Update 2: Korg just released a software only version of wavestate with discounts for people who bought the hardware Update 1: While you still cannot free-form search for samples on wavestate as of 2.0, you CAN search the sample database in the Editor by clicking the sample name on the left side of editor (not the sample slot in the sample lane sequence) - that opens up a popup with a search field - a greatly appreciated way to narrow down the massive list of samples! There goes another "con"... You can also browse samples there like you can with the encoder on the synth itself
another Con is that the Editor is NOT a VST/AU and also i miss a way to use a MasterKeyboard with the Editor (Only OnScreen keyboard or the Wavestate Hardware, but no way to use a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol with that editor), but hey, it´s just Version 1.0 for the Editor, maybe the next Update fixes this :-) Overall i can say : I´m very Happy with that Update ! And Yes, this Update makes the Wavestate more useable for me....
@@artisans8521 I'm the opposite- I do nothing itb except editing & mixing. I love the haptic side of the hardware approach. for me, after years of blofelds & so forth, this is a game changer. getting new samples from mac into the instrument takes seconds now. the beauty of it comes where you drop your own samples into the performances & the instrument throws up all sorts of new ideas based on the odd contexts your familiar samples find themselves in. for me, using the instrument this way is bringing new ideas to the music far faster than I could manage with a mouse & a screen. I get what you're saying, but I bet there are other folks out there like me.
@@carstenherbst2934 I don’t see not having a vst/au as a con. I see it as a pro. For an editor like this I much prefer it being standalone. It also makes more sense to be using the actual hardware while editing, also it should make it a more robust and reliable editing system rather than introducing third party software and hardware.
OMG!!! So many things that I never thought would be possible with the Wavestate are now reality. Gotta hand it to Korg for listening to the consumer and addressing issues! I never thought we would see an editor but now we have it. I am very impressed with their product development....too bad their own videos are absolute garbage. Thank GOD for people like Loopop!! He continues to blow me away with his product knowledge and insight!
Do you own one? I'll be interested in better understanding the custom sample 4gb bank. So far, it's my understanding that if you want to keep factory presets, you need to have that as part of each bank that includes your custom samples. So, question obviously is, how much room do the factory default samples out of the 4gb?
I just love the world of synthesizers and the interaction between manufacturers and musicians. That is true dedication to a product and its customers when you listen to feedback and improve on it. The feedback you provide with these reviews is just priceless for every manufacturer out there. Well done once again!
Oh, my heart! I wish you'd put "firmware" in the title. I ordered a Wavestate on launch so was momentarily dismayed by the prospect that this unit had already been made rendundant by the shiny, new Wavestate 2. still; thanks for the thorough demo - looks well worth the update.
Ok I’ve returned to this updated review many times and yet again today as I recently purchased the Wavestate and this and your part 1 are my reference guides. Thanks to your great reviews, I’ve purchased the Behringer Deepmind 12, AKAI MPC One and now the Wavestate. You are the master reviewer. Quality content as always.
I just got my Wavestate a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to learn it. This update from Korg will be a huge help to make the learning curve less steep. Thanks for the video!
By the way, you mentioned the pain of clicking each sample box to get the list of samples - I totally agree but there is a solution: after clicking any Sample box, to the Left there is a "Multisample" window that if you click, it will open a window that lists all of the samples so you can scroll and experiment without the window closing until you hit "Select" to choose the sample you want, or hit the close window or cancel button to go back to the Multisample that was previously selected.
@@PlugInGuruVideo cool yes another commenter alerted me to that - I don't think that's faster than using the knob on the synth, however! As the other commenter noted you CAN use the search bar in the popup to search the sample database - which is a feature I was really looking for... Unfortunately, I can't add that to the video but I've pinned that as a first comment so hopefully people see it.
@@PlugInGuruVideo Thanks Skippy. You 2 Should get together on a Braintrust Live video chat Idea like - "How to start a customised sound Library of the Imagination" Using Core Hardware Synth's & VST's
I did the downloads, and omg do I love this update! Half of the time I use my wavestate to make somewhat algorithmic compositions by using the sequence lanes. But the results were never that easy to achieve for pitch as the pitch lane works with intervals and the triggered note in combination with the scale you’re in determine wether an interval sounds “good” or “out of tune”. With the snap to scale feature on the pitch lane it becomes so much easier to use the wavestate for generating melodies!
I had a feeling they were going to add sample import. That is the main reason I never bought it. Now I'm going to have to rethink my decision. Thanks for the review
It's pretty incredible how both Korg and Roland have listened to every niggle from their customers and completely reworked the Wavestate and Jupiter Xm to be even better than either started out as. This is an awesome age in synth development.
Just finally got one over the weekend, and it's really amazing so far in the honeymoon period. I've heard a lot of stuff that sounds like an automatic movie soundtrack. It's great at that, but it's even better for getting lost in an evolving textural meditation. It's a modern classic at that. It's wearing this huge fanny-pack of hifi romples, with a pocket protector on its sequencer. That way the authorities will never suspect that it's really the notorious sample mangler. Make that sample squeal like a pig and then growl like Chewbacca, and then it's a ringing telephone, a laser battle, and almost a baseball stadium organ drifting by, and so on. Or ethereal and lo-fi. BTW, if it's too hifi for anybody, just dime the knob right below the Shift button. Then back it off a little, if you want. I think of the wavesequences as the notes of an instrument that produces extremely complex notes/sounds. And then the control panel is an extremely complex version of the plunger for your trumpet, or organ drawbars. It's really fun to play. Also for lofi, switch to the MS20 filter. That helps grunge it up nicely too.
Hiya. I'm definitely finding the Wavestate quite hifi! Amazing beast of a machine, but very very clean/bright. When you say dime the knob belwo shift - do you mean the AMP Level? That seems to be all the way up by default anyway.. What am I missing?! TIA :)
I was alway disappinted with how hifi this sounds. Sounds very unlike a wavestation, and none of the sound shaping options get you into that territory theyre too ham fisted to capture the subtle inefficiencies of an older digital instrument.
