It's hidden under "The Play Button Section"... weird. Waldorf could definitely do better with their user manuals. I'm also confused, is the sequencer polyphonic or not? I'm assuming it's not, but it should be.
I couldn't get the sequencer to work at first (have had Iridium about 24 hours). If I push play + latch and hit a key on an external controller, it will not start, but does start if I hit one of the Iridium pads. This thing definitely has its quirks, but sound-wise it's a beast!
@@machinelanguage5108 Thanks for the tip. I just tried it again with the LaunchPad Pro and got it to work, but hadn't managed with the Keystep. Might have something to do with the fact that I was powering and doing MIDI over the USB controller port with the Keystep. LaunchPad Pro doesn't seem happy with that arrangement, so I'm powering the LPP separately, and using MIDI DIN. Anyway, the sequencer works as expected this way. It would be great if the sequencer tracks could be set to separate lengths (i.e. have the "notes" track be a different length than one of the mod tracks). That's one of my favorite features on the Pro 3. I will try to find a way to put in a feature request, as presumably that could be added in a firmware update.
HI, the sequencer is monophonic or polyphonic? I can assign just one oscillator or all 3 fm, granular etc. ? I'm afraid not but maybe with the new orperative system yes ??? anyway only for the final result of the sequencer with the noyse i am going to buy this synth. But maybe I can find the same thing in other cheaper ones ?? I don't know for now I haven't found the same crazy polyrhythmic sound
Hi, Nice nice man. sorry but I didn't understand if you can use both virtual analog and wavetable together on the sequencer? This thing is very important to me and makes me decide whether to buy iridium or not. One last thing the sequencer can do polyrhythms? Thank you!
I'm really impressed by the sequencer - thanks for showing it. Can you adjust the timing individual steps to make your own groove or is it just the swing? Do you get two sequencers - one sequencer per layer? I really hope in the future they will allow you to split the voices how you want so you could have 4 layers with 4 note polyphony or 6 layers with 3 note polyphony - each with a sequencer. That would be next level. I wonder, can sequence each oscillator separately using the modulation parameters? I guess with the Quantum everything has to be done via the screen since it wasn't developed with a sequencer in mind. This synth really lends itself to multi-timbrality as everything is so clear to see on the screen and the soft encoders and touch screens mean the knob positions are always relevant. I'm really interested in the resonator.
No, it's just swing. There's a sequencer for each layer but they're connected across the oscillators as far as I can tell. In other words you get 2 sequencers to use with 3 oscillators (6 layers). You can split the layers like on the Quantum.
Thanks a lot my friend. No justice in manual. A simply question: the Pads, can trigger an (internal or imported) wave file? For example: Layer 1 go with a arpeggio and Layer 2 trigger a audio wave loop? Thanks
Theoretically, yes. You can load a wav file and set the loop points. You don't need a trigger for that, you could set a layer to a particle engine, load a sample and play it with your keyboard.
yes, monophonic - i guess it is best used to only modulate parameters and leave melodies to something external. I was really surprised they didn't combine the sequencer with the chord-pads at least (so you could sequence multiple "pre-configured" chords, instead of just single notes). Both could work, being a single value and would be a nice workaround to actually do some chord progression.
Hey, sorry you comment slipped through and i didn't see it. This synth is not multi-timbral (it doesn't have multiple parts) and it only has one stereo-out. So you can only record one sound at a time. If you are looking for a single synth that can do multiple sounds at once (and stream them your DAW) you should check out Waldorf Kyra or Access Virus TI2. - Or get a expensive workstation synth like Roland Fantom or Yamaha Montage, but that's a completely different beast, but would give you all sounds as audio-streams in your DAW.
Don't know about the matrixbrute. It is still on my wishlist ;) the Waldorf has 4 CV inputs, and you can basically MIDI assign every parameter. The problem is, those assignments are on a per-patch level. You have to configure those every time so I think it will be more annoying than helpful to use an external controller.
i have found out that you can set up fixed CC mappings that will be valid across all patches. So you absolutely can configure the matrixbrute as permanent controller.
@@cellrok I have one, and the midi plus CV implementation is quite underreported. Its solid. So that it makes an excellent controller keyboard. Though it does need a computer to configure it.
If you're talking about modulation through a wavetable, yes it can. You can modulate waveforms via the WARP parameter. Haven't investigated that parameter, however. All I can say, it's my favorite synthesizer. It's deeply complicated but easy to understand.
no doubt it's an interesting synth. but, sorry, beeing purely digital, it's an app in a dedicated box. nowadays for that price one could expect more multi-timbrality and more physical outputs for sound-routing.
