A synth introduced by Waldorf in 2007, as a successor to the Microwave series. The Blofeld employs the wave scanning method of synthesis, continuing a long series of Waldorf (and PPG before them) products using that synthesis method. It also contains virtual analog and resynthesis capabilities.
The synth is polyphonic with up to 25 voices depending on the complexity of the patch. The voice architecture provides three oscillators per voice; each can be a virtual analog, sample playback, or wave scanning oscillator. Digital filtering provides 2- or 4-pole filtering. The synth uses matrix routing for modulation signals, and one of the outstanding features of the matrix is the ability to perform math operations using two modulation sources, and route the result as a newly defined source. The unit includes built-in effects and an arpeggiator.
The tabletop packaged version shown above was the original version. A keyboard version, with a 49-key keyboard but the same panel controls, was released in 2008. Earlier production units were all silver; later an optional black finish was offered on both versions. When first introduced, the operating system had some teething problems and for a while the synth gained a reputation as unreliable, but software updates have since corrected those problems.