I know this isn't a major thing, however the tiny micro screen for menu diving is really sad. Of all the space on the hardware, Korg really could have improved the screen size so users aren't burning their eyesockets out trying to acheive menu options. I have the wavestate II
@@timdanyo898but then you need to have your pc running just to mess with your synth. Considering how much empty space er is on the synth I feel a bigger screen is a no brainer =x
@@timdanyo898 it's a hardware synth, not software synth, it was designed to be use as stand alone, it's nothing more than an inadequate VST controller, a bad one at that.
At 9:39 From the manual: Hold ENTER and press < or > to scroll through the different routings. Alternatively, you can cursor through each parameter, one by one; cursoring right from Int Mod Src goes to the Source parameter of the next routing. A scroll-bar on the right side of the display shows the current location in the list. No need to scroll all of them one at a time!
I appreciate how, at the 14 minute mark, you scored Bjork's entire next album with a slight adjustment to a factory preset. ❤ Wonderful insights throughout as always.
The original Wavestate has been the synth I've reached for the most often ever since I got it... So enjoyable to level up musical ideas with this instrument
I just got my Wavestate about a month ago. Endless hours have since disappeared into the predawn hours as I experiment with mutated esoteric presets and creating compositions. For the price vs. range of interesting and relevant features, there's nothing else like it, at least that I know of. As always, appreciate your well articulated and detailed tutorials.
That is what the original Wavestation EX did for me and still love it the best of all my keyboards to this day, the Motif XS is close but I find the EX easier to use and program.
Great review as always. I do think Korg missed an opportunity here to really make this an enhanced version... I own the mk1 and love it - no need for me to upgrade though
True, but Korg could have made the desktop mod versions too! They had almost zero investment to do this. Drop price by maybe 100.00 and make more profit? Blows my mind how corporations function! Instead, no after touch 2k controll? Good luck on that venture. 😂
Just like modular synth folks may spend far more time patching a sound than they spend actually using it, lol, you may spend far more time programming a sound or performance than you actually end up using it. But if you don't already have an excellent pro romper like the Krome EX or M50, then you'll get even more use out of this baby for its great bread and butter sounds.
Just by a cheap laptop and vst. Still way ahead of the game! Any modern cpu can run this just fine! I am building dedicated mini desktops that will each host a single vst, dedicated midi controller, and small portable monitor. I get super advanced synths that act like hardware, but with unlimted flexibility. No brainer. If u play live, this setup still works great. If one goes down, they all don't go down unlike daw setups. 😊
@@xchalibur77 exactly. Older roland gear had vga out. Even the old samplers!! Optional mouse and keyboard. Think roland had a pen pad as well. S770? Long time ago.
Nice with the full-width keyboard. Shame about all the non-utilised space for more knobs and larger screen, but OK, it would have required a new PCB and price increase, essentially a Wavestate 2.
I like to stack gear _on_ the unused space of another. Like the (unused) speakers of a stage piano. Wide enough for a 37-key synth to sit on. The front two feet rest on the stage piano, for the rear two feet you need to find something to support it (e.g., a piece of wood).
Great review, sold me, the SE Platium is $900 off now only from Korg Direct, in November, can't wait, have two Wavestation EX's I just love can't wait to see what the SE can do!
Great synth but also a missed oportunity. The SE should have a touch screen similar to the Waldorf Iridium so you can work effectively with sound programming without the need of a computer.
Thanks for this precious video about the features of the Wavestate Se. These keyboard is clearly a new version on the wavestation but, in my opinion, it has also something that remember the Korg Karma, one tho most underestimated keyboard of all time. 😊
Good to hear Wave Sequencing 2.0 is alive 👍 The minor changes to MKII prove that KORG's Wavestate OG already was a mature product, especially after numerous substantial updates via firmware. SE is no option for me due to its sheer size (and price, given it still doesn't support polyphonic aftertouch). BTW: I'd loved to have seen AT on the MKII. Thanks for the execellent re- and over-view (useful for OG owbers, too!), Ziv 🙏
Fantastic synth in all versions and great demo! Slightly disappointed the Mk2 still doesn't have aftertouch - with so many cool modulation options it's just nice to be able to apply modulation by pressing the key so your other hand is free for play other synths. Still, like I said: it's a fantastic synth and the SE is awesome!
Loved my wavestate but I sold it. I would get so into designing cool sounds and sequences but that was also the problem with it, just too time consuming so it had to go unfortunately but maybe one day when I have all the time in the world I'll get back in lol
People asked for a desktop unit with less shit screen, so they stuck an even bigger keyboard to it and kept the screen tiny with cramped controls. Absolutely epic troll move, you love to see it 😂
I’m not surprised they didn’t re-manufacture the screen. There’s still a chip and electronics shortage, and they have already manufactured a ton of that type of screen for all their recent products. People are so demanding even when their demands make no sense for a business to implement, and cry like children when their own personal demands weren’t met. And at a Behringer-cheap price point. I’m not saying a bigger screen wouldn’t be great, what i’m saying is get real, Korg is a business operating during a parts shortage.
Wow I was thinking yesterday that the should make a mk2 and woke up to this. I have the original and love it, my fav synth of all time, and I have owned a lot
Still missing the simple functionality we had in the original Wavestations where we could crossfade between the different waves within a wave sequence using a controller like the modwheel, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence. Even on the Kronos, when choosing the modwheel to control the positioning within the WaveSeq, the xFade functionality just stops working for whatever reason, enabling us to only do hard changes between the waves. I wish the Wavestate allowed us to do this too but from what I've seen (and tried) so far, it's not possible :S Only way to do such a thing with our own samples is either getting an old Wavestation and using third party cards with them or code our own software solution for it. If only they'd allow us to load custom samples in the iWavestation app on the iPad (or the WS app on the Korg Legacy version for PC/Mac) that would be perfect! :)
Couldn't this be done by utilising two layers and setting up a controller like the modwheel to fade in one layer, while fading out the other layer, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence?
