R.I.P to Robert Miles man, dude made such great music. This was a song that got me into electronic music as a kid my mom used to bump this in the house. Thanks for that trip down nostalgia ave.
I own the wavestate and opsix. I've been patiently waiting for Korg to release the modwave software version like they did for the other 2 so I could save studio space. Thank you for this video! Learned a lot more than I knew about the modwave than before. 🙂
Рік тому
This one's for you ua-cam.com/video/NYzk3sjh0gU/v-deo.html
Thanks for this excellent review! 2:12 - I didn't know the Modwave had all these samples too - I have the Wavestate and it looks like it's a similar library. I really love those samples - they sound great to me combined with the filters/effects and modulation. Korg have done such a great job with the layout of these physical knobs I think - seeing your video I think I could quickly get the hang of the Modwave having spent time on the Wavestate. Thanks again!
I get more out of Starsky's videos than any other synth channel on UA-cam. He wasn't my original favorite channel, but slowly became my favorite channel over the course of about 18 months. It's the combination of how well he conveys the material, and the way he seems to replicate the way I would look at a purchase decision about a piece of gear. I have bought synths based on Starsky's reviews, and never have felt shocked or regretful. On the other hand, I have had his reviews PREVENT me from buying a synth (or pedal, or whatever), and then, months later, thought "Wow, I am SO glad I didn't buy that." He's my main "go-to" source of info and perspective when I'm thinking about any piece of gear. (Eg. I was dead set on the Eventide Space, but after seeing his perspectives on that vs. the Big Sky, I went with the Big Sky, and am so glad I did. Same with the Sub 37 and some other synths.
Thanks... I'm glad the videos are useful, and I'm really pleased that you appreciate the way I approach them. I started the channel to demo stuff you can't get your hands on - comparing side by side is almost impossible in a store (well I just uploaded a couple of videos in reality - never planning on starting anything!). I try ti demo what I think is useful from a songwriting or production perspective. What would I use? what does it sound like? what can you do with it? ... and if it's a bit odd or unusual like the Polyend tracker - what makes it different and why is that useful? or what does it 'actually' do? I was a pro producer and songwriter for years so approach from a 'doing something' rather than 'noodling' perspective. Not that there's anything wrong with noodling - but I'm looking at them as tools rather than toys.
Starsky baby your channel is becoming in my top. Three favorite synth review channels. I have the OP six and the wave state, and a shit ton of other synths and drum machine’s. So damn you for making me want another machine. I feel like Korg has leveraged a basic operating system and used it to make different machines. I also feel like I could get the same sound out of the wave state but there’s definitely a lot of differences between them. Great review like usual.
Thanks, I've got a DW8000 I'm planning on throwing this up against at some point - this blows it away obviously - although there will be a lot of 8000 users that won't like it :) Maybe the filter is magic - we'll see!
Thank you for releasing this! The Modwave feels very underappreciated. I, for one, am glad that Korg reused an existing form factor. From an economic point of view, that choice must have allowed them to spend more time on the synth engine and software. And it shows! Yes, the modwave software has bugs and glitches... but so does _literally_ every other synth. Everyone that owns a modwave is waiting for Korg to release a firmware update. The same goes for people with the Take 5, the Hydrasynth, and the UDO. There are so many other cools things to learn about this synth. Enjoy it!
Having started out with a DW-8000 back in the day, the FB-7999 is a great emulation. Thankfully the Modwave has a couple more controls on the front panel! (excited about the modwave module; preordered when I saw they released it the other day)
Looks like you were having fun with this one. Korg seems to have decided up front on this form factor with 3 octave full size keys, then packed the Modwave and other two synths into that shape. The buttons look quite densely packed on Modwave & Wavestate, and I agree the small size could influence the perception of what the product can do. Perhaps a 4 octave form factor would have made more space for the buttons and given these synths more physical presence that they deserve?
Nice vid. It’s worth pointing out that the analogue NJM filters on the 8000 are STAGGERINGLY good, and also featured on the DSS1, which I own and love. The DSS1 also features an unusual hard sync with samples. Both synths feature an incredible early digital delay, used by Korg elsewhere on their SDD rack effects, so they sound very, very special.
I am remember I watched this current video month before I bought Modwave and now I am watching it again - 3 months after I bought it. And it is a good feeling and it is a good Synthesizer indeed!
I hope the video matches your experience with it after a few months. People can use stuff in different ways and find nice little tricks or niggling issues after playing them intensely for a while.
@@StarskyCarr Video is great! That's why I watched it again. This synth have so many combinations of possibilities you can easely get lost into it and this video is helpfull to remind few things.
I had a whole bunch of wavetable synths on my wish list for Christmas and now I'm absolutely convinced it's going to be the Modwave. And do you know why? Not only because of the countless ingenious features - but especially because of the enthusiasm for this instrument that is palpable in every second of your video. Thanks for that!
I rather like wavetables. They only dow nside is ‘learning’ what all the wavetables sound like .. if you can be bothered (or learning the synth). But After some exploration you soon get to know what’s what. This is a great little synth. A friend has a K2000 that the whole of Robert Miles’s children was written on. That was a truly expensive and pro instrument at the time- way beyond my reach - and this blows it away. The casing and build aren’t great tbh… but if they’d put it in a metal case with 5 octave keyboard it probably sound stack up as a commercial product. So all in all I’m glad it’s here. And I’ve kept it 👍
Awesome synth. I have one. I never owned a dw8000 but sonically it reminds me a little of either the fizmo or kawai k5000s [though modwave does not yet let you draw your own multi-frame wavetables in the machine itself, you can upload them from external software resynths like serum, or vital, that do]. Qui Robinez does some great modwave tutorials, he did make a few featuring the mod processor section. I have a cme xkey 37 [which does use poly at] but funny enough I never hooked it up to modwave yet. And modwave can be set up to send poly at to such a controller [or to a hydra if you have one]. (I kind of wish cme would make a 61 or 73 note version) But as you said, modwave does have serum like qualities, and I'm in agreement. It doesnt quite do all the things serum does [I have this also], but with future updates [maybe Korg will consult with Steve Duda?] this can happen.
