Waldorf Largo Looks Tasty
I don’t think I’ve really spent much time discussing equipment, so I thought since I’m currently unable to write music within my usual surroundings, I’d publicly fantasise about some of the things I hope to purchase at some point. Starting with Waldorf’s barely-released software synth: Largo. Now, any of you who have used Waldorf’s Attack VSTi will probably have cottoned-on to the fact that I’m a huge fan of its sounds, and have used it in practically every piece of music I’ve written. What may not be obvious, is that I’m also a heavy user of Waldorf’s hardware too—I’m a proud user of their Micro Q synth, which can most recently be heard at the start of Circadies and Whispers (the FM modulation kind of gives it away—it’s one of the many unique features I seldom come across in other virtual analogue synths).
Largo takes the Q feature set and synth engine and recreates it as a software VSTi, and although I can’t yet vouch for its accuracy in reproducing Micro Q sounds, I’m hoping it’ll be nigh-on identical (doesn’t look like we can import Q sounds directly, though—yet). I’m happy Waldorf have resisted the temptation to cut-down the feature set for their software, as it seems most hardware manufacturers are reticent to potentially cannibalise their own hardware sales (or at least they’ll tether a hardware interface/DSP onto it, a la Virus TI). I’d love to see more manufacturers with the experience of building hardware instruments enter the software market with fully-featured synths, as while there are plenty of innovative software VST companies around, the instruments often lack some very handy performance-oriented options (such as different legato fingering or envelope retriggering options—essential aspects hardware synths wouldn’t think of omitting).
Hopefully the interface won’t be too fiddly in use, as Largo definitely looks to have packed the Micro Q features and controls into a multi-page interface, but as Attack still works well, despite its age, I’m not too worried (though it would be nice to be able to type parameter values in—quite a few soft synths seem to snub this handy feature). So that’s one for the wish-list. In the mean time, I’ll be vicariously experiencing the synth through user reports on KVR.
Tags: gear, largo, micro q, software, synth, vst, vsti, waldorf
4 Responses to “Waldorf Largo Looks Tasty”:
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Very cool to hear that you use Attack also. I use a Rack Attack but I honestly think that I’d get more use out of the plugin. Editing using the Waldorf matrix menu system can be pretty tedious.
I’d probably buy a Rack Attack if I could find a pristine unit, as it would future-proof my drum sounds a bit more. I long for an Attack update, but I doubt that’ll happen. Attack didn’t seem to really get the recognition it deserves, IMO.
You’ve touched on why I’ve really gone off soft synths, especially with their super-paranoid drm schemes. I had to reinstall all my software recently and the experience was unsettling. NI’s product activation page already 404s and you have to download a special app instead (I’m still on Komplete 2). So I’ll probably have to convert all my vsti tracks to audio anyway if I still want to come back to my music in 10 or 20 years’ time.
I really think that hardware synths coupled with open source VSTi interfaces are the way forward. That way you get the best of both worlds as an artist and the manufacturers get drm that actually works
Waldorf gear is great, isn't it?
I think Largo is more based on the blofeld than the micro Q, so you might find some new surprises.. (although the blofeld was based off the micro Q anyway)