Brilliant video as always. The Wavestate has just gone from awesome to legendary with this update. I agree Korg have fixed/ improved almost everything I wanted, amazing job - but under the "Loopop things to complain about" section :-), the ONLY tiny thing I would like is a quick way to record pitch sequences by entering actual notes (like on the Modwave). But I think everyone at Korg should give themselves a massive pat on the the back because this is a truly fantastic synth they have all created.
@@loopop yep it is quite a minor thing really, I think the Wavestate is such an inspirational instrument, my fav keyboard by far, and this 2.0 is just fantastic. Thanks for you great videos btw!
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I bought one as soon as it released and I’ve stopped myself from replacing it on more than a few occasions Because it’s potential in relation to what I can possibly do with it is undeniably vast. That said this update and more importantly this tutorial as made the Korg wavestate a permanent fixture in my life and laboratory. Thank so much !!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I (finally) upgraded my 1.0.3 Wavestate firmware/software to the current 2.1.3 version just this week. It was a foul language inducing nightmare, but the improvements were worth the effort. Thank you for this informative video.
Most die hard synth fans won't bother with the editor it's mainly for those that like using a computer to edit sounds. I being among those die hard synth fans, appreciate the new sample builder and downloader but have little to no use for the editor.
Wavestate doesn't require an editor for anything. The editor is just a bigger screen, with more stuff visible at once. There are some synths with parameters you can't access without a software editor. For those, I can only guess that it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. I mean, I have fx pedals where you need an app to see or change the deeper parameters beyond the 4-6 knobs with alt functions. I have fx pedals that only give you the front panel parameters, with no option to reach deeper with an app. Mostly I just use the knobs, whether there's an app or not. Wavestate, though... you can get some complex stuff going, and I think I will program with the app open, but also use the hw controls. And then, perform the patch without the editor.
@@GizzyDillespee Yes, it doesn't require an editor... but yet, there was so much demand for one that Korg made one. Because the onboard editing workflow is one of the weakest parts of the Wavestate. Similarly, I once made the mistake of getting a Microkorg XL. It can edit everything on the synth itself, but the process is so tedious that almost nobody ever does it. It needs an editor to make the process less painful. So in practice, both synths end up being largely used for presets, because the editing workflow is more "work" and less "flow". The existence of a computer-based editor helps, but it's a symptom, a workaround for the lackluster onboard interface. If I'm going to use a computer to edit my sounds, I may as well save some money and use a VST. I buy hardware because I want a good physical interface, so for me there's not much point if the hardware needs an app to make up for its interface shortcomings.
As the vid started out and he began speaking over a truly lovely atmospheric & motion-filled pad, my mind recalled back 40yrs ago when at the age of 19 I knew we were entering into a new era of marvelous music-making machines… and folks with my shared interest watched, marveled, and lusted after a parade of new synths and samplers that were introduced throughout the 80s. I remember the release of the original Wavestation in the beginning of the 90s for how awesome it was right out of the box. So upon hearing the Wavestate now with the features this update delivers, I imagined how we all would have lost our shit if this had dropped in the first half of the 80s like Yamaha's DX-7 did. We probably would have had to be restrained and given a shot of Haldol… lol ;-)
So many people have complained about problems connecting to the Wavestate using the RNDIS protocol from Windows. But now it should be clear to everyone, that exactly this, that the PC communicates with the WS via a proper high speed networking protocol, is a stroke of genius by the Korg R&D team. It's only because they chose this networking protocol that we now have this editor which reacts in real time to changes on the WS and vice versa. Absolutely amazing work, Dan Philips and team!
@Snake Plissken True, but I have been following a lot of these reported issues on the facebook groups and they mostly fell into two categories: 1) user hasn't read the manual or failed to follow all the steps, or 2) user was using a VPN. That M$ breaks their own drivers especially with unwanted and surprise updates is a huge issue and caused a few hard to fix issues, but for the most part, I believe it was those two categories above.
While I hate computers as synth expansions, especially if it makes it almost not usable fully without a computer, this was a must! Wavesequencing is an extremely tedious job (if you want it to be, and go deeeep), but gives you amazing, non repetative and evolving results. So this updates is great - 1.my own samples in wavestate (record my OB6, REV2 and P10 and then mangle it in oktatrack and Wavestate are two completely different things) 2. editors and librarians. Well done Korg. Thanks for this review Ziv and thanks for multisamples!
I just wanted to thank you for your excellent videos on the Korg series of these synths. I live 500 miles from the closest music store (I travel by bicycle), and cannot audition synths before buying. So depend solely on TH-cam for reviews and sound quality (yes judging sound on TH-cam with YT data compression :)
Awesome surprise on my day off! The editor is what I've been waiting for to really make the most of wave sequencing, and yes the performance hold is very welcome as well. But one small addition I just read about that you didn't mention that is a big deal to me. There is now a User category for browsing presets. Previously I was having to use a naming convention with a '0' character at the beginning for all my own presets in order for them to appear together at the beginning of the list. Now we can assign them to the User Category and browse them that way, which is great. Which I guess brings up one con/wishlist item for me, which would simply be the ability to filter the browse list by multiple categories, which would allow further organization of my own various presets. Anyway, seems like a great update, but unfortunately I have a doctor's appointment this morning so I'll have to wait until the afternoon to install and get to playing with it.
Looking at the Wavestate's teeny tiny LCD window, I think having an editor is greatly needed, and therefore a huge asset as opposed to a weakness as you vaguely stated.
@@loopop people just never really listen ANYMORE!!! Mr JIMI JONES NEEDS a few QTIPS maybe??? Cause you clearly said that it was a “weakness” in other instances but NOT IN THIS ONE. PERIOD DOT.
