I had both the SR and AD and absolutely loved the analog inputs on the AD for using the unit as a fantastic hardware fx processor and vocoder. The SR was used as a preset machine but I set the XY touch pad on my Korg Z1 using midi controllers 16 and 17 for controlling the XY vector joystick that's sadly lacking on the SR variant. I now have both the Wavestation and Wavestate plug ins.
Great video! I have a WS-1...I loved seeing the "Scritti Funk" preset on the menu here. I will say there's something special about the sound of the Wavestation, for its day the sound is so huge and brilliant. Just listen to the preset "Transformer" and it's like you're at a theater when they show the THX logo!
I adore this synth engine. I had an A/D & SR for stacking with a Triton, Trinity TR, TG-77, XV-5080 & 5050... Lord, the incredible ethereal motion pads I've created. I just couldn't justify keeping the Wavestations, Triton, or the XV-5050 with the release of the incredible software versions. I only keep the XV-5080 because it's so banged up that it probably wouldn't sell.
There were many crossover synths that were repetitive in my line up off and on for years. It is always tough to let one go, nonetheless. I tend to keep the fixer-uppers, too, because the market value wouldn't be enough to justify the sale. If space were no issue, I'd never give any of them up.
Thank you for your video. I just got a Wave station Sr. I love it! Your your video really helped. I have a wave State. I still need to learn that more and I love the synthesis. Thank you!
I bought the SR brand new back in the days and never even knew it was vector based OMG! I will dust it off and get it back up and running this weekend, thanks for inspiring me.
Hey Rayder, glad you've got some renewed excitement about this unique Wavestation. Plenty to explore, especially if you have a MIDI controller with flexible programability. Enjoy!
@@vintageMIDI Yeah I try to now that it runs again, but programming the thing is hard, even with the mediocre (at best) editor tools out there. Maybe I should go for the WaveState instead...
Hey - thanks for the shout out, that's very nice of you! As a Wavestation fan since the 90s, and someone who has programmed it a lot, I really enjoyed the video. Good to see some WS love is still around.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the video, Ben. mu:zines is a fantastic time capsule resource maintained with love. The world of print before online editions was indeed a special time in history that needs to be remembered, especially by those who've only ever known the ever-edited internet as a reference. Ya'll do beautiful work.
They say that programming the Wavestation SR and other such modules with tiny LCD displays as being akin to painting a house through a letterbox! I owned both a Wavestation AD and Wavestation SR. I used the XY touch pad on my Korg Z1 to control the vector joystick function on the SR using midi controllers 16 and 17.
Thanks for this great video. Just dug out my old SR. I’d done the battery replacement but not restored all the RAM banks. Hoping to try to do this from your video info.
Glad you enjoyed the video and the restore went well. The SR is a pleasingly powerful Wavestation that still holds it own to this day. Thanks for the feedback!
I have this exact synth (rack mount Wavestation SR) that I bought new about 30 years ago. It hasn't been touched in many years, but I want to make use of it soon ... so I'm sure the battery in it is dead as a doornail. Will it still play, but just not save user presets? Or will it not play at all without a new battery (which thankfully are readily available)? Thanks for this awesome video!
Thanks for the compliment, James ---- glad you enjoyed the video. Many have said the Wavestation app is quite faithful to the hardware plus some added features that only software can grant. I may perhaps do a comparison in the future, as my curiosity pulls me closer to getting that app.
Thanks for the feedback Christopher; glad you found it interesting. It started as just a battery swap-out that grew into a demo that sparked a historical overview. It's a monster that ran away with the town technician.
I never had a problem programming the SR. Perhaps because it was my first since and so I didn’t know any better. I programmed it to death and with the wave sequence section still think you can do things to a level I have not yet found on DAW software. The only thing now is that my RAM card internal battery no longer works, so nothing is retained after I turn off. I haven’t found anywhere to get a new one.
By today's standards, the SR has a tough interface to use, but you are correct: back in the day it was what was "there" and one just had to dig in to get the max use out of it. Software editors were just starting to emerge and were often too clunky to be any real advantage.
There's timing, I just acquired one of these, waiting for it to arrive. Also got hold of a nanopad 2 with the intention of using the touchpad for the vector control, apparently it will work directly through my mioXL, we'll see :) Thanks very much for this starter guide.
