Editing Soundwave (WFC)

{{faction|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:Soundwave Prime.jpg|thumb|300px|<center>"..."</center>]]
'''Soundwave''' is the spy master of the Decepticons. One of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s earliest followers, and, many believe, instrumental to his rise, he uses his tentacles and a veritable army of [[Mini-Con|Minicon]] [[Deployer (Prime)|Deployer]]s to learn everything there is to know about his allies and his enemies. He was never very chatty, but these days, on Earth, he's become near silent, communicating by playing back recordings of other people's conversations. He just sneaks about, patiently looking for Autobot transmissions and creeping [[Starscream (Prime)|you]] out. Since the incapacitation of Megatron, Soundwave acts as a restraint on [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], reining in his rather volatile emotions, and ensuring that Starscream's less than subtle ambitions are held in check. 

Soundwave has the ability to receive transmissions from anywhere on the planet, bar the shielded Autobot Base. This allows him to spy on every being on the planet in the hopes of picking up Autobot-related communications.

After being rebuilt by his minions using arcane science, he took on the name '''Soundblaster'''.

{{quote|Watch out for the quiet ones.|[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]|"[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
Soundwave was a gladiator from [[Kaon]] who almost bested [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] in combat, an act that created mutual respect between the two. Soundwave saw in Megatron a desire to return to the swashbuckling spirit of the [[Golden Age]] of Cybertron, when Cybertronians emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]] having to escape from the [[Underworld]]'s monsters rather than being put into a [[caste system|caste]]. He was appointed Megatron's lieutenant with [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]]. Though Megatron despised Minicons, Soundwave insisted on having them around to spy on their gladiators, including the time when Megatron's librarian friend [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]] came to visit. He was suspicious of Orion and even asked permission from Megatron to tail him as he returned to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]].

After [[Decepticon]]s bombed Cybertron in Megatron's name, Soundwave sent [[Frenzy (Prime)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] to search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in [[Crystal City]] (a place which design he always found self indulgent). Soundwave was not sure whether he should have bothered, as he was not superstitious and wondered what use a piece of a [[Star Saber (Prima)|broken sword]] could be. Instead he got chilling indications Crystal City's scientists were planning to revive [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]. 

[[Image:WFCcomicDecepticons.jpg|thumb|250px|"Yeah, this look is cool now, but I don't think I'll have it ''forever'': I mean, who'd like to [[GEEWUN|see things looking the same for over twenty five years]], right guys? ...guys?"]]

Soundwave attended Orion and Megatron's hearing before the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].  During this meeting, Soundwave helped to sow discord and tension by loudly shouting his complaints over security breaches that, in truth, he himself had caused.  The Council noted that they were aware someone had tried to find the Matrix, and they appointed Orion [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] and requested he find it. This tore Orion and Megatron's movement in two.

During the final days of the war, Soundwave and his minions' research changed the fate of Cybertron. It was they who found the areas of the [[DataNet]] that [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] had overlooked and not deleted, revealing the existence of [[Dark Energon]] on [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] Station. It was he who remembered the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] below Crystal City that allowed for the mass transportation of Dark Energon between Cybertron and Trypticon. And it was the evidence he got from Rumble and Frenzy when they infiltrated Crystal City that revealed the existence of the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] and its two [[Code Key]]s, which enabled Megatron to poison the [[Core]] of Cybertron.

When Optimus removed the Chamber from the Core, beginning the planet's slow healing process, Soundwave boarded the ''Nemesis'' with Megatron, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] and [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] to pursue the Autobot ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' into the unknown reaches of space. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

Soundwave regained consciousness onboard the ''Nemesis'' after emerging from the energy field created by the Space Bridge explosion over Cybertron.  While Megatron demanded a status report, Soundwave was already deep at work in a console attempting to determine the answer.  Along with Starscream and Megatron, Soundwave examined the tracking reports and confirmed Starscream's assumption that the ''Ark'' was likely not too far away. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
When a gladiator calling himself Megatronus vowed to challenge Cybertron's leadership, Soundwave was his first follower and chief amongst them. Soundwave remained at Megatronus' side, now Megatron, as the conflict escalated into a war. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Following the [[Great Exodus]], when the Decepticons were trying to decrypt an encoded Autobot transmission, Soundwave suggested they should let [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] have a shot at interrogating [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. {{storylink|Out of the Past}}

The Decepticons later arrived on [[Earth]]. During a Decepticon attack on Cliffjumper, Soundwave intercepted Arcee's comms talk. He later played it back to Starscream, prompting the Decepticon leader to send the drones after her. He later detected transmissions coming from deep space, that prompted the Decepticons to fire up the [[space bridge]], allowing Megatron to return. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} 