The Korg series: WaveState, ModWave and OPsix just sets my creative mind on fire, and the sound quality I have heard on TH-cam is incredible for all of them. With WaveState being the first in the series, when it came out I eventually decided no, I don't want it because I am a sound designer and did not want to edit PCM samples, too unpredictable. But as a very imaginative synth, the WaveState blurs the line between sequencing and performing on the keyboard separately.... and using sequences in the sound design of a keyboard performance. Wow, Korg really hit the mark here for massive modulation through sequencing in sound design. Even though I will be buying the Korg Modwave, because of more controllable editing of wave tables, I will probably come back to the WaveState and buy it too. And if I ever get frustrated with my Yamaha RefaceDX, I may invest in a an OPsix as well.
- as always clear concise and to-the-point. - smallish blemish on the product only: korg did not (yet?) bring out an editor for us with macs. - a game-changer for me and a few others...
The phase loops tip can also be done differently: you can create keyboard ranges/splits for each layer. If you dedicate a couple of keys to the loops and leave the rest for all the other layers then you can even toggle the loops without having to menu dive for midi on/off. Of course that is also a little bit tricky because you only have 37 keys, so a bigger wavestate wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
Yes, I had considered that option but it doesn't work with a damper pedal, performance hold or the arpeggiator, which would release the held notes regardless of the key split. But indeed it's an option if you're not using those functions
@Snake Plissken yes, you could also plug in a second keyboard.the Wavestate keyboard sends to channel 1 so if you configure the loops layer to listen to channel 1 and plug-in a big keyboard that plays on channel 2, then you suddenly have 37 toggles for loops.
Thank you for sharing this. I saw the first review, bought the Wavestate, but had a struggle finding the proper usage for it. Was close to selling it, and now this came out! This might solve alot!
For pretty much every synth you review, I find myself wishing that they came with a tilted screen at the top like the overlay you use to show an oscilloscope or (like here) blow up the editor/screen.
Agreed! Perhaps that is an add-on product Korg could consider - a long colour screen with USB connectivity (that you can plug a mouse into, a standard USB keyboard for naming elements, and USB storage devices for import)? Did the editor really need to be implemented as software running on a computer when it could have happened within the Rasberry Pi itself running in the same hardware box? Perhaps the same long screen clip-on screen could also service the OP6, ModWave and others in the pipeline? This would have been a great accessory Korg could sell to power users. Personally, I'm tired of so many recent synths having these ridiculously undersized displays.
wow. I didn't see that coming. I never thought they would add sampling. and the editor. amazing. I think a full size version is coming out, and I think this will help sell it. maybe the full size will have sampling ports. I would buy one if it has that. in a second. and I'm not even a sampling guy.
If your decent with woodworking, its pretty easy to make a desktop case for it! the main panel slides right out of the unit. Make a case for it and you’re set! If you want, I can send you all the build info
@@noahtotten that is awesome! But I guess the main factor for it would be the reduced price. But in general yes, it would make sense since you might need 4 synths but not 4 keyboards :D
I never really look at Kong. I don’t know why, I had a DW8000 on long term loan and it was great. This thing sounds amazing and totally different from conventional synths I use. I usually like simple analogue style as I can get what I want quickly. Not sure how I’d use this but can’t deny thats probably a limit of my imagination rather than they synth.
@@artisans8521 Oh yes, it's light years better by all accounts. Korg really are great at opening up their latest products, a great deal of value here. Wrt Roland: They're on a different path. There's a place for accurate retro renditions and I like their sound(s). But very different philosophies.
@@shadowbanned5164 I hear you. Wavestate would probably be heaven for me. I’m drawn to both but luckily for me, finances keep me on the straight and narrow for now;)
In terms of autosampler be aware that the one is included in logic and mainstage save the files as a Aif and not wav …you will need a software that would come for that to a wav file keeping the loop points that we created originally. I use auditor for iOS …till I can find a suitable workflow .
Great video as always my friend! I love the idea of this synth... these new features are great. Might be time to invest in some new hardware. MPC Beats is the BEST auto sampler! Such an essential piece of software for me!
dUDE! right before the pros and cons you basically explain how to use it as an immediately multitimbral synth! of course the same can be done with any (also arpegiated) sequence that is played on the synth! thats a bit like on digitone keys, you get to use the arps on different channels to play different sequences and sounds :O i just couldn't believe they missed to implement this as a regular feature but they did. neither does it seem like you can midimap that midichannel selector (naturally) to an external four button controller. a shame but still such a gain!! :D i guess i will route the keyboard out of the wavestate and redistribute it to four mutable midichannels on my iphone or so and set the channels to receive from fixed channels, so i can select them more easily. seems definitely possible and so desirable though to implement a way to just have selected layers react to the keyboard with individual hold and arp latch as they have switches already..
Have had wavestate for a solid 7 months. Sounds great! Love making my own multisamples. New native plugin in fun too. My only feature I really wish it had was more midi implementation of the sequencing lanes and layers having midi out. I wish each layer could be set up to put midi out on a different channel.(at least there are seperate midi ins) And I wish that at least the pitch lane would put out a midi note on/off for each pitch change. This would allow a very nifty way to control different synths for and aid in generative music. Shoot, you cant even get the arpeggiator to send out midi on off for the sequences coming out of that. Also it would be nice if you could set a ccs to change with the lanes. Even though it is in the mod matrix to control a knob with say the seq lane; I can't get that knob to send out its cc info over midi. So theres no sequencing going on outside the box with this synth.
"Hardware synth requiring a software editor is a weakness" : I can't agree more. I'm a (way too) computer geek for over 30 years, but I always wanted (and have) a stricktly hardware home-studio, I'm already bored when I just have to plug to my computer for a simple update... I'm still happy for those more than welcome additions. I find the wavestate and the GR-1 have some similarities in certain ways, but this abence of user samples were a big lack to me. (and almost everyone) About the view of complex preset, I think the WS could have really taken advantage of a nice screen like the Kodamo EssenceFM's one (maybe even with the touch screen feature)
This is great! I love my Wavestate already. Now that they have added these much wanted features and software editor, it is even better. Happy Day! Thanks for the great tips. Will take me a little while to get used to the new features. Your advice helps a lot.