Thank really enjoyed the video and got me to pull out the SR as well but the battery is probably dead after all this time. Question can one change the battery without doing an initialization by having the SR powered on while changing the battery as I don't know how to do the downloading and sysex part you mentioned. PLEASE HELP🙂
I also dug out my ancient SR, like others, and am trying to figure out (again), how it works. Your video comes just in time, thanks a lot! BTW: I still have the 1.12 firmware on my device. Is there a way to update to 1.15? And where to get it?
Hi. Glad you enjoyed the video and it was helpful. I found some results on REVERB for the updated firmware (1.15). Might be the solution you're looking for: reverb.com/marketplace?query=korg%201.15
sounds real corny but sonic cd was where i learned of the wavestation's existence. took me so so long to figure out what was making the sounds i heard littered across the US soundtrack and now i find myself hunting down an SR to own myself haha.
I learned about the (original) Wavestation by dissecting Genesis' WE CAN'T DANCE album. I miss the 90s. It's always interesting (to me, anyhow) to learn how others find out about synths, especially more obscure models. Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
@@vintageMIDI funny thing, today i encountered an original wavestation in excellent condition at an awesome price so i totally about-faced and bought that one instead ha i just couldnt pass it up. now its a matter of the waiting game for it to arrive
Never really liked the wave sequences (the stock ones haven't aged well), and due to my younger self's menu-diving I under-used, then eventually stored my unit away for years. More recently decided to really hit the manuals and dive in: the depth available is really impressive, especially good for evolving pads and atmospherics. As you mentioned, each Part (of max eight per performance) can have one, two or four Voices (basically a PCM source 'Wave', with modulations), and each *Wave* has 2 LFOs (free-running or synced, with delay and fade-in), a dedicated amp envelope, Env1 - a secondary envelope, pitch ramp (like half an envelope) and a filter - all of which are velocity-sensitive and modulable. Further, cross-modulation is possible (eg control LFO 1 depth with +Env1, LFO1 freq with -LFO 2 level, and LFO 2 depth with -Env1, or mod wheel etc) for endless sonic fun. Multiply that out and there's a huge amount of movement available, but it's *very* time-consuming through the front panel... FX-wise, although the Stereo Vocoder Delays are little-used on the factory patches, they're worth mentioning as can create some super-rich textures. The manuals are excellent, but unfortunately the reference manual is alphabetically ordered by screen name, so it's not super-intuitive when actually building from scratch - you have to page-flick a lot. Two gripes: 1. the use of a single-output DAC (PCM54) the output of which is multiplexed to the individual outs in sequence. 2. filters aren't resonant! There are far better and easier ways to get *rhythms* than the WS's Wave Sequences, but for some *textures*, it's quite unique. A keeper if you've got one, definitely one to look out for if not.
Appreciate the added context for the WS. Those are all good points, especially regarding the DAC and filters. The WS SR certainly has some shortcomings, but, like yourself, I found new vigor for customizing sounds by studying the manuals to get a richer life out of this synth. I will have to play more with the vocoder delays based on your assessment of that effect.
21st century you can hear all over the early seasons of the X-files. Mark Snow sure loved those pad sounds
I had both the SR and AD and absolutely loved the analog inputs on the AD for using the unit as a fantastic hardware fx processor and vocoder. The SR was used as a preset machine but I set the XY touch pad on my Korg Z1 using midi controllers 16 and 17 for controlling the XY vector joystick that's sadly lacking on the SR variant. I now have both the Wavestation and Wavestate plug ins.
Great video! I have a WS-1...I loved seeing the "Scritti Funk" preset on the menu here. I will say there's something special about the sound of the Wavestation, for its day the sound is so huge and brilliant. Just listen to the preset "Transformer" and it's like you're at a theater when they show the THX logo!
I adore this synth engine. I had an A/D & SR for stacking with a Triton, Trinity TR, TG-77, XV-5080 & 5050... Lord, the incredible ethereal motion pads I've created. I just couldn't justify keeping the Wavestations, Triton, or the XV-5050 with the release of the incredible software versions. I only keep the XV-5080 because it's so banged up that it probably wouldn't sell.
There were many crossover synths that were repetitive in my line up off and on for years. It is always tough to let one go, nonetheless. I tend to keep the fixer-uppers, too, because the market value wouldn't be enough to justify the sale. If space were no issue, I'd never give any of them up.