I have the Wavestate and the Modwave (plus the Opsix plugin), and I think the Modwave might be my favorite of the bunch. I also have all the DW series- 6K, 8K, EX8K- and the Modwave really doesn’t sound much like those at all. I consider that a good thing, because they all happily coexist in my studio.
Affordable but only for small form factor versions and VST (especially with 50% discount like eg. now till 30.11). SE versions of these synths are very pricey - basically from the ground up they are luxurious goods not designed to be owned by average Joe
The Modwave looks/ sounds great , interesting to see your take off on it, great work on the track too. My only real complaint is about it the real key to the DW isn’t the waves it’s the waves PLUS it’s unique analogue filter - seems such a missed opportunity they include an emulated version of the DW filter in it 😦
Great review thanks. I've had the VST of this for quite a while - and have only really just scratched the surface of the moDWave so far. However: Your review has just convinced me to get the Hardware version too, which will sit nicely alongside my WaveState.
Robert miles children. What a good song from that album (Dreamland). I remember when it was released. Not sure about the TV show. The album itself was a superhit with or without the TV show. Unlike Jan hammer's "Crockett's Theme" which I believe it became a hit when aired on Miami vice TV series. Oh my, when music compositions were trully a big thing. Nice synth and video, thanks for that
Nice video. I own the Wavestate and seriously considered getting the Modwave and Opsix but when Korg released the Native (VST's) versions of all three synths, I felt this was a negative business maneuver. So my wavetable needs where met when I bought a Oled touchscreen laptop specifically to run Vital.
I can't imagine it taking couple of hrs to create this. It would take me a couple of lifetimes, and still sound like crp. 😂 thanks for your vids brotha
The reason the Modwave is not a DW8000 because they built the Wavestate first (which is a modernized version of the Wavestation) and then when they made the Modwave they just took that machine and modified the oscillator to allow for wave morphing and removed the Wavestate/wavestation sample lane from the sequencer. But the concept of motion sequencers and the tons of samples in it are directly in common or even evolutions of stuff that was on the Wavestate, so the DNA of this machine is much more Wavestation than DW8000.
Interesting.. I've never used a Wavestate. I had an 03/RW as one of my main synths for years - so love the legacy and what could be achieved with it. It helped productions sound a bit more polished than analog stuff at the time.
Have owned loads of synths over the years including lots of the famous flagship oldies, and frankly the Wavestate is one of my favorites i’ve ever owned because its mod matrix is freakin endless and it sounds great. I doubt i’ll ever sell it. If the Modwave is similar, i may need to look into getting one. Watching this video is my first step in deciding if it’s necessary (some of the sample content is the same across both, but obviously a lot of the waves are different)
Beautiful playing at 3:10. I've got a new boxed Modwave sitting in my closet that got displaced when I bought my Waldorf M. Haven't been quite able to sell it. The sound quality of the Modwave is so pristine and gorgeous, which is usually not what I go for (as enjoyable to the ear as it is), I love lo-fi. But I have plans on making some snappy sounding alterna-sad but sparkly ambient jazz morph house and ye ol' Modwave just might fit the bill!
The DW-8000 is a great synth. The beauty lies in it's unique approach to sound design, signature sound thanks to that awesome analog filter, 7 stage envelopes, FX, and also it's simplicity. The DW8K may not be a ModWave, but the ModWave is no DW-8000 either.
Just a little late to the party here..... Wanted to ask which of the 3 Korg synths is your favorite? Also which would be a good step up for someone that had a minilogue and doesn't like Roland style menu diving. Enjoy your videos, thank you for the content!
I love mine. There's soooo much possibilities. But still i do miss some things wich i cant believe they havn't added in a modern wavetable synth, but they could get it sorted in an update (hopefully soon). Stuff like FM from any of the oscilators including the sub, more type of filters such as comb , phaser +/- , a sinewave on the sub????
Having owned a DW8000 in the past, the DW emphasis in the Modwave is clearly just marketing. The DW8000 was great for its time combining some low resolution wave tables, with analog filter and a digital delay. But digital synthesis has come so much further in the last 3.5 decades. It’s like calling an Access Virus and update Jupiter 8.
Yes it needs a mod matrix in the editor 100%. I actually asked for this on Gearspace to Dan Phillips I believe. There are other useability things like that I asked for with the editor.
I'm a bit surprised that people have to be told that this is better than a DW revival. A 5 minute look over the specs shows its potential. Also, personally I think referring to the DW is a selling point.
actually a simple filter is very cheap to make. What complicates it are things like keyboard tracking and making that volt per octave, so it functions as a sine wave OSC at full res. The brains at Korg shoudl be able to figure out how to put the meat of an analog filter onto one of these and leave the hard stuff in software. But then, the bean counters probably would nix that. To be honest, I prefer an analog filter with my digital synths, but most people cannot tell the difference one way or another.