This is great. i have been wanting to add atmospheric samples. The arp hold is a great addition for performance. i rely on sustain pedals heavily. curious that the wavestate doesnt use standard NO korg pedals, but rather the yamaha style NC pedal. my korg kromeEX works with a hacked doorbell switch i made, and so did the X50. The autonomous looping layer D trick is great. thx. I found a sync trick to have both sync and no-sync at the same time: Put the range of one layer outside of the other and it wont sync, then if played in the shared range, it will sync. IMO, treat the encoder like glass. it is really heavily used in general use, and my pal Waveformer wore his out already
Wonderful video, as always! SO GLAD they’re making the Wavestate SE!!! 🥳🥰 Now I just need to find out how much, when, and where am I going to get the money for one, lol! 🤷♂️🤣
Multisample created by sampling native instruments, I think this is a new level of meta for the synth world. Edit: for some reason that triggered the thought of a deep fake bot multisampling your videos and creating a loopop speech engine.
@@loopop I agree, it's amazing what you can do in a bedroom these days. You got the reply in before I could finish my edit, but I also wanted to say thanks for coming back to this one, I've been on the fence about a wave state for a while. I think this will be my first korg purchase.
General multi-sample question : is it common or rare for a multisample to have some crossfade between ranges? It would have to be set up carefully to make sure the overlaps are correct so the fade is good. But it seems doable. It would have to be optional because, take the percussion kits that come with (iPad) Wavestation. Cross fading them might be fun, but not what many people want much of the time. Or maybe not even screaming weasels demonstrate enough variation over short enough yet practical ranges for a hard switch from sample 5 to sample 6 to be noticable? Please tell Johnson if he doesn't stop gargling on the A3 he's out of the band. Frickin' Johnson. I'm a clueness noob, what do I know.
Are you using a long, narrow display at times or is that a graphic? Given its angle, it looks physical. I actually have one that I'm very happy with, but it is slightly different with fairly substantial built in speakers on either end. If so, would you add its brand and model number to your description for our reference? Thanks
I wish it had an expression input and MIDI thru. I'm split on whether to wait for the SE or pick one up now. The small form factor is nice, and they're on sale right now $100 off which is tempting me. Gonna stew on it a while. Love these videos tho! Making it hard not to click add to cart right now...
I have wondered for decades why hardware synths using menus can't have these menus enlarged by the owner with the addition of a computer monitor. By adding a VGA old days, and today a HDMI output for video, the synth owner could have an enlarged version of the little display. I DO understand why we can't get the software editor built into the hardware and then displayed on the computer monitor HDMI output. On occasion, though extremely rare, we have seen VGA outputs on synths, but I can't think of an example being so rare.
the velocity layer thing is a premium feature better suited for the extended key version, for a 699 hardware synth, with these improvements, I'll deal in. Good job Korg and good job Loopop, well done. ps korg, it was the sample import feature that sold it, for your data monkey's charts...
Update 2: Korg just released a software only version of wavestate with discounts for people who bought the hardware
Update 1: While you still cannot free-form search for samples on wavestate as of 2.0, you CAN search the sample database in the Editor by clicking the sample name on the left side of editor (not the sample slot in the sample lane sequence) - that opens up a popup with a search field - a greatly appreciated way to narrow down the massive list of samples! There goes another "con"... You can also browse samples there like you can with the encoder on the synth itself
another Con is that the Editor is NOT a VST/AU and also i miss a way to use a MasterKeyboard with the Editor (Only OnScreen keyboard or the Wavestate Hardware, but no way to use a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol with that editor), but hey, it´s just Version 1.0 for the Editor, maybe the next Update fixes this :-) Overall i can say : I´m very Happy with that Update ! And Yes, this Update makes the Wavestate more useable for me....
Yeah noticed that too! This is a great addition… they’re listening for sure 😉 thx for the extensive explanation!! Always love your videos
@@artisans8521 I'm the opposite- I do nothing itb except editing & mixing. I love the haptic side of the hardware approach. for me, after years of blofelds & so forth, this is a game changer. getting new samples from mac into the instrument takes seconds now.
the beauty of it comes where you drop your own samples into the performances & the instrument throws up all sorts of new ideas based on the odd contexts your familiar samples find themselves in. for me, using the instrument this way is bringing new ideas to the music far faster than I could manage with a mouse & a screen. I get what you're saying, but I bet there are other folks out there like me.
@@carstenherbst2934 I don’t see not having a vst/au as a con. I see it as a pro. For an editor like this I much prefer it being standalone. It also makes more sense to be using the actual hardware while editing, also it should make it a more robust and reliable editing system rather than introducing third party software and hardware.
OMG!!! So many things that I never thought would be possible with the Wavestate are now reality. Gotta hand it to Korg for listening to the consumer and addressing issues! I never thought we would see an editor but now we have it. I am very impressed with their product development....too bad their own videos are absolute garbage. Thank GOD for people like Loopop!! He continues to blow me away with his product knowledge and insight!
Do you own one? I'll be interested in better understanding the custom sample 4gb bank. So far, it's my understanding that if you want to keep factory presets, you need to have that as part of each bank that includes your custom samples. So, question obviously is, how much room do the factory default samples out of the 4gb?
I just love the world of synthesizers and the interaction between manufacturers and musicians. That is true dedication to a product and its customers when you listen to feedback and improve on it.
The feedback you provide with these reviews is just priceless for every manufacturer out there. Well done once again!
Oh, my heart!
I wish you'd put "firmware" in the title.
I ordered a Wavestate on launch so was momentarily dismayed by the prospect that this unit had already been made rendundant by the shiny, new Wavestate 2.
still; thanks for the thorough demo - looks well worth the update.
Ok I’ve returned to this updated review many times and yet again today as I recently purchased the Wavestate and this and your part 1 are my reference guides.
Thanks to your great reviews, I’ve purchased the Behringer Deepmind 12, AKAI MPC One and now the Wavestate.
You are the master reviewer. Quality content as always.
I just got my Wavestate a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to learn it. This update from Korg will be a huge help to make the learning curve less steep. Thanks for the video!