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Soundwaveturn.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's not shuttershy. He's also not Fluttershy.]]
Shortly after Megatron left the ship on a mission, Starscream wondered aloud if Megatron had a touch of space madness, and Soundwave reminded him that their absent leader was still in charge. Starscream told him to step up global surveillance. Soundwave subsequently intercepted a transmission from [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] and, on Starscream's order, dispatched [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] to capture the agent to learn the location of the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} When the Autobots attacked the ''Nemesis'' to retrieve Fowler, slaughtering dozens of their soldiers, Soundwave hid. He simply watched when Megatron returned and took his fury out on Starscream on the bridge for not waiting on his command. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

Starscream sent Soundwave to the [[Giant Sized Array]] radio telescope in [[Texas]] as they needed to use the array to target the space bridge at [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Soundwave hacked into the computer network at the site, but after he had lined up the dishes, someone realigned them. In response to Starscream's demands as to what was happening, he tapped into the base's security system and discovered that the Autobots' three human friends were in a nearby room, similarly accessing the computer. He extended a tentacle into the room they were in and attacked them. When [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] tried to chop the tentacle with an ax, Soundwave took it from her and used it to sever the computer system's hardline, locking the dishes on Cybertron. The three kids entered the room in time to see him leaving, and Miko and Soundwave snapped photos of each other. 

[[Image:MastersStudents-Soundwavesradar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|See how much more convincing I am as a [[:Image:Cybertronsoundwave.jpg|communications tower]] with this look?]]

Because of Soundwave's success, the Autobots resorted to sabotaging the space bridge, blowing it up and taking Megatron with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} At Starscream's order, Soundwave activated the comm system so Starscream could give a speech to the troops, declaring himself leader. Failing to impress the Vehicons, Starscream pressed Soundwave's sensors into locating [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], a Decepticon secreted in a pod in the desert. Starscream and Soundwave reactivated Skyquake, only to find he wasn't receptive to Starscream's leadership, and instead set about fighting [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]. Soundwave detected a Decepticon signal from the site where the space bridge exploded, and when Starscream went to investigate, Soundwave sent Laserbeak to keep Starscream honest while he himself filmed the battle between Skyquake and Optimus and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]. Though the outcome of the fight was not favorable to the Decepticon cause, Soundwave was able to ensure that Starscream returned Megatron's barely-functioning body to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

Soundwave intercepted a transmission from [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] who was heading for Earth. At Starscream's order, he downloaded the necessary information to [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], who took on Wheeljack's form and infiltrated the Autobot base. As Starscream and Soundwave paid a visit to the captive Wheeljack, Soundwave prevented his leader from terminating their prisoner, as he might be of use later. The two 'Cons retired to the ship's top deck to wait for Makeshift to activate the [[GroundBridge]], however Wheeljack broke free and started trashing the Vehicons. When Wheeljack escaped through the ground bridge and sent back Makeshift with his grenade activated, Soundwave and Starscream made sure to get well clear before he exploded. {{storylink|Con Job}} During another Autobot operation, Soundwave listened in on their comm chatter, prompting Starscream to send some Vehicons to attack. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}

[[Image:Deusex-Soundwavecrouching.jpg|thumb|250px|And that's why there's no [[Ratbat (WFC)|Ratbat]].]]

When [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] mentioned seeing an [[Energon Harvester]] in a fresco in [[Greece]], Soundwave was able to track the device's location to a museum. Breakdown and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] kept the Autobots busy in front of the museum while Soundwave sneaked in the back. He ran into [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]], who were already in the process of stealing the Harvester, and grabbed it from them before making a getaway in his vehicle mode. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}

[[Image:SickMind-Soundwaveobjects.jpg|thumb|250px|left|"Let me see some tenderness connected with a death, or that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now, will be forever present to me."]]

Starscream and Knock Out made a concerted attempt to convince Soundwave that Megatron was beyond saving, and that the only option left to them was euthanasia. Soundwave remained skeptical, and pointed out the patch cable that Arcee and Bumblebee was using to access Megatron's brain. Megatron's life support was damaged during the ensuing confusion, and though it seemed Starscream and Knock Out were content to leave Megatron flat-lining, Soundwave pressured them into reconnecting the cable sustaining their master. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

After Megatron's resurrection, Soundwave kept him informed regarding Starscream's activities, including his attempt to resurrect Skyquake with the Dark Energon shard ripped from Megatron's chest, and the loss of his arm. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}} Soundwave watched as Breakdown was captured by [[MECH]], and reported back to Starscream. He was on the bridge of the ''Nemesis'' when Starscream passed the news on to Megatron, who was less than impressed that Breakdown had been taken by a bunch of humans. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} He detected the magnetic anomaly caused by the [[polarity gauntlet]], causing Megatron to send Breakdown to go look for it. {{storylink|Metal Attraction}}

Megatron and Starscream headed to a stripped Energon Mine to discover mining drills still there. Starscream attempted to blame this on Soundwave. Megatron told Starscream that Soundwave had been filling him in on the second-in-command's activities. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}} Soundwave listened to Starscream's confessions after Megatron nearly terminated the second-in-command. {{storylink|Partners}}

When the new Decepticon space bridge was nearing completion, Soundwave supplied a diagram of the last component they needed. After they obtained said component, Megatron left the ship on a mission of his own. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] began searching the ship for the Decepticon leader and Megatron instructed Soundwave to send Prime to him. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}

[[Image:SoundwavePlayingSparkbeat..jpg‎|thumb|200px|He's playing Dubstep.]]

