, all Waldorf's have that issue, even my Q.  However, it's also a part of the internal signal-routing structure.  In other words, you can only squeeze out so much, before the "internals" start to clip and distort.  Usually, a simple tweak on the Amp Envelope Amount and Amp Envelope Velocity will help matters.  You'll lose a bit of expressiveness, but setting the Amp Env Amt to full and Amp Env Velocity to 0 will help make any patch quite a bit louder.
 
Another Pro I forgot to mention is the Waldorf logic/layout of their internal structure.  Having learned on the Q, I could now go back to the Blofeld and be a better programmer.  All Waldorf synths share the same structure.  The drawback to the Blofeld, however, is the lack of knobs to twist and fiddle with.  However, not all Waldorf's BEHAVE the same way!  I've programmed/ported patches from Largo to the Q, Q to Largo, Largo to Blofeld, Blofeld to Largo...and all sound different.  The differences, I believe, are not only in the filters but also the envelopes.  You can, however, get very similar patches.

FreeFlyBertl
Thanks for taking time to write such a detailed review. I much appreciate it!  I meanwhile ordered a Blofeld on a return policy, hopefully get it by Monday and put it through a test.

No problem!  If there's anything I can do to help you out with the Blofeld, then just let me know!

Meanwhile got the Blofeld and used it for a few hours ...
 
First impressions are positive: Definitely good keyboard, pretty much what I was looking for (and not as "light-weight" as the typical MIDI controller) and is certainly worth the 300€ price gap between the synth by itself and the keyboard version ...
 
Unlocking the sampling option worked fine, but getting the samples onto Blofeld is slow and failed a few times. Stock samples don't sound that spectacular when played by themselves (still need to learn all the FX options) ... downloaded a sample+sounds pack for 24€ and that sounds really good (after transfering for 1 1/2 hours ... 2x 46 min because first time I MIDIed it into Nirvana without noticing) ... got some good old fashioned mellotron and movie string sounds which I only had in dated VSTs and now can take outside of the studio ...
 
Looking forward to learning how to program this animal, seems more fun that turning knobs on a screen with a mouse ... and I wonder if I ever get around to learn how to use my own samples ...