Thanks so much for this! I didn’t look at this as much at first but now I think I need to look closer. Have you looked at the 1010 Fireball? Thanks again! 🔥
I bought a used one, and it doesn't have nearly as many samples, i suppose it may need to be updated or imported. it definitely didn't have an intuitive feel. Good to know about double pressing shift...omg I feel like you could make a video for how this basically functions for dummies just to understand how it all works. I feel like they could just make more buttons and knobs for ease of use. Still mystified :P
Hard to say tbh. The deeper functions are complex but the essential ones are the same as any other synth. It really depends on how quickly things click. You. Could get to grips with a ‘standard’ 2 osc poly in a couple of hours if you have a decent course to follow (ahem… I’ve got one!) and then the extras fall into place. Most synths work the same but have their own twist.
Ich habe den Modwave gekauft weil ich ihn mögen wollte. Er ist nicht fehlerfrei aber es ist komplex genug um sich in Ihm zu verlieren. Gefühlt finde ich meine Roland Boutique's hochwertiger. Für mich eine günstige Waldorf-Alternative.
Great review. Looking for a hardware synth for live psytrance I've been undecided between this and Hydrasynth. If this is close to Serum then It could be ideal thanks for the insights
thinking of adding a new synth to my collection, have to choose between the wavestate & Hydrasynth, any views as to which one I should go for would be appreciated?
I've always wondered why manufacturers never come up with an hdmi out and a mouse input via usb. As mentioned, these digital synths are just vst in a box. Having built in monitor out would really be something! Feel like industry is always chasing it's tail. You make a cool synth. Make it immediately pointless via release a vst version. Just add mouse and monitor support for those who want the bigger screen and easier menu diving. You were 90% of the way there! Kronos totally dropped the ball via no monitor out!
@@dbefore7165 Pretty sure I looked into it, and there was no real way to output to a monitor. (nothing practical). I really should just be a feature on modern workstation. Afterall, most of them are just laptops with keyboards attached these days. ;)
I don't know why, but the filter on my modwave sounds different, like it's 6db slope or something. The difference is especially obvious with the MS-20 filter. For example, I have to crank up the resonance all the way to get what Starsky gets at 17:23 with reso up 50%. Tried everything I could think. Anyone knows where's the issue?
I think a desktop module would be handy (I’m space constrained) but I suspect that would be no cheaper than the current version. For those with more space, a bigger SE version would be great as others have pointed out. As to a software version, that would be cool as long as there was some hardware we could use for the KAOSS pad. I suppose a mouse trackpad could be set up to do it? I have no idea what would be the best option there. Great video as always Starsky.
i have seen a video where a guy removed the keybed, then used a hot knife to cut the case on his wavestate. I am tempted to do this also because that keybed is a piece of sh!t and mine feels like i'm about to break a key. IMO korg screwed up by putting velocity oriented control on a flimsy keybed. If you have a microfreak, someone made a 3-D printed bottom piece for after removing that POS keybed. I have big nice keyboards as controllers. these little keybeds are redundant , garbage and waste an incredible amount of space whcih makes mounting them for performance much harder. i'm not buying any more of this form factor after dealing with the wavestate
@@jjrusy7438 interesting idea. You’d have to be sure there is nothing critical to the operation of the device on the circuit board under the keyboard, but that’s worth considering.
@@gtfcmariner8619 there's nothing there (key bed) on the Korg devices... literally just a ribbon cable that can be disconnected and tucked. On the MicroF you lose the pitch strip as well as the sequencer controls spice&dice and hold buttons by removing the key bed.
Isn't it a pity it doesn't come with a keyboard supporting aftertouch? So many modulation options and two hands only, so why taking away the mod source where your fingers actually are?
Really, really wanted to like the modwave. Ended up returning mine due to crashes, freezing, and glitches. Was really bummed because it was _awesome_ otherwise.
Interesting... now you've said that I think I may had a glitch but assumed I must have done something wrong (the most likely reason!). It did something odd... I can't quite remember. But its difficult to report on these if I can't be sure its a glitch and not some mad modulation routing I've programmed! Then without being able to replicate it I can't figure out what I did step by step. But I wouldn't say its been notable tbh.
I owned the dw8000 and the ex8000. You're correct in that the waveforms were nothing special; it was the analog filter that gave it its charm. You could make to sound like a Jupiter 8 with the right tweaking. Not saying this modwave NEEDS an analog filter but it does seem weird to give it that name yet make it entirely digital.
Korg showed a Wavestate SE with a 5 octave quality keybed quite some time ago. Maybe they are selling too many of these 3 as is to offer that? (Does anyone really expect a good keybed at this price?) I think they need to release all 3 as SE models AND keyless desktop units and add this one to the other 2 VSTs then bundle the 3 for $500. None of that changes this being a TON of wavetable go juice for NOT a ton of dosh.
It depends on the patch you're creating, but using the standard analog waveforms its very good. There's no or very little aliasing in VA synths these days (watch my Modal Skulpt vs OB6 video - where I demo it vs an old Microkorg). Older synths like the MicroKorg give VA a bad name - to was designed over 2 years ago! So not really in the sound itself, but when creating the tone you notice its not an anolog synth - in the mix it would be hard to tell. The one thing it lacks is some slop or variance of tone across voices etc.. So pads are very precise, whereas on older VCO machines they sound a bit looser, which makes them sound fatter. You can emulate this with careful use of the LFOs but just something to note... if you want typical analog tones you can get them.
well it sounds nice...I have a DW-8000, Poly-800,MS-2000, plus others...is it possible that it has too many sounds and options? After all, most of us never go to being composing synth gods...
There's something to be said for simplicity. The Prophet 5 is actually quite basic compared to most things but has a certain quality that surpasses the functionality.
the new update to the opsix does have a comb filter [for some physical modeling], and theres some pretty good piano type sounds you can get. I havent yet tried doing the M1 esque piano sound on mine yet, but that sounds like a fun thing to try ...