@@vintageMIDI Very informative video. Is it possible to change the battery with the Synth power on so that I don't lose patches?
Thank you for your video. I just got a Wave station Sr. I love it! Your your video really helped. I have a wave State. I still need to learn that more and I love the synthesis. Thank you!
I bought the SR brand new back in the days and never even knew it was vector based OMG!
I will dust it off and get it back up and running this weekend, thanks for inspiring me.
Hey Rayder, glad you've got some renewed excitement about this unique Wavestation. Plenty to explore, especially if you have a MIDI controller with flexible programability. Enjoy!
@@vintageMIDI Yeah I try to now that it runs again, but programming the thing is hard, even with the mediocre (at best) editor tools out there. Maybe I should go for the WaveState instead...
You have cool stuff, man! I'm a sucker for these black boxes! And informative stuff too. Thanks!
Hey - thanks for the shout out, that's very nice of you! As a Wavestation fan since the 90s, and someone who has programmed it a lot, I really enjoyed the video. Good to see some WS love is still around.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the video, Ben. mu:zines is a fantastic time capsule resource maintained with love. The world of print before online editions was indeed a special time in history that needs to be remembered, especially by those who've only ever known the ever-edited internet as a reference. Ya'll do beautiful work.
@@vintageMIDI Thanks! You get me, for sure! :)
great vid, I was playing my SR this morning!
The Wavestation SR really is a 'Best Of..." edition of the hardware from the 90s. Just be prepared to use software if you'd like to program it.
Honestly, I never found the editing with the buttons a problem. It might be because it as my first synth and I was really enthusiastic.
Thanks for the video! Could you please advise the best application to program / control the SR? Thanks! :)
They say that programming the Wavestation SR and other such modules with tiny LCD displays as being akin to painting a house through a letterbox!
They say that programming the Wavestation SR and other such modules with tiny LCD displays as being akin to painting a house through a letterbox! I owned both a Wavestation AD and Wavestation SR. I used the XY touch pad on my Korg Z1 to control the vector joystick function on the SR using midi controllers 16 and 17.
Thanks for this great video. Just dug out my old SR. I’d done the battery replacement but not restored all the RAM banks. Hoping to try to do this from your video info.
Now carried out the reinstallation and all went well. Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed the video and the restore went well. The SR is a pleasingly powerful Wavestation that still holds it own to this day. Thanks for the feedback!
I have this exact synth (rack mount Wavestation SR) that I bought new about 30 years ago. It hasn't been touched in many years, but I want to make use of it soon ... so I'm sure the battery in it is dead as a doornail. Will it still play, but just not save user presets? Or will it not play at all without a new battery (which thankfully are readily available)? Thanks for this awesome video!
I don't own the SR but I do have the Korg Wavestation Windows app. Sounds geat I love the Pads on this machine most :) Great Video!
Thanks for the compliment, James ---- glad you enjoyed the video.
Many have said the Wavestation app is quite faithful to the hardware plus some added features that only software can grant. I may perhaps do a comparison in the future, as my curiosity pulls me closer to getting that app.
yes this synthesizer was the top of korg and a very nice technology for inspirated deep sounds
... and it was made in Japan, which is rare to see by any Japanese company these days.
I saved this on my favorites...this is a great educational video. It can serve as a base of understanding for meto build your other videos on.
Thanks for the feedback Christopher; glad you found it interesting. It started as just a battery swap-out that grew into a demo that sparked a historical overview. It's a monster that ran away with the town technician.
I never had a problem programming the SR. Perhaps because it was my first since and so I didn’t know any better. I programmed it to death and with the wave sequence section still think you can do things to a level I have not yet found on DAW software. The only thing now is that my RAM card internal battery no longer works, so nothing is retained after I turn off. I haven’t found anywhere to get a new one.
By today's standards, the SR has a tough interface to use, but you are correct: back in the day it was what was "there" and one just had to dig in to get the max use out of it. Software editors were just starting to emerge and were often too clunky to be any real advantage.
There's timing, I just acquired one of these, waiting for it to arrive. Also got hold of a nanopad 2 with the intention of using the touchpad for the vector control, apparently it will work directly through my mioXL, we'll see :) Thanks very much for this starter guide.