That's the main reason I got rid of mine. Wave sequences are strictly time-based here, cannot modulate the wave pointer with anything else than time. The other reason is that Korg keeps neglecting the MPE standard: it would have been a dream, with that limitless mod matrix, even more so on the modwave. Oh well.
@@straighttalk2069 you can do this with using all 4 layers using the vector stick. The problem is when needing to do this with more than 4 sounds. On the Wavestation, being able to xFade between steps using a controlller meant you could xFade between even 255 sounds if you wanted to (though such a thing would exhaust the bank's limit of steps pretty quickly 😅). I was just hoping a Wavestate firmware update or the mk2 would give us step xFades on controllers rather than having to 'play back' the sequence but then again i suppose if they haven't even (fully) done it for the Kronos, what are the odds of doing it on the Wavestate? Wishfull thinking I suppose ^^
yes to this day I find it very strange they took one of the greatest sound morphing platforms of all time and evolved it into a supercharged rhythm generatror. the core idea of the original is missing.
@@towardstar I'd think the core idea would be WaveSequences, and on that front they indeed evolved it in quite interesting ways. Still, I don't get it why they'd take such an awesome feature out :( As I said in the previous comment, they kinda let us control the sequence with a controller (without needing to 'play' it) in Kronos but when doing so the xFades get disabled. I wish they gave us that kind of functionality in either Kronos or any of the Wavestates :( If that was to happen I'd instantly buy one! I'm sure there's a lot more of us missing that kind of thing ^^
@@d3tuned378 Yeah as beautiful as the SE is, that price tag is really a little high frankly, as I don't think it brings that much more to the table than the original model.
I understand why the markII looks the same as the original - that's fine. However the premium SE model should have had a better quality screen (IMO). I'd much rather not take the compulsory stitched luggage case and instead have a better quality display. I think ASM Hydrasynths made better choices in their decisions regarding design priorities for each product tier.
Wonderful dive into this impressive instrument. Thank you loopop. I'm a Wavestate Native user but would spring for this standalone if it had a good size screen (like the one they have on Nautilus or Kronos maybe?).
I wish more synths did mod processors. They are under valued, and may be even more innovative than the concept of separate length lanes. A mod processor is basically a customizable calculation inside a modulation route. Like modulate a with b but just by adding or multiplying a with b but by using a function f that specifies how a will effect b. The EaganMatrix can do it and the Korgs (Wavestate, Modwave) can do it, although the Mod processors only have a limited set of options to pick from for what the function f will be. And for the rest I don’t know any other synths that can do it.
@@jantuitman Guess it's always going to be trickier and costlier to implement more "niche", complex functionality like this in hardware, esp when it requires dedicated physical controls or space. Even with pure digital hardware synths its pretty difficult to implement in a user friendly, usable way, Software definitely has the big advantage here imo. Alchemy is pretty amazing, and can do a lot of stuff that's kind-of similar-ish to the Wavestate.... and a lot more the Wavestate can't do. Its modulation options are ridiculous - up to 16 each of LFO, Envelopes, MSEGs, Env Followers, Step Sequncers and a massively flexible perform section, as well as the afore mentioned Mod Maps. Def worth checking out if you are into flexible complex modulation possibilities. Other software synths that have this kind of stuff include Equator and Cypher 2 from Roli, Zebra by U-He. In the hardware world, there are also plenty of options for Eurorack / modular for function generators and other interesting / crazy modulation options, but obviously that's a whole other kettle of expensive and time-consuming fish.
Brilliant, thank you and nice to see the Wavestate getting some love. It is an inspiring synth. One thing, do you know if they've improved stability issues? Using WS1 live is a joy but tempered by fear of occasional inexplicable lock-ups.
Thanks @@loopop. Has been reported elsewhere and acknowledged by support. Can happen when some rhythmic performances are set to hold and flipped between during a set. I guess it's a memory limit issue.
You need two phd to understand it :) It is good but somehow I felt it is not good in any setup (with other synth) so finally I sold it. Btw there were always connection problems between the editor soft and the synth.
Thanks for the review! 👍 I really like the wavestate 2 engine and the sounds it can make. Only thing I was missing to its engine was a send reverb. So we could have no reverb for drums or bass layers. It really just a code thing to implement, that can make this synth so much more flexibale.
What are the labels below the bank buttons? Why didn't you talk about those? Those are new. Good review for those that are already familiar with older ones, not so much if brand new to wavestate.
I love the Wavestate original version. If one wants to create sonic soundscapes never heard before this is the synth to get. Absolutely exceptional synth.
As always, well executed review. Thank you! Can not understand why they did not add a bigger screen ... Hm, does this imply that there will be an Opsix MKII???
@KORG: my wish is an AU Version for iPadOS. imagine controlling all parameters with your finger instead of noodeling on the small hardware menu or use a mouse on the native. thx a lot for the vid 🙏🏻👌🏽 i have the native version and use it a lot
I recently bought a mint condition mk1 for roughly 400, and I love it, however I did not expect the native software to be (as far as I am aware) the only way to use it as a plug-in with Logic. Certainly not if it costs anything additional. I had incorrectly assumed that the free/factory editor and the native plug-in were identical, the former being only the companion for the hardware, and could be used as a VST plug-in as long as the keyboard is connected, and that the native option was simply a standalone version that could be used with or without the hardware. I did not consider the possibility that the only way to control the unit thru logic would be another 50 bones. Having the hardware should save me 100%, not 75%. I don’t care how much I’m saving by getting 75% off retail, you’re still making me spend 100% more than I should have to lol.. All things considered, it is absolutely among my favorite pieces of gear, right after the polybrute. Not nearly in the same universe as far as build quality, but as far as how much I enjoy it, definitely. Outstanding video as anticipated, thank you!
