Sonic LAB - Korg Wavestate Review
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- We take a look at Korg's new Wavestate wave sequencing synthesizer.
The Wavestate is a small (think Minilogue sized) digital wave sequencer synth with up to 64 stereo voices split across four separate synth layers, with built in FX and a deep modulation system.
#soniclab #korg #wavestate
00:00 Intro
01:55 Patches
04:00 Oscillators
06:50 Wavesequences
11:50 More sounds and decontruction of a patch
15:05 Filters
17:00 Envelopes and LFOs
18:27 Groove wavesequence patch
20:25 More presets
21:30 Modulation section
25:05 Vector Synthesis
28:05 Summary
29:12 Effects
31:31 End pricing and playout
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plays a brass ensemble patch soundling like it's straight from the 18th century...'granted it's not the most contempory of sounds'. And that, Nick, is why we love you so much.
haha, that so was the best line :)
Yesterday I was re-watching a review all the way back from 2010 about the Korg Kaosilator and we are all still here enjoying Sonic State. Much love to NICK BATT ❤🙏
For those saying it is too complicated or there is too much menu diving. I have had it for 4 days and am making incredible patches on it with little effort. There is a randomize button that can come up with some really interesting sounds that you can build upon. It's an incredible little synth. Endless possibilities.
Let people complain and not buy it. Meanwhile, we’ll make cool sh#t with it.
@@sub-jec-tiv Exactly! :-D
@@sub-jec-tiv I bought it and I'm complaining. A sequencer that can't sequence notes? An arpeggiator that can't arpeggiate chords?
How does it work with midi clock/in? if i start the clock with a external sequencer does it just sync and work? or is this thing more standalone
@@donator7266 sounds like should be possible. Maybe loopop or another review video can answer your question.
what i might miss from the 90s - the sounds. what i DON'T miss from the 90s - editing nightmares like this thing.
Well at least it's got a *bit* more than a numpad and jogwheel right?
I have the original A/D and SR.... i'm sure this Wavestate have every sound of the 90s version but lots easier to manipulate :-))
Great job on the editing in this one, Nick! I really enjoyed small touches like the text call outs and how the camera spun around when you were showing the back panel.
If the wave sequencing seems to daunting you can just ignore it and you have a quad-timbral vector synth which is worth the price alone.
I'd missed this one but it's ace!! So great to see Korg taking the vector synthesis concept to town and not just rehashing an old model in a new skin. So cool to have a machine that allows for your imagination to run wild, screw simple!!
A new Sonic Lab review means a happy me.
I love the WaveState, my fave synth purchase in years.. Have the OpSix too, Korg are absolutely knocking it our the park with these recent digital synths.
True, pad machine, now add Modwave which is complementary to Wavestate. Wavestate, Modwave, OpSix, Monologue/Prologue, it's enough. You cover all the bases.
Thank you for for taking the time out to explain in details about this synth. Amazing job
Seriously into this synth, it's MAGICAL sounding! I love my Korg Wavestation SR & 01W/fd, great digital soundscapes & wave shaping fun! Great review of the Wavestate!
can you stop bragging all over the place?
!!!!
Update: Since Firmware 2.0 (2021) it is possible to build user multisamples on a computer and put them onto the machine. You have 4 GB of memory for your stuff!
That was a outstanding review on a very high level of understanding made easy to follow! Great work!
The Best review of the wavestate around (2022).Thanks Nick!
I've owned the Wavestate for almost a month now, and I can say that the menu diving is nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be! The good thing about this being sample based is that the samples included are really good and it's pretty much impossible to dial in a bad sound.
Should of come with a PC app.
@@HOLLASOUNDS It does now. It has an editor and library organiser. Update to the latest firmware.
@@HOLLASOUNDS is now a vst too
@@HOLLASOUNDS you can now upload 4GB of your own samples.
@@-The-Darkside That's dope but I upgraded to Reason 12 and bought a Navation Peak, MiniNova and Bahringer Monopoly, I think I have more then enough sythersizor sound possibilities. I sample with a Sony Recorder.
Thank you Nick, already ordered one. Great synth and brilliant review as usual ;-)
Finaly something more complicated than the Octatrack
OT is not complicated though ;-)
If you want complex, look at Kurzweil PC4 or Forte.
No way octatrack is way complicated lol
lmaooooo.
I like the Octatrack. Best device ever so far.
Wow! Damn Nick, I'm in awe of the time and energy you've put into this review. This thing is insanely deep and complex. It sounds brilliant, but I'm just not smart enough or patient enough to own this synth.