I say it’s not a SIMPLE wavetable synth - as in its much more complex than most ‘traditional’ wavetables like the waldorfs for example. It has the addition of morphing etc.
as a wavestate and opsix ownere, there is no fucking way I'd drop 850 to complete the collection, so when zzounds dropped the price to 699, I took the shot, it's on my floor whining at me to 'test' it, lol. con crit: there are viewers that are hypercreatives, we don't give a rat's ass about other people's music and we don't copy or cover other people's material, that kind of stuff seems more appropriate in some, idk, 'wanna be a copycat?' video, not a nuts and bolts feature set vid, just sayin'...I get that most people learn music by copying others, a kitten learns to hunt by playing, yeah yeah yeah, some of us chose the way, so we do not need the path...find your own voice, the world bloody well needs it...
But then again, a bare bones computer is nothing without software, and peripherals. Its just over £500 for a mega powerful synth. You can barely fill your tank for that these days
I know a lot of people had that reaction - but to me it’s a great way of utilising a tool for the job. And a great way of reducing development costs etc. when UAD announce shark processors everyone thinks it great.. same thing to me. There’s still an awful lot of development that’s needed to create the interface and software. But I was in my brothers house today and he has an air quality sensor raspberry pie thing.. so I get where you’re coming from.
Not wishing to sound a Korg-hater (my main board is a Z1), but these, like the Wavestation before, might reasonably be called glorified romplers. I owned and programmed a Sequential VS back in the day. It's great glory was that for your vector synthesis programmes, you could create, within the synth, user-waveforms using the joystick in some form of proto-morphing tech between any four preexistent onboard waveforms; a feature not carried over by its designer to the Wavestation when he joined Korg. FWIW, I also owned a DW-8000 and I have to say, its sound was superior to this too. There's something about classic gear - even digital/hybrids whose filters, DACs, or other 'factor x' provide powerful and shifting textures which will stand out in any mix.
Great stuff :) I am still discovering my modwave and have two questions. 1. is there an option that if i play something i can record it in sequencer for example ?? 2. can I record sound from modwave on pc in stereo ? I record in ableton and always the samples are mono Greetings and from me like and sub
Hi Rafał: 1/ The Kaoss pad is putting out CC's 18 & 19. The other real-time controllers have assignable CC's - so all notes and real-time tweaks 'should' record into your DAW when set-up. 2/ The output is recorded in Stereo here - ( Nuendo ) - so it will work with Ableton and any other DAW too. The hardware also comes with a discount for the VST version of moDWave. I got the software version first. However, having watched the fab review above and learning the software inside-out - I've just got the hardware version for our live shows. The VST is efficient on the cpu in the DAW, also the data is easily transferable from the VST to hardware. With 4 gigs to use - I've been feeding it with loads of wavetables and samples.
R.I.P to Robert Miles man, dude made such great music. This was a song that got me into electronic music as a kid my mom used to bump this in the house. Thanks for that trip down nostalgia ave.
Amazing remix mate. Fair play!
I own the wavestate and opsix. I've been patiently waiting for Korg to release the modwave software version like they did for the other 2 so I could save studio space. Thank you for this video! Learned a lot more than I knew about the modwave than before. 🙂
This one's for you ua-cam.com/video/NYzk3sjh0gU/v-deo.html
I absolutely love mine...It's bonkers. So much modulation and hands on noodling possible. Even works as a decent day to day rompler.
DAY to DAY ROMPLER! corrado morgana said it!
@@brymilan corrado morgana indeed said it!
Thanks for this excellent review! 2:12 - I didn't know the Modwave had all these samples too - I have the Wavestate and it looks like it's a similar library. I really love those samples - they sound great to me combined with the filters/effects and modulation. Korg have done such a great job with the layout of these physical knobs I think - seeing your video I think I could quickly get the hang of the Modwave having spent time on the Wavestate. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful!
Of the trio of Korg devices with this form factor, would you say you get the biggest smile on your face from the Modwave?
Great video Sir!
That’s how every Synth demo should be. Thank you
Thanks … nice to hear 😀
I get more out of Starsky's videos than any other synth channel on UA-cam. He wasn't my original favorite channel, but slowly became my favorite channel over the course of about 18 months. It's the combination of how well he conveys the material, and the way he seems to replicate the way I would look at a purchase decision about a piece of gear. I have bought synths based on Starsky's reviews, and never have felt shocked or regretful. On the other hand, I have had his reviews PREVENT me from buying a synth (or pedal, or whatever), and then, months later, thought "Wow, I am SO glad I didn't buy that." He's my main "go-to" source of info and perspective when I'm thinking about any piece of gear. (Eg. I was dead set on the Eventide Space, but after seeing his perspectives on that vs. the Big Sky, I went with the Big Sky, and am so glad I did. Same with the Sub 37 and some other synths.
Thanks... I'm glad the videos are useful, and I'm really pleased that you appreciate the way I approach them. I started the channel to demo stuff you can't get your hands on - comparing side by side is almost impossible in a store (well I just uploaded a couple of videos in reality - never planning on starting anything!). I try ti demo what I think is useful from a songwriting or production perspective. What would I use? what does it sound like? what can you do with it? ... and if it's a bit odd or unusual like the Polyend tracker - what makes it different and why is that useful? or what does it 'actually' do? I was a pro producer and songwriter for years so approach from a 'doing something' rather than 'noodling' perspective. Not that there's anything wrong with noodling - but I'm looking at them as tools rather than toys.
