Waldorf Quantum MK2

The Waldorf Quantum MK2 is the upgraded flagship hybrid synthesizer from Waldorf, building on the original Quantum with doubled polyphony and a premium polyphonic aftertouch keybed. Combining five distinct synthesis engines with analog filters, touchscreen editing, and deep modulation, it represents one of the most versatile hardware synthesizers available.

Evolution from the Original

The original Quantum (2018) introduced Waldorf's hybrid architecture with 8-voice polyphony. The MK2 revision doubles this to 16 voices when using digital filters (8 voices with analog filters), adds a Fatar TP/8SK keybed with polyphonic aftertouch, and expands sample storage to 59GB. The core synthesis engines and signal path remain the same, making the MK2 a refinement rather than a redesign.

Five Synthesis Engines

Each of the three oscillators per voice can independently run one of five synthesis types: Wavetable (with speech synthesis and audio-to-wavetable conversion), Waveform (up to 8 simultaneous detuned or chordal waves with hard-sync, warp, and PWM), Particle (sampler with traditional and granular modes), Resonator (exciter plus filter bank physical modeling), and Kernel (additive synthesis). A single patch can layer wavetable pads with granular textures and resonator plucks, giving a sound palette few hardware synths can match.

Hybrid Filter Architecture

The analog section features dual analog lowpass filters per voice configurable in 24dB or 12dB mode with series, parallel, and split routing options. Beyond the analog filters, a digital multi-mode section adds comb filtering, high-pass, band-pass, notch, bit-crushing, and drive. The MK2's flexibility lets you trade polyphony for analog character—8 voices through analog filters or 16 voices through digital—depending on the patch requirements.

Modulation and Effects

The modulation system includes 6 LFOs (poly and global modes), 6 envelopes with looping, a Komplex modulator for complex multi-stage shapes, and a 40-slot modulation matrix drawing from 43 sources. Effects provide 5 slots per layer including phaser, flanger, chorus, reverb, drive, and EQ. The touchscreen doubles as an X/Y performance pad and provides direct graphical editing of wavetables, envelopes, and routings.

Who Is This For?

The Quantum MK2 suits sound designers wanting maximum synthesis variety in one instrument, electronic musicians needing wavetable, granular, and physical modeling without switching gear, and keyboardists who value the polyphonic aftertouch Fatar keybed for expressive performance. The premium price places it among flagship polysynths—justified by the breadth of synthesis available in a single, beautifully built keyboard.