Everything Korg: What's Next For The Wavestate/opsix/Modwave Line?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 сер 2024
- Last week I was privileged to be a guest on the Senior Synth Show, along with Henrick (JX3D), Marc Barnes of Angelstar, and Dan Phillips, of Korg R&D California - the father of the Wavestate. I was able to ask Dan a lot of questions and get some information on what is happening with the Wavestate line, the fate of the Wavestate SE, what else might be coming out, and more. I'm including Dan's comments in this video.
The full three-hour video: • Senior Synth Stream 8 ...
My rant on tiny screens: • The Scourge of Tiny Sy...
Marc Barnes' Angelstar Channel: / barnmarc
Korg Wavestate:
amzn.to/3Jj3KJA
www.awin1.com/...
Korg opsix:
amzn.to/3JhCETb
www.awin1.com/...
Korg ModWave:
amzn.to/3Xc6jCH
www.awin1.com/...
My keyboard Z stand: amzn.to/3Ix5xuF
Z stand extra tier: amzn.to/3XtVpa6
My keyboard A frames: amzn.to/3YwAPav
My silver keyboard covers: amzn.to/40VySFx
My black keyboard covers: amzn.to/3Gt5oXz
0:00 Intro
1:18 Chip Shortages
2:37 Wavestate Discontinued?
3:25 What Happened to the Wavestate SE?
4:47 Wavestate Aftertouch Patches
5:55 Aftertouch Source in Wavestate Native
8:05 Controls on Wavestate - Design Paradigm
11:40 Patch Storage Concepts
14:08 What's Coming in the Future? More Raspberry Pi synths?
16:52 Module Versions?
19:46 The Future of Korg Synths
23:49 Why the Small Screens?
29:33 New Synths in the Wavestate/opsix/Modwave platform?
#Korg #Wavestate
Korg, Wavestate, opsix, Modwave, Dan Phillips, JX3D, Marc Barnes, Angelstar
And now we know why the Wavestate was discontinued on Sweetwater! :)
Yeah, but I'm deeply disappointed!! They put the engine in a metal enclosure, put a larger keyboard with a bit of channel AT on it and charge 3 times the price of an original???? ASM doubled the engine and expanded the memory for a mere 30% more money. That's how you do it. At least they ship the Wavestate SE with a nice case, witch I very much appreciate.
Very interesting material. As a musician hobbyist and an IT engineer I think - like in IT domain - the future of Hardware Synths will be much more linked to software part (compute, algorithms) and not hardware per se. I love hardware synths for their main advantage - fast, clear, repeatable interaction that immediately affects sound. We can interact very logically and predictably using everyday same buttons and knobs... What's more, a firmware upgrade is a fantastic part of every Hardware synth that give us more new features (I am waiting for 3.0 for opsix :-) ) and refresh the hardware even after few years.
I can also imagine that in the future we will find some Hardware synths 'as a platform'. The first step it will be a purchase of a 'Hardware box' with multiple knobs, faders, buttons and screen and the main 'Synthesizer firmware inside. There can be premium version with wood, metal elements or better hardware inside maybe... Then the next step will be to buy - as a software package with online unlock a totally new synthesis engine for same Hardware box already purchased. Of course it can be difficult to switch from full analog synth to virtual analog or FM using same PCBs platform but who knows.
An opsix II that with new software can be transformed to Wavestate .... a magic 🙂
From the other hand we know well that every dedicated, well refined Hardware Synth is more unique Thing than similar, boring and repetitive universal platforms.... But it always depends of the musician needs and a budget.
For sure all HW keyboard versions should be simply transformed in Rack version with a bit lower price.
Anyway many thanks for Korg for the large selection of physical synths with different taste and character.
Opsix SE is out - but man what a mark up on the 37 key version! Great video by the way. Really interestsing to hear Dan talk.
Literally two days after you posted this did the wavestate se come to fruition!
Yes, I was talking to Dan just a couple of days later and he said, "not very well timed, unfortunately." :)
Great vid and I'll check out the long version. When asked about the future poor Dan looked at first like the cat that ate the canary but eventually looked like the IRS just knocked on his door.