Soundwave translated tremors coming from the Earth's core into sound, revealing it to be a heartbeat. Megatron did not appreciate this, as it was making his head hurt. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

After Megatron left the ship to talk to [[Unicron]], Soundwave monitored the comms channels for his master's return. When [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] suggested considering a future without Megatron, Soundwave ominously looked at her. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}}

[[Image:Soundwavelayingdownthelaw.jpg‎|thumb|200px|left|YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!]]
Soundwave continued to try to find some sign of Megatron. When Airachnid announced Megatron wasn't coming back and ordered the ship to [[Regulon Four]], Soundwave decided it was time to lay down the law. He defied Airachnid, who angrily attacked him, but the Decepticon spy master quickly proceeded to defeat Airachnid. Upon Unicron's defeat, Soundwave detected Megatron's signal and activated the GroundBridge, bowing in respect with the other Decepticons as Megatron entered the bridge of the ship.  He had to hold Breakdown back when they saw that Megatron was accompanied by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

With Optimus amnesiac and believing himself to be archivist Orion Pax, Soundwave made sure the ship's [[data core]] was clear of any incriminating evidence so Orion could be put to work decrypting information they'd stolen from the Iacon archives. When Arcee managed to get on board the ship to look for the lost Autobot leader, Soundwave made deft use of the GroundBridge to get her back off before Orion could see her. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} When Orion eventually learned the truth, Soundwave relayed the news to Megatron. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} He also notified Megatron when activity was detected on Cybertron, indicating that the Autobots had gone there in an attempt to help Optimus. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

When Megatron was angry after having had the [[spark extractor|latest find]] snatched from his hands, Soundwave reminded him there were still two more sets of coordinates to investigate. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} Soundwave was present when Megatron unsuccessfully tested the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}} He played back footage of Skyquake's demise for [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

Soundwave continued to try to decode more data from the Iacon archives, in a continuation of Orion Pax's work. When Airachnid requested Megatron's approval to take point in the hunt for the relics, Megatron requested that Soundwave remind him of her previous words when she planned to abandon him. Later, after Dreadwing and Breakdown's failure to execute her, Soundwave began tracing Airachnid's location during her communication to the ''Nemesis'' for Megatron. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

After the ''Nemesis'' crashed, Soundwave reviewed security footage and discovered that Bulkhead had been the one to cause it. Megatron brought it back online using Dark Energon, though the ship's guiding intelligence proved uncontrollable by the Decepticons. Soundwave plugged himself into the flight console in an attempt to regain control, but was zapped into stasis. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

He was on the ''Nemesis'' bridge when Knock Out left to find the first of the four relics decoded by the ship. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} Dispatched to find the third relic, Soundwave encountered the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'' and used Laserbeak as a distraction. He soon uncovered the [[Resonance Blaster]], only to be attacked by [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. Though the Autobot managed to crack his visor, Soundwave triumphed, and was only stopped from dispatching Wheeljack by an SOS from Laserbeak. He picked up Laserbeak and returned to the ''Nemesis'', where Knock Out discovered a grenade implanted in the deployer. Once the offending item was removed, Soundwave returned to his work decrypting the Iacon database, unaware that the Autobots had also implanted a virus in Laserbeak, which passed into the computer and began transmitting the database to the Autobots' mainframe. {{storylink|Triage}} He returned to the bridge to listen to Megatron complain about how ineffective everyone else was, and watched [[Hardshell]] and Knock Out argue. {{storylink|Hurt}}

When [[Silas|Cylas]] came to the Decepticons with the offer of a [[Project Damocles]] satellite, Soundwave was sent to a military base in [[Colorado]] to get the codes so they could control the satellite from the ''Nemesis''. He hacked into the computer, giving him the ability to use the satellite even as he was downloading the codes for it, but failed to stop Raf from knocking the satellite out of orbit. He retreated as the Autobots reached his position. {{storylink|The Human Factor}}

With new information about where the Autobots' human friends lived, Soundwave had Laserbeak patrol the area around [[Jasper]]. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} Soundwave succeeded in decoding another set of coordinates, and Megatron sent him with a decoy Iacon relic to draw the Autobots off. While he managed to keep Optimus Prime's team occupied for a lengthy period of time, it was not long enough, and by the time he returned to the ''Nemesis'', Optimus had gotten hold of the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Legacy}} Continuing his work, Soundwave decoded more coordinates and reported them to Megatron while the latter forged the [[Dark Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}} 