Fancy? My $200.00 midi controller has after touch and at least 2.5 times to knobs and sliders. Lol. This is 100% a limited audience product. I am not sure who that audience is, but they must be out there.
I've sold my wavestate but still have the VST version. Let's wait and see where the price will settle for the SE, I'd really love one with a 5 octave keyboard. Increasing the voice count is very important, voice stealing can be very annoying at times (it will "steal" the voices from a free running rhythm causing it to stop). I am definitely tempted.
Using a bandaid made of poo, wont improve things at all. Same horrible screen, horrible UI, 3 times asking $, workflow is abysmal without the software. This isn't even a good MIDI controller by any stretch of the imagination.
Buy a good midi controller with aftertouch. Don't waste money on this kit! Makes zero logical sense imho. How does Korg miss aftertouch? Worse, that stupid screen! In 2023 not to include a vibrant touch screen is really sad and worth passing on. I can bang out a long list of better spent money. Take the price of mk2, subtract from se, and divide that by number of additional keys, equal just how much you paid per key. Lol. To help cut to the chase, $54. per additional key😂. Likewise, 700 x 3 at 2100.00 is about the cost of one SE wavestate. No matter how u cut it, lame. Zero justification for price vs value!
I hate all of this blank space wasted. They could have added more controls for less menu diving. Screen also could have been bigger with touch. Wasted opportunity.
Ya, they have a lower end touch screen on their krome workstations. It isn't as responsive as the Kronos but it works just fine. So they already have the tech in place.
Is a big screen unbelievably expensive for a manufacturer to include in the production? Roland is guilty of this as well. Companies have to know we are visual, whether that's good or bad for music produciton. I get the argument to focus on the music, but a big screen would be a nice option to have.
The Tasty Chips GR-1 has a 7” screen and sells at the same retail price. Korg is just pitiful these days. I started making electronic music exclusively with Korg because they were great for my beginner level, but I’m proud to not own anything from Korg currently.
As a MK1 owner, I've been waiting for the SE, but now am not going to bother. All Korg have done is chuck the circuits into a larger box, without even considering workflow. This synth is so vast in terms of editing it needs a bigger screen - and I don't want to be tethered to a computer every time I feel inspired.
Sounds like the original Bladerunner soundtrack, i guess some similarities to the Fairlight I think was all over that. This is that soundtrack in a box. So cool.
The Opsix is a whole different animal, but there's a lot of overlap between the Wavestate and the Modwave that would have made for a better single synthesizer, combining the more powerful wave sequencing of the Wavestate with the wavetable wave scanning of the Modwave. That's one thing that frustrates me about Korg: they have a tendency to release lines of products with disappointing missed opportunities where they could have done something spectacular with the innovative things that they develop but instead stop short, seemingly for marketing reasons.
This is definitely at the top of my bucket list for next year. My very close friend 'ex' will have a duckfit at me if I got one this year...... after only recently getting a Deepmind 12 and a Korg PA 600 a year ago ;- ;-)
The 2 synths are totally different so cannot really be compared. You have lane sequencing on the WS and only an ARP on the HS. Then you have sample based on the WS and Wavetable on the HS. Then how you set up the modulation on the HS. Add the PAT keybed and the 2 synths aren't even comparable.
Thanks for the great review! I have a simple question. Can it be used in multitimbral mode? I'd like to play a sound with an external keyboard with left hand, while play a solo on the right hand. Is this function possible?
Thanks! For ambient music, I'd lean towards Wavestate personally - both are easy to use if you're just playing the presets an endless rabbit hole of textures and complexity if you're willing to dive in
They still didn't add the per-layer reverb sends? Weird, the modwave has had them since the beginning, and it has only two layers rather than four, so they would be even more useful here.
It's a very interesting piece of hardware, It's a shame that the unit still has very limited integration with the native VST in your DAW, otherwise; I think it would be a lot more popular for people who work both in and outside of the box.
Thank you loopop for this review. Now let's speak og the price : - Korg Wavestate MKII : *890 €* | Korg Wavestate SE MKII : *2,190 €* So the gap between the both : *1300 €* . 1300 € for what ? Two octaves more, 120-96 =24 voices more and aftertouch. Is there anyone here who think this deserves such a gap in price ? Except for the 24 voices, it's easy to get a 61 keys synth or master kb with aftertouch for a fraction of this price. Once more, Korg is out of range (as Korg did with the Prologue 16 wich has been a complete commercial flop, partly because of its price). If you look at this price range, there is a huge rivalry, and a some are very powerful.
Yes the price difference is very high. Even the for MKII is too high. But I think we should wait a bit and see real street prices. I guess these are more or less MRRP.
The extra plastic on the enclosure is really expensive. That’s why there’s no additional controls there to help users master this mindf**k of a sequencer, the extra holes to drill and additional pcbs and knobs and buttons would make it cost double 😅 Korg has lost it, they’re not making any meaningful updates to their hardware.
