I know this isn't a major thing, however the tiny micro screen for menu diving is really sad. Of all the space on the hardware, Korg really could have improved the screen size so users aren't burning their eyesockets out trying to acheive menu options. I have the wavestate II
@@timdanyo898but then you need to have your pc running just to mess with your synth. Considering how much empty space er is on the synth I feel a bigger screen is a no brainer =x
@@timdanyo898 it's a hardware synth, not software synth, it was designed to be use as stand alone, it's nothing more than an inadequate VST controller, a bad one at that.
I appreciate how, at the 14 minute mark, you scored Bjork's entire next album with a slight adjustment to a factory preset. ❤ Wonderful insights throughout as always.
At 9:39 From the manual: Hold ENTER and press < or > to scroll through the different routings. Alternatively, you can cursor through each parameter, one by one; cursoring right from Int Mod Src goes to the Source parameter of the next routing. A scroll-bar on the right side of the display shows the current location in the list. No need to scroll all of them one at a time!
The original Wavestate has been the synth I've reached for the most often ever since I got it... So enjoyable to level up musical ideas with this instrument
I just got my Wavestate about a month ago. Endless hours have since disappeared into the predawn hours as I experiment with mutated esoteric presets and creating compositions. For the price vs. range of interesting and relevant features, there's nothing else like it, at least that I know of. As always, appreciate your well articulated and detailed tutorials.
That is what the original Wavestation EX did for me and still love it the best of all my keyboards to this day, the Motif XS is close but I find the EX easier to use and program.
Just like modular synth folks may spend far more time patching a sound than they spend actually using it, lol, you may spend far more time programming a sound or performance than you actually end up using it. But if you don't already have an excellent pro romper like the Krome EX or M50, then you'll get even more use out of this baby for its great bread and butter sounds.
Great review as always. I do think Korg missed an opportunity here to really make this an enhanced version... I own the mk1 and love it - no need for me to upgrade though
True, but Korg could have made the desktop mod versions too! They had almost zero investment to do this. Drop price by maybe 100.00 and make more profit? Blows my mind how corporations function! Instead, no after touch 2k controll? Good luck on that venture. 😂
Great review, sold me, the SE Platium is $900 off now only from Korg Direct, in November, can't wait, have two Wavestation EX's I just love can't wait to see what the SE can do!
Thanks for this precious video about the features of the Wavestate Se. These keyboard is clearly a new version on the wavestation but, in my opinion, it has also something that remember the Korg Karma, one tho most underestimated keyboard of all time. 😊
Just by a cheap laptop and vst. Still way ahead of the game! Any modern cpu can run this just fine! I am building dedicated mini desktops that will each host a single vst, dedicated midi controller, and small portable monitor. I get super advanced synths that act like hardware, but with unlimted flexibility. No brainer. If u play live, this setup still works great. If one goes down, they all don't go down unlike daw setups. 😊
@@xchalibur77 exactly. Older roland gear had vga out. Even the old samplers!! Optional mouse and keyboard. Think roland had a pen pad as well. S770? Long time ago.
Good to hear Wave Sequencing 2.0 is alive 👍 The minor changes to MKII prove that KORG's Wavestate OG already was a mature product, especially after numerous substantial updates via firmware. SE is no option for me due to its sheer size (and price, given it still doesn't support polyphonic aftertouch). BTW: I'd loved to have seen AT on the MKII. Thanks for the execellent re- and over-view (useful for OG owbers, too!), Ziv 🙏
Nice with the full-width keyboard. Shame about all the non-utilised space for more knobs and larger screen, but OK, it would have required a new PCB and price increase, essentially a Wavestate 2.
I like to stack gear _on_ the unused space of another. Like the (unused) speakers of a stage piano. Wide enough for a 37-key synth to sit on. The front two feet rest on the stage piano, for the rear two feet you need to find something to support it (e.g., a piece of wood).
Wow I was thinking yesterday that the should make a mk2 and woke up to this. I have the original and love it, my fav synth of all time, and I have owned a lot
Fantastic synth in all versions and great demo! Slightly disappointed the Mk2 still doesn't have aftertouch - with so many cool modulation options it's just nice to be able to apply modulation by pressing the key so your other hand is free for play other synths. Still, like I said: it's a fantastic synth and the SE is awesome!