You may have summed up my relationship with my Rev2. Although I’m having more success with my minilogue XD. That’s easy to dive into.
I wish they'd made it as a 19 inch rackable desktop module. A keyboard without aftertouch is a waste of space on a synth like this.
I have to think there will at least be a desktop module, but Korg's usual way of doing that is to simply chop off the keys, which would make it too big for a rack. I really like the way Modal designed the Argon 8m. It's much more compact than even the smaller keyboard version, and uses clever clickable buttons to combine some of the controls.
Nxialist no doubt!
Stormchild they weren’t always like that. I remember when the ms2000 had a huge body but they managed to make the 2000r fit a 19u.
Strongly disagree. This synth BEGS for 61 keys and a larger display
I have heaps of synths but maybe because I played piano for the first 20 years of my life....I can't deal with aftertouch, I always end up with one finger pressing down harder ...then I start to wonder where that sound is coming from?
truly, a DEEP synth engine.
thank you for making a really detailed review.
Great the way Nick puts this synthesizer in a context. With his vast experience he can see where it’s a great fit and where it isn’t. I’m the kind who likes to go deep into a synthesizer and this will fit my musical interests very well. Thanks Nick.
You always do a great job of describing the way all of these synths work, whereas other reviews don't even bother.
Makes programming the RADIAS from the front panel feel like a walk in the park.
Man, programming the Radias is a paaaiin.
When is Nick going to start wearing a lab coat to his Sonic LAB reviews?
accompanied by steampunk goggles
@@wizetek Can't wear a labcoat or he'd look like the lab scientists from the muppets
@@CaptainProton1 I really shouldn't LOL in the office. :-)
CaptainProton1 😂
Oh that would be so good!
Tons of possibilities for sound design. It will reward those willing to spend time with it. Hopefully they streamline a bit the interface (like pressing shift to select lane steps like you mention) in updates.
Loved my old wavestation and missed it for so many years. This will do! thx Korg
In the studio on a sunny day. Coffee in hand. Nick reviewing another sweet synth (I always look forward to this). It's a great day.
Thanks for this! I wish mine would arrive already. :)
Deep deep deep machine. Perfect for sound design! Got mine this week ❤️
10:10 I can only imagine the number of memes that folks over at synthmemes will make with those gestures, Nick
Great review Nick. It looks really cool. I think it’s good to be challenged by gear sometimes.
I feel like I just went to school. Thanks for the deep dive. I love this thing but it's been a lot to wrap my head around its depth.
It needs 500 more knobs. :)
Espectacular. Realmente brillante. El.mio llega en unos dias
I heard that programming a wave station is like decorating a hallway through a peephole.
It really doesn't. There's barely any menu diving, mostly Shift+. And the display does a great job of informing you of what is happening. Great synth.
You earned your money there Nick, that thing seems exhausting. Sounds good though.
Honest, comprehensive review. Good review Nick, as usual.
Korg: make a 4-5U rack that can also be a desktop, update the firmware to give us control over the internal samples.. and a lot of us will take the plunge! :)
Thank you very much for this great review! It saved me from pre-ordering the Wavestate. I was so overwhelmed by the sound until I saw how the individual steps had to be programmed. That kills my creativity. Thanks Nick, I saved € 800!
The original WS had none of the knobs and could hardly be programmed, yet there are soooo many WS lovers and you hear it all over tracks :-)) This way of deep editing is exactly what the old WS lacked. So the trio will sit nicely in my studio, the A/D, the SR and now the Wavestate :-))
Baffling ! Great review. This synth has legs we will be puzzling over it for a while to come. I will wait a bit, it's not where i am at right now.
I personally hate menu diving, but the Wavestate is pretty intuitive for all the gyrations you can go into if you explore everything out of context. It's pretty simple to get something good out of any of the presets without too much effort.
Thanks Nick! Waiting on my pre-order!!! Planning to do tons of videos on it!!! Surprised people are commenting it looks like too much menu diving, looks pretty simple with extra options if needed! I just talked to someone who got theirs and they said it's not complicated at all, and actually simple...
Ron Cavagnaro Yes, please give us your take on this synth. I’m really torn about getting this thing. I don’t mind digging in, as long as I’m seeing progress along the way.
SO many commenters seem absolutely frightened by this synth...makes me want it more.
I hope it’s on the simpler side,I’m not a techie,and I don’t like a lot of menu diving.