I think Iridium is without competition right now. You won't find any box for this price that has that many features and voices. This synth can easily last a lifetime and so i believe the price is right. As for "HW vs SW" my take is that its about personal preference and not technicalities. Whatever works for the artist is the right choice.
@@bluename4 the Percussa looks good and even reads like the Iridium in terms of features. I will see if I can contact Waldorf for a comment regarding possible limitations. They had a 8 x stereo stream via USB in Kyra so they have the technology. I guess the reason was that they share the same OS with Quantum which uses Analog Filters that can't be multiplied indefinitely. If they would make Iridium more powerful it would essential make it a different synth and incompatible for cross updates and presets. Maybe a Semi-Business decision to avoid feature creep during development. They want to serve both devices with one OS.
Isn't every hardware synth today just an app in the box, plus/minus a noisy signal path? Is your point that people should only be buying noisy analogue synths? It isn't 1990, we kinda moved digital technology on over the last 30 years. I am looking at building a hardware setup I've been wanting to do for a few years, and the tech hasn't been around until the last few years. A couple of rules for this hardware setup are, no analogue gear as it will have only pure digital signal paths, and no keybeds for sequencing or playing. The idea is to have a computer like setup but with less choice. I love computer music and won't be going away from the DAW, but I also want an instant hands on setup with less choice - the main issue I find with the DAW is too many starting points, too many directions, too many conclusions. So unless you use the same few templates all the time you could spend 6 months within that process and not get anywhere. So I have a few things to be getting, and the hub will be a Akai Force, grid based all inclusive limited hardware DAW; with looping, samples, instruments and midi tracks. Then likely have a Model Argon8m as a nice wavetable poly source, Elektron Model:Cycles for Drums/Bass, then VoiceLive VE running into a Roland RC 505 looper for vocal tracks. But I was stuck on a final power instrument until the Iridium came about. I wanted a power synth that could also run into the RC 505. I love Serum, Pigments 2 and MSoundFactory as DAW synths, like a few features from each; Resonators, Wavetable, sample and granular, Poly Rhythmic sequencers - could a synth offer that at any price? Well yes, now we have an option. Sure those few apps combined can do all that, but around £600 for all three. I would then need a new interface for dedicated inputs and outputs as I already have an interface that is already in full use, if I want to use inputs and outputs. But I can't route an external sound into any software synth really - other than side-chaining,. But lets pretend we can and get a Focusrite 18i20 for £450 to do that make believe thing we can't really do. I then need a bunch of hands on knobs as midi controllers, that won't be intuitively labeled up like a hardware synth, but I can label them up, learn that and get used to it. I'll need 4 X midifigher Twister for 64 knobs/buttons of control - that is £250 X 4 = £1000. And also need a velocity grid controller, Launchpad X = £155 or Launchpad Pro has hardware sequencer = £300. I won't include the price of computer, my current one is £3,000. But lets suppose you already have this and don't need to replace it. Software = £400-600, Audio Interface upgrade (for make believe thing we cant do) = £450, Controllers = £1,155-1,300. That is more than the price of an Iridium for a ramshackle setup. But both solutions have advantages and disadvantages. I understand you are talking from your own limited viewpoint, but from my perspective it is a 100% incorrect viewpoint. This is a perfect synth for my setup, and it isn't cheap and I'll need to save for it - but I will be getting it for my dream hardware setup. And the synths you mention, essenceFM has less functionality for 2/3 the cost with no hands on control, Percussa SSP has similar functionality for same price with less hands on control. Like you state both have more ins and Outs, but you will be hunched over a small touchscreen with hands on control to truely jam out on. Not suitable for myself, lovely bits of kit - but probably more for yourself and your setup than mine.
Thank you, this sequencer + the screen are an amazing tool in the Iridium.
the alone sequencer is a fantasy and warrants this synth serious consideration
Thanks a lot! I just noticed that the manual doesn´t know that the Iridium has got a sequencer.
It's hidden under "The Play Button Section"... weird. Waldorf could definitely do better with their user manuals. I'm also confused, is the sequencer polyphonic or not? I'm assuming it's not, but it should be.
I couldn't get the sequencer to work at first (have had Iridium about 24 hours). If I push play + latch and hit a key on an external controller, it will not start, but does start if I hit one of the Iridium pads. This thing definitely has its quirks, but sound-wise it's a beast!
@@spierce2921 beware, there are evidently a batch that are defective. Look for videos. If it isn't working, get a replacement unit if you can.