Beautiful dream that must come true 😊 A question, if I have Wavestate SE hardware and I should want to use it as a unique sound generator for various midi tracks in my DAW, may I assign each sound to a specific midi channel in order to use many of them contemporaneously? (About sound I mean a combination of multiple layers and not a single layer)
@@loopop Ok so, you are telling me that theWavestate Native can do what I described? If yes I will use the software but...I loved the Wavestation and I didn't get it on 90's and I really want to have the new baby 🥰 For my needs I can use the plugin if it works for this ...but with future hardware anyway 😊 I would have preferred to save money😂
I may have missed it but there's no global way to adjust it. You can of course change the mod depth of aftertouch every time you assign it to something
@@SantiagoGT15 capable of reading all presets of less than twelve operators Fm synths and replacing all branches of algorithms that used sine waves to mimic saw/square waves with actual saw/square waves thus simplifying the algorithm and freeing operators, crapping on compatibility with the DX7 in the process. and it gets a bigger screen and more knobs (think MegaFM). and multitimbrality where 1 timbre=1 midi channel plus 1 output channel and time offsets per operator for separating transient and rest of the waveform. at the same time the Volca FM is degraded to a DX7 preset loader in order to stop the asine comparisons between DX7 and Opsix. Hell, even yamaha couldn't care less making the Reface DX compatible. please add anything I've missed ;-)
@@hermask815 I've never been able to update the firmware in my Wavestate and I'm pretty sure I've tried every method I could find, although I gave up trying at some point and it's been on top of my list of gear to sell for that reason.
For everyone complaining about the screen, just buy the vst for $200. But the hardware sounds so much better than the vst. I use my Wavestate with the librarian and it’s awesome.
This one looks like a proper keyboard instrument. Never understood what's the use of those shrunk and castrated keyboards that Korg flooded the whole market with.
I guess they thought 'keyboard players' are in the minority - today it's just lot's of folks making music at home, with no intention to go out and play live. I have a MK1, but MIDI'd to a 5 octave controller - but I find it annoying, I prefer an instrument to be a stand-alone entity.
Hi, great video! I am a bit confused. Is it possible in the mk1 version to load user samples? and if yes is it available the same memory capacity for user samples in both versions?
am i getting this wrong? on a FM synth you design a timbre and play it at different pitches(a.k.a notes) alongside other instruments. this seems like a mixture of a daw/tracker/mpc in hardware with 4 lanes and extensive library attached (korg manuals : wavestate mk1 : voice name list (PDF)) or what would your definition be?
Wave sequencing is really like no other synth (except to a certain degree modwave) - I recommend watching the tips section as well as my first video linked in the description to understand what makes it special.
I know this isn't a major thing, however the tiny micro screen for menu diving is really sad. Of all the space on the hardware, Korg really could have improved the screen size so users aren't burning their eyesockets out trying to acheive menu options. I have the wavestate II
That’s where the software comes in..
Especially as my M3 has a huge touchscreen from about 15 years ago. It’s not like Korg don’t have the technology.
Oh well native is more fun for me
@@timdanyo898but then you need to have your pc running just to mess with your synth. Considering how much empty space er is on the synth I feel a bigger screen is a no brainer =x
@@timdanyo898 it's a hardware synth, not software synth, it was designed to be use as stand alone, it's nothing more than an inadequate VST controller, a bad one at that.
At 9:39
From the manual: Hold ENTER and press < or > to scroll through the different routings.
Alternatively, you can cursor through each parameter, one by one; cursoring right from Int Mod Src goes to the Source
parameter of the next routing.
A scroll-bar on the right side of the display shows the current location in the list.
No need to scroll all of them one at a time!
I appreciate how, at the 14 minute mark, you scored Bjork's entire next album with a slight adjustment to a factory preset. ❤ Wonderful insights throughout as always.
The original Wavestate has been the synth I've reached for the most often ever since I got it... So enjoyable to level up musical ideas with this instrument
Hats off to you for taking the time and effort to research this very complex synth and present it so beautifully. Thanks!
I just got my Wavestate about a month ago. Endless hours have since disappeared into the predawn hours as I experiment with mutated esoteric presets and creating compositions. For the price vs. range of interesting and relevant features, there's nothing else like it, at least that I know of. As always, appreciate your well articulated and detailed tutorials.
That is what the original Wavestation EX did for me and still love it the best of all my keyboards to this day, the Motif XS is close but I find the EX easier to use and program.
Great review as always. I do think Korg missed an opportunity here to really make this an enhanced version... I own the mk1 and love it - no need for me to upgrade though
Forums: "I wish korg would release a module version"
Korg: "Ok, one extended keyboard coming right up!"
...in two colours.
True, but Korg could have made the desktop mod versions too! They had almost zero investment to do this. Drop price by maybe 100.00 and make more profit? Blows my mind how corporations function! Instead, no after touch 2k controll? Good luck on that venture. 😂
Lol 😂
Still wish they made a module version
Word!
You can make your own module version, people have been cutting off the keybed.
You can also buy module kits, that are reversible but not that cheap.
I cut my keybed off, it was actually pretty simple.
@@emlyfox I need a UA-cam video how lol i don’t want to pay for the “kit”
Nice review as always Loopop! I think Korg missed the boat here on the MK2, if you have MK1 it's more than enough. But hey, you got options now.
It's like nothing else I've ever heard the scope for sound creation is limitless. Great demo and examples, thanks 👍
Just like modular synth folks may spend far more time patching a sound than they spend actually using it, lol, you may spend far more time programming a sound or performance than you actually end up using it. But if you don't already have an excellent pro romper like the Krome EX or M50, then you'll get even more use out of this baby for its great bread and butter sounds.
Very cool. Wish there was a keyless desktop version
a third party mod company makes a case to house the mk1 chassis after removing the keys
@@bassguitar2709 Tall Dog Electronics, yes
Just by a cheap laptop and vst. Still way ahead of the game! Any modern cpu can run this just fine! I am building dedicated mini desktops that will each host a single vst, dedicated midi controller, and small portable monitor. I get super advanced synths that act like hardware, but with unlimted flexibility. No brainer. If u play live, this setup still works great. If one goes down, they all don't go down unlike daw setups. 😊
@@Curious_Skeptic This is what Roland have done 20 years ago with MV-8800.
A pc with only vst installed and good control over it.
@@xchalibur77 exactly. Older roland gear had vga out. Even the old samplers!! Optional mouse and keyboard. Think roland had a pen pad as well. S770? Long time ago.