When Megatron returned from victory, he told Soundwave, in great detail, how he had destroyed the Star Saber with his own blade. He soon had two more sets of coordinates downloaded, resulting in Knock Out securing an [[Omega Key]]. When the final set decoded into an image of [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], Soundwave joined Laserbeak in the field to capture the Autobot rookie. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} He was on hand to show the image he'd decoded to Smokescreen. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

After firing up the space bridge so Megatron could go to Cybertron, Soundwave told Starscream about what he'd discovered regarding the location of the Autobots' human allies. He later helped Starscream kidnap the three kids and transport them to Cybertron for use as hostages. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}

After handing over Raf in exchange for an [[Omega Key]], Soundwave took part in the activation of the [[Omega Lock]]. He survived the lock's destruction at the hands of Optimus Prime, and returned to Earth with the others. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
[[Image:Titan4.2 Soundwave listen.jpg|thumb|right|200px| You look different, Soundwave. Did you do something different with your entire face?]]
During the war, Soundwave took part in a mission led by Megatron to invade [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and destroy the [[Iacon Energon Refinery]]. The team had barely made it in before Soundwave detected that they'd been spotted and the five Decepticons had to take cover. Following a failed gambit which expended the other three team members, Megatron gave Soundwave a bomb. While his leader caused a distraction, Soundwave ran to plant the bomb, only to be struck by blasts from [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|one of the defenders]]. Megatron picked up his wounded second-in-command and helped him to safety, along with the other three Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.2|War Story}}

Megatron and Soundwave somehow slipped some code into ''[[Invasionauts II]]'' to hypnotise Raf into opening the GroundBridge so they could send Vehicons through. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}} When Soundwave's plan to ambush the Autobots in [[The Wave]] went badly, he fired his remote-controlled hand at [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]. The hand lodged in the scout's chest and later emerged when Bumblebee and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] were asleep. Despite trying its best to kill Bumblebee, Soundwave's hand was strapped to a firework and shot high into the air. Starscream and Soundwave later scoured the desert for the missing hand and managed to find at least one finger. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.12|The Evil Shred}}

{{--}}

===Toy bios===
When Soundwave was severely damaged, his loyal Deployers set to work repairing him. Utilizing the ancient, mysterious science of an alien world, they succeeded, and Soundwave was revived. To reflect the fact that he was no longer content with just being the Decepticons' communications specialist, he renamed himself "Soundblaster", and took on a more combative role. {{storylink|#GenerationsSoundblaster|Voyager Class Soundblaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
{{voiceactor|[[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)|[[Claudio Moneta]] (Italian)}}
[[Image:Soundwave WfC GameInformer Concept Art.jpg|300px|Fans loved this but apparently Soundwave wasn't a G1 fan. |thumb|right]]
Soundwave took control of the orbital station [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] was posted at, helping [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] to reach the [[Dark Energon]] by establishing a forward base within the station. He then directed Megatron to a Data Matrix Center in order to find a route to the Dark Energon that had not been blocked by Starscream. 

Later, Soundwave notified Megatron that access to the core was impossible, as it was guarded by the Omega Gate. He and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] accompanied Megatron as they led the assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], through which they would find and take the [[Omega Key]], opening the Omega Gate and allowing the core to be infused with Dark Energon. On their way to the [[Stellar Galleries]], Soundwave reported [[sniper (WFC)|sniper]]s, and after taking them down, Megatron infused the entrance with Dark Energon and took his team into the security station. Soundwave noticed that the batteries fed the security grid, and the trio infused each of them with Dark Energon, deactivating the security measures. Soundwave then detected the Omega Key behind their next door, and after opening it, the Decepticons arrived at the Stellar Galleries. They opened the container, finding not the key, but a message from [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]], who announced that he had taken the Omega Key, anticipating Megatron's plan. Zeta sent Autobot attack forces against them, but they were swiftly taken down. Megatron ordered Soundwave to trace Zeta Prime's broadcast, and Soundwave found it came from 12.7 cycles ahead. He then noted a weak wall, and the Decepticons broke it down and entered the cities' subsystems, providing a direct route to Zeta, and the Omega Key.

The group descended down a shaft and went through a tunnel, avoiding trains on the way, and after breaking down a door in a ventilation area, they were ambushed by Autobot cloakers. Soundwave dispatched them and infused Dark Energon into the batteries. Megatron congratulated him, and then ordered him to unlock the exit. Soundwave obliged, and the trio found themselves in another tunnel. Breakdown challenged Soundwave to a race, to which the Decepticon responded, in his trademark monotone, "Negative." Tough crowd. Rushing through the tunnel, this time full of moving trains, the group came to a station where they infiltrated Iacon's lower levels. Soundwave detected the Omega Key at last, and suggested proceeding through the logistics station. Roughing it through the Autobot attackers, Soundwave finally determined that the key was beyond the train tunnels.

