Waldorf Iridium Core Gets 16-Voice Polyphony with Free OS 4.1.0 Update

Waldorf is giving the Iridium Core a useful performance upgrade. The company has opened the public beta of Iridium Core OS 4.1.0, a free firmware update that increases the synthesizer’s polyphony from 12 to 16 voices.

The Waldorf Iridium Core from the front, with its touchscreen in the middle and knobs and light-up pads on either side. Source: Waldorf

The update brings Iridium Core in line with the other models in the Iridium range, removing one of the more noticeable differences between the compact Core version and its larger siblings.

Iridium Core Now Offers 16 Voices

The main change in OS 4.1.0 is straightforward: four additional voices of polyphony.

That might not sound dramatic on paper, but on a synth like Iridium Core it can make a real difference. Complex pads, long release times, layered sounds and patches using several synthesis elements at once can quickly eat through available voices.

Moving from 12 to 16 voices gives patches more room to breathe and should reduce voice stealing in more demanding arrangements.

It is also a welcome change for anyone using Iridium Core as a central polyphonic synth rather than simply as a compact sound-design module.

From this angle you can see how the Iridium Core's panel slopes. It's a compact desktop unit that fits next to a MIDI keyboard. Source: Waldorf

Public Beta Available Now

Waldorf released the first public beta of OS 4.1.0 on September 18, 2026.

Users who want to try the update before the final release can join Waldorf’s Quantum & Iridium Beta Program.

The company says the finished version will follow soon and will be available free of charge to all Iridium Core users through their My Waldorf accounts.

As always with beta firmware, users working on important projects or live setups may prefer to wait for the final release.

Waldorf Says Iridium Core Is Here to Stay

Alongside the update, Waldorf also addressed the future of the instrument, confirming that Iridium Core remains a permanent part of its current product line.

Hardware synthesizers do not always receive major improvements several years after launch, but Waldorf has continued developing the Quantum and Iridium platform through firmware updates.

The original Quantum arrived in 2018, followed by Iridium in 2020, and both platforms have continued to receive new features and improvements since release.

Iridium Core is built around the same synthesis architecture, offering Waldorf’s multiple synthesis engines in a considerably smaller desktop format.

The move to 16 voices makes the Core version an even more capable option for producers and sound designers who want access to the Iridium engine without the size or price of the larger models.

Waldorf Quantum vs Iridium: Full Spec Comparison,

A Small Update That Makes Iridium Core More Flexible

OS 4.1.0 is not a complete redesign of Iridium Core, but increasing the available polyphony by a third is the kind of update that can noticeably improve the instrument in everyday use.

More voices mean more freedom for dense chords, evolving textures, ambient patches and sounds with longer envelopes - exactly the kind of material where Iridium tends to shine.

The public beta is available now, while the final version of Iridium Core OS 4.1.0 is expected to arrive soon.

More information and access to the beta program are available on Waldorf Music’s official website.