Great synth but also a missed oportunity. The SE should have a touch screen similar to the Waldorf Iridium so you can work effectively with sound programming without the need of a computer.
Thanks for the great review! I have a simple question. Can it be used in multitimbral mode? I'd like to play a sound with an external keyboard with left hand, while play a solo on the right hand. Is this function possible?
Brilliant, thank you and nice to see the Wavestate getting some love. It is an inspiring synth. One thing, do you know if they've improved stability issues? Using WS1 live is a joy but tempered by fear of occasional inexplicable lock-ups.
Thanks @@loopop. Has been reported elsewhere and acknowledged by support. Can happen when some rhythmic performances are set to hold and flipped between during a set. I guess it's a memory limit issue.
I love the Wavestate original version. If one wants to create sonic soundscapes never heard before this is the synth to get. Absolutely exceptional synth.
@@d3tuned378 Yeah as beautiful as the SE is, that price tag is really a little high frankly, as I don't think it brings that much more to the table than the original model.
Loved my wavestate but I sold it. I would get so into designing cool sounds and sequences but that was also the problem with it, just too time consuming so it had to go unfortunately but maybe one day when I have all the time in the world I'll get back in lol
People asked for a desktop unit with less shit screen, so they stuck an even bigger keyboard to it and kept the screen tiny with cramped controls. Absolutely epic troll move, you love to see it 😂
I’m not surprised they didn’t re-manufacture the screen. There’s still a chip and electronics shortage, and they have already manufactured a ton of that type of screen for all their recent products. People are so demanding even when their demands make no sense for a business to implement, and cry like children when their own personal demands weren’t met. And at a Behringer-cheap price point. I’m not saying a bigger screen wouldn’t be great, what i’m saying is get real, Korg is a business operating during a parts shortage.
As always, well executed review. Thank you! Can not understand why they did not add a bigger screen ... Hm, does this imply that there will be an Opsix MKII???
Fancy? My $200.00 midi controller has after touch and at least 2.5 times to knobs and sliders. Lol. This is 100% a limited audience product. I am not sure who that audience is, but they must be out there.
What are the labels below the bank buttons? Why didn't you talk about those? Those are new. Good review for those that are already familiar with older ones, not so much if brand new to wavestate.
I may have missed it but there's no global way to adjust it. You can of course change the mod depth of aftertouch every time you assign it to something
I wish more synths did mod processors. They are under valued, and may be even more innovative than the concept of separate length lanes. A mod processor is basically a customizable calculation inside a modulation route. Like modulate a with b but just by adding or multiplying a with b but by using a function f that specifies how a will effect b. The EaganMatrix can do it and the Korgs (Wavestate, Modwave) can do it, although the Mod processors only have a limited set of options to pick from for what the function f will be. And for the rest I don’t know any other synths that can do it.
@@jantuitman Guess it's always going to be trickier and costlier to implement more "niche", complex functionality like this in hardware, esp when it requires dedicated physical controls or space. Even with pure digital hardware synths its pretty difficult to implement in a user friendly, usable way, Software definitely has the big advantage here imo. Alchemy is pretty amazing, and can do a lot of stuff that's kind-of similar-ish to the Wavestate.... and a lot more the Wavestate can't do. Its modulation options are ridiculous - up to 16 each of LFO, Envelopes, MSEGs, Env Followers, Step Sequncers and a massively flexible perform section, as well as the afore mentioned Mod Maps. Def worth checking out if you are into flexible complex modulation possibilities. Other software synths that have this kind of stuff include Equator and Cypher 2 from Roli, Zebra by U-He. In the hardware world, there are also plenty of options for Eurorack / modular for function generators and other interesting / crazy modulation options, but obviously that's a whole other kettle of expensive and time-consuming fish.
Wonderful dive into this impressive instrument. Thank you loopop. I'm a Wavestate Native user but would spring for this standalone if it had a good size screen (like the one they have on Nautilus or Kronos maybe?).
Thanks for the review! 👍 I really like the wavestate 2 engine and the sounds it can make. Only thing I was missing to its engine was a send reverb. So we could have no reverb for drums or bass layers. It really just a code thing to implement, that can make this synth so much more flexibale.