Soundwave and his teammates arrived at Iacon's main streets, where they met up with [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] outside of Zeta Prime's vaults, which were impervious to the small amount of Dark Energon Megatron was capable of channeling. After Megatron's squad helped Brawl clear the area, Brawl called in the Dark Energon bombers, but they were spectacularly shot down by the planetary guns. Brawl suggested disabling them, and Soundwave assisted in carrying out the plan. Autobots advanced all around, but Soundwave and the others managed to hold them off until the next wave of bombers arrived, clearing the street and destroying the Vault doors.  Soundwave joined the others on their way to the entrance, but the squad was intercepted by a [[Destroyer (WFC)|Destroyer]].  Soundwave and Breakdown split from Megatron to flank him, and eventually they rendered him non-functional. Inside the vault, they avoided Zeta's traps and finally reached the Omega Key—but it too was a trap. Zeta then attacked them, using a giant hologram and controlling the chamber to his advantage, dropping the ceiling and sending holographic brutes to attack for him while safe within an impenetrable energy shield. (Even during the battle, Soundwave was impressed by the creation of endless energon clones, to which Breakdown responded, roughly, "NERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD!") Soundwave's dorkiness proved useful in discerning the weakness of Zeta's machines—that the core rapidly overheated after prolonged use, and needed to open up in order to cool, rendering it vulnerable to attack. After the battle, Megatron plucked from Zeta's hand the "key"...which started to blink its lights and chirp. Zeta Prime informed them that the "key" he was actually a device that activated the real key: [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

As the three Decepticons flew away to track Omega, Soundwave noticed that the "key" was coming for them. Omega Supreme attacked, and thrust the Decepticons' star cruiser into a wall. Crash-landing, Megatron had a change of plans; force Omega Supreme to open the Omega Gate. Soundwave noticed a Decepticon [[Dropship (WFC)|Dropship]] across the bridge, but when the squad went to investigate, Omega Supreme intercepted them. Soundwave reported that his weapons were ineffective; Megatron told his soldiers to destroy the bridge supports, causing Omega Supreme's vast bulk to collapse it. But he transformed to his ship mode, flew back up, and forced the Decepticons to retreat inside. In a frenzy, Breakdown noted that the next door was locked, and Soundwave proposed that Dark Energon could open the door, which it did. Inside, Soundwave picked up a transmission from Starscream, who announced that he would be replacing the "deceased" Megatron as Decepticon leader. Enraged, Megatron threatened Starscream, but Soundwave informed his leader that communication to the surface had been cut off, so Starscream could not hear him.

The trio arrived at the lift, but found it to be locked down. Breaking the locks got the lift back to working condition, but on their way up, Omega Supreme returned and blasted it, forcing the Decepticons down the shaft at breakneck speed. Omega was still out there, so the emergency brakes' destruction was the Decepticons' only hope. At the bottom, they continued their journey to find a way to fight Omega Supreme—Soundwave noted that at the top of the tower were several heavy weapons emplacements which could at least theoretically damage Omega—but Omega Supreme didn't know the meaning of the word quit. (He really doesn't; not much in the processor department.) He grabbed the Decepticons, but Soundwave helped out in shooting Omega Supreme's hand, forcing him relinquishing the three from his grasp. They retreated inside a fortified Autobot position, and in order to prevent detection, Soundwave jammed their signals. Slaying the Autobots inside who dared attempt to counterattack, Soundwave unlocked the exit, which only let in more Autobots. They too, met their demise, but as Soundwave and his comrades escaped, he noticed that the Autobots' security was countering the effects of Dark Energon. Destroying the sentries turned to be a worthwhile solution, but then the Decepticons had to deal with Omega Supreme mining road. Soundwave's sensors indicated the presence of a bridge nearby, and though Breakdown was unsure, Megatron was willing to follow Soundwave's advice. Once again, Omega Supreme continued to stalk them, but Soundwave led his group to an alternate route...a dead end, to be precise, which Megatron was irritated with. Soundwave revealed that breaking a structurally-weak sealed doorway nearby took them to Iacon maintenance tunnels leading straight to the bridge terminal. When they arrived through the power conduits, Soundwave and the others fought through more Autobots and finally activated the bridge.

Racing across the bridge, they barely avoided Omega Supreme's pursuit, and Soundwave located another cargo lift that would transport them straight to the heavy ion turrets. On the lift he picked up several Autobot/Decepticon signals, a sign they were approaching the battle on the surface. Soundwave participated in the slugfest, and his analysis proved that the turrets nearby had enough firepower to legitimately damage Omega Supreme. Then, he showed no mercy using the turrets to breach Omega's armour and finally topple him to the ground below.

