The Microwave XT is a great big orange polyphonic rackmount synthesizer. While combining the power of the Wave and the compact design of Waldorf's Microwave II, the XT adds a bit of knob-laden heaven. At first glance the top section completely resembles the 2-space rackmount version of the Microwave II. And then there are three more rack-spaces full of knobs and lots of knobs means lots of control. As far as enhancements, the XT model has 20-bit DSP functions but that's about it. Its true power and features lie in the 44 hands-on knobs which make editing in real-time quick, easy and perfect for performance and studio work. All of the knobs transmit MIDI information as well!
The Synthesizer engine is relatively the same as the Microwave II and Wave synths that came before it. Digital wavetable synthesis and FM synthesis in which there are 64 waves that are mixed and combined into new sounds. The Microwave XT can easily emulate the sounds of the PPG wavetable synths as well as create squelchy acid-303 lines or boomy Moog bass. Also onboard is a nice arpeggiator, digital effects and more. The Microwave XT is definitely a powerful rackmount synth that can generate some highly unique and quality sounds. It is used by Nine Inch Nails, Danny Tenaglia, Underworld, Astral Projection, The Crystal Method, Mirwais, and Cirrus.
Oscillators: 2 oscillators per voice of 64MB DSP wavetable synthesis (65 preset wavetables, 32 user wavetables); Osc-sync; FM; 1 Ring Mod; 1 Noise Source •
Memory: 256 user patches, 128 performance patches
Filter: 13 digital filter models (12/24dB, LP, BP, HP, Notch, waveshaper, bit-reduction, dual BP). Additional in-series 6dB LP or HP filter with keytracking. ADSR envelope.
VCA: 1 VCA, VCA ADSR, 1 Free Envelope
LFO: 2 LFO's, sine, tri, square, random, S&H
Effects: Chorus, Flanger 1 & 2, Autowah BP, Autowah LP, Overdrive, Delay (only available on units with board revision #2 or #3), Amp Mod
Keyboard: none
Arpeg/Seq: Programmable rhythmic arpeggiator, 16 steps, 128 patterns
Control: MIDI