Still missing the simple functionality we had in the original Wavestations where we could crossfade between the different waves within a wave sequence using a controller like the modwheel, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence. Even on the Kronos, when choosing the modwheel to control the positioning within the WaveSeq, the xFade functionality just stops working for whatever reason, enabling us to only do hard changes between the waves. I wish the Wavestate allowed us to do this too but from what I've seen (and tried) so far, it's not possible :S Only way to do such a thing with our own samples is either getting an old Wavestation and using third party cards with them or code our own software solution for it. If only they'd allow us to load custom samples in the iWavestation app on the iPad (or the WS app on the Korg Legacy version for PC/Mac) that would be perfect! :)
Couldn't this be done by utilising two layers and setting up a controller like the modwheel to fade in one layer, while fading out the other layer, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence?
That's the main reason I got rid of mine. Wave sequences are strictly time-based here, cannot modulate the wave pointer with anything else than time. The other reason is that Korg keeps neglecting the MPE standard: it would have been a dream, with that limitless mod matrix, even more so on the modwave. Oh well.
@@straighttalk2069 you can do this with using all 4 layers using the vector stick. The problem is when needing to do this with more than 4 sounds. On the Wavestation, being able to xFade between steps using a controlller meant you could xFade between even 255 sounds if you wanted to (though such a thing would exhaust the bank's limit of steps pretty quickly 😅). I was just hoping a Wavestate firmware update or the mk2 would give us step xFades on controllers rather than having to 'play back' the sequence but then again i suppose if they haven't even (fully) done it for the Kronos, what are the odds of doing it on the Wavestate? Wishfull thinking I suppose ^^
yes to this day I find it very strange they took one of the greatest sound morphing platforms of all time and evolved it into a supercharged rhythm generatror. the core idea of the original is missing.
@@towardstar I'd think the core idea would be WaveSequences, and on that front they indeed evolved it in quite interesting ways. Still, I don't get it why they'd take such an awesome feature out :( As I said in the previous comment, they kinda let us control the sequence with a controller (without needing to 'play' it) in Kronos but when doing so the xFades get disabled. I wish they gave us that kind of functionality in either Kronos or any of the Wavestates :( If that was to happen I'd instantly buy one! I'm sure there's a lot more of us missing that kind of thing ^^
The 2 synths are totally different so cannot really be compared. You have lane sequencing on the WS and only an ARP on the HS. Then you have sample based on the WS and Wavetable on the HS. Then how you set up the modulation on the HS. Add the PAT keybed and the 2 synths aren't even comparable.
Sounds like the original Bladerunner soundtrack, i guess some similarities to the Fairlight I think was all over that. This is that soundtrack in a box. So cool.
This is definitely at the top of my bucket list for next year. My very close friend 'ex' will have a duckfit at me if I got one this year...... after only recently getting a Deepmind 12 and a Korg PA 600 a year ago ;- ;-)
Thank you loopop for this review. Now let's speak og the price : - Korg Wavestate MKII : *890 €* | Korg Wavestate SE MKII : *2,190 €* So the gap between the both : *1300 €* . 1300 € for what ? Two octaves more, 120-96 =24 voices more and aftertouch. Is there anyone here who think this deserves such a gap in price ? Except for the 24 voices, it's easy to get a 61 keys synth or master kb with aftertouch for a fraction of this price. Once more, Korg is out of range (as Korg did with the Prologue 16 wich has been a complete commercial flop, partly because of its price). If you look at this price range, there is a huge rivalry, and a some are very powerful.
Yes the price difference is very high. Even the for MKII is too high. But I think we should wait a bit and see real street prices. I guess these are more or less MRRP.
The extra plastic on the enclosure is really expensive. That’s why there’s no additional controls there to help users master this mindf**k of a sequencer, the extra holes to drill and additional pcbs and knobs and buttons would make it cost double 😅 Korg has lost it, they’re not making any meaningful updates to their hardware.
Beautiful dream that must come true 😊 A question, if I have Wavestate SE hardware and I should want to use it as a unique sound generator for various midi tracks in my DAW, may I assign each sound to a specific midi channel in order to use many of them contemporaneously? (About sound I mean a combination of multiple layers and not a single layer)
@@loopop Ok so, you are telling me that theWavestate Native can do what I described? If yes I will use the software but...I loved the Wavestation and I didn't get it on 90's and I really want to have the new baby 🥰 For my needs I can use the plugin if it works for this ...but with future hardware anyway 😊 I would have preferred to save money😂
You need two phd to understand it :) It is good but somehow I felt it is not good in any setup (with other synth) so finally I sold it. Btw there were always connection problems between the editor soft and the synth.
