Highly regarded synth-meisters Waldorf are trying to give me carpal tunnel. Not the way you're thinking, perv; they're releasing their first pure software synthesizer -- Waldorf Largo -- meaning two things: one, I've got to manipulate the various filters and oscillators with keyboard and mouse (my Nocturn hasn't arrived yet), and two, I've got to reformat this massive, multi-layered HTML list outlining the plug's various features. Seriously, aren't there Geneva Convention articles forbidding this sort of treatment?

Largo’s sound engine mirrors the technology used in the Blofeld and Q hardware synthesizers. With such architecture, Largo lives up to its namesake through its amazing range of sounds and features.

Waldorf has loaded Largo with features including five oscillators (three main, two sub) that can generate waveforms from classic analog to waves from PPG and Waldorf Wave Waldorf’s multi-mode characteristic filters that will make your patches and tones sound amazing. With a steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation, and a drive stage, Largo’s filters will enable you to shape your sound beyond imagination from swirling pads and leads that cut through the mix to punchy fat bass lines. Flexible LFOs and ultra-fast envelope generators makes this unit a sound designers dream. Largo’s Features are listed below:

General Features

• up to 256 voices per instance (depending on available CPU power)
• up to 4 layers per sound
• 4 stereo outputs (alternatively 1 stereo sum)
• host automation of almost all parameters
• MIDI Controller automation of the most important parameters

Per Voice

• 5 Oscillators
• 3 Main Oscillators
• 2 Sub Oscillators
• Virtual Analog Models:
• Pulse with Pulse Width Modulation
• Sawtooth
• Triangle
• Sine
• Wavetables:
• Q Alt 1 and Alt 2 Wavetable
• Frequency Modulation between Oscillators and Noise Generator
• Oscillator Synchronization
• Ring Modulator for Osc 1 / 2
• Noise Generator with Noise Colour
• 2 independent Multi Mode Filters
• Filter FM
• Resonance up to Self-Oscillation
• Low Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
• Band Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
• High Pass 24 dB / 12 dB
• Notch 24 dB / 12 dB
• Comb Filter with positive / negative Feedback
• Sample&Hold (samplerate reduction)
• 2 Drive Stages per voice with adjustable Drive Gain and selectable Curves
• Clip
• Hard
• Medium
• Soft
• Sine Shaper
  and more
• Modulation Matrix with 16 Slots, freely programmable
• Modulation Speed far into Audio Range
• Modulation Sources include all internal Modulation Sources plus various MIDI messages
• Modulation Destinations for almost all continuous sound parameters
• various pre-routed Modulation Destinations with selectable Sources
• Pitch Modulation
• Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Frequency Modulation
• Oscillator 1 / 2 / 3 Pulse Width Modulation
• Filter 1 / 2 Cutoff Modulation
• Filter 1 / 2 Frequency Modulation
• Pan 1 / 2 Modulation
• Amp Modulation
• 4 Modifiers for transforming Modulation Sources with various Algorithms
• 3 fast LFOs
• syncable to MIDI Clock
• Note Retrigger with adjustable Start Phase
• monophonic LFO
• Keytrack
• freely drawable LFO waveform with 16 steps
• 4 fast Envelopes with selectable types
• Single Trigger / Retrigger per Envelope
• ADSR
• ADS1DS2R (2 Decay/Sustain stages plus adjustable Attack Level)
• One Shot
• Loop S1S2 (Loop between Sustain 1 and 2)
• Loop All (Loop over all stages)
• Poly, Mono, Dual or Unisono Mode with selectable Voice Count

Per Layer

• powerful Arpeggiator
• Hold and One Shot modes
• syncable to MIDI Clock
• Direction Up, Down, Alternate
• Range up to 10 Octaves
• various methods to modify Note Sort Order
• freely programmable Arpeggiator Pattern with up to 16 Steps
• programmable per Step:
• Accent
• Timing
• Length
• Glide on/off
• Pause
• Chord
• Previous note
• Random note from Note List
• first and/or last note from Note List
• 2 Effect slots per layer
• Effect Types:
• Chorus
• Flanger
• Phaser
• Overdrive
• Delay (2nd effect slot only)
  
• Reverb (2nd effect slot only)

The huge array of features described above can sometimes make a musician dizzy and confused, so Waldorf made Largo’s user interface clearly arranged and aesthetically appealing to help you create your sounds in a zip. All oscillators and filters are directly accessible in the click of a mouse.

Waldorf Largo is available for Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or better.