Soundwave, Breakdown, and Megatron followed Omega, and at the bottom, they were surprised to see him survive and transform into his mighty robot mode. Soundwave noted that energon batteries produced from within Cybertron were the source of Omega's limitless endurance, and further advised the team on battling Omega; avoiding his tractor beams would allow them to live, and his turrets were vulnerable, making them the prime target. When the turrets were blown, Soundwave saw that the batteries were being used to repair them, and so it became an objective to corrupt them with Dark Energon. When Omega Supreme used the batteries to heal himself, he was instead weakened, allowing the Decepticons to critically injure him. Omega Supreme was still alive even after all of that, but much weaker. Soundwave observed that his chest plating had been damaged, and Megatron ordered Soundwave and Breakdown to blast it, and Omega Supreme fell at last. Soundwave advised Megatron that now would be a good time to corrupt Omega with Dark Energon, but Megatron told Captain Obvious to shut up and did as he would have done even if Soundwave hadn't brought it up, laughing all the way.

After Cybertron's Core had been infected with Dark Energon, Soundwave was reassigned as head of [[Kaon]]'s prison, and watched over (i.e., tortured) Zeta Prime in his spare time. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] and [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] led an Autobot breakout and battled Soundwave's minions [[Frenzy (Prime)|Frenzy]], [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] and [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]]. Soundwave himself sustained heavy damage leaving the safety of his position to revive and retrieve each Minicon, showing uncharaceristic concern for other living beings. Eventually, defeated and critically damaged, Soundwave desperately attempted to restore himself by absorbing life force from Zeta's very own spark. His attempt to fully heal was halted by Optimus, who even took a shot from the Decepticon intended to finish off Prime. Although Soundwave and his minions fled, the damage had already been done and Zeta Prime expired moments later. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)
Soundwave hacked into the Autobot mainframe and, while Megatron and some other Decepticons kept the Autobots distracted, downloaded intel indicating the location of the Trypticon space station. As they approached the station in Megatron's ship, Soundwave reported that the inhabitants were taking up defensive positions and docking would not be possible. Though Megatron was confident they could ram the station, Soundwave turned out to be right, and they could only get close enough to drop a small team off on the debris surrounding the station. When the station was conquered and Dark Energon in Megatron's hands, Soundwave suggested it might be a good idea to test the stuff prior to use. It turned out to be unstable, and he warned it could result in destruction of its host. The Decepticons set up Kaon Prison as a testing ground and, after eleven failures, established that the Dark Energon could be used. When Barricade asked what happened to the failures, Soundwave would only say that their remains laid in the prison and creepily ask Barricade to get in the chair so he too could be infused with Dark Energon.

Trypticon station required more power, so the Decepticons sent a team to Cybertron's core to reactivate the Energon Bridge. Soundwave did not anticipate the activation of latent defense systems, triggered by the Decepticon presence, because he hadn't studied the same ancient files as Starscream. Megatron ordered Soundwave to give Starscream whatever he needed, and they succeeded in activating the bridge. Soundwave reported that they were only at 37% power — the Autobots had severed the bridge's link to the core using the Omega Key. Lazerbeak intercepted an Autobot transmission indicating that Zeta Prime was hiding the Omega Key, and Megatron ordered Soundwave to assemble a strike force to obtain it. They managed to find and defeat the Autobot leader, but the Omega Key he had was only the key to awaken the real key — Omega Supreme. Once the Decepticons fought their way through the Autobot defenses, Soundwave reported they had reached Omega Supreme himself. The Decepticons defeated the giant, reestablished the link to the core and infused it with Dark Energon. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
{{voiceactor|[[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)|[[Claudio Moneta]] (Italian)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

===Transformers: Fall of Cybertron===
Soundwave was present when Optimus was brought to Megatron by Starscream and [[Onslaught (WFC)|Onslaught]]. He watched as [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]]''' pulverised''' Megatron. He was the only one who hesitated in following Starscream. He secretly salvaged and with the help of Laserbeak, Rumble and an [[E.D.K. TechVolt]], rebuilt his glorious leader, improving on his original design. He infused Megatron with Dark Energon, and pointed his leader in the direction of Starscream. He took part in the assault on the factory the Autobots had built in the crater where Trypticon crashed, and once Megatron had rebuilt the giant Decepticon, came to power up Trypticon's power core. On Megatron's orders, Soundwave rebuilt Trypticon into the ''Nemesis'', a ship strong enough to make it towards [[Earth|the planet]] [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] had chosen. When the Autobots launched the Ark, the ''Nemesis'' soon caught up, and Soundwave spearheaded the assault on the other ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Terrorcon Defense''===
[[Image:SoundwaveTerrorconDefense.jpg|300px|thumb|As awesome as he looks here, he's probably waltzing off after Bumblebee blasted him ''again''.]]
Soundwave attempted to retrieve Dark Energon from a mining area but despite his army of Vehicons and Terrorcons, Bumblebee managed to stop him. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Terrorcon Defense}}
{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game ===
[[Image:TransformersPrimeTheGame Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Wait, I thought Daft Punk had two guys in it.]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==