They still didn't add the per-layer reverb sends? Weird, the modwave has had them since the beginning, and it has only two layers rather than four, so they would be even more useful here.
@@SantiagoGT15 capable of reading all presets of less than twelve operators Fm synths and replacing all branches of algorithms that used sine waves to mimic saw/square waves with actual saw/square waves thus simplifying the algorithm and freeing operators, crapping on compatibility with the DX7 in the process. and it gets a bigger screen and more knobs (think MegaFM). and multitimbrality where 1 timbre=1 midi channel plus 1 output channel and time offsets per operator for separating transient and rest of the waveform. at the same time the Volca FM is degraded to a DX7 preset loader in order to stop the asine comparisons between DX7 and Opsix. Hell, even yamaha couldn't care less making the Reface DX compatible. please add anything I've missed ;-)
@@hermask815 I've never been able to update the firmware in my Wavestate and I'm pretty sure I've tried every method I could find, although I gave up trying at some point and it's been on top of my list of gear to sell for that reason.
I've sold my wavestate but still have the VST version. Let's wait and see where the price will settle for the SE, I'd really love one with a 5 octave keyboard. Increasing the voice count is very important, voice stealing can be very annoying at times (it will "steal" the voices from a free running rhythm causing it to stop). I am definitely tempted.
Using a bandaid made of poo, wont improve things at all. Same horrible screen, horrible UI, 3 times asking $, workflow is abysmal without the software. This isn't even a good MIDI controller by any stretch of the imagination.
Buy a good midi controller with aftertouch. Don't waste money on this kit! Makes zero logical sense imho. How does Korg miss aftertouch? Worse, that stupid screen! In 2023 not to include a vibrant touch screen is really sad and worth passing on. I can bang out a long list of better spent money. Take the price of mk2, subtract from se, and divide that by number of additional keys, equal just how much you paid per key. Lol. To help cut to the chase, $54. per additional key😂. Likewise, 700 x 3 at 2100.00 is about the cost of one SE wavestate. No matter how u cut it, lame. Zero justification for price vs value!
The Opsix is a whole different animal, but there's a lot of overlap between the Wavestate and the Modwave that would have made for a better single synthesizer, combining the more powerful wave sequencing of the Wavestate with the wavetable wave scanning of the Modwave. That's one thing that frustrates me about Korg: they have a tendency to release lines of products with disappointing missed opportunities where they could have done something spectacular with the innovative things that they develop but instead stop short, seemingly for marketing reasons.
am i getting this wrong? on a FM synth you design a timbre and play it at different pitches(a.k.a notes) alongside other instruments. this seems like a mixture of a daw/tracker/mpc in hardware with 4 lanes and extensive library attached (korg manuals : wavestate mk1 : voice name list (PDF)) or what would your definition be?
Wave sequencing is really like no other synth (except to a certain degree modwave) - I recommend watching the tips section as well as my first video linked in the description to understand what makes it special.
I understand why the markII looks the same as the original - that's fine. However the premium SE model should have had a better quality screen (IMO). I'd much rather not take the compulsory stitched luggage case and instead have a better quality display. I think ASM Hydrasynths made better choices in their decisions regarding design priorities for each product tier.
Thanks! For ambient music, I'd lean towards Wavestate personally - both are easy to use if you're just playing the presets an endless rabbit hole of textures and complexity if you're willing to dive in
Hi, great video! I am a bit confused. Is it possible in the mk1 version to load user samples? and if yes is it available the same memory capacity for user samples in both versions?
Just read through all of the comments and although the unused space left on top of the SE seems to be a contentious issue, I think it's an ideal spot for your mouse mat 'n mouse, or one or two of the smaller desktop module synths, like the boutiques, etc. 👍 Or even additional external effects pedals.
As a MK1 owner, I've been waiting for the SE, but now am not going to bother. All Korg have done is chuck the circuits into a larger box, without even considering workflow. This synth is so vast in terms of editing it needs a bigger screen - and I don't want to be tethered to a computer every time I feel inspired.