@@machinelanguage5108 Thanks for the tip. I just tried it again with the LaunchPad Pro and got it to work, but hadn't managed with the Keystep. Might have something to do with the fact that I was powering and doing MIDI over the USB controller port with the Keystep. LaunchPad Pro doesn't seem happy with that arrangement, so I'm powering the LPP separately, and using MIDI DIN. Anyway, the sequencer works as expected this way.
It would be great if the sequencer tracks could be set to separate lengths (i.e. have the "notes" track be a different length than one of the mod tracks). That's one of my favorite features on the Pro 3. I will try to find a way to put in a feature request, as presumably that could be added in a firmware update.
Great vid, helpful. Thank You
Good demo and clear explanations ! Thank yous.
NEKO
My God the sequencer is Fu...ing amazing !!! What do you think ? Thank you !
Amazing !!! Thinking in get one
HI, the sequencer is monophonic or polyphonic? I can assign just one oscillator or all 3 fm, granular etc. ? I'm afraid not but maybe with the new orperative system yes ??? anyway only for the final result of the sequencer with the noyse i am going to buy this synth. But maybe I can find the same thing in other cheaper ones ?? I don't know for now I haven't found the same crazy polyrhythmic sound
Is that a pioneer toraiz sp16 I see on the right?!
All stepsequencers locked at the same length is a big shame :/
Thanks for doing this video
Thanks for taking the time to create a video, really helpful. Is it possible to have micro timing say we can enter, say eighth note triplets, etc?
Hi, Nice nice man. sorry but I didn't understand if you can use both virtual analog and wavetable together on the sequencer? This thing is very important to me and makes me decide whether to buy iridium or not. One last thing the sequencer can do polyrhythms? Thank you!
Can it do real time live record as well?
I'm really impressed by the sequencer - thanks for showing it. Can you adjust the timing individual steps to make your own groove or is it just the swing? Do you get two sequencers - one sequencer per layer? I really hope in the future they will allow you to split the voices how you want so you could have 4 layers with 4 note polyphony or 6 layers with 3 note polyphony - each with a sequencer. That would be next level. I wonder, can sequence each oscillator separately using the modulation parameters? I guess with the Quantum everything has to be done via the screen since it wasn't developed with a sequencer in mind. This synth really lends itself to multi-timbrality as everything is so clear to see on the screen and the soft encoders and touch screens mean the knob positions are always relevant. I'm really interested in the resonator.
No, it's just swing. There's a sequencer for each layer but they're connected across the oscillators as far as I can tell. In other words you get 2 sequencers to use with 3 oscillators (6 layers). You can split the layers like on the Quantum.
thanx a lot. Maybe you could show bi-timbrality
Thanks a lot my friend. No justice in manual. A simply question: the Pads, can trigger an (internal or imported) wave file? For example: Layer 1 go with a arpeggio and Layer 2 trigger a audio wave loop? Thanks
Theoretically, yes. You can load a wav file and set the loop points. You don't need a trigger for that, you could set a layer to a particle engine, load a sample and play it with your keyboard.
Sync on the waveform does what ? Synxs with the bpm or between Osc ?
thanks for taking the time to make this... is the sequencer monophonic?
yes, monophonic - i guess it is best used to only modulate parameters and leave melodies to something external.
I was really surprised they didn't combine the sequencer with the chord-pads at least (so you could sequence multiple "pre-configured" chords, instead of just single notes). Both could work, being a single value and would be a nice workaround to actually do some chord progression.
I’m new to Waldorf so excuse my ignorance. I herd him say he was in Ableton is it possible to record multiple sounds to Midi in a DAW?
Hey, sorry you comment slipped through and i didn't see it. This synth is not multi-timbral (it doesn't have multiple parts) and it only has one stereo-out. So you can only record one sound at a time. If you are looking for a single synth that can do multiple sounds at once (and stream them your DAW) you should check out Waldorf Kyra or Access Virus TI2. - Or get a expensive workstation synth like Roland Fantom or Yamaha Montage, but that's a completely different beast, but would give you all sounds as audio-streams in your DAW.
According to you, would it be possible to use the matrixbrute keyboard as a controller for iridium?
Don't know about the matrixbrute. It is still on my wishlist ;) the Waldorf has 4 CV inputs, and you can basically MIDI assign every parameter. The problem is, those assignments are on a per-patch level. You have to configure those every time so I think it will be more annoying than helpful to use an external controller.
i have found out that you can set up fixed CC mappings that will be valid across all patches. So you absolutely can configure the matrixbrute as permanent controller.