Very nice video my friend and thank you for mentioning our 2 Wavestate libraries. Korg has a serious winner in this update!
By the way, you mentioned the pain of clicking each sample box to get the list of samples - I totally agree but there is a solution: after clicking any Sample box, to the Left there is a "Multisample" window that if you click, it will open a window that lists all of the samples so you can scroll and experiment without the window closing until you hit "Select" to choose the sample you want, or hit the close window or cancel button to go back to the Multisample that was previously selected.
@@PlugInGuruVideo cool yes another commenter alerted me to that - I don't think that's faster than using the knob on the synth, however! As the other commenter noted you CAN use the search bar in the popup to search the sample database - which is a feature I was really looking for... Unfortunately, I can't add that to the video but I've pinned that as a first comment so hopefully people see it.
@@PlugInGuruVideo Thanks Skippy. You 2 Should get together on a Braintrust Live video chat Idea like - "How to start a customised sound Library of the Imagination" Using Core Hardware Synth's & VST's
@@loopop - I agree nothing beats the speed of spinning that physical knob to go thru the samples!
I did the downloads, and omg do I love this update! Half of the time I use my wavestate to make somewhat algorithmic compositions by using the sequence lanes. But the results were never that easy to achieve for pitch as the pitch lane works with intervals and the triggered note in combination with the scale you’re in determine wether an interval sounds “good” or “out of tune”. With the snap to scale feature on the pitch lane it becomes so much easier to use the wavestate for generating melodies!
I had a feeling they were going to add sample import. That is the main reason I never bought it. Now I'm going to have to rethink my decision. Thanks for the review
This turns it into a completely different synth. Roland need to take note.
It's pretty incredible how both Korg and Roland have listened to every niggle from their customers and completely reworked the Wavestate and Jupiter Xm to be even better than either started out as. This is an awesome age in synth development.
Jupiter Xm? Did they rework the X as well?
@@fredmanteghian5913 yes they did
Roland continues to severely limit their hardware with ridiculously low storage memory. Disgraceful.
@@ckatheman I think Roland just doubled Jupiter X/XM user storage with version 3.0
Just finally got one over the weekend, and it's really amazing so far in the honeymoon period. I've heard a lot of stuff that sounds like an automatic movie soundtrack. It's great at that, but it's even better for getting lost in an evolving textural meditation. It's a modern classic at that. It's wearing this huge fanny-pack of hifi romples, with a pocket protector on its sequencer. That way the authorities will never suspect that it's really the notorious sample mangler. Make that sample squeal like a pig and then growl like Chewbacca, and then it's a ringing telephone, a laser battle, and almost a baseball stadium organ drifting by, and so on. Or ethereal and lo-fi. BTW, if it's too hifi for anybody, just dime the knob right below the Shift button. Then back it off a little, if you want.
I think of the wavesequences as the notes of an instrument that produces extremely complex notes/sounds. And then the control panel is an extremely complex version of the plunger for your trumpet, or organ drawbars. It's really fun to play.
Also for lofi, switch to the MS20 filter. That helps grunge it up nicely too.
Hiya. I'm definitely finding the Wavestate quite hifi! Amazing beast of a machine, but very very clean/bright. When you say dime the knob belwo shift - do you mean the AMP Level? That seems to be all the way up by default anyway.. What am I missing?! TIA :)
how is this for analog style punchy deep basses? I havent heard any of that on any video
I was alway disappinted with how hifi this sounds. Sounds very unlike a wavestation, and none of the sound shaping options get you into that territory theyre too ham fisted to capture the subtle inefficiencies of an older digital instrument.
Brilliant video as always. The Wavestate has just gone from awesome to legendary with this update.
I agree Korg have fixed/ improved almost everything I wanted, amazing job - but under the "Loopop things to complain about" section :-), the ONLY tiny thing I would like is a quick way to record pitch sequences by entering actual notes (like on the Modwave). But I think everyone at Korg should give themselves a massive pat on the the back because this is a truly fantastic synth they have all created.
Thanks! And yes I agree - I mentioned that in the video too BTW but indeed didn't repeat it in the pros and cons section
@@loopop yep it is quite a minor thing really, I think the Wavestate is such an inspirational instrument, my fav keyboard by far, and this 2.0 is just fantastic. Thanks for you great videos btw!
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I bought one as soon as it released and I’ve stopped myself from replacing it on more than a few occasions
Because it’s potential in relation to what I can possibly do with it is undeniably vast. That said this update and more importantly this tutorial as made the Korg wavestate a permanent fixture in my life and laboratory. Thank so much !!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I am always impressed with your accurate and easy-to-understand explanations.
I (finally) upgraded my 1.0.3 Wavestate firmware/software to the current 2.1.3 version just this week. It was a foul language inducing nightmare, but the improvements were worth the effort. Thank you for this informative video.
"A hardware synth requiring an editor is a weakness, not a strength."
Most die hard synth fans won't bother with the editor it's mainly for those that like using a computer to edit sounds. I being among those die hard synth fans, appreciate the new sample builder and downloader but have little to no use for the editor.
Wavestate doesn't require an editor for anything. The editor is just a bigger screen, with more stuff visible at once.
There are some synths with parameters you can't access without a software editor. For those, I can only guess that it must have seemed like a good idea at the time.
I mean, I have fx pedals where you need an app to see or change the deeper parameters beyond the 4-6 knobs with alt functions. I have fx pedals that only give you the front panel parameters, with no option to reach deeper with an app. Mostly I just use the knobs, whether there's an app or not.
Wavestate, though... you can get some complex stuff going, and I think I will program with the app open, but also use the hw controls. And then, perform the patch without the editor.
@@GizzyDillespee Yes, it doesn't require an editor... but yet, there was so much demand for one that Korg made one. Because the onboard editing workflow is one of the weakest parts of the Wavestate.
Similarly, I once made the mistake of getting a Microkorg XL. It can edit everything on the synth itself, but the process is so tedious that almost nobody ever does it. It needs an editor to make the process less painful.