Glad the video helped, VimWolf.
Those nanopads should make for smooth vector control.
Feel free to drop a link here to music you make with your SR.
@@vintageMIDI How is the Nanopad working out for you? I have a MioXL as well and I'm interested in this setup.
Thank really enjoyed the video and got me to pull out the SR as well but the battery is probably dead after all this time. Question can one change the battery without doing an initialization by having the SR powered on while changing the battery as I don't know how to do the downloading and sysex part you mentioned. PLEASE HELP🙂
Hella' interesting. A little thing noticed....you did a 3 second black screen while talking, intensifying the reveal of the next image. I liked that.
Kinda like a palette cleanser for the next bit o' info. Plus sometimes I run out of usable images/clips for the voiceover. Tomato/too-mah-toe.
Hey, I like your video. Maybe the panels could stay a bit longer, though.
Appreciate the feedback. I do often review the videos later wishing I'd extended some of the segments.
Nice video, I have a Yamaha SY35.
Thanks Bo.
What are your thoughts on the SY35?
Great video. Never seen the sysex importing before. Are you aware of any sysex software for a pc? Also, yes I agree the manuals were brilliant.
This may be a solution for you on PC:
www.midiox.com/
Is Wavestation SR mono? Why is mono recording in youtube?
some mysteries have no answer
THX !
Much appreciated, gilo7171
I also dug out my ancient SR, like others, and am trying to figure out (again), how it works. Your video comes just in time, thanks a lot! BTW: I still have the 1.12 firmware on my device. Is there a way to update to 1.15? And where to get it?
Hi. Glad you enjoyed the video and it was helpful.
I found some results on REVERB for the updated firmware (1.15). Might be the solution you're looking for:
reverb.com/marketplace?query=korg%201.15
sounds real corny but sonic cd was where i learned of the wavestation's existence. took me so so long to figure out what was making the sounds i heard littered across the US soundtrack and now i find myself hunting down an SR to own myself haha.
I learned about the (original) Wavestation by dissecting Genesis' WE CAN'T DANCE album. I miss the 90s. It's always interesting (to me, anyhow) to learn how others find out about synths, especially more obscure models. Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
@@vintageMIDI funny thing, today i encountered an original wavestation in excellent condition at an awesome price so i totally about-faced and bought that one instead ha i just couldnt pass it up. now its a matter of the waiting game for it to arrive
Never really liked the wave sequences (the stock ones haven't aged well), and due to my younger self's menu-diving I under-used, then eventually stored my unit away for years.
More recently decided to really hit the manuals and dive in: the depth available is really impressive, especially good for evolving pads and atmospherics. As you mentioned, each Part (of max eight per performance) can have one, two or four Voices (basically a PCM source 'Wave', with modulations), and each *Wave* has 2 LFOs (free-running or synced, with delay and fade-in), a dedicated amp envelope, Env1 - a secondary envelope, pitch ramp (like half an envelope) and a filter - all of which are velocity-sensitive and modulable. Further, cross-modulation is possible (eg control LFO 1 depth with +Env1, LFO1 freq with -LFO 2 level, and LFO 2 depth with -Env1, or mod wheel etc) for endless sonic fun. Multiply that out and there's a huge amount of movement available, but it's *very* time-consuming through the front panel...
FX-wise, although the Stereo Vocoder Delays are little-used on the factory patches, they're worth mentioning as can create some super-rich textures. The manuals are excellent, but unfortunately the reference manual is alphabetically ordered by screen name, so it's not super-intuitive when actually building from scratch - you have to page-flick a lot.
Two gripes:
1. the use of a single-output DAC (PCM54) the output of which is multiplexed to the individual outs in sequence.
2. filters aren't resonant!
There are far better and easier ways to get *rhythms* than the WS's Wave Sequences, but for some *textures*, it's quite unique. A keeper if you've got one, definitely one to look out for if not.
Appreciate the added context for the WS. Those are all good points, especially regarding the DAC and filters.
The WS SR certainly has some shortcomings, but, like yourself, I found new vigor for customizing sounds by studying the manuals to get a richer life out of this synth.
I will have to play more with the vocoder delays based on your assessment of that effect.
Mono sound only?
The WS SR contains stereo synth patches, though it does have 4 outputs. Plenty of creative control possibilities.
Way too much navigation. What a headache.