Starsky baby your channel is becoming in my top. Three favorite synth review channels. I have the OP six and the wave state, and a shit ton of other synths and drum machine’s. So damn you for making me want another machine. I feel like Korg has leveraged a basic operating system and used it to make different machines. I also feel like I could get the same sound out of the wave state but there’s definitely a lot of differences between them. Great review like usual.
Thanks, I've got a DW8000 I'm planning on throwing this up against at some point - this blows it away obviously - although there will be a lot of 8000 users that won't like it :) Maybe the filter is magic - we'll see!
Another great review.Many thanks.Reg .
Thank you for releasing this! The Modwave feels very underappreciated. I, for one, am glad that Korg reused an existing form factor. From an economic point of view, that choice must have allowed them to spend more time on the synth engine and software. And it shows! Yes, the modwave software has bugs and glitches... but so does _literally_ every other synth.
Everyone that owns a modwave is waiting for Korg to release a firmware update. The same goes for people with the Take 5, the Hydrasynth, and the UDO.
There are so many other cools things to learn about this synth. Enjoy it!
Having started out with a DW-8000 back in the day, the FB-7999 is a great emulation. Thankfully the Modwave has a couple more controls on the front panel! (excited about the modwave module; preordered when I saw they released it the other day)
Very helpful in understanding the capabilities of this instrument. Thanks!
Looks like you were having fun with this one. Korg seems to have decided up front on this form factor with 3 octave full size keys, then packed the Modwave and other two synths into that shape. The buttons look quite densely packed on Modwave & Wavestate, and I agree the small size could influence the perception of what the product can do. Perhaps a 4 octave form factor would have made more space for the buttons and given these synths more physical presence that they deserve?
If the synth button layout was Any bigger I would struggle with the shift + button/knob selections with one hand .
Nice vid. It’s worth pointing out that the analogue NJM filters on the 8000 are STAGGERINGLY good, and also featured on the DSS1, which I own and love. The DSS1 also features an unusual hard sync with samples. Both synths feature an incredible early digital delay, used by Korg elsewhere on their SDD rack effects, so they sound very, very special.
Cool. Since I made this I picked up a DW8000 and I’m planning on putting them together at some point.
@@StarskyCarr Would love to see a DW8000 vid from you.
I am remember I watched this current video month before I bought Modwave and now I am watching it again - 3 months after I bought it. And it is a good feeling and it is a good Synthesizer indeed!
I hope the video matches your experience with it after a few months. People can use stuff in different ways and find nice little tricks or niggling issues after playing them intensely for a while.
@@StarskyCarr Video is great! That's why I watched it again. This synth have so many combinations of possibilities you can easely get lost into it and this video is helpfull to remind few things.
I had a whole bunch of wavetable synths on my wish list for Christmas and now I'm absolutely convinced it's going to be the Modwave. And do you know why? Not only because of the countless ingenious features - but especially because of the enthusiasm for this instrument that is palpable in every second of your video. Thanks for that!
I rather like wavetables. They only dow
nside is ‘learning’ what all the wavetables sound like .. if you can be bothered (or learning the synth). But After some exploration you soon get to know what’s what. This is a great little synth. A friend has a K2000 that the whole of Robert Miles’s children was written on. That was a truly expensive and pro instrument at the time- way beyond my reach - and this blows it away. The casing and build aren’t great tbh… but if they’d put it in a metal case with 5 octave keyboard it probably sound stack up as a commercial product. So all in all I’m glad it’s here. And I’ve kept it 👍
I love this synth. Just with the dice button alone I've made hundreds of great custom presets
Thanks for sharing another great video.
Awesome synth. I have one. I never owned a dw8000 but sonically it reminds me a little of either the fizmo or kawai k5000s [though modwave does not yet let you draw your own multi-frame wavetables in the machine itself, you can upload them from external software resynths like serum, or vital, that do].
Qui Robinez does some great modwave tutorials, he did make a few featuring the mod processor section.
I have a cme xkey 37 [which does use poly at] but funny enough I never hooked it up to modwave yet. And modwave can be set up to send poly at to such a controller [or to a hydra if you have one]. (I kind of wish cme would make a 61 or 73 note version)
But as you said, modwave does have serum like qualities, and I'm in agreement. It doesnt quite do all the things serum does [I have this also], but with future updates [maybe Korg will consult with Steve Duda?] this can happen.
I have the Wavestate and the Modwave (plus the Opsix plugin), and I think the Modwave might be my favorite of the bunch. I also have all the DW series- 6K, 8K, EX8K- and the Modwave really doesn’t sound much like those at all. I consider that a good thing, because they all happily coexist in my studio.
That's quite a collection! :)
Korg is really knocking it out the park with their affordable synthesizers which are pursuing different sound-generation methods.
Affordable but only for small form factor versions and VST (especially with 50% discount like eg. now till 30.11). SE versions of these synths are very pricey - basically from the ground up they are luxurious goods not designed to be owned by average Joe
The Modwave looks/ sounds great , interesting to see your take off on it, great work on the track too. My only real complaint is about it the real key to the DW isn’t the waves it’s the waves PLUS it’s unique analogue filter - seems such a missed opportunity they include an emulated version of the DW filter in it 😦
fingers crossed for an update one day with an emulation of the DW filter
Great review thanks. I've had the VST of this for quite a while - and have only really just scratched the surface of the moDWave so far. However: Your review has just convinced me to get the Hardware version too, which will sit nicely alongside my WaveState.