So in practice, both synths end up being largely used for presets, because the editing workflow is more "work" and less "flow". The existence of a computer-based editor helps, but it's a symptom, a workaround for the lackluster onboard interface.
If I'm going to use a computer to edit my sounds, I may as well save some money and use a VST. I buy hardware because I want a good physical interface, so for me there's not much point if the hardware needs an app to make up for its interface shortcomings.
Yes! Just recently bought a Wavestate and was already amazed by it. This is great.
As the vid started out and he began speaking over a truly lovely atmospheric & motion-filled pad, my mind recalled back 40yrs ago when at the age of 19 I knew we were entering into a new era of marvelous music-making machines… and folks with my shared interest watched, marveled, and lusted after a parade of new synths and samplers that were introduced throughout the 80s.
I remember the release of the original Wavestation in the beginning of the 90s for how awesome it was right out of the box. So upon hearing the Wavestate now with the features this update delivers, I imagined how we all would have lost our shit if this had dropped in the first half of the 80s like Yamaha's DX-7 did. We probably would have had to be restrained and given a shot of Haldol… lol ;-)
This sounds amazing. I still love my analog synths, but the most unique sounds are increasingly coming from digital gear IMO.
Agree
huh? It has been like that for over 40 years..
So many people have complained about problems connecting to the Wavestate using the RNDIS protocol from Windows. But now it should be clear to everyone, that exactly this, that the PC communicates with the WS via a proper high speed networking protocol, is a stroke of genius by the Korg R&D team. It's only because they chose this networking protocol that we now have this editor which reacts in real time to changes on the WS and vice versa. Absolutely amazing work, Dan Philips and team!
@Snake Plissken True, but I have been following a lot of these reported issues on the facebook groups and they mostly fell into two categories: 1) user hasn't read the manual or failed to follow all the steps, or 2) user was using a VPN. That M$ breaks their own drivers especially with unwanted and surprise updates is a huge issue and caused a few hard to fix issues, but for the most part, I believe it was those two categories above.
WOW! I didn't know they were releasing an update! This is SO good!!!!! And of course, EXCELLENT review!!!!
You're just a God in a synth world! 🌎😀
They killed it with this update. Think I can see a Wavestate SE in my future...
Dragon??
That iceland + birds patch is something else. Incredible atmosphere. Really moving.
One of the most beautiful sounding synths out there.
While I hate computers as synth expansions, especially if it makes it almost not usable fully without a computer, this was a must! Wavesequencing is an extremely tedious job (if you want it to be, and go deeeep), but gives you amazing, non repetative and evolving results. So this updates is great - 1.my own samples in wavestate (record my OB6, REV2 and P10 and then mangle it in oktatrack and Wavestate are two completely different things) 2. editors and librarians. Well done Korg. Thanks for this review Ziv and thanks for multisamples!
I just wanted to thank you for your excellent videos on the Korg series of these synths. I live 500 miles from the closest music store (I travel by bicycle), and cannot audition synths before buying. So depend solely on TH-cam for reviews and sound quality (yes judging sound on TH-cam with YT data compression :)
Thank you for sharing your tip on Phasing Loops! This opens up the possibility of deeper drones, and epic layered textures.
Awesome surprise on my day off! The editor is what I've been waiting for to really make the most of wave sequencing, and yes the performance hold is very welcome as well. But one small addition I just read about that you didn't mention that is a big deal to me. There is now a User category for browsing presets. Previously I was having to use a naming convention with a '0' character at the beginning for all my own presets in order for them to appear together at the beginning of the list. Now we can assign them to the User Category and browse them that way, which is great. Which I guess brings up one con/wishlist item for me, which would simply be the ability to filter the browse list by multiple categories, which would allow further organization of my own various presets. Anyway, seems like a great update, but unfortunately I have a doctor's appointment this morning so I'll have to wait until the afternoon to install and get to playing with it.
Essential watching for my hardware purchases!
Looking at the Wavestate's teeny tiny LCD window, I think having an editor is greatly needed, and therefore a huge asset as opposed to a weakness as you vaguely stated.
I never said having an editor is a weakness, though needing one is
@@loopop people just never really listen ANYMORE!!! Mr JIMI JONES NEEDS a few QTIPS maybe???
Cause you clearly said that it was a “weakness” in other instances but NOT IN THIS ONE.
PERIOD DOT.
If Korg ever make a desktop version I am sold immediately.
Loopop straight on it as it drops 👍👏👏👏
This is becoming a required purchase now. I’ve been on the fence on this. Time to jump.
I'm waiting for the Wavestate SE to drop and then I'll pull the trigger :D
Great video and well done Korg, you really have put the icing on the cake with this update.
I have been on Korgs news page every day for over a month waiting for this update, in glad it's here now!
The Korg series: WaveState, ModWave and OPsix just sets my creative mind on fire, and the sound quality I have heard on TH-cam is incredible for all of them. With WaveState being the first in the series, when it came out I eventually decided no, I don't want it because I am a sound designer and did not want to edit PCM samples, too unpredictable. But as a very imaginative synth, the WaveState blurs the line between sequencing and performing on the keyboard separately.... and using sequences in the sound design of a keyboard performance. Wow, Korg really hit the mark here for massive modulation through sequencing in sound design. Even though I will be buying the Korg Modwave, because of more controllable editing of wave tables, I will probably come back to the WaveState and buy it too. And if I ever get frustrated with my Yamaha RefaceDX, I may invest in a an OPsix as well.
I'm hopeful this is a sign that the upcoming SE version is getting close. Can't wait to get one of those!
This is my favourite synth sonically, and it just got even better. Can’t wait for the 5 octave version!
Or get a n 88 key midi controller with aftertouch ;)
@@scottt2383 that's what I did.
Super portable with built in keyboard, and easy to add larger keyboard when wanted.
Great tip on MPC Beats multisampler!
Would love to see these new Korg synths in a module version.
I really wish Korg would release this as a VST. I would make so much more use of it inside my computer. Great review and great sounds.
This thing sounds perfect for Deephouse music.
