Waldorf Protein: Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech Serve Up a Digital Street Weapon

Waldorf’s Protein lands with a mission: eight voices of polyphonic wavetable goodness, all at a price that won’t make your wallet cry. Jack Duxbury wastes no time getting stuck in, highlighting the synth’s vintage digital DNA. The Protein’s got two wavetable oscillators per voice, which means it’s ready to serve up thick, evolving textures straight out of the box.

What’s the catch? No analog filters here—Waldorf’s gone full digital with modelled circuits, but the payoff is that classic microwave vibe without the classic microwave bank loan. If you’re after that old-school grind and shimmer, this box is aiming to deliver, and Jack’s first impressions are all about the sound, not the spec sheet.

The Protein isn’t just about raw wavetables—it’s packing four independent layers, each stackable for thick, complex patches. You get multiple drive modes for when you want to rough things up, plus three envelopes and two LFOs per layer, all with tempo sync and sample & hold. There’s a mod matrix and even MPE support, so it’s not just a preset machine—it’s a playground for sound sculptors.

Despite all this, the interface stays user-friendly. Jack breezes through the menus, showing that you don’t need a PhD in menu diving to get creative. The modelled filters might not be analog, but they crunch and snarl in all the right ways, and the drive options add just enough filth to keep things interesting.

The Protein isn’t just a preset jukebox—it’s a tool for sonic mischief. Jack points out how the synth channels the spirit of classic digital gear, but with enough modern tricks to keep things from getting stale. There’s a real sense of play here, with every patch inviting you to twist, tweak, and push things into unexpected territory.

It’s nostalgia in a box, but not stuck in the past. The multi-layer setup and drive modes let you stack up sounds that’d make your old JV-1080 blush, and the modelled filters add just the right amount of grime. If you’re chasing that ‘wonky old digital stuff’ vibe, the Protein’s got you covered—and then some.

No amount of text can capture the full chaos Jack unleashes in real time. The last chunk of the video is pure hands-on fun—presets fly, knobs spin, and the Protein shows off its full range of weird and wonderful sounds. Jack’s not just demoing; he’s having a proper laugh, and it’s infectious.

If you want to know what this synth can really do, you need to see and hear it for yourself. The Protein isn’t just another affordable box—it’s a digital street weapon begging for a spot in your live rig or studio. Don’t sleep on it—watch the video, crank the volume, and let the rave bunker vibes take over.