I know this isn't a major thing, however the tiny micro screen for menu diving is really sad. Of all the space on the hardware, Korg really could have improved the screen size so users aren't burning their eyesockets out trying to acheive menu options. I have the wavestate II
That’s where the software comes in..
Especially as my M3 has a huge touchscreen from about 15 years ago. It’s not like Korg don’t have the technology.
Oh well native is more fun for me
@@timdanyo898but then you need to have your pc running just to mess with your synth. Considering how much empty space er is on the synth I feel a bigger screen is a no brainer =x
@@timdanyo898 it's a hardware synth, not software synth, it was designed to be use as stand alone, it's nothing more than an inadequate VST controller, a bad one at that.
I appreciate how, at the 14 minute mark, you scored Bjork's entire next album with a slight adjustment to a factory preset. ❤ Wonderful insights throughout as always.
Hats off to you for taking the time and effort to research this very complex synth and present it so beautifully. Thanks!
At 9:39
From the manual: Hold ENTER and press < or > to scroll through the different routings.
Alternatively, you can cursor through each parameter, one by one; cursoring right from Int Mod Src goes to the Source
parameter of the next routing.
A scroll-bar on the right side of the display shows the current location in the list.
No need to scroll all of them one at a time!
The original Wavestate has been the synth I've reached for the most often ever since I got it... So enjoyable to level up musical ideas with this instrument
I just got my Wavestate about a month ago. Endless hours have since disappeared into the predawn hours as I experiment with mutated esoteric presets and creating compositions. For the price vs. range of interesting and relevant features, there's nothing else like it, at least that I know of. As always, appreciate your well articulated and detailed tutorials.
That is what the original Wavestation EX did for me and still love it the best of all my keyboards to this day, the Motif XS is close but I find the EX easier to use and program.
Nice review as always Loopop! I think Korg missed the boat here on the MK2, if you have MK1 it's more than enough. But hey, you got options now.
It's like nothing else I've ever heard the scope for sound creation is limitless. Great demo and examples, thanks 👍
Just like modular synth folks may spend far more time patching a sound than they spend actually using it, lol, you may spend far more time programming a sound or performance than you actually end up using it. But if you don't already have an excellent pro romper like the Krome EX or M50, then you'll get even more use out of this baby for its great bread and butter sounds.
Great review as always. I do think Korg missed an opportunity here to really make this an enhanced version... I own the mk1 and love it - no need for me to upgrade though
Forums: "I wish korg would release a module version"
Korg: "Ok, one extended keyboard coming right up!"
...in two colours.
True, but Korg could have made the desktop mod versions too! They had almost zero investment to do this. Drop price by maybe 100.00 and make more profit? Blows my mind how corporations function! Instead, no after touch 2k controll? Good luck on that venture. 😂
Lol 😂
Great review, sold me, the SE Platium is $900 off now only from Korg Direct, in November, can't wait, have two Wavestation EX's I just love can't wait to see what the SE can do!
What an excellent walk thru... Makes me appreciate my MK1 even more... thanks for making this💚
Epic tunes, as always! Keep rocking! 🎸🔥♥
Thanks for this precious video about the features of the Wavestate Se. These keyboard is clearly a new version on the wavestation but, in my opinion, it has also something that remember the Korg Karma, one tho most underestimated keyboard of all time. 😊
I love the sound of this synth. I hope the VST goes on sale sometime soon.
It’s not horribly expensive even at full price. Not like some of the premium softsynths with a sample library this deep, which cost 500-600.
You are the best reviewer, period.
Aww maaaaan. Now I have to get this one too. You can now load your own samples….sweeeet. Love my Wavestate. Thank you for the review.
You can load your own samples into the original wavestate too
Upgrade the software version if it is an early model. (easiest with a Mac. Sheer f'ing hell on a pc)
@@loopop 🙏🏾 thank you
Loopop video! Korg! What a great half an hour to end my Monday on a great note! 😏
There are amazing bargains to be had on the mark 1 brand new. Got mine a couple of years ago and it’s a brilliant addition to any setup.
Thanks!