Nice with the full-width keyboard. Shame about all the non-utilised space for more knobs and larger screen, but OK, it would have required a new PCB and price increase, essentially a Wavestate 2.
I like to stack gear _on_ the unused space of another. Like the (unused) speakers of a stage piano. Wide enough for a 37-key synth to sit on. The front two feet rest on the stage piano, for the rear two feet you need to find something to support it (e.g., a piece of wood).
Great review, sold me, the SE Platium is $900 off now only from Korg Direct, in November, can't wait, have two Wavestation EX's I just love can't wait to see what the SE can do!
I love the sound of this synth. I hope the VST goes on sale sometime soon.
It’s not horribly expensive even at full price. Not like some of the premium softsynths with a sample library this deep, which cost 500-600.
There are amazing bargains to be had on the mark 1 brand new. Got mine a couple of years ago and it’s a brilliant addition to any setup.
What an excellent walk thru... Makes me appreciate my MK1 even more... thanks for making this💚
Great synth but also a missed oportunity. The SE should have a touch screen similar to the Waldorf Iridium so you can work effectively with sound programming without the need of a computer.
Thanks for this precious video about the features of the Wavestate Se. These keyboard is clearly a new version on the wavestation but, in my opinion, it has also something that remember the Korg Karma, one tho most underestimated keyboard of all time. 😊
Aww maaaaan. Now I have to get this one too. You can now load your own samples….sweeeet. Love my Wavestate. Thank you for the review.
You can load your own samples into the original wavestate too
Upgrade the software version if it is an early model. (easiest with a Mac. Sheer f'ing hell on a pc)
@@loopop 🙏🏾 thank you
Good to hear Wave Sequencing 2.0 is alive 👍 The minor changes to MKII prove that KORG's Wavestate OG already was a mature product, especially after numerous substantial updates via firmware. SE is no option for me due to its sheer size (and price, given it still doesn't support polyphonic aftertouch). BTW: I'd loved to have seen AT on the MKII. Thanks for the execellent re- and over-view (useful for OG owbers, too!), Ziv 🙏
Fantastic synth in all versions and great demo! Slightly disappointed the Mk2 still doesn't have aftertouch - with so many cool modulation options it's just nice to be able to apply modulation by pressing the key so your other hand is free for play other synths. Still, like I said: it's a fantastic synth and the SE is awesome!
Does the SE have the same additions that the mk2 has?
@@manny7662 The SE has more voice polyphony (120 voices) whereas the Mk2 has 96 voices.
Loved my wavestate but I sold it. I would get so into designing cool sounds and sequences but that was also the problem with it, just too time consuming so it had to go unfortunately but maybe one day when I have all the time in the world I'll get back in lol
Sounds like euro. Spend all day producing sounds, not music. Not a bad thing though😊
Yes, desktop-only is missing for all three of Wavestate, Modwave, and Opsix!
People asked for a desktop unit with less shit screen, so they stuck an even bigger keyboard to it and kept the screen tiny with cramped controls.
Absolutely epic troll move, you love to see it 😂
BFD... it has a software editor - which is awesome in how it provides feedback on parameter changes.
I’m not surprised they didn’t re-manufacture the screen. There’s still a chip and electronics shortage, and they have already manufactured a ton of that type of screen for all their recent products. People are so demanding even when their demands make no sense for a business to implement, and cry like children when their own personal demands weren’t met. And at a Behringer-cheap price point.
I’m not saying a bigger screen wouldn’t be great, what i’m saying is get real, Korg is a business operating during a parts shortage.
Loopop video! Korg! What a great half an hour to end my Monday on a great note! 😏
Any reason for that joystick placement other than to inspire an onslaught of hilarious memes? 😂
It’s for that forth hand
It is ridiculous! 😅
HOLY SMOKES! A full keyboard???
Epic tunes, as always! Keep rocking! 🎸🔥♥
the empty areas are for laying down your head and dozing off to the dreamy tones
I totally missed that!
You are the best reviewer, period.
Wow I was thinking yesterday that the should make a mk2 and woke up to this. I have the original and love it, my fav synth of all time, and I have owned a lot
Finally. This is actually interesting. I'm not sure I like the sound but it brings something new to the market. Innovative.
Ah Loopop, one of my favorite synth demo channels.
Still missing the simple functionality we had in the original Wavestations where we could crossfade between the different waves within a wave sequence using a controller like the modwheel, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence. Even on the Kronos, when choosing the modwheel to control the positioning within the WaveSeq, the xFade functionality just stops working for whatever reason, enabling us to only do hard changes between the waves. I wish the Wavestate allowed us to do this too but from what I've seen (and tried) so far, it's not possible :S Only way to do such a thing with our own samples is either getting an old Wavestation and using third party cards with them or code our own software solution for it. If only they'd allow us to load custom samples in the iWavestation app on the iPad (or the WS app on the Korg Legacy version for PC/Mac) that would be perfect! :)
Couldn't this be done by utilising two layers and setting up a controller like the modwheel to fade in one layer, while fading out the other layer, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence?
That's the main reason I got rid of mine. Wave sequences are strictly time-based here, cannot modulate the wave pointer with anything else than time. The other reason is that Korg keeps neglecting the MPE standard: it would have been a dream, with that limitless mod matrix, even more so on the modwave. Oh well.
@@straighttalk2069 you can do this with using all 4 layers using the vector stick. The problem is when needing to do this with more than 4 sounds. On the Wavestation, being able to xFade between steps using a controlller meant you could xFade between even 255 sounds if you wanted to (though such a thing would exhaust the bank's limit of steps pretty quickly 😅). I was just hoping a Wavestate firmware update or the mk2 would give us step xFades on controllers rather than having to 'play back' the sequence but then again i suppose if they haven't even (fully) done it for the Kronos, what are the odds of doing it on the Wavestate? Wishfull thinking I suppose ^^
yes to this day I find it very strange they took one of the greatest sound morphing platforms of all time and evolved it into a supercharged rhythm generatror. the core idea of the original is missing.