Robert miles children. What a good song from that album (Dreamland). I remember when it was released. Not sure about the TV show. The album itself was a superhit with or without the TV show. Unlike Jan hammer's "Crockett's Theme" which I believe it became a hit when aired on Miami vice TV series. Oh my, when music compositions were trully a big thing. Nice synth and video, thanks for that
Very cool video and the VST version er on the top of next VST.
Nice video. I own the Wavestate and seriously considered getting the Modwave and Opsix but when Korg released the Native (VST's) versions of all three synths, I felt this was a negative business maneuver.
So my wavetable needs where met when I bought a Oled touchscreen laptop specifically to run Vital.
I can't imagine it taking couple of hrs to create this. It would take me a couple of lifetimes, and still sound like crp. 😂 thanks for your vids brotha
😂😂
Looking forward to your wavestate review or dive in
I’ll have to get my hands on one first! I’ll see what I can do
@@StarskyCarr 🕺👍😀😀😀😀
yup, im buying this
The reason the Modwave is not a DW8000 because they built the Wavestate first (which is a modernized version of the Wavestation) and then when they made the Modwave they just took that machine and modified the oscillator to allow for wave morphing and removed the Wavestate/wavestation sample lane from the sequencer. But the concept of motion sequencers and the tons of samples in it are directly in common or even evolutions of stuff that was on the Wavestate, so the DNA of this machine is much more Wavestation than DW8000.
Interesting.. I've never used a Wavestate. I had an 03/RW as one of my main synths for years - so love the legacy and what could be achieved with it. It helped productions sound a bit more polished than analog stuff at the time.
Have owned loads of synths over the years including lots of the famous flagship oldies, and frankly the Wavestate is one of my favorites i’ve ever owned because its mod matrix is freakin endless and it sounds great. I doubt i’ll ever sell it. If the Modwave is similar, i may need to look into getting one. Watching this video is my first step in deciding if it’s necessary (some of the sample content is the same across both, but obviously a lot of the waves are different)
@@sub-jec-tiv you can also create your own wavetables with the free program Waveedit and import them into the Modwave as a .wav file ☺️
Beautiful playing at 3:10. I've got a new boxed Modwave sitting in my closet that got displaced when I bought my Waldorf M. Haven't been quite able to sell it. The sound quality of the Modwave is so pristine and gorgeous, which is usually not what I go for (as enjoyable to the ear as it is), I love lo-fi. But I have plans on making some snappy sounding alterna-sad but sparkly ambient jazz morph house and ye ol' Modwave just might fit the bill!
The DW-8000 is a great synth. The beauty lies in it's unique approach to sound design, signature sound thanks to that awesome analog filter, 7 stage envelopes, FX, and also it's simplicity. The DW8K may not be a ModWave, but the ModWave is no DW-8000 either.
I’ve since bought a couple of DW8000s (first was knackered) so hoping to do something with one soon.
Just a little late to the party here..... Wanted to ask which of the 3 Korg synths is your favorite? Also which would be a good step up for someone that had a minilogue and doesn't like Roland style menu diving. Enjoy your videos, thank you for the content!
I think probably this one tbh. The Opsix is fine but being FM is more exploratory for me when sound designing. I'm on familiar territory with this.
I love mine. There's soooo much possibilities. But still i do miss some things wich i cant believe they havn't added in a modern wavetable synth, but they could get it sorted in an update (hopefully soon). Stuff like FM from any of the oscilators including the sub, more type of filters such as comb , phaser +/- , a sinewave on the sub????
Motion sequencer and the pad are a big thing. Need a better keyboard with more keys, but this amazing. You are right👍🧡😎
Thanks!
Dang I’m sold on this now! Cheers from Hollywood, CA. Love the accent…would that be what they call “scouse?”
Having owned a DW8000 in the past, the DW emphasis in the Modwave is clearly just marketing. The DW8000 was great for its time combining some low resolution wave tables, with analog filter and a digital delay. But digital synthesis has come so much further in the last 3.5 decades. It’s like calling an Access Virus and update Jupiter 8.
Yes it needs a mod matrix in the editor 100%. I actually asked for this on Gearspace to Dan Phillips I believe. There are other useability things like that I asked for with the editor.
Maybe we'll get a Modwave SE now? I'm buying a modwave in place of Serum for my setup ❤️
I'm a bit surprised that people have to be told that this is better than a DW revival. A 5 minute look over the specs shows its potential. Also, personally I think referring to the DW is a selling point.
Of course selling as the DW lineage is a selling point :). But if that helps people to look into it - its a good thing I suppose.
actually a simple filter is very cheap to make.
What complicates it are things like keyboard tracking and making that volt per octave, so it functions as a sine wave OSC at full res.
The brains at Korg shoudl be able to figure out how to put the meat of an analog filter onto one of these and leave the hard stuff in software.
But then, the bean counters probably would nix that.
To be honest, I prefer an analog filter with my digital synths, but most people cannot tell the difference one way or another.
i think i want one now 🎶
Thanks so much for this! I didn’t look at this as much at first but now I think I need to look closer. Have you looked at the 1010 Fireball? Thanks again! 🔥
Thanks, no I've not tried that. If someone wants to send me one.. :) Maybe I should contact the manufacturer
@@StarskyCarr Hmmm. Might have the connect there. 😉
I bought a used one, and it doesn't have nearly as many samples, i suppose it may need to be updated or imported. it definitely didn't have an intuitive feel. Good to know about double pressing shift...omg
I feel like you could make a video for how this basically functions for dummies just to understand how it all works. I feel like they could just make more buttons and knobs for ease of use.
Still mystified :P
Would you say the Modwave is a poor choice for someone fairly new to synthesis? It looks super complex, yet sounds so nice!