===Transformers: War For Cybertron===
[[Image:WFC Gamestop Commercial.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The toy can do this if you try hard enough.]]
[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] arrived to a location where [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], and Soundwave were battling Autobots. Megatron left, leaving Shockwave in charge. Shockwave ordered Soundwave to [[Transformation|Transform]]. Soundwave changed into Cybertronian boombox mode and played [[The Touch]]. {{storylink|Commercial#War for Cybertron|GameSpot's commercial for their Shockwave multiplayer exclusive}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Prime===
Soundwave knows that out of all the radio transmissions in the universe, Megatron's favorite song is the ''[[My Little Pony]]: Friendship is Magic'' theme. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime|Megatron's Favorite Song (26 Hour Takeover marathon promo)}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianSoundwave.jpg|thumb|300px|No [[Soundwave (Animated)|giant guitar]] this time!]]
*'''Cybertronian Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' two "weapons"

: Part of the third wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)#Toys|War for Cybertron]]'' Soundwave transforms into an SUV-style "communications truck", as seen in [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|the video game]]. He comes with his classic shoulder launcher and rifle, both of which can be mounted on his hands, right shoulder, and rear vehicle sides via [[5mm post]]s, and store inside his opening chest (approximating the visual of cassette spools). Soundwave's head features a [[light-piping]] gimmick, but the effect is largely neutered by his painted visor. 

: This mold was [[repaint]]ed into ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#United|Soundwave Cybertron Mode]]. 

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/GenerationsSoundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Cybertronian Soundwave at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
{{anchor|GenerationsVoyager}}
[[Image:Generations-SoundwaveVoyager.jpg|thumb|300px|With all the downsizing, Soundwave's surprised he's gotten so big.]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Voyager, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 001'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG13'''
**''Accessories:'' Laserbeak/Data disc, shoulder cannon

: Part of the first wave of [[2012]] Voyager Class ''Generations [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' toys, Soundwave is a larger mold, and comes with a shoulder cannon which can peg (via 5mm post) into his hands, right shoulder, and roof/back. 

: He also comes with [[Legends Class]] [[Laserbeak (Prime)#Generations|Laserbeak]], who utilizes Soundwave's main [[gimmick]], storing and launching Laserbeak and other "data disc" minions. A button to the left of his head can be pressed to open his spring-loaded chest compartment, allowing up to three data discs to be stored inside. With discs stored, his back panel/roof now acts as a plunger, which can be moved forward in either mode to launch minions out. Launched minions should land on buttons on their undersides, thus triggering their [[Flipchanger|spring-loaded transformation mechanisms]] and springing them into action! ...Hopefully.

: For some reason, his [[stock photography]] and [[instructions]] depict him with the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Optimus Prime]] toy's [[Ion blaster]] accessory, which isn't included with the final product.

: Soundwave was [[redeco]]ed and [[retool]]ed into ''Generations'' [[Blaster (FOC)|Autobot Blaster]]. 

{{-}}
{{anchor|GenerationsSoundblaster}}
[[Image:Generationstoy-FOCSoundblaster.jpg|thumb|300px|"Am I New Soundwave, or [[#Beast Hunters|Old]] [[#Deluxe|Old]] New Soundwave?"]]
*'''Soundblaster''' (Voyager, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 002'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG14'''
**''Accessories:'' Buzzsaw/Data disc, shoulder cannon

: Also available in the first wave of [[2012]] Voyager Class ''Generations Fall of Cybertron'' toys, Soundblaster is a black, red, gold, and yellow [[redeco]] of Voyager Class Soundwave, as is the trend with [[Soundblaster (disambiguation)|Soundblasters]]. He now comes with [[Buzzsaw (FOC)|Buzzsaw]], a redeco of Laserbeak.

: His stock photography and instructions once again depict him with ''Generation 1'' Optimus Prime's ion blaster accessory which is still not included with the final product.
{{-}}

===Prime===
{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[Image:Primetoy-SoundwaveDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Toy doesn't talk, just like in the tv show!]]
[[Image:TakaraTomyPrimetoy-AMSoundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Ooh, does this mean I'm [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] now?]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2012)
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[April 28]], 2012'''
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 004'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''AM-09'''
**''Accessories'': [[Laserbeak (Prime)#Prime|Laserbeak]], [[Zori#Prime|Zori]] Arms Micron (TakaraTomy only)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Robots in Disguise (2012)|Prime: Robots in Disguise]]'' toys, Soundwave transforms from a UAV not unlike the [[Wikipedia:General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper|Predator B drone]] into an angular batlike robot mode. His transformation includes a spring-loaded head that deploys automatically when his tail and thrust bottle are folded up. His vehicle mode has a [[5mm post|5mm port]] on the top of its fuselage; the robot also has 5mm sockets passing entirely through his palms. Any of these holes can mount the included Laserbeak, or he can store inside Soundwave's chest in either mode.