@@towardstar I'd think the core idea would be WaveSequences, and on that front they indeed evolved it in quite interesting ways. Still, I don't get it why they'd take such an awesome feature out :( As I said in the previous comment, they kinda let us control the sequence with a controller (without needing to 'play' it) in Kronos but when doing so the xFades get disabled. I wish they gave us that kind of functionality in either Kronos or any of the Wavestates :( If that was to happen I'd instantly buy one! I'm sure there's a lot more of us missing that kind of thing ^^
$2,000 for the SE. Korg’s Reverb’s store has extensive info
Who would overpay that much?
@@d3tuned378 Yeah as beautiful as the SE is, that price tag is really a little high frankly, as I don't think it brings that much more to the table than the original model.
@@sonarfreqFor around 2 grand, I'd pick up a Kodamo Mask1 instead. Support the little guys.
I understand why the markII looks the same as the original - that's fine.
However the premium SE model should have had a better quality screen (IMO). I'd much rather not take the compulsory stitched luggage case and instead have a better quality display. I think ASM Hydrasynths made better choices in their decisions regarding design priorities for each product tier.
I really love my WaveState of the generative music ideas it can generate, no other hardware synth can really do that, with high quality samples.
Wonderful dive into this impressive instrument. Thank you loopop. I'm a Wavestate Native user but would spring for this standalone if it had a good size screen (like the one they have on Nautilus or Kronos maybe?).
I wish more synths did mod processors. They are under valued, and may be even more innovative than the concept of separate length lanes. A mod processor is basically a customizable calculation inside a modulation route. Like modulate a with b but just by adding or multiplying a with b but by using a function f that specifies how a will effect b. The EaganMatrix can do it and the Korgs (Wavestate, Modwave) can do it, although the Mod processors only have a limited set of options to pick from for what the function f will be. And for the rest I don’t know any other synths that can do it.
Kurzweil synths?
Alchemy in Logic has up to 16 Mod maps which can do all this kind of stuff.
@@autonomoushologram6072 cool! I don’t know alchemy yet though I recently started with Logic. Would like to see it in hardware synths though.
@@jantuitman Guess it's always going to be trickier and costlier to implement more "niche", complex functionality like this in hardware, esp when it requires dedicated physical controls or space. Even with pure digital hardware synths its pretty difficult to implement in a user friendly, usable way, Software definitely has the big advantage here imo. Alchemy is pretty amazing, and can do a lot of stuff that's kind-of similar-ish to the Wavestate.... and a lot more the Wavestate can't do. Its modulation options are ridiculous - up to 16 each of LFO, Envelopes, MSEGs, Env Followers, Step Sequncers and a massively flexible perform section, as well as the afore mentioned Mod Maps. Def worth checking out if you are into flexible complex modulation possibilities. Other software synths that have this kind of stuff include Equator and Cypher 2 from Roli, Zebra by U-He. In the hardware world, there are also plenty of options for Eurorack / modular for function generators and other interesting / crazy modulation options, but obviously that's a whole other kettle of expensive and time-consuming fish.
Brilliant, thank you and nice to see the Wavestate getting some love. It is an inspiring synth. One thing, do you know if they've improved stability issues? Using WS1 live is a joy but tempered by fear of occasional inexplicable lock-ups.
Thanks! I've not had this lock up at all despite extensive use, except once when I was using the Editor to save a patch to the synth
Thanks @@loopop. Has been reported elsewhere and acknowledged by support. Can happen when some rhythmic performances are set to hold and flipped between during a set. I guess it's a memory limit issue.
Have had a Wavestate since they came out and use it pretty frequently and have never personally had a crash. 🤷♂️ ymmv
You need two phd to understand it :)
It is good but somehow I felt it is not good in any setup (with other synth) so finally I sold it. Btw there were always connection problems between the editor soft and the synth.
Thanks for the review! 👍
I really like the wavestate 2 engine and the sounds it can make. Only thing I was missing to its engine was a send reverb. So we could have no reverb for drums or bass layers. It really just a code thing to implement, that can make this synth so much more flexibale.
That “I think we’re alone now” beat though!
What are the labels below the bank buttons? Why didn't you talk about those? Those are new. Good review for those that are already familiar with older ones, not so much if brand new to wavestate.
In EU it's 933EUR = 1019USD! It would be nice if Korg release desktop module version for mk2 following Minilogue XD example...
Starting around 19:10 in the video; the shape lane on the pc interface creates an optical illusion of parallel lines going diagonal.
I love the Wavestate original version. If one wants to create sonic soundscapes never heard before this is the synth to get. Absolutely exceptional synth.
Excellent as always, thank you so much for these videos.
As always, well executed review. Thank you! Can not understand why they did not add a bigger screen ... Hm, does this imply that there will be an Opsix MKII???
I'm not sure the Opsix was that popular sadly (although I bought one just before it was discontinued). The Modwave MKII though might be a possibility?
@KORG: my wish is an AU Version for iPadOS.
imagine controlling all parameters with your finger instead of noodeling on the small hardware menu or use a mouse on the native.
thx a lot for the vid 🙏🏻👌🏽
i have the native version and use it a lot
@nebula393iWavestation is the ultimate waiting room synth, it keeps me entertained for hours
What an intro! Like, WOW! Did you make that patch, Sir? Jawdroppingly awesome... Thanx for yet another brilliant review, Sir.
Was probably two patches..
Thanks! It's actually 4 patches - 1 mine, 3 factory - they're really good...