Hard to say tbh. The deeper functions are complex but the essential ones are the same as any other synth. It really depends on how quickly things click. You. Could get to grips with a ‘standard’ 2 osc poly in a couple of hours if you have a decent course to follow (ahem… I’ve got one!) and then the extras fall into place. Most synths work the same but have their own twist.
@@StarskyCarr Thanks!
Ich habe den Modwave gekauft weil ich ihn mögen wollte. Er ist nicht fehlerfrei aber es ist komplex genug um sich in Ihm zu verlieren. Gefühlt finde ich meine Roland Boutique's hochwertiger. Für mich eine günstige Waldorf-Alternative.
I still wish it had analog filters!
Great review. Looking for a hardware synth for live psytrance I've been undecided between this and Hydrasynth. If this is close to Serum then It could be ideal thanks for the insights
That the world's synth question right now ... Modwave or Hydrasynth... 🤔
@@dr.papadopolis7171 Went with the Hydrasynth desktop. Only because space was limited. Very pleased with it
thinking of adding a new synth to my collection, have to choose between the wavestate & Hydrasynth, any views as to which one I should go for would be appreciated?
I’ve got a Hydrasynth on the way… I’ve haven’t used one yet.
Oh dear Starsky, I'm doing that chin rubbing thing, after your demo. you know what that means? lol
I've always wondered why manufacturers never come up with an hdmi out and a mouse input via usb. As mentioned, these digital synths are just vst in a box. Having built in monitor out would really be something! Feel like industry is always chasing it's tail. You make a cool synth. Make it immediately pointless via release a vst version. Just add mouse and monitor support for those who want the bigger screen and easier menu diving. You were 90% of the way there! Kronos totally dropped the ball via no monitor out!
for hdmi it need grafic card, and stronger CPU not Raspberry.
i think the kronos does have a monitor output on the motherboard if you can hack it?!
@@dbefore7165 Pretty sure I looked into it, and there was no real way to output to a monitor. (nothing practical). I really should just be a feature on modern workstation. Afterall, most of them are just laptops with keyboards attached these days. ;)
I don't know why, but the filter on my modwave sounds different, like it's 6db slope or something. The difference is especially obvious with the MS-20 filter. For example, I have to crank up the resonance all the way to get what Starsky gets at 17:23 with reso up 50%. Tried everything I could think. Anyone knows where's the issue?
Thank you so much for this video do you know if the modwave syncs up with the modwavenative Vst plugin
Please do a comparison between Modwave and Hydrasynth Explorer ... Thanks in advance..
I think a desktop module would be handy (I’m space constrained) but I suspect that would be no cheaper than the current version. For those with more space, a bigger SE version would be great as others have pointed out.
As to a software version, that would be cool as long as there was some hardware we could use for the KAOSS pad. I suppose a mouse trackpad could be set up to do it? I have no idea what would be the best option there.
Great video as always Starsky.
Thanks.
i have seen a video where a guy removed the keybed, then used a hot knife to cut the case on his wavestate. I am tempted to do this also because that keybed is a piece of sh!t and mine feels like i'm about to break a key. IMO korg screwed up by putting velocity oriented control on a flimsy keybed. If you have a microfreak, someone made a 3-D printed bottom piece for after removing that POS keybed. I have big nice keyboards as controllers. these little keybeds are redundant , garbage and waste an incredible amount of space whcih makes mounting them for performance much harder. i'm not buying any more of this form factor after dealing with the wavestate
@@jjrusy7438 interesting idea. You’d have to be sure there is nothing critical to the operation of the device on the circuit board under the keyboard, but that’s worth considering.
@@gtfcmariner8619 there's nothing there (key bed) on the Korg devices... literally just a ribbon cable that can be disconnected and tucked.
On the MicroF you lose the pitch strip as well as the sequencer controls spice&dice and hold buttons by removing the key bed.
@@jjrusy7438 i just used a wood saw, 5 mins later i had a desktop version. ;)
Isn't it a pity it doesn't come with a keyboard supporting aftertouch? So many modulation options and two hands only, so why taking away the mod source where your fingers actually are?
Really, really wanted to like the modwave. Ended up returning mine due to crashes, freezing, and glitches. Was really bummed because it was _awesome_ otherwise.
Interesting... now you've said that I think I may had a glitch but assumed I must have done something wrong (the most likely reason!). It did something odd... I can't quite remember. But its difficult to report on these if I can't be sure its a glitch and not some mad modulation routing I've programmed! Then without being able to replicate it I can't figure out what I did step by step. But I wouldn't say its been notable tbh.
I owned the dw8000 and the ex8000. You're correct in that the waveforms were nothing special; it was the analog filter that gave it its charm. You could make to sound like a Jupiter 8 with the right tweaking. Not saying this modwave NEEDS an analog filter but it does seem weird to give it that name yet make it entirely digital.
Hawe all 3, but Moodwave seems more seriously synth
Korg showed a Wavestate SE with a 5 octave quality keybed quite some time ago. Maybe they are selling too many of these 3 as is to offer that? (Does anyone really expect a good keybed at this price?) I think they need to release all 3 as SE models AND keyless desktop units and add this one to the other 2 VSTs then bundle the 3 for $500. None of that changes this being a TON of wavetable go juice for NOT a ton of dosh.
Yeah I reckon creating options would water down the market and not bring in additional sales - just more development costs.
I was wondering - if you being an experienced expert - in general you can hear the difference compared to an analog synth (e.g. at some pitches)?