@@cellrok Thanks a lot!! You are very kind! ; )
@@cellrok I have one, and the midi plus CV implementation is quite underreported. Its solid. So that it makes an excellent controller keyboard. Though it does need a computer to configure it.
can the Iridium morph through its waveforms with automated modulation?
If you're talking about modulation through a wavetable, yes it can. You can modulate waveforms via the WARP parameter. Haven't investigated that parameter, however. All I can say, it's my favorite synthesizer. It's deeply complicated but easy to understand.
Can it do real time recording and motion sequencing?
no doubt it's an interesting synth. but, sorry, beeing purely digital, it's an app in a dedicated box. nowadays for that price one could expect more multi-timbrality and more physical outputs for sound-routing.
I think Iridium is without competition right now. You won't find any box for this price that has that many features and voices. This synth can easily last a lifetime and so i believe the price is right. As for "HW vs SW" my take is that its about personal preference and not technicalities. Whatever works for the artist is the right choice.
@@cellrok how about "Percussa SSP"? has more multi-timbrality an I/O
@@cellrok ... also essenceFM has more multimbrality, voices and I/O
@@bluename4 the Percussa looks good and even reads like the Iridium in terms of features. I will see if I can contact Waldorf for a comment regarding possible limitations. They had a 8 x stereo stream via USB in Kyra so they have the technology. I guess the reason was that they share the same OS with Quantum which uses Analog Filters that can't be multiplied indefinitely. If they would make Iridium more powerful it would essential make it a different synth and incompatible for cross updates and presets. Maybe a Semi-Business decision to avoid feature creep during development. They want to serve both devices with one OS.
Isn't every hardware synth today just an app in the box, plus/minus a noisy signal path? Is your point that people should only be buying noisy analogue synths? It isn't 1990, we kinda moved digital technology on over the last 30 years. I am looking at building a hardware setup I've been wanting to do for a few years, and the tech hasn't been around until the last few years. A couple of rules for this hardware setup are, no analogue gear as it will have only pure digital signal paths, and no keybeds for sequencing or playing. The idea is to have a computer like setup but with less choice. I love computer music and won't be going away from the DAW, but I also want an instant hands on setup with less choice - the main issue I find with the DAW is too many starting points, too many directions, too many conclusions. So unless you use the same few templates all the time you could spend 6 months within that process and not get anywhere. So I have a few things to be getting, and the hub will be a Akai Force, grid based all inclusive limited hardware DAW; with looping, samples, instruments and midi tracks. Then likely have a Model Argon8m as a nice wavetable poly source, Elektron Model:Cycles for Drums/Bass, then VoiceLive VE running into a Roland RC 505 looper for vocal tracks. But I was stuck on a final power instrument until the Iridium came about. I wanted a power synth that could also run into the RC 505. I love Serum, Pigments 2 and MSoundFactory as DAW synths, like a few features from each; Resonators, Wavetable, sample and granular, Poly Rhythmic sequencers - could a synth offer that at any price? Well yes, now we have an option. Sure those few apps combined can do all that, but around £600 for all three. I would then need a new interface for dedicated inputs and outputs as I already have an interface that is already in full use, if I want to use inputs and outputs. But I can't route an external sound into any software synth really - other than side-chaining,. But lets pretend we can and get a Focusrite 18i20 for £450 to do that make believe thing we can't really do. I then need a bunch of hands on knobs as midi controllers, that won't be intuitively labeled up like a hardware synth, but I can label them up, learn that and get used to it. I'll need 4 X midifigher Twister for 64 knobs/buttons of control - that is £250 X 4 = £1000. And also need a velocity grid controller, Launchpad X = £155 or Launchpad Pro has hardware sequencer = £300. I won't include the price of computer, my current one is £3,000. But lets suppose you already have this and don't need to replace it. Software = £400-600, Audio Interface upgrade (for make believe thing we cant do) = £450, Controllers = £1,155-1,300. That is more than the price of an Iridium for a ramshackle setup. But both solutions have advantages and disadvantages. I understand you are talking from your own limited viewpoint, but from my perspective it is a 100% incorrect viewpoint. This is a perfect synth for my setup, and it isn't cheap and I'll need to save for it - but I will be getting it for my dream hardware setup. And the synths you mention, essenceFM has less functionality for 2/3 the cost with no hands on control, Percussa SSP has similar functionality for same price with less hands on control. Like you state both have more ins and Outs, but you will be hunched over a small touchscreen with hands on control to truely jam out on. Not suitable for myself, lovely bits of kit - but probably more for yourself and your setup than mine.
Not very musical, show some practical uses in the studio within a production. This makes it sound like a cheap arcade sound machine.