I like Dan’s realistic view on engineering, manufacturing, cost etc. to me the cost of these synths is so low , I don’t know how they make money. I can tell you all that $100 today is like $10 in the 80s and 90s. It is really that kind of ratio you used to be able to work for $10 an hour and own a house now if you make $100 an hour you’re probably not going to be able to buy a house the same goes with the history of synths. In the 80s I made about three dollars an hour for a very long time. A professional synthesizer cost thousands of dollars and you got a fraction of what you get now. It was virtually impossible for myself and any of my musician friends to buy a professional synthesizer. I’ve had to wait a very long time and I’m very happy I got to live long enough to enjoy so many wonderful machines. Great interview with the guys and I hope somebody from Korg reads these comments and that myself and many others appreciate what you have done. We are so lucky. I think a lot of people have lost perspective on cost versus return. These synthesizers are absolutely amazing..
I gave my Wavestate to a young cousin with musical aspirations - very versatile instrument with rhythms, sequences, lots of fun and immediate sound design possibilities. I missed my synth before he walked out the door, even knowing I did a good thing which may result in decades of love for synthesis and keyboard playing. I think of that synth every day. Loved it. If and when the SE is released I will purchase immediately.
Korg just have announced the SE.
@@sonic_trek 120 voice polyphony; aftertouch keys; extended keyboard; metal construction with an included case? The SE is a definite purchase for me. Thanks for the heads up!
This video was brought to you by my gear acquisition syndrome search history 😂 looks like my wallet is about to take a HIT
I’m forcing myself to make do with what I have (original Minilogue and an MS2000) and not give into the GAS!
Thanks for the summary. I was thinking of doing a video like this, but you saved me the work - Look forward to see you again soon ;-)
Thanks Hendrick! Honestly, I was crammed for time for a video this week, so this was kind of a cheat. :)
I want to thank Dan and Marc and all the unnamed teamfor creating the WaveState. I have a now non-working Wavestation EX which I loved and used for live planetarium shows. This is so much better, with sound possibilities that extend far beyond my imagination or capabilities. And I'd like to stress, as a retired senior, that the low price point made it possible to have the vastest, spaciest synth which never would have happened. A lot of us out here don't have disposable thousands for modern day pro synths. But the Wavestate's sound can hold its own anywhere. I use mine to create environments which we leave running in the house, chimes and crickets or urban sounds, barely audible but they become the fabric of the room. One request, please somebody make a soundset of the glittery synth sounds of the Ozric Tentacles. I could never justify buying another synth when there is so much unexplored territory right in front of me. Thank you again for making this final chapter of my life exciting with things to look forward to instead of just winding down and wrapping up. Love your animals!
Great discussion. Very helpful to get an update on the continuing supply chain issues. Thanks for sharing!
Dan is pleasant . I enjoyed this show . and after meeting marc and his wife at superbooth... I am a fan of him and his wife. such nice people
They really are!!!
Korg needs some new products soon. The Prologue/Minilogue line and the Volca line have dried up, the newer digital synths seemed like they had stalled as well.
Sounds like there are plans for the digital synth platform. Korg will need some strong offerings to compete with Roland's digital fleet of affordable Zencore, Aira and related products (S-1, SH4d, MC, etc).
The analog synth line including Volca has gone quiet, unsure if Korg wants be active here again and face a hard battleground against the affordable vintage recreations from Behringer.
If the Korg digital line uses RPi then something they could consider is supporting user oscillators or effects similar to what the -logue series could do. That would be something unique that Roland couldn't match.
For me the absolute best thing they could do with this line would be a dual engine version in a 5 octave poly AT keybed synth. The modwave and wavestate share around 80% of the interface and would only need some well thought out labeling depending on the model loaded. The opsix shares enough that on a 5 octave synth you would easily have room for its unique parts as well. Even if you had to cut polyphony in half with a split/layer patch (dedicated outs per layer please) it would still be fantastic. Priced somewhere around $1500 (definitely at least a fair but under $2k) they would never be able to make enough of them.
I am a wavetable person with 3 Blofelds, a Sledge and a Modwave.
I would like to see an upgrade to the Modwave, as in my books it goes head to head with the Blofeld, but with a different programming paradigm.
Hope to see a Modwave MK2, as I struggle with keeping two layers under the 32 note polyphony with my playing style.
First video I have seen on this channel.
Keep up the good work!
This is such an interresting look behind the Korg scene - thanks a dollup !