My take on it is the complexity comes if you want it. I'm just gonna be crossfading all those beautiful sounds into each other! I'll be doing tutorials for extremely simple programming when mine comes :)
Ron Cavagnaro let me know how it goes,l want one ,but I’m more of creating music ,I play keyboards and guitar,but like I say,if it gets technical,too much menu diving and shaping sounds ,I’m not so great.
just bought one. really nice. i knew everything about my first wavestation 20 years ago. this one goes even much deeper.!
Does the Wavestate have any Wavestation (classic) or M1 patches pre-loaded like Universe, etc.?
I feel for Nick sometimes. The amount of prep for this synth, vs say, something far simpler, has no real bearing on views, revenue, etc.
Great overview of a complex synth. It feels like you could fill up a 61 key panel with controls for this.
Absolutely. This one must have been a real PITA. Insane amount of features and possibilities…pretty much on the same level of complexity as OmniSphere (maybe even more so). I've tried to make Wavestation patches, and even with the software versions it's so easy to get lost in a galaxy of parameters. As Nick said, you really have to have an idea of what you're trying to achieve, and coming up with those is quite a challenge. Definitely seems like any amount of additional controls would help. A much bigger display could give you a better overall view of what you're doing. I guess at some point you might as well do this on a computer.
@@st0rmchild Well said, both of you. I feel a larger synth with a larger screen is exactly what they should have done. Maybe not 61 keys, but 49 would be warranted. The sound of this synth is magical, but I can't help but feel I'd only be buying it as a glorified preset machine, not something I'd ever be willing to devote the time or energy to being seriously creative on. Close but no cigar, for me...
@@YomYestreen I think that's the conclusion for me too. Really impressive synth trapped behind a deep menu system on a small display. I'm fine with learning button + encoder combos but scrolling through long lists or wanting to access a parameter that's 15 button presses away…those things are guaranteed to put me off.
I don't think anyone would object if they charged an extra fifty euro on the price of this, for a great software editor and patch management app.
@@st0rmchild I thought you got to choose your own samples on Omnisphere.
Thanks Nick!
The Best review of the wavestate around (2022).Thanks Nick! (Btw, your work uniform should be a lab coat :))
This was the best review so far and suddenly I'm really interested in this synth. It seems almost like sky is the limit here.
Sky is the limit? Thats a one way ticket to all day noodle, no music.
Great review. thanks Nick..
You've done a brilliant job of deep diving into this extremely complex instrument. Your coverage, as always, is consistently excellent. Thank you, Nick!
👍
It's not complex.
I'm actually already sold. I loved the original Wavestation and fell in love with it's sound back in 2004 when Korg released the Korg Legacy Collection and seeing Korg releasing a de-facto successor to their 30 year old legendary Flagship really warms my heart. It's awesome to see Korg knowing how important that Synthesizer was releasing something interesting for the ones who would love to see a modern incarnation of it. Well, this thing certainly seem to be just THAT! :) And that's amazing!! Even the price is pretty fair. I wonder if they had made it a little wider in diameter if they could have added more control knobs? But even the size as it is, still looks reasonably sized enough.
When Nick starts to play, it reined in the happiest of days.
This is an awesome update on the original wavestation 😁, it’s great Korg is listening to its users. I hope this is successful so they extend the concept for more advanced models in the future ( not unlike how the wavestation evolved). It’s already been said many times but it’s a no- brainer to make a version that allows user to add their own samples. Me I’d also like either a bigger ( aftertouch!) keybed/ room for bigger screen, or cut it off entirely for a module version. It seems so complex I think a hdmi out and mouse port wouldn’t be the worst idea either...
Nice review. Pretty hardcore synth. What does the 'Help' button do?
Help goes straight to Luke from Korgs mobile. For synth help or just to talk if you're feeling low
@@furthermoore1863 almost worth the price of the synth just for the Luke-warm support.
I want one!
Insane in the membrane🤪 ok so this is deep but well explained as ever nick 👍has this got the entire wavestation patches in it?if yes could you edit those?
I got a little tip: blindfold yourself (or turn away your eyes from the keyboard) and start to twist and turn all the knobs on your keyboard and see what sound combi's you made...it will turn out to be full of surprise and you'll hear things you never heard b4! Thanks, Nick.
It's sort of great to see Nick being totally overwhelmed by the possibilities of this synth :) Very good review as always, thanks!
Wonderful review. I adore Korg for making these beautiful, specific devices but is it all that hard to maybe include a PC editor much like the HX Edit for Line 6 amp modeling devices so we can just ditch the LCD and a dozen knob turns and presses for the ease of a mouse and a large screen?
