Waldorf Music STVC String Vocoder Synthesizer Is Shipping Now

Waldorf Music STVC, the big brother of the beloved compact Streichfett String Synthesizer is now shipping and offers a new creative vocoder, keyboard & more

Same story like the Kyra: it took longer than expected but now the Waldorf Music  STVC String Vocoder Synthesizer is available. The first units are currently being shipped to distributors worldwide but maybe there are delays because the first very small batch is already sold out according to several shops.

As a reminder: the STVC is an extended version of the well-known Waldorf Streichfett with a new vocoder, Fatar keyboard, and more synthesis power. A really creative feature is the new freeze function with which you can freeze a short speech fragment, which is then repeated by the vocoder whenever a key is pressed. So you can create your own “synth sound” with the help of your voice.

Official Description

The string section starts with an oscillator bank using octave dividers, followed by a complex mixer, an equalizer and the ensemble effect, just like string machines from the 70’s. A single registration knob sweeps through mixer and EQ settings for Violin, Viola, Cello, Brass, Organ, Choir and more for creating rich and creamy sonic textures. The Solo section is a 16-voice synthesizer that complements the string sounds. A single Tone knob sweeps through many useful settings. Solo is the sidekick to the strings, but it is powerful enough to be the lead character every now and then.

Vocoder replaces the equalizer in the string section with the filter bank that models the vocal tract from the speech input. This can produce quite intelligible speech or singing using the fully polyphonic oscillator bank. Formants can be modified, which can result in a perceived change of gender. Adjustable jitter of the string oscillators renders the voice hoarse, creaky or a complete whisper. Solo can pass through the Vocoder or play in parallel.

Freeze button lets you freeze a short speech fragment, which is then repeated by the Vocoder whenever a key is pressed. Change of playback speed, like faster, backwards or a complete stop are possible and fun, as well as formant change. A novel Tweak function allows for modification or modulation of details, like e.g. the solo cutoff frequency or the Chorus LFO rate. It is similar to a modulation matrix, but it also allows to alter implicit settings with a fixed value or an offset.

Three Effects operate simultaneously – Animate is, in fact, a modulation of the string or vocoder registration, while a Phaser ist a must for any decent string machine. A high-quality Reverb with adjustable size can be mixed to the output. STVC comes with a high-quality gooseneck microphone that plugs right into the front panel where it belongs.

Features At A Glance

• fully polyphonic string section (16 voice poly solo section) with continuous morphing of string registration
• continuous morphing of solo sounds
• tremolo for solo
• vocoder with 256 filter bands
• formant modification including freeze mode
• fully polyphonic carrier & optional jitter for string carrier
• continuous morphing of Registration
• effects: ensemble/chorus, phaser, and reverb effect processor for strings & vocoder. All effects available simultaneously.
• animate effect for modulation of registration
• 126 programmable patches in 3 banks
• Full metal case
• Keyboard with 49 keys including transpose +/- 24 semitones and pitch bend & modulation wheel
• aftertouch & velocity
• MIDI In/Out, USB Power
• 6,3 mm sustain pedal input, expression/external signal, line out left/stereo & line out right/mono
• XLR microphone jack on the front panel
• 3.5 mm headphone out.

Thomann