I recently bought a mint condition mk1 for roughly 400, and I love it, however I did not expect the native software to be (as far as I am aware) the only way to use it as a plug-in with Logic. Certainly not if it costs anything additional. I had incorrectly assumed that the free/factory editor and the native plug-in were identical, the former being only the companion for the hardware, and could be used as a VST plug-in as long as the keyboard is connected, and that the native option was simply a standalone version that could be used with or without the hardware. I did not consider the possibility that the only way to control the unit thru logic would be another 50 bones. Having the hardware should save me 100%, not 75%. I don’t care how much I’m saving by getting 75% off retail, you’re still making me spend 100% more than I should have to lol..
All things considered, it is absolutely among my favorite pieces of gear, right after the polybrute. Not nearly in the same universe as far as build quality, but as far as how much I enjoy it, definitely.
Outstanding video as anticipated, thank you!
I have the Mk1, but surely after the release of the Native version, don’t all of these just become fancy controllers?
Fancy? My $200.00 midi controller has after touch and at least 2.5 times to knobs and sliders. Lol. This is 100% a limited audience product. I am not sure who that audience is, but they must be out there.
The Korg guys are on fire!!!
Amazing video as always!!!
They really should have made a module version so I could control it with my hydrasynth deluxe... When is the Opsix MKII coming...
I've sold my wavestate but still have the VST version. Let's wait and see where the price will settle for the SE, I'd really love one with a 5 octave keyboard. Increasing the voice count is very important, voice stealing can be very annoying at times (it will "steal" the voices from a free running rhythm causing it to stop). I am definitely tempted.
Using a bandaid made of poo, wont improve things at all.
Same horrible screen, horrible UI, 3 times asking $, workflow is abysmal without the software.
This isn't even a good MIDI controller by any stretch of the imagination.
Buy a good midi controller with aftertouch. Don't waste money on this kit! Makes zero logical sense imho. How does Korg miss aftertouch? Worse, that stupid screen! In 2023 not to include a vibrant touch screen is really sad and worth passing on. I can bang out a long list of better spent money. Take the price of mk2, subtract from se, and divide that by number of additional keys, equal just how much you paid per key. Lol. To help cut to the chase, $54. per additional key😂. Likewise, 700 x 3 at 2100.00 is about the cost of one SE wavestate. No matter how u cut it, lame. Zero justification for price vs value!
Thank you very much for the video review!
If they make an opsix in this format, I'm sold.
I hate all of this blank space wasted. They could have added more controls for less menu diving. Screen also could have been bigger with touch. Wasted opportunity.
It’s a nod to the classic 01/w, where the same terrible layout was used for all the versions.
Ya, they have a lower end touch screen on their krome workstations. It isn't as responsive as the Kronos but it works just fine. So they already have the tech in place.
The plus side is that you can easily stack other sound modules on top!😊
Yes I would have thought they would have put an editor view in there but it would probably have doubled the price.
Wish they would add a master cutoff filter
Is a big screen unbelievably expensive for a manufacturer to include in the production? Roland is guilty of this as well.
Companies have to know we are visual, whether that's good or bad for music produciton. I get the argument to focus on the music, but a big screen would be a nice option to have.
The Tasty Chips GR-1 has a 7” screen and sells at the same retail price. Korg is just pitiful these days. I started making electronic music exclusively with Korg because they were great for my beginner level, but I’m proud to not own anything from Korg currently.
As a MK1 owner, I've been waiting for the SE, but now am not going to bother. All Korg have done is chuck the circuits into a larger box, without even considering workflow. This synth is so vast in terms of editing it needs a bigger screen - and I don't want to be tethered to a computer every time I feel inspired.
Sounds like the original Bladerunner soundtrack, i guess some similarities to the Fairlight I think was all over that. This is that soundtrack in a box. So cool.
When will Korg give us a merger of Opsix, Wavestate and Modwave in one synth? That's be something new and exciting to experience ❤
absolute insanity, might be close to Kronos-tier, and would likely be similarly-priced
The Opsix is a whole different animal, but there's a lot of overlap between the Wavestate and the Modwave that would have made for a better single synthesizer, combining the more powerful wave sequencing of the Wavestate with the wavetable wave scanning of the Modwave. That's one thing that frustrates me about Korg: they have a tendency to release lines of products with disappointing missed opportunities where they could have done something spectacular with the innovative things that they develop but instead stop short, seemingly for marketing reasons.
This is definitely at the top of my bucket list for next year. My very close friend 'ex' will have a duckfit at me if I got one this year...... after only recently getting a Deepmind 12 and a Korg PA 600 a year ago ;- ;-)
Good business using you for quality control, among other things.
The smaller form factor is better because I usually pair mine with the Modwave
This is a very complex synth. More complex than hydra. Thanks for the review.
The 2 synths are totally different so cannot really be compared.
You have lane sequencing on the WS and only an ARP on the HS.
Then you have sample based on the WS and Wavetable on the HS.
Then how you set up the modulation on the HS. Add the PAT keybed and the 2 synths aren't even comparable.
@@dankeplace I know. I was just referring to the degree of programming complexity. But thanks.
Great video as always Senior L Pop. Curious, do you have patches/libraries for Moog Subsequent 37?
Thanks! Sorry no I don't
Yooooooo been waiting so long for the SE!;!! Happy happy
thank you. excellent presentation
Thanks for the great review! I have a simple question. Can it be used in multitimbral mode? I'd like to play a sound with an external keyboard with left hand, while play a solo on the right hand. Is this function possible?
Great presentation! Your thoughts on Wavestate SE vs. Opsix SE for Ambient music and ease of use. Thank you.
Thanks! For ambient music, I'd lean towards Wavestate personally - both are easy to use if you're just playing the presets an endless rabbit hole of textures and complexity if you're willing to dive in
Is that the Castlevania opening ??