I'm more of a software gal anyway but would love to add a quirky synth to my setup in the future.
Yup, remember that after the T series along with around 01W series and it came out later with the 1 rack module. I love the concept of it where the Ensoniq at that time not quite enough. Cheers!
Thanks for showing how much time is involved with creating sounds for this instrument.
Good review! I wonder why Korg didn't package this in the Prologue chassis? That would have given them room for a bigger screen, which is vital for using this synth and a bigger keyboard, which would have made keyboard splits more reasonable. Overall, this sounds great, but if you are just looking for some wave/vector synthesis patches to sweeten up your rig's sound, Korg's iWavestation app sounds pretty much the same. Finally, the build quality doesn't look too great, which is a concern when buying an $800 synth.
Looking perfect...
Update, they did release a wave library of sorts, you can clip it, name it, and then upload it into your user banks (which I assume is the new firmware). One example by Korg was Voice Ahhs, and it brings much more to this. Menu diving I think my worse experience was the Korg Kross 1, hated it. But this looks easier and more intuitive.
Thanks for yet another great review, Nick! While the Wavestate has some lovely sounds, it's certainly not for me. All those double function keys and especially the crazy menu diving on that small screen would drive me crazy! That's one thing I've learned over the years, all that damn menu diving is getting in the way of being creative and actually making music.
Well spoken,learning how to navigate a complex instrument,montage,kronos,etc,doesn’t enhance musical ability or creativity,playing does.
Factually false. Japanese metric data carried into RnD here proves without a doubt that the complexity and depth does inspire creativity. Unsurprisingly thats why the development process incorporated it. If you think a company as large as ours employs an enormous research group 'just because'; then you need to question your logical thinking a little more.
As an owner of the WaveStation SR, which I never got into programming myself, I see this, love this, and think: another piece of gear I will probably never program myself. Such a shame. Thanks for your overview.
Hi there, I love the sequencing, but how does it as a solo synth, even with layers, thank you for the great demo.
Yes, it is indeed insane. As a matter of fact, with this instrument, Korg is utilizing their renowned and groundbreaking IsSS technology (Insane Sequencing Synthesis)
It would have been nice to see a demo of the patch randomizer function which randomly generates patches. Or did I miss that?
Super interesting. While it's not something I will buy, I'm really happy to see Korg pushing the limits with gear like this, or perhaps more like picking up where their previous innovation took them. I really want to believe that Roland can do this, but there's such a gap between the "oh Korg, that's so interesting" and "sigh, Roland, sigh" expectations these days.
I feel like we need to give a shoutout to the product managers at Korg who battled the no-doubt enormous feature requests, epics, and backlog just to ship this. It's a really bold venture and paring down so much complexity to a committed workflow is masterful. I hope it does well.
With great power comes great responsibility (and menu diving)
Oh man, I'll give it up to korg though, makes me want to create a variety of craziness with it, didn't expect this much from this. Some 90's synths really go deep into this, it's really sound design before performance
Definitely remember Myst! Loved the game.
I never thought I'd see a synth that can prevent Nick Batt from say "I would have liked to see....". This was almost there, but that Mod matrix to Monophonic feature saved the day.
Check your Vector, Victor!😎😅
I am very reluctant buying this synth. It seems that I will end up using the pre-programed patches due to its complexity, Nick took the words right out of my mouth starting at 28:00. This reminds me of the complexity of programing sound on a Kawaii K5000 or a Kurtzweil K2000. All 3 very powerful synths, but difficult to program. Having a randomizer button reinforces that. A software editor defeats the purpose of having a hardware synth with tons of buttons. This is really unfortunate as this synth sounds truly awesome! The goal is to make music right? if you just like to play around, sure, it's a fun synth, but to create a patch with something particular in mind, forget it, you will spend hours. At first I was ready to press the Buy It Now button, but the more I watched reviews about this synth, the less I want to buy one at the current price. My guess is many people will jump on this thing, use it, sell it and enter a psych ward. I might pick one up for cheap in 6 months or so.
very interesting... im going in the opposite direction in my thinking. the more reviews i see about this thing is the more complex it becomes and the more im actually falling in love with it because now im beginning to see just how powerful this machine truly is and it may just be ahead of its time so much so that even korg may not really know what they just built. its so loaded with features that no one person so far can cover the true scope of what it can really do. and MAYBE thats just the point.