It depends on the patch you're creating, but using the standard analog waveforms its very good. There's no or very little aliasing in VA synths these days (watch my Modal Skulpt vs OB6 video - where I demo it vs an old Microkorg). Older synths like the MicroKorg give VA a bad name - to was designed over 2 years ago! So not really in the sound itself, but when creating the tone you notice its not an anolog synth - in the mix it would be hard to tell. The one thing it lacks is some slop or variance of tone across voices etc.. So pads are very precise, whereas on older VCO machines they sound a bit looser, which makes them sound fatter. You can emulate this with careful use of the LFOs but just something to note... if you want typical analog tones you can get them.
Hoping someone could answer this… can we recreate dw’s mono unison synth leads with the modwave?
You can have unison modes but whether they replicate the DWs I couldn't say
is just a rack version without keyboard foreseeable?
You're not the first to ask that. I think it would be very popular.
What is the difference to the Wavestate?
this is wavetable, the wavestate is wave sequencing
well it sounds nice...I have a DW-8000, Poly-800,MS-2000, plus others...is it possible that it has too many sounds and options? After all, most of us never go to being composing synth gods...
There's something to be said for simplicity. The Prophet 5 is actually quite basic compared to most things but has a certain quality that surpasses the functionality.
Despite its capabilities it just doesn’t have the character of the microwave XT or the M
Can the Opsix do this awesome piano sound?
the new update to the opsix does have a comb filter [for some physical modeling], and theres some pretty good piano type sounds you can get. I havent yet tried doing the M1 esque piano sound on mine yet, but that sounds like a fun thing to try ...
Here's the opsix's best piano: ua-cam.com/video/HUUGGUTydgA/v-deo.html
what do u mean by "it isn't a wavetable"?
I say it’s not a SIMPLE wavetable synth - as in its much more complex than most ‘traditional’ wavetables like the waldorfs for example. It has the addition of morphing etc.
right, thx
I don't know why, I just feel like it's so much more than a DW8000 🤔😉
I’ve no idea why you might think that 😂
@@StarskyCarr I heard it somewhere 😉 possibly in a review
as a wavestate and opsix ownere, there is no fucking way I'd drop 850 to complete the collection, so when zzounds dropped the price to 699, I took the shot, it's on my floor whining at me to 'test' it, lol.
con crit: there are viewers that are hypercreatives, we don't give a rat's ass about other people's music and we don't copy or cover other people's material, that kind of stuff seems more appropriate in some, idk, 'wanna be a copycat?' video, not a nuts and bolts feature set vid, just sayin'...I get that most people learn music by copying others, a kitten learns to hunt by playing, yeah yeah yeah, some of us chose the way, so we do not need the path...find your own voice, the world bloody well needs it...
❤️🎶🎵🎹🎶🎵👍🎶🎵🙏🎶🎵🍀❤️😎
dunno why... but it bothers me so much its a rasperry pie inside...
But then again, a bare bones computer is nothing without software, and peripherals. Its just over £500 for a mega powerful synth. You can barely fill your tank for that these days
I know a lot of people had that reaction - but to me it’s a great way of utilising a tool for the job. And a great way of reducing development costs etc. when UAD announce shark processors everyone thinks it great.. same thing to me. There’s still an awful lot of development that’s needed to create the interface and software. But I was in my brothers house today and he has an air quality sensor raspberry pie thing.. so I get where you’re coming from.
Is it ready any different from a Z80 chip in an old Prophet 5? It's just a CPU, there to do a job
So for what I see this is a bad piano synth not? Because I see the guy insisting in the pianos and I have quit the video ...
so starsky,one honnest question,if you must choose modwave,or wavestate,witch one u choose,becous i must choose.
I've never used a Wavestate, so can't help - which is a relief tbh as those sort of decisions are a nightmare :)
@@StarskyCarr hahahathanx
Not wishing to sound a Korg-hater (my main board is a Z1), but these, like the Wavestation before, might reasonably be called glorified romplers.
I owned and programmed a Sequential VS back in the day. It's great glory was that for your vector synthesis programmes, you could create, within the synth, user-waveforms using the joystick in some form of proto-morphing tech between any four preexistent onboard waveforms; a feature not carried over by its designer to the Wavestation when he joined Korg.
FWIW, I also owned a DW-8000 and I have to say, its sound was superior to this too. There's something about classic gear - even digital/hybrids whose filters, DACs, or other 'factor x' provide powerful and shifting textures which will stand out in any mix.
@@pierstheoneandonly thanx hahahaha wat a story!!but many thanx mate!!!✌️
4:08 David Morales - Needin' You ... for all people wondering :)
Good spot
Thanks!
Your remix is absolutely beautiful! 💯
Great stuff :)
I am still discovering my modwave and have two questions.
1. is there an option that if i play something i can record it in sequencer for example ??
2. can I record sound from modwave on pc in stereo ? I record in ableton and always the samples are mono
Greetings and from me like and sub
Hi Rafał:
1/ The Kaoss pad is putting out CC's 18 & 19. The other real-time controllers have assignable CC's - so all notes and real-time tweaks 'should' record into your DAW when set-up.
2/ The output is recorded in Stereo here - ( Nuendo ) - so it will work with Ableton and any other DAW too. The hardware also comes with a discount for the VST version of moDWave. I got the software version first. However, having watched the fab review above and learning the software inside-out - I've just got the hardware version for our live shows. The VST is efficient on the cpu in the DAW, also the data is easily transferable from the VST to hardware. With 4 gigs to use - I've been feeding it with loads of wavetables and samples.
one of the modifiers on OSC2 is FM with OSC 1 as the carrier, so its a pretty capable FM synth too
Cheers, I demo that at 21:30 in the VA section ua-cam.com/video/-89IE4t9HKM/v-deo.html I'll add to the description