Waldorf Rack Attack
Percussion Synthesizer (2003)

Rackmount drumsynth based on virtual synthesis aimed to emulate electro percussive sounds from analog drum machines.

The rack Attack is the VST plugin ATTACK hardware's version - totally compatible as they can be linked by Midi for patches exchange.

RACKMOUNT 2 units, 2 versions: green / blue.
The main panel features a backlit display, 15 buttons, 6 knobs and a classic Waldorf red rotary data encoder found on the Waldorf Microwave.

Rear panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- audio signal input for external line processing
- 2 main signal out
- 4 assignable AUX that can be either 3 stereo / 6 mono.

Power supply 12V external PSU +)- polarity 1,2 mA.

TECH Motorola core handles 24 voices polyphony assignable to a single sound or kits programs. Each voice is composed by 2 digital oscillators that can be set to either:

- virtual analog modeling synthesis - PCM waves

FM The oscillators can be ringmodulated and OSC1 is able to modulate the OSC2 by FM frequency modulation. Relative frequency amount is set by either LFO or EG.

VIRTUAL MODELING synthesis generates 6 shapes (triangle, sinewave, square, sample&hold, noise and saw) with variable or random start phase.
TIP: Sounds can be also played chromatically using the SPECIAL TUNED CHANNEL mode (only latest OS only).

HEAR bass sound exemple

 

WAVETABLE ROM contains only 3 PCM samples: 2 x hihat (open + close) and crash internal.
TIP Special XOR function avoids to play some sounds at the same time like open/close hihat.

HEAR SAMPLES sound

 

EDIT INTERFACE just a few knobs for edit, quite intuitive matrix control

ENVELOPE each sound has 2 freely assignable EGs (4-segments ADSR each) + special SHAPE function switches DECAY and RELEASE values to exponential or linear mode.

Most common EG routings are : - oscillators pitches - amplitude - filter cutoff Special CRACK function creates some analog clap-like sounds: basicall it simply applies a kind of configurable saw-shapped Envelope HEAR crack

 

FILTER up to 6 resonant filter models for each sound, in addition the filter system mananages an effective cutoff KEYTRACK function from -100 to 100% range.

Filter Modes: lowpass, bandpass, highpass, notch, EQ shelving, type bell EQ and S&H type.

LFO each sound features 2 digital modulators freely assignable (typical routings: pitch, filter, amplitude and stereo panning) and triggered by velocity, wheel or breath controller.

The LFO structure features 6 shapes (sine, triangle, square, saw, noise and random chaos) relative frequency can be synched to clock at different time dividers HEAR LFO

SEQUENCER the PATTERN PLAY is not really a sequencer but a kind of quick 128 steps editor with variable time dividers, shuffled playback and gated note length. Each entered note can be assigned to 3 different velocity levels displayed on the LCD.

SYNC created sequences can be synched to external MIDI clock.

 

MIDI very limited implementation: just a few controllers like breath or modulation, but latest 1.05 OS adds some extra parameters like panning, volume and fx amount- full Midi Sysex system is supported.

EFFECT 4 fully editable engines FX1 / FX2 / FX3 / FX4 each of these handles a single effect between: phaser, flanger, reverb, chorus, overdrive, delay (with divider tempo sync) and the LOFI a mix of bit reduction decimator and overdrive saturation HEAR delay exemple

MEMORY
- 1200 kits (programs) each contains 24 assigned sounds
- 50 programs performances to manage the kits in different configurations.
TIP: Sometimes internal memory must be defragmented using the REORGANISING FLASH option, right into the UTILITY section.

LEFT- Rack attack motherboard -CLick to enlarge pic -

EDITOR there are some computer-based editors:
- Rack attack for CTRL (LINK)
- RA editor: free (LINK)

 

RELATED FAMILY:

	Blue - same with different outfit
	limited edition: from waldorf website, not sure about this one.
	MicroQ rackmount synth version of Q series. Similar design (engine?) VIDEO

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

	ATTACK VST VERSION	PLUGIN commercial. very similar and can be stand-alone or used as hardware editor
	FREE ATTACK SAMPLES 25 samples, 16 bits, 44kHz - stereo	gift from polynominal.com

AUDIO DEMO

	big mix Rack attack
	Minimax rack attack mix
	rack pattern 1
	rack pattern 2
	rack various noises
	VST demo 1
	VST demo 2
	Offical Waldorf Demo

VIDEO SELECTION demo1 Waldorf Q, mQ, blofeld, rack attack Monster from the Depths

FACTORY PATCH

attack with Mimi

WALDORF RACK ATTACK FOR SALE CHECK OUT EBAY OFFERS