Thank you vary much! This looks awesome, so many new features! Can’t wait to get home and update mine!
wow! amazing, can't wait to try it out. This Changes everything
Enjoyed a 5 minute video of linnstrument musicians as the ad I didn’t skip! :-)
- as always clear concise and to-the-point.
- smallish blemish on the product only: korg did not (yet?) bring out an editor for us with macs.
- a game-changer for me and a few others...
Here's a request: LONGER Loopop OUTROS! (wild applause from the crowd)
🙌🏻🙏🏻 ❤
Hey man I just wanna say your channel is great! Keep it up!
Big thanks Loopop...this editor and sample loading is just fantastic. Great tutorial.
The big screen is a great tool for learning the synth, which is quite different to other synths and quite deep.
The phase loops tip can also be done differently: you can create keyboard ranges/splits for each layer. If you dedicate a couple of keys to the loops and leave the rest for all the other layers then you can even toggle the loops without having to menu dive for midi on/off. Of course that is also a little bit tricky because you only have 37 keys, so a bigger wavestate wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
Yes, I had considered that option but it doesn't work with a damper pedal, performance hold or the arpeggiator, which would release the held notes regardless of the key split. But indeed it's an option if you're not using those functions
@Snake Plissken not sure I understand the question…?
@Snake Plissken yes, you could also plug in a second keyboard.the Wavestate keyboard sends to channel 1 so if you configure the loops layer to listen to channel 1 and plug-in a big keyboard that plays on channel 2, then you suddenly have 37 toggles for loops.
@Snake Plissken yes for sure you can, as well as use the built in keyboard for one layer and the external one for another
@Snake Plissken my total guess is yes - hopefully they’ll share those patches for all wavestate users
Excellent tutorial loopop, really informative. There are so many of your tutorials that have been useful I have to become a patron.
Much appreciated!
Amazing update ❤️ Thanks Loopop!
LED brightness control would be awesome.
Really can’t wait for the SE
Thank you for sharing this. I saw the first review, bought the Wavestate, but had a struggle finding the proper usage for it. Was close to selling it, and now this came out! This might solve alot!
Tried out the MPC Beats autosampler now on a Serum VST patch. Where do the saved wavs go?
Should be in the project folder
Wow, this thing was already 100% perfect but now it's 200% perfect.
For pretty much every synth you review, I find myself wishing that they came with a tilted screen at the top like the overlay you use to show an oscilloscope or (like here) blow up the editor/screen.
Agreed! Perhaps that is an add-on product Korg could consider - a long colour screen with USB connectivity (that you can plug a mouse into, a standard USB keyboard for naming elements, and USB storage devices for import)? Did the editor really need to be implemented as software running on a computer when it could have happened within the Rasberry Pi itself running in the same hardware box? Perhaps the same long screen clip-on screen could also service the OP6, ModWave and others in the pipeline? This would have been a great accessory Korg could sell to power users. Personally, I'm tired of so many recent synths having these ridiculously undersized displays.
That intro jam was lovely
wow. I didn't see that coming. I never thought they would add sampling. and the editor. amazing. I think a full size version is coming out, and I think this will help sell it. maybe the full size will have sampling ports. I would buy one if it has that. in a second. and I'm not even a sampling guy.
Oh wish they made a desktop version of this. Would definitely buy it
If your decent with woodworking, its pretty easy to make a desktop case for it! the main panel slides right out of the unit. Make a case for it and you’re set! If you want, I can send you all the build info
@@noahtotten that is awesome! But I guess the main factor for it would be the reduced price. But in general yes, it would make sense since you might need 4 synths but not 4 keyboards :D
I never really look at Kong. I don’t know why, I had a DW8000 on long term loan and it was great. This thing sounds amazing and totally different from conventional synths I use. I usually like simple analogue style as I can get what I want quickly. Not sure how I’d use this but can’t deny thats probably a limit of my imagination rather than they synth.
KONG :DDD
Thanks for all the great videos! I use Sample-It and find it quite capable for auto sampling.
Such a beautiful sounding synth. I’m on the fence, always wanted a wavestation back in the day. This is so much more though, but then there’s Modwave…
@@artisans8521 Oh yes, it's light years better by all accounts. Korg really are great at opening up their latest products, a great deal of value here. Wrt Roland: They're on a different path. There's a place for accurate retro renditions and I like their sound(s). But very different philosophies.
@@shadowbanned5164 I hear you. Wavestate would probably be heaven for me. I’m drawn to both but luckily for me, finances keep me on the straight and narrow for now;)
In terms of autosampler be aware that the one is included in logic and mainstage save the files as a Aif and not wav …you will need a software that would come for that to a wav file keeping the loop points that we created originally. I use auditor for iOS …till I can find a suitable workflow .
I'd love it if I could bring patches over from the iOS Wavestation synth to this one.
Is that (00:00) the same sound source you used when presenting Plimky? Where did it originally come from? I love that sound.
Yes, that's why the preset is called "Plinky etc" - see the description of the Plinky video for a link to the source
I always enjoy your vids This 2.o update is good to know Thank You
This synth is amazing. I love mine.
Ill have to lead some old amiga samples!
Great video as always my friend! I love the idea of this synth... these new features are great. Might be time to invest in some new hardware. MPC Beats is the BEST auto sampler! Such an essential piece of software for me!
dUDE! right before the pros and cons you basically explain how to use it as an immediately multitimbral synth! of course the same can be done with any (also arpegiated) sequence that is played on the synth! thats a bit like on digitone keys, you get to use the arps on different channels to play different sequences and sounds :O i just couldn't believe they missed to implement this as a regular feature but they did. neither does it seem like you can midimap that midichannel selector (naturally) to an external four button controller. a shame but still such a gain!! :D i guess i will route the keyboard out of the wavestate and redistribute it to four mutable midichannels on my iphone or so and set the channels to receive from fixed channels, so i can select them more easily. seems definitely possible and so desirable though to implement a way to just have selected layers react to the keyboard with individual hold and arp latch as they have switches already..