: In wave six of the ''Prime'' toyline, Soundwave was put into new packaging, which came with a DVD featuring the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)| Prime]]'' episode "[[Loose Cannons]]".

: The [[TakaraTomy]] release of Soundwave has considerable differences from the [[Hasbro]] version. He comes with his own [[Arms Micron]], Zori, and cannons with 5mm ports and posts have been added to his wings (on his shoulders in robot mode) in order to accommodate said gimmick. Many of the Hasbro [[paint operation]]s have also been removed and replaced with numerous, small, customer-applied [[sticker]]s, including ones for his tiny sculpted kneecaps, which are practically guaranteed to peel off at the sides. In addition, the [[instructions]] for applying the stickers unfortunately contain an error, with the placement of stickers 14 and 15 being swapped around.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/Soundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Hasbro Soundwave at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1501.html Arms Micron Soundwave gallery at Alfes's blog]''

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
*'''Soundwave & Ravage''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series/number'': '''2/002'''
**''Accessories'': [[Ravage (Prime)#Beast Hunters|Ravage]], Thunder Talon
: ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime: Beast Hunters]]'' Soundwave is a redeco and extensive [[retool]] of the ''Robots in Disguise'' Soundwave mold.

==Notes==
[[Image:TfprimeSoundwavePredator.jpg|thumb|But can he replay footage of "[[Operation: Firestorm]]"?]]
[[Image:VectorSigmaBotBuilderSoundwave.jpg|thumb|Deep Desert Soundwave.]]
* Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronian car during gameplay of ''War for Cybertron'', and his toy does the same, having only one alternate mode. However, in a ''War for Cybertron'' cutscene, the Gamestop commercial for Shockwave, and the end credits for ''War for Cybertron'', he is additionally shown to transform into a Cybertronian boombox, which the toy can technically do with some fiddling.
* Despite his toy and concept art appearance, Soundwave has a [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Generation 1|yellow]] visor in the War for Cybertron game. This was changed to red for the Fall of Cybertron sequel (perhaps displaying, in-universe, his furthered dedication to the Decepticon cause?).
* According to the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] biography, Soundwave [[Perceptor (Animated)|deleted his emotions to process information more quickly]], and is susceptible to [[Cyber Missions 1|too many sonic booms]].
* [[Duane Capizzi]] said Soundwave can speak, but just chooses not to. The decision was to contrast Soundwave with the overly talkative Starscream,<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/bonus-q--a-with-transformers-prime-creators---answered-171430/ TFW2005 Q&A January 2011]</ref> and at [[BotCon 2011]], the staff compared Soundwave to [[Boba Fett]]. Instead, he records what he overhears and replays it with a mechanical echo that is very similar to the echo of his G1 counterpart. Sorry, [[Frank Welker| Frank]], only [[Megatron (Prime)|one character]] for now...
* Soundwave's prehensile tentacles are reminiscent of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|another Soundwave]], although they are significantly less naughty.
* Soundwave's body parts are available to use in the Hub website's [[Vector Sigma Bot Builder]] online game. Normally, you cannot configure a generic 'bot using all Soundwave parts, but you can see what one would look like at right through the magic of Photoshop.


===Arms Up Modes===
In the Japanese ''Prime'' toyline, Soundwave has named powered-up modes when given various [[Arms Micron]]s in certain configurations:

*'''Night Attack Mode''' (ナイトアタックモード ''naitoatakkumōdo'')
**''Arms Microns'': Balo, Jida, Zori
: In this mode, shown on his box-back photo, Soundwave uses the two-Micron weapon [[Spike Hammer Rod]], while [[Jida]] in "Defense Shield" mode hangs on his left shoulder. What exactly makes all this ideal for nighttime attacks is anyone's guess.

*'''Jet Mode'''
**''Arms Microns'': Gora (x2), Zori
: Meant simply for flying in fast and blowing crap up, this heavily modified version of Soundwave requires some real work. Because of all the recycled non-''Transformers'' parts in this mode, TakaraTomy designer [[Takashi Nakase]] has nicknamed this version "Recycle Mode". Two jet thruster/fuel tanks are created using bottles from a Japanese "common yogurt drink" and a pair of [[Gora]]s painted up silver, with snipped Arms Micron sprues added on for detail. Soundwave also carries a large weapon made from Zori, a plastic fork, and more sprues. Yes, a plastic fork. You read that correctly.
: There is also a vehicle mode configuration for this Arms Up Mode, with the massive turbines on the end of Soundwave's wings and the weapon on top of the main body. The whole schebang can be seen [http://youtu.be/QJUMhgggH-Q in this TakaraTomy developer video on YouTube].

===Foreign names===
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (Бархан, "Dune")

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Prime Decepticons]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Prime the Game Decepticons]]