14 thoughts on “StudioLogic Sledge Synthesizer Review

  1. I was initially surprised by the comparison to the Gaia, as the synthesis engine on this seems so much deeper. I suppose comparing the two as both being knobby mid-priced virtual analogs makes sense but I think they appeal to very different markets.

    The Gaia is great because its so portable and you can tackle a lot of different sounds with it. Roland clearly markets it as a portable solution – you can get a custom backpack for it, it runs on batteries, etc.

    The Sledge is clearly not designed for portability but I think it would fit into a studio setting much more readily. The synthesis engine seems much deeper – especially the FM. I think it deserves to do well!

    This coming from an Italian manufacturer, though, there will probably be something of a markup buying it in the US… yeah, I’m seeing it for 1600. That’s more than twice the Gaia! At this price it starts to compete with some real analog polyphonic instruments (DSI, I’m looking at you) or picking up a used virus which clearly… yeah. That FM is really killer though – I wonder if they would think of putting that in a tabletop module.

    1. “I wonder if they would think of putting that in a tabletop module.”

      The StudioLogic Sledge is the keyboard version of Waldorf’s tabeltop synthesizer, the Blofeld, with the addition of knobs for each feature.

      Seriously.

      1. But looking at the description at StudioLogic, it is slightly less than Blofeld- not multitimbral for one thing, and it seems like the mod matrix may be smaller.
        But yeah, basically a Blofeld with more knobs…

      2. the Blofeld does come in keyboard flavor, and appears to be a lot more flexible than the Sledge. I own the tabletop, and don’t miss the knobs, even though I prefer knobby analogs, thanks to the oversized screen.

      3. That’s true, but I was thinking something more along the lines of the virus desktop. I’m not a one knob per function fanatic, but I like being able to reach up and just tweak *that right* parameter when the inspiration strikes me 🙂 Access seems to think there’s a market for both the desktop and the snow, it would be good to see some other synth engines competing there.

  2. I really don’t get the 8-voice polyphony – why didn’t they use the Blofeld engine??!! Personally, I’d buy a second-hand Waldorf Microwave XT (they go for half the price) which has all the knobs, 10 voice polyphony (30 voice version extremely rare) and a much more edgey sound.

    1. Just a guess, but they probably wanted to be able to state an actual number. With the Blofeld, there is really no guarantee of how many voices you get-depends on the patch…

  3. The Blofeld keyboard wins hands down. Wavetables on TWO Oscillators, the deep modulation matrix. The driver effects. The two filters (choose parallel or series)

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