Wait... They didn't add separate audio outputs for parts neither in MK2 and SE?? Strange decision
Looks really cool
Actually left and right would be enough space to implement Opsix and Modwave in one Unit. :P
They still didn't add the per-layer reverb sends? Weird, the modwave has had them since the beginning, and it has only two layers rather than four, so they would be even more useful here.
It's a very interesting piece of hardware, It's a shame that the unit still has very limited integration with the native VST in your DAW, otherwise; I think it would be a lot more popular for people who work both in and outside of the box.
The Native plugin works nicely within a DAW
A bigger screen and input/sample section would have been nice. Probably 2/3 of the hardware is empty.
ok now I might finally get one. ps. will there be a modwave & opsix SE?;)
Would love to hear what you do with it! Re the others unfortunately I couldn’t say even if I knew
Thank you loopop for this review. Now let's speak og the price :
- Korg Wavestate MKII : *890 €* | Korg Wavestate SE MKII : *2,190 €*
So the gap between the both : *1300 €* . 1300 € for what ? Two octaves more, 120-96 =24 voices more and aftertouch.
Is there anyone here who think this deserves such a gap in price ? Except for the 24 voices, it's easy to get a 61 keys synth or master kb with aftertouch for a fraction of this price.
Once more, Korg is out of range (as Korg did with the Prologue 16 wich has been a complete commercial flop, partly because of its price).
If you look at this price range, there is a huge rivalry, and a some are very powerful.
It does come with what looks like a nice case, so that's a couple hundred there... But really I don't know. It's way too much
Yes the price difference is very high. Even the for MKII is too high. But I think we should wait a bit and see real street prices. I guess these are more or less MRRP.
The extra plastic on the enclosure is really expensive. That’s why there’s no additional controls there to help users master this mindf**k of a sequencer, the extra holes to drill and additional pcbs and knobs and buttons would make it cost double 😅 Korg has lost it, they’re not making any meaningful updates to their hardware.
@@captainlovett4724 the sequencer isn't that bad to use, it takes a while to get used to it but it's really fun. I have a mk1
@@ncapone87 ...and better build quality.
Beautiful dream that must come true 😊
A question, if I have Wavestate SE hardware and I should want to use it as a unique sound generator for various midi tracks in my DAW, may I assign each sound to a specific midi channel in order to use many of them contemporaneously?
(About sound I mean a combination of multiple layers and not a single layer)
No, it can only run one set of up to 4 layers (performance) at a time. But in that case why not just use the plugin
@@loopop Ok so, you are telling me that theWavestate Native can do what I described? If yes I will use the software but...I loved the Wavestation and I didn't get it on 90's and I really want to have the new baby 🥰
For my needs I can use the plugin if it works for this ...but with future hardware anyway 😊 I would have preferred to save money😂
@@federicovalmassoni3827 you can use as many instances of the native plug-in as you want as long as your CPU will allow
@@loopop Thanks for your confirmation 👍🏻🙂
Can you adjust the sensitivity of the after-touch to increase it?
I may have missed it but there's no global way to adjust it. You can of course change the mod depth of aftertouch every time you assign it to something
25:10 Techno Viking has been summoned!
Now we need a Modwave II
And the Optwelve !
@@SantiagoGT15
capable of reading all presets of less than twelve operators Fm synths
and replacing all branches of algorithms that used sine waves to mimic saw/square waves with actual saw/square waves thus simplifying the algorithm and freeing operators, crapping on compatibility with the DX7 in the process.
and it gets a bigger screen
and more knobs (think MegaFM).
and multitimbrality where 1 timbre=1 midi channel plus 1 output channel
and time offsets per operator for separating transient and rest of the waveform.
at the same time the Volca FM is degraded to a DX7 preset loader in order to stop the asine comparisons between DX7 and Opsix.
Hell, even yamaha couldn't care less making the Reface DX compatible.
please add anything I've missed ;-)
@@hermask815 I've never been able to update the firmware in my Wavestate and I'm pretty sure I've tried every method I could find, although I gave up trying at some point and it's been on top of my list of gear to sell for that reason.
For everyone complaining about the screen, just buy the vst for $200. But the hardware sounds so much better than the vst. I use my Wavestate with the librarian and it’s awesome.
Desktop modules please Korg. 🙏🏻
The sweetwater link is for the discontinued model.
Thanks for letting me know - I fixed it!
Why is the screen so small!? Beautiful demo.
idiocy is why 🫤
This one looks like a proper keyboard instrument. Never understood what's the use of those shrunk and castrated keyboards that Korg flooded the whole market with.
The use is same sound and controls, lower cost and portability
I guess they thought 'keyboard players' are in the minority - today it's just lot's of folks making music at home, with no intention to go out and play live.
I have a MK1, but MIDI'd to a 5 octave controller - but I find it annoying, I prefer an instrument to be a stand-alone entity.
Hi, great video! I am a bit confused. Is it possible in the mk1 version to load user samples? and if yes is it available the same memory capacity for user samples in both versions?
Thanks! Yes, and yes
Thank you for your rapid response!
nice. I wish there was a 19" rack version.
Sold the small original version and got the vst but i kept the Opsix hardware
Not bad thanks Looper
Is the bottom of the Wavestation SE keybed made of metal or the same as the Nautilus 88 keys (which is not) ?
how do you possibly learn this much about this many synths!?!?
one at a time
am i getting this wrong?
on a FM synth you design a timbre and play it at different pitches(a.k.a notes) alongside other instruments.
this seems like a mixture of a daw/tracker/mpc in hardware with 4 lanes and extensive library attached (korg manuals : wavestate mk1 : voice name list (PDF))
or what would your definition be?
Wave sequencing is really like no other synth (except to a certain degree modwave) - I recommend watching the tips section as well as my first video linked in the description to understand what makes it special.