For me at least the smaller screens work just fine in Wavestate/Opsix/Modwave. There are so many physical controls on these instruments that the screens are just right for showing what's worked on at the moment. Also Dan is right, the moment you put something fancy on a synthesizer it is immediately compared to smartphones, tablets and laptops, and will generally lose in this comparison (it will never make sense to use such a high quality display on a synth, it is all about the sound in the end). But another reason for small displays in these instruments is lack of computing power, esp. considering that a single CM3 is handling everything.
Also, a wish list would be a ton of cv connection. I can imagine a Opsix that is semi modular . Maybe it doesn’t work with raspberry Pi
The wave state is my fav synth of all time. I use it every day. It is the greatest thought out instrument in history. There are a few things I wish it would do that could probably be fixed in firmware .the number one wish is that there is a way to have a master filter on it. Maybe there’s a way to do it but I don’t know. Also, if they had separate outs for each layer, I would gladly pay a lot of extra for that feature for it to go out of USB as four channels audio into the daw. Other than that it is just so insane every time I use it I just can’t believe how powerful it is and I’ve had it since it came out.. and the Opsix is also maybe one of the greatest synths ever made. I had been dreaming of something like it since the mid-90s when I first learning FM synthesis I think that a lot of people don’t understand it and therefore are turned off by it but it is so deep it’s so amazing. I wish I could share you some patches on here, I think eventually people will figure out the power of the Opsix and it will become very valuable. I don’t know how they can even improve it but if they make a mark two, I will buy it in a second .FYI to any of you that are reading this, the biggest secret weapon of Opsix is the sequencer with the randomizer. The only thing that I can think of to make this better is if you could load samples like in the SY 77 which I had and regret selling. If that synth had more knobs on it for control. It would have been one of the greatest of all time.
Hours later the SE is in my cart! The rack version of the Modwave came out in the 90’s. EX-8000!
When Korg put out the Ms20 mini in early 2013 and Arturia put out the MiNibrute mono analog also in 2012 2013? I believe that opened up the new generation synths the next 10 years.
Korg Wavestate SE - 1999.99. Korg Wavestate SE Platinum - 2199.99 USD
Thank you Scott. Of course now we know the deal as the Wavestate SE and 61 key version is official. Unfortunately same dinky screen. The computer interface side is OK but limited and does not reflect OSC or envelope changes etc. The Native seems awesome. I am a couple weeks from purchasing the MODX7+. Now there's a screen. Drag and dropping performances around the screen for live sets? Wow. And no one should be complaining about the sounds coming out of that box.
I've sold my wavestate and only use the VST now. But I would definitely love a full 5 octave version.
I know all are saying the big workstations is dead, but Korg has propably one of the biggest knowlede base of cutting edge tech since the Oasys project, and tech dev may have surpassed what that idea original was with the Industry went for a more open approach with VST’s. But Korg could be more listening to their custommers. They seem to be more upfront today with what I call their “gadget” synth’s than they ever were with the Kronos, and yet it’s the Kronos that put Korg where it is today, but lets face it, there is many committed users that is worried where to go once their Kronos’es stop working and you can’t get the now ancient hardware parts, which is sad when you think that not one of the competitors has surpassed korgs “Mothership” for the last 2 decades. Even there is plenty room for more user friendly features and expanded features with it now being a fact that you could now build a Kronos 3 around one or more pi compute modules or alternativ solutions, like a system where you just add a compute module if you want more than 56 notes total mod 7 polyphonic to emulate a full TX816. Just to mention one thing. The sky is the limit with the ammount of computing power available today compared to what was available when the first Oasys boards came out that needed expensive dsp processors to even run on a pentium cpu.
I will alway be a big fan of Korg even I think they cater the fast moving edm community a bit too much, but can’t blame them since its propably the easiest way for fast revenue.
What do you think about next gen Kronos.
I think the biggest question not askes here is the big radio silence from Korg around the discontinuation of the Kronos, where Korg promised “Something is comming” and then silence. Lets Call it what it is the Nautilus was a step down to make a cheaper version to still beat an already dead cow, but yet the Kronos is still the top dog for Pro gigging keyboard players. Are Korg Dissing this whole segment of Pro people that is willing to pay 5, 6 k or more for an instrument that does it all 90% in one instrument in favor of the more affordable do one thing exeptional with cheap keybeds that really isn’t inspiring to play.