It is maybe complex as FM based synth, but still more simpler than FM synthesis. In most simple terms, you could use it as someone already said, as 4-part multimbral vector synthesizer. You have real analogues, and you can't save patches with them, but people still love MiniMoog and similar synthesizers.
Sweet Jesus. Nobody is ever going to program patches from scratch themselves, except pros who get paid for it. I suspect, if this sells in decent numbers, there will be a massive market for presets, just like with the DX-7 back in the day. "It's insane, really" - thanks, Nick, for putting it in a nutshell. But having said that, it sounds fucking amazing.
At 10:00 my head was already aching...
The non-arpeggio Hold function does exist. It is on the Program Setup page.
Nick looks almost exhausted with this one.
With so much depth I’m surprised they didn’t make it the size of a prologue with more buttons and switches
Feels like this kind of instrument would be well served by a few more octaves on the keyboard, not to mention a bigger screen.
Really exciting piece of kit for a ROMpler.
Vector Synthesis based WS is far more than a ROMpler. Quasimidi Sirius is ROMpler wannabe VA subtractive synthesis based synthesizer for example, and pretty successful at that.
I will get it next week!!
same!! (.. i hope). It has been delayed once already.
Hey Nick, no random functions showed in this one? Thanks
amazing sound, any chance of pattern chaining to make a song mode or perpetual 4 or 8 bar loops? film soundtrack writer’s dream
You can do X bar loops, per layer, and you can set up a modulation knob for the sample/pitch lanes, of each layer, and change their lengths in real time. And you can load each piece of your song in order as a set list, and they will cross fade as you choose your next scene (so there's not an abrupt cutoff in between scenes. You switch to the next scene, but it won't start until you release the key from the previous scene)
@@mauchkimberly thanks, so 4 bar loops (64 steps) max, wonder if a 'set list" or patterns/performances can be chained/called up by program changes and used in tandem with an external sequencer, etc.?
Yeeeaaahhhh I think I'd stick to presets, I'm way too dumb to figure this thing out.
MYST is coming up very often lately. That's a good thing.
Yep, came up at the theift store hear the game and the OST and I bought both.
Lol myst!!! Nick I remember! I loved that game. Such a creepy affair.
The 'Myst' soundtracks were lovely .
Looks about as fun to program as the original. Is Galaxy+ support coming? :P
Great review. This kit is too fussy for me, but I respect the engineering.
Hopi know best.
Doing most of my synth patch programming using a Yamaha MODX this thing's a cinch to program compared to that. Yes, I agree, it's very deep but, like you said Nick, once you get your head around it it's oh so powerful. Totally love this thing. Thanks for the great video review.
"You don't have to make them do what you want."
How long will that value knob function for?
Korg needs to put out an programming app for Mac/PC and iOS to visually build the patches like you can do with iWavestation. It would make programming much much easier.
Yes I remember Myst! You should check out their latest game Obduction, very good.
Ideally would be a much bigger touch screen and/ or some sort of touchpad thing to program this behemoth...
I already have the Launchpad Pro Mk3 ready for this thing!!! I have been having a blast using the MK3 with my Korg Triton and even my old M1. Can't wait to use the Wavestate and Launchpad together. Can't wait
Korg has a VST called Wavestation which will do this type of thing.
Using the old technologies. Great, but not as powerful as the Wavesequencing 2.0
the VST is very dated you can not automate anything. But it sounds great and is fun. I hope the write a major update soon
I love this unit, I been learning it for a week now and there is so much going on. Glad I pre-ordered it back when it was announced they are gone off the shelves now lol.
Didn't you ask Korg @ NAMM if user samples can be loaded and they couldn't say it would but when you pretty much said it would (2gb free space) and he didn't correct you?
I'm waiting for a second hand;-)
Sample-robot Korg WS edition, perhaps...
i am starting to make ambient techno, im based around my mpclive 2 but i want to add a synth and theres too many to choose from but this sounds amazing , what are peoples thoughts on this over say a uno synth pro?
Menu diving does seem rather complex. But it sounds so good
I appreciated the reference to 90s TV police series music 🤣
Will the joystick on this automatically midi map to the stick on my ws a,/d?
Thanks Nick! Just received mine and it makes beautiful sounds, particularly ambient pads with loads of movement. But... there is nothing intuitive about this machine. You are gonna have a hard time if you just toss the manual (as so many of us do) :) I know they wanted to maintain that minilogue size but it definitely could’ve benefited from an extra octave to make the GUI easier.