Waldorf Kyra Firmware Update 1.7.8 Adds Faster LFOs, Arp Latch & More

February 15, 2020 Synth Anatomy Hardware, News, Synthesizers 0

Waldorf Music updates its FPGA-based multi-timbral virtual analog synthesizer Kyra to firmware 1.7.8 with faster LFOs, a new ARP latch mode & more.

Kyra is a multi-timbral virtual analog Synthesizer from the German company Waldorf Music. This was created in collaboration with the developer Manual Cabellero. Initially presented as Valkyrie at Musikmesse 2018, the synth was later redesigned by Axel Hartmann and renamed Kyra.

Kyra has been officially on the market for a little over a year now. The opinions of music tech journalists, YouTubers, and musicians are positive apart from a few critics. The instrument is to me, a perfect synthesizer for fat bread and butter sounds. Comparable to the Access Virus but with a different feature set.

One of the negative points are the LFOs which, according to the tester, are too slow. Waldorf has now reacted to this and updated the Kyra with faster LFOs and other new features.

Waldorf Kyra Firmware Update 1.7.8

The new update adds a new range parameter to LFO1 and LFO2 to allow rates up to 51.2 Hz. However, the standard parameter remains and provides the existing rate range of 0.1Hz to 12.8Hz in 0.1Hz steps. The extended range provides an extended range ranging from 0.4Hz to 51.2Hz in 0.4Hz steps. Then, the developers added the ability to adjust the phase of LFO1 and LFO2 in the range of 0 to 180 degrees.

For this, you need to turn the LFOs in polyphonic mode to hear any effect. You can use the LFO shape knob in shift mode to adjust the phase of it.

Kyra also has a feature-rich arpeggiator mode which got a new latch mode in this new firmware. In Latch Mode, the notes will play continuously until you play a new chord or you stop the arpeggiator. The velocity has now a velocity scaling functionality with which you can set the range from 0 up to 127.

You can use the amp envelope decay knob in shift mode to adjust the scaling. Further, the update reduced the default dual detune amount from 64 to 20 for patches created using the init patch. Also, the developers removed the bass delay feature as it no longer served any purpose and fixed bugs.

Fixes

the incorrect play and MIDI transmission of Arpeggiator notes at very high note pitches.
a problem where Arpeggiator notes could be left hanging on external MIDI devices. – Fixed incorrect display of some ModMat source names.
a problem where LFOs in antiphase or quadrature phase started at a random phase.