The Usual Suspects has opened private beta testing for Goldfinger, a Waldorf Q emulator plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows. Read on to see how it compares with the microQ emulator Vavra, what its sequencer changes, what you need to join the beta, and how to support the team behind it.
Last updated: September 21, 2026
Jump to: What is Goldfinger | Who are The Usual Suspects | Q vs microQ | Original Q features | Sequencer | ROM requirement | Getting the beta | Formats and platforms | Support the team | What is next
What is The Usual Suspects Goldfinger?
Goldfinger is a ROM-based emulator plugin of the Waldorf Q synthesizer, and it is now available for private beta testing as of September 2026. A thread on the KVR Audio forum confirms the private beta and notes that a Novation Supernova emulation is also in private beta for donors. It follows Vavra, the group’s Waldorf microQ emulator.
The plugin offers all the original features of the Q. The Q itself is a 16-part multitimbral virtual analog synthesizer with PPG-style wavetables as an option. Because the Q and microQ share the same core engine, Goldfinger is closely related to Vavra, with a handful of differences that matter in practice.
Who are The Usual Suspects and how does their emulation work?
The Usual Suspects describes itself as a group that digitally preserves classic synthesizers through emulation. It started with the Motorola DSP563xx family of processors, which sit inside many virtual analog synths from the mid 1990s onward, including the Access Virus A, B, C and TI, the Clavia Nord Lead 2X and 3, the Waldorf Q and Microwave II, and the Novation Supernova and Nova.
The approach differs from building a sound engine from scratch. The group reverse-engineers and emulates the DSP processors themselves, and the official site has a How the Emulator Works page with technical details. The emulator source code is published openly on GitHub, and the official site lists Osirus, OsTIrus, Vavra, Xenia, JE8086, NodalRed2x, and 88EmuPlayer among its downloads. Goldfinger is not on that downloads menu as of September 21, 2026, which fits its private beta status.
See our article on how to install and use The Usual Suspect Synth Emulations
How is the Waldorf Q different from the microQ?
The Q has a bigger effects section, a built-in sequencer, and a few filter features the microQ lacks. The table below summarizes the main differences, with voice counts and effects taken from Waldorf hardware references.
| Feature | Waldorf Q | Waldorf microQ |
|---|---|---|
| Polyphony | 16 voices, expandable to 32 | 25 voices, expandable to 75 |
| Oscillator section | Three oscillators, noise and ring mod | Same |
| PPG filter | Yes | No |
| Filter blend (parallel to serial) | Yes, with interpolation | No |
| Filter self-oscillation | Yes | No |
| Effects | Eight processors, two per sound | Two per program, up to five in Multi mode |
| Sequencer | Built in | Arpeggiator only |
What does the original Waldorf Q offer?
The Q combines three oscillators per voice, two multimode filters, four envelopes, and three audio-rate LFOs with fade and delay functions. Its oscillator section provides five sound generators in total, counting the three oscillators plus noise and ring modulation.
The two filters include FM and distortion, and the Q’s ability to blend them between parallel and serial routing is a feature the microQ lacks. The Q also has an Xmorph function, which morphs from one sound to another. On the effects side, the hardware offers eight processors, two per sound, covering chorus, flanger, phaser, overdrive, AM, delay, reverb and more.
How does the Goldfinger sequencer work?
Goldfinger splits its sequencer into two banks of 16 steps, whereas the hardware Q used four banks of eight. This layout makes sequences easier to program.
Each step can hold a single note or a chord of up to 10 notes, along with values for velocity and filter cutoff frequency. A sequence can reach 256 notes in total, and the plugin adds two controller lanes. The microQ has a programmable arpeggiator but no sequencer, so this is one of the clearest functional gaps between the two plugins.
Does Goldfinger require the original ROM?
Yes, Goldfinger needs the original Waldorf Q ROM, and FeedFreq does not share or link to it.
Sourcing a ROM is the user’s responsibility, so check the rules that apply where you live before you get one. The developers’ official documentation and Discord community are the best places to confirm which files the plugin expects.
How can you join the Goldfinger beta?
Goldfinger is a private beta for supporters, with a minimum contribution of 20 GBP, and access runs through the group’s Discord channel. The steps below reflect what is publicly described, so confirm the details with the team on Discord.
- Join the The Usual Suspects Discord server.
- Support the project with at least 20 GBP to qualify for the private beta.
- Bring your own legally sourced Waldorf Q ROM, since it is required and not provided.
- Install the plugin in your DAW using a supported format.
Which formats and platforms does Goldfinger support?
Goldfinger runs as a plugin on macOS, Linux, and Windows in five formats. Support covers native Apple Silicon and Intel on macOS.
- Formats: VST2, VST3, AU, LV2 and CLAP
- Operating systems: macOS, Linux and Windows
- Access: private beta for supporters, 20 GBP minimum
How can you support The Usual Suspects?
You can support the team by joining the beta at the 20 GBP supporter tier or by donating through the link on their official site. The site lists a PayPal donation button, and the team also accepts crypto donations, with addresses on theusualsuspects.io.
We at FeedFreq have been following and using their developments for a few years now. The group has pushed the envelope and made serious progress across a growing list of classic synths. If you want to support anyone in this scene, these guys are the place to go.
What else is The Usual Suspects working on?
The group keeps adding emulators beyond the Virus, Nord Lead, and Waldorf families. The official downloads page already includes JE8086 for the Roland JP-8000 and 88EmuPlayer for Sound Canvas and related sounds, and the KVR thread points to a private beta Novation Supernova emulation for donors.
This article is based on published information about the beta, not hands-on testing of Goldfinger. Follow the project’s site and Discord for updates as the beta develops.
Summary
Goldfinger brings the Waldorf Q to your DAW as a ROM-based emulator built on the same DSP approach as Vavra. It adds the Q’s PPG filter, filter blending, larger effects section, and sequencer to what the microQ emulation already offers. If you make electronic music with hardware-inspired gear, this is a release to follow, and a donation to the team is a good way to keep the work going. Stay tuned with FeedFreq for more synth and plugin news, and join the FeedFreq community to discover more music production stories.
Sources: The Usual Suspects, KVR Audio forum thread, Vintage Synth Explorer on the Waldorf Q, Vintage Synth Explorer on the Micro Q, Wikipedia on Waldorf Music.
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