After many speculations and rumors Quantum MK2 is ready to rock.

Love Iridium, but Q2 is growing temptation now.

Looks nicer imo but it's just a fresh lick of paint really. New logo is slick.

Hopefully they fixed the dodgy screen but that's hardly a feature.

"Next, the polyphony has been increased to 16 voices, although the dual-filter architecture of the analogue filters remains based on 8 voices. It’s the combination of analogue and digital filtering that opens up the possibilities within the 16-voice environment. This is all part of the new 3.0 firmware, which gives better voice management and control.

The original Quantum has a measly 4GB of sample storage. This has been upgraded to a more generous 59GB. This opens it up to much deeper sound libraries and is going to greatly enhance the polyphonic granular sampling engine and the multi-sample engine. The screen has also had an update to give it wider viewing angles and improved mounting.

Decent update?
It’s a really solid update that brings the Quantum back to the front edge of what producers and musicians are demanding from a flagship synthesizer. It doesn’t introduce any mindblowing new synthesizer features, but the poly-aftertouch, voice count and increased storage are very welcome indeed.

The Quantum Mk2 will be available from the end of January for €4,819."

https://www.gearnews.com/ source

In 2023 why only 59GB?

59GB is a huge number, meaning they have a file system that can handle a huge number of samples so why not 128GB or 256GB? Seems like a weird number

Probably it’s 64gb and the rest is allocated to the system
Not sure why would one need 128 / 256

The difference in cost between 64gb of flash memory and 256 is rather trivial

They are marketing 59GB as some type of massive number that opens the instruments up to much deeper sound libraries

For me as an owner of Falcon and Pigments and who has a sample library approaching Two TB's that can be loaded into either that is a giant shortcoming

Should be an option to expand memory with 1TB SD or MicroSD card.
Top quality SanDisk 1 TB costs a peanut nowadays.

New logo is modern, but I will still miss an old one.
Screen is definitely among key improvements.

No brainer for someone who doesn't have Quantum or Iridium.
Also, chance for lower price entry via used market.
Anyway, it is very welcome upgrade and kudos to Waldorf for releasing it.

Totally agree

I am positive that you can store samples/patches on sd card or usb thumb drive now.

I know it's a false equivalency, but this comment is very funny in the context of the Nord Wave 2 which is built around sampling and gives you 1GB of space to work with.

Quantum 2 looks great. I bought an M a while ago but was sent an Iridium (what) and was pretty impressed. Not sure if I can justify the price but I do need a good keybed for a master controller...

The 16 voice mode was added to Quantum 1 firmware, so nothing new there. It sounds from the wording that they're using a different screen with better internal mounting (some of the old ones would detach and drop out inside the unit.. probably triggered by heat)

The polyphonic-aftertouch keybed is definitely welcome, it was a strange position before with only the Iridium Keys having it

It'll be industrial grade SLC flash with very high wear leveling, that should in theory last decades. This is always more expensive than consumer SSDs.. it's a big improvement over the 4GB (or sometimes 8GB if you
got lucky) in the original

Because 2023/59=34,288135593220338983050847457627
If you put that number into google's search engine it will give zero , nadda results.
That's why

I'm going to wait for the 123Gb model as apparently 59Gb sucks

4gb sample memory is "measly"?

So I see it’s priced at 4819 euros. I’m having trouble figuring out the USD conversion because the euro price includes VAT. Any ideas what this is going to list at in the US?

Wish this was a polyaftertouch M. That's what I'm sure more ppl want to see.

I managed to overcome the temptation of the original version, now it will take a lot of self-control.

The title of this thread isn't quite accurate. Waldorf says this is an mk2, not a 2.

So, poly AT Fatar plus more voice power smushed in a la Iridium. Would be more of a step change with the filters scaled to 16 voices.

Nice nice. The more blue synths out there the better.

Still no Filter FM digi filter ported from the XT? M has it.

At $2444 on Thomann the Iridium keyboard still seems like a better buy. I paid a bit more as a US customer for import fees, let's call it 2700. Still, that means $1000 extra for the extra octave and analogue filters.

Normally this might be a no brainer--the keyboard is the best PA available (no comparison with hydrasynth in my mind). But the analogue filters have never sounded so different from digital from what I've heard online.

If i didn't already have the Iridium Keys I'd consider it but it seems like a very expensive upgrade and I lose the macro buttons...

Yep it has a SD card slot

Stunningly correct

I'd happily trade my Mk1 for a Mk2 with the proper dealer involved. But unless the offer is great, the differences are incremental enough I feel no urgent need to do so. The Quantum is a timeless, endless instrument as is, the best synth I have (and that includes the A6). I'm glad to see they're doing a refresh on it. The added memory, poly aftertouch, improved screen.... basically Waldorf is addressing any remaining potential shortcomings of the original, or any issues which have cropped up since its launch.

The extra voices is nice for those who really need it, but I never have; the synth is easily too rich-sounding even with just eight, I'd probably drown in 16!

Ditto the sampling space. For those like Kurt Ader and a few other pro sound designers who make heavy use of the Quantum's sample space, sure, it will be most welcome, but it's certainly not a necessity to the instrument's sonic characteristics. It'll be room for some great sample libraries, for sure, though. It's already easy enough to swap in and out which samples I'd like to have for various purposes with the existing memory size, but it would be one less thing to have to think about on a complex synth.

Those of us on the beta (most Quantum users, I suspect) have already seen what a miraculous job Rolf Woehrmann has been doing evolving the original; this is a testament to Waldorf's commitment to this design.

If you already have an Iridium or Quantum, sure, no worries; this isn't like a Prophet 3 vs. Prophet 2 type situation, but it's a great opportunity for new people to join the community. Congratulations to Waldorf!

I think, Waldorf had the chance to improve the Quantum with a most wanted feature: Stereo analog Filters for 8 Voices (cause it has 2 Analog Filter per voice)... ,but no... a pity...

Agree very much on above.
I picked Iridium over Quantum and 2 is tempting.
But not to degree to grab it straightaway.
All of 3 are superb, my own hall of fame hardware instruments.
It is actually cool that Waldorf didn't do too much alterations in order to make Waldorf/Iridium less desirable.

I don't think samples are necessarily about having huge memory. I usually prefer playing the 53MB S700 piano in my Yamaha S90ES more than the 4.7GB piano in my Kronos.

Try the VSL Synchron Pianos sometime and report back! (200GB+ per piano).

For creative sampling and synthesis I do strongly agree though.