Have had wavestate for a solid 7 months. Sounds great! Love making my own multisamples. New native plugin in fun too. My only feature I really wish it had was more midi implementation of the sequencing lanes and layers having midi out. I wish each layer could be set up to put midi out on a different channel.(at least there are seperate midi ins) And I wish that at least the pitch lane would put out a midi note on/off for each pitch change. This would allow a very nifty way to control different synths for and aid in generative music. Shoot, you cant even get the arpeggiator to send out midi on off for the sequences coming out of that. Also it would be nice if you could set a ccs to change with the lanes. Even though it is in the mod matrix to control a knob with say the seq lane; I can't get that knob to send out its cc info over midi. So theres no sequencing going on outside the box with this synth.
i've had mines for a few days and being a guitar player, i don't know where to start.
@@7000ironman just open a rhymic patch and press shift and arpeggio press a key and play guitar with the cool beat
Holy shit this is such good news! this is gonna be a fun weekend of jamming
Awesome review update, but now the only thing I can think about is the 8 second clip of the Wavestate SE teaser.
I want one now. U the Goat at this Bro 👊💪🔥🔥🔥
"Hardware synth requiring a software editor is a weakness" : I can't agree more.
I'm a (way too) computer geek for over 30 years, but I always wanted (and have) a stricktly hardware home-studio, I'm already bored when I just have to plug to my computer for a simple update... I'm still happy for those more than welcome additions.
I find the wavestate and the GR-1 have some similarities in certain ways, but this abence of user samples were a big lack to me. (and almost everyone)
About the view of complex preset, I think the WS could have really taken advantage of a nice screen like the Kodamo EssenceFM's one (maybe even with the touch screen feature)
Well done, thanks for this tutorial.
I Never found how to manage offset points with the sample builder.
This is great! I love my Wavestate already.
Now that they have added these much wanted features and software editor, it is even better.
Happy Day!
Thanks for the great tips.
Will take me a little while to get used to the new features.
Your advice helps a lot.
This is great. i have been wanting to add atmospheric samples. The arp hold is a great addition for performance. i rely on sustain pedals heavily. curious that the wavestate doesnt use standard NO korg pedals, but rather the yamaha style NC pedal. my korg kromeEX works with a hacked doorbell switch i made, and so did the X50. The autonomous looping layer D trick is great. thx. I found a sync trick to have both sync and no-sync at the same time: Put the range of one layer outside of the other and it wont sync, then if played in the shared range, it will sync. IMO, treat the encoder like glass. it is really heavily used in general use, and my pal Waveformer wore his out already
You can load ur own samples..... boom done fantastic....bout time
Where is the 61 key SE version already
Really looking forward to your review of the Sequential Take 5.
Phasing loop ! awesome tips - thank you very much !
Wonderful video, as always! SO GLAD they’re making the Wavestate SE!!! 🥳🥰 Now I just need to find out how much, when, and where am I going to get the money for one, lol! 🤷♂️🤣
Is that still coming out ?
@@WyattLite-n-inn I believe so, probably just delayed with the chip shortage, etc. 🤷♂️
Multisample created by sampling native instruments, I think this is a new level of meta for the synth world.
Edit: for some reason that triggered the thought of a deep fake bot multisampling your videos and creating a loopop speech engine.
Taking your plugins to go is an awesome thing I think
@@loopop I agree, it's amazing what you can do in a bedroom these days. You got the reply in before I could finish my edit, but I also wanted to say thanks for coming back to this one, I've been on the fence about a wave state for a while. I think this will be my first korg purchase.
General multi-sample question : is it common or rare for a multisample to have some crossfade between ranges?
It would have to be set up carefully to make sure the overlaps are correct so the fade is good. But it seems doable.
It would have to be optional because, take the percussion kits that come with (iPad) Wavestation. Cross fading them might be fun, but not what many people want much of the time.
Or maybe not even screaming weasels demonstrate enough variation over short enough yet practical ranges for a hard switch from sample 5 to sample 6 to be noticable? Please tell Johnson if he doesn't stop gargling on the A3 he's out of the band. Frickin' Johnson.
I'm a clueness noob, what do I know.
They need to release a rack version.
Totally agree,runnin out of space, too
Let's hope the modwave gets this treatment soon-I'd love to have custom wavetables.
another con, though very superficial: the front panel finish seems to be quite the fingerprint magnet. :P
Are you using a long, narrow display at times or is that a graphic? Given its angle, it looks physical. I actually have one that I'm very happy with, but it is slightly different with fairly substantial built in speakers on either end. If so, would you add its brand and model number to your description for our reference? Thanks
Sorry it's not real, just an effect applied in post
Heck! I really will have to use this to make music rather than just play with the presets... 😀
Excellent! as usual! I need to buy me one ! 😃
I wish it had an expression input and MIDI thru. I'm split on whether to wait for the SE or pick one up now. The small form factor is nice, and they're on sale right now $100 off which is tempting me. Gonna stew on it a while. Love these videos tho! Making it hard not to click add to cart right now...
Other than being 1/4 the price of nord wave 2 :) is nord wave 2 more of a wave synth and this would be wave playback with morphing?
This is pretty much unlike any other synth - I recommend watching my original review linked above
Best modern synth i own.
I have wondered for decades why hardware synths using menus can't have these menus enlarged by the owner with the addition of a computer monitor. By adding a VGA old days, and today a HDMI output for video, the synth owner could have an enlarged version of the little display. I DO understand why we can't get the software editor built into the hardware and then displayed on the computer monitor HDMI output. On occasion, though extremely rare, we have seen VGA outputs on synths, but I can't think of an example being so rare.
Big thanks loopop !
the velocity layer thing is a premium feature better suited for the extended key version, for a 699 hardware synth, with these improvements, I'll deal in. Good job Korg and good job Loopop, well done.
ps korg, it was the sample import feature that sold it, for your data monkey's charts...
Back up to $749 now. They figured they could squeeze a few more dollars out of people!
Great dive in ... Thank you!