Wavestate SE review vids have been popping up the last few days so they must be close.
Korg used to be right up there with Yamaha and Roland. They’re way behind now. They’re overdue for a new flagship model big time.
Yeaa, they only seem to be interested in repackage after repackage, rerelease after rerelease of their existing synths
They should bring back the Triton or the Trinity
Tried to buy a prologue, waited forever but discontinued.
@@bcanuck Good point. They should expanded on the Prologue design. That would have been a killer instrument.
I completely disagree with that statement. It's the reverse for me, in that sense: Roland and Yamaha are obsessed with their past glory and are still trying to ride that long gone wave. How many Juno's, Jupiter's and SH have we seen, that were absolute crap. And Yamaha with their ReFace lineup was a sad joke. At least Korg has been truly innovating those past years, apart from the Wavestate and ModWave, but even those are considerable expansions/upgrades of these past synths, not just a simple copy like Roland is doing. It will be raining elephants on the day that Yahama is going to release a true replacement to their CS-80 or DX7. Anyways... that's how I see it.
would buy a Wavestate SE on release day if Korg make it happen
Thanks Scott, this was a great summary video regarding the future of Korg's compact line. Do you think the Kronos is going away or will it be supported for a while?
A solid desktop module with reasonable numbers of knobs and faders + 128 or prefably 256 voices and a descent 8 inches screen. A built-in sequencer will make it perfect.
I hope that Korg will keep its current habit and launch an 8 or even 16 polyphonic, 4-5 octave non-mini keyboard Minilogue XD, with an extended sequencer and an arpeggio that we can create.
Minilogue XD mkII?? Or Minilogue XD SE?? Hm? 👋😀
I really hope they continue to develop the native versions of the software, even if the hardware has no room to grow
an update for the prologue would be nice.
YOUR 3 TIER STAND SEEMS TO BE LEANING LEFT, NO??..
It's optical distortion from the webcam I was using for that call. It's not actually leaning like that!
@@ScottsSynthStuff
OH OK..LOL..I THOUGHT I WAS TRIPPIN'..
and I must say, I prefer working only on the WS hardware, I think not seeing everything at once can be an aid to focus. One last comment, what goes great with a Wavestate? Psychedelics!
I use to own a Korg M3, but I recently replaced it with a Yamaha Modx+7.
Hello Scott, I have watched a lot of your videos where you talk about your own collection of synths and other synths that you review, but I am really curious why I have never seen you talk about Oberheim synths. Maybe you can share your thoughts about that brand, and why it seems to be an overlooked piece of vintage gear.
I dunno, maybe you have made a video about oberheim synths that I could have missed, but I am sure I would have remembered if you had.
So, I would appreciate any thoughts you might share for others who have the same curiosity I have about Oberheim.
Thank you kindly Scott
What about a Wavestate based only on FM ? I mean a sort of Wavestate + Opsix.
Any news on what’s happening with the Nautilus/Kronos line?
These are literally vst in a box, lol! The future will be midi controllers with basic vst plug in player software. At least we know what a beast a raspberry Pi could be gor diy instruments!
as for opsix: (wishlist)
a. drop DX7 compatibility.
b. 4 assignable channels output for nts-2 oscilloscope like lfo, carrier, sound before fx and after fx. why do modular synths get all the love ?
c. xy-pad . i love it since Nintendo DS-10 times.
.
.
z: make the volca FM a DX7 preset loader for all who are not willing to make own patches and just want to load predefined sounds.
and don't bother the opsix with that. yamaha doesn't care about the DX7 that much: im looking at you, Reface "DX".
Currently i have only one Korg ( KingKorg ). I had Wavestate , Opsix and Minilogue XD and sold them after only two months. I would like to find Prologue 16....but it is hard here in Europe.
Why did you sell them after just 2 months?
How long have you had the King Korg and how would you rate it overall? I'm thinking about getting a used one.
@@IRIDEHARLEYS I've had mine for more than 5 years and, like any synth, it depends on your needs, but it's a VERY versatile synth, and my go-to whenever I go out to jam with friends. It's super light yet solid (I can lift it with one hand and manipulate a bit). This being said, all my other synths are heavy behemoths from the 70's and early 80's, except for modules, so it's an obvious choice! (Next in line would be a M1). The KK is a great synth to create new sounds, as practically every parameter is at hand. It has many types of oscillators and filters, allowing for a great diversity of tImbres and textures. It's FX section is also really diverse and intuitive, easy to quickly mod and hear iteratively. Divided in 3 sections of 6 options. So it's a great beginner's synth, but also very useful for advanced synthetist. You can spend hours building patches and saving them (has 100 preset and 100 user patches if I remember well) but there is many good commercial options to buy patches if making them isnt your thing. The controls are not flimsy, and there even is a bonus 12AX7 tube that has a gimmicky variable LED to match Tube amount at a glance. The factory tube seems to be very sturdy, but it's possible to change it. One could put a better quality tube if wanted (but it's not a simple job like changing batteries). They keybed is decent but it's a synth-action type, and while it is velocity-sensitive, I always thought it was one of the weak points of the KK and Korg should've put Aftertouch in there. But I get that they probably wanted to keep the cost down... overall, I'd recommend it, if you're open to a 5 octave synth. Not selling mine anytime soon.
@@IRIDEHARLEYS One more thing: although Korg's demos and presets lead to think this synth is for EDM/Dance/Techno style, this is not the case. It lends itself nicely to it, but I've been able to reproduce satisfactory Mellotron and old String Machine patches with it, and there's patches for Moog Modular and similar old analogs that do a great job (obviously doesn't compete with the real thing, but the tradeoff on price, portability and versatility is very favorable for the KK). Also good for piano sounds if your not too picky (incl the famous M1 piano) and very good for organs.
@@SynthOSphere thank you for the information!! I really want to get one now. I need to sell my Minilogue X D and some other gear I'm not using first though. Did you buy yours new? There is a local shop that's had one as demo for years but asking full retail price. I know the KK has been discontinued for a while now.
Next: Trident and Lambda !!
Hmm.. I am sure there's no chip shortages for Fighter jets, missiles, and enterprise computers for the government..Of course a synth and a missile are not the same yet...
Feedback: 1) I would have paid more for a better KB. I prefer a good KB or none at all (yay module versions!). 2) The native plugins need love to enhance their run speed. OpSix native is a ridiculous resource hog when no voices are sounding. I didn't buy the other two options due to this, 3) I would buy a combo KB with all three of the OpSix-sized synths in one with a larger screen, 4) What is replacing the Kronos? Please don't say the Nautilus. It is inferior. Korg needs a new flagship. Give us a hint... ;)
Update: New Dell XPS-17 hot rod laptop + Korg updates to OpSix Native and the plugin runs well. I am a happy camper in that regard.
The Opsix update process sure needs some work, otherwise I love the synth.
My Wavestate has been gathering dust since I got the software. I don’t really see the point of using it. The software gets you there so much faster. I was thinking of selling it but there are used ones everywhere. 😂
Desktop moules or rackmount if those two words are not in Korgs futur , I have little to mo interest.
Many of us have no more space for yet another keyboard , and also the quality of the keybed is terrible.
I just decided to settle for the native software version
i'd prefer a 3-4ru version se
my conspiracy theory from a desktop-version standpoint.
a. marketing only looks at the first ever synth-buyer who therefore has no midi keyboard.
b. mini or slim keys because the small-hands asia market is bigger.
screen size: i3 or ek-50 are larger and monochrome....
NEXT UP: MODWAVE SE..
I expect it momentarily...
MicroSampler?
Honestly I am disappointed by the Korg guys. I did not like their attitude. Scott was trying at his best, but the answers… well a lot of talking without saying anything.
Module desktop format
I want more new Korg stuff not more analog Moogs and Junos.
My Wavestate locks up if I try to use it as a 4 channel slave. Apparently that's a solid feature because it does it no matter what drives it, on every firmware they have released..... Mine is not the only one that does it, and I personally know of others that do the exact same thing. Sending one channel to it can make mine cap out the cpu. The synth was a really neat idea, and mine collects dust waiting for it to be worth more than what I paid for it. I am really sorry to say this after having many Korg products, but it will be my last Korg product.
This video was brought to you by my gear acquisition syndrome search history 😂 looks like my wallet is about to take a HIT
Eey-up, Jay. Fancy seeing you here!
@@garywalker7493 I’ve fallen down a very slippery slope since we last spoke 😂