Very cool. Wish there was a keyless desktop version
a third party mod company makes a case to house the mk1 chassis after removing the keys
@@bassguitar2709 Tall Dog Electronics, yes
Just by a cheap laptop and vst. Still way ahead of the game! Any modern cpu can run this just fine! I am building dedicated mini desktops that will each host a single vst, dedicated midi controller, and small portable monitor. I get super advanced synths that act like hardware, but with unlimted flexibility. No brainer. If u play live, this setup still works great. If one goes down, they all don't go down unlike daw setups. 😊
@@Curious_Skeptic This is what Roland have done 20 years ago with MV-8800.
A pc with only vst installed and good control over it.
@@xchalibur77 exactly. Older roland gear had vga out. Even the old samplers!! Optional mouse and keyboard. Think roland had a pen pad as well. S770? Long time ago.
Good to hear Wave Sequencing 2.0 is alive 👍 The minor changes to MKII prove that KORG's Wavestate OG already was a mature product, especially after numerous substantial updates via firmware. SE is no option for me due to its sheer size (and price, given it still doesn't support polyphonic aftertouch). BTW: I'd loved to have seen AT on the MKII. Thanks for the execellent re- and over-view (useful for OG owbers, too!), Ziv 🙏
Still wish they made a module version
Word!
You can make your own module version, people have been cutting off the keybed.
You can also buy module kits, that are reversible but not that cheap.
I cut my keybed off, it was actually pretty simple.
@@emlyfox I need a RUclips video how lol i don’t want to pay for the “kit”
Finally. This is actually interesting. I'm not sure I like the sound but it brings something new to the market. Innovative.
Ah Loopop, one of my favorite synth demo channels.
Nice with the full-width keyboard. Shame about all the non-utilised space for more knobs and larger screen, but OK, it would have required a new PCB and price increase, essentially a Wavestate 2.
I like to stack gear _on_ the unused space of another. Like the (unused) speakers of a stage piano. Wide enough for a 37-key synth to sit on. The front two feet rest on the stage piano, for the rear two feet you need to find something to support it (e.g., a piece of wood).
What an intro! Like, WOW! Did you make that patch, Sir? Jawdroppingly awesome... Thanx for yet another brilliant review, Sir.
Was probably two patches..
Thanks! It's actually 4 patches - 1 mine, 3 factory - they're really good...
HOLY SMOKES! A full keyboard???
The Korg guys are on fire!!!
Excellent as always, thank you so much for these videos.
Wow I was thinking yesterday that the should make a mk2 and woke up to this. I have the original and love it, my fav synth of all time, and I have owned a lot
Fantastic synth in all versions and great demo! Slightly disappointed the Mk2 still doesn't have aftertouch - with so many cool modulation options it's just nice to be able to apply modulation by pressing the key so your other hand is free for play other synths. Still, like I said: it's a fantastic synth and the SE is awesome!
Does the SE have the same additions that the mk2 has?
@@manny7662 The SE has more voice polyphony (120 voices) whereas the Mk2 has 96 voices.
Yooooooo been waiting so long for the SE!;!! Happy happy
Amazing video as always!!!
Great synth but also a missed oportunity. The SE should have a touch screen similar to the Waldorf Iridium so you can work effectively with sound programming without the need of a computer.
Any reason for that joystick placement other than to inspire an onslaught of hilarious memes? 😂
It’s for that forth hand
It is ridiculous! 😅
Yes, desktop-only is missing for all three of Wavestate, Modwave, and Opsix!
That “I think we’re alone now” beat though!
Thanks for the great review! I have a simple question. Can it be used in multitimbral mode? I'd like to play a sound with an external keyboard with left hand, while play a solo on the right hand. Is this function possible?
the empty areas are for laying down your head and dozing off to the dreamy tones
I totally missed that!
Thank you very much for the video review!
Brilliant, thank you and nice to see the Wavestate getting some love. It is an inspiring synth. One thing, do you know if they've improved stability issues? Using WS1 live is a joy but tempered by fear of occasional inexplicable lock-ups.
Thanks! I've not had this lock up at all despite extensive use, except once when I was using the Editor to save a patch to the synth
Thanks @@loopop. Has been reported elsewhere and acknowledged by support. Can happen when some rhythmic performances are set to hold and flipped between during a set. I guess it's a memory limit issue.
Have had a Wavestate since they came out and use it pretty frequently and have never personally had a crash. 🤷♂️ ymmv
If they make an opsix in this format, I'm sold.
I love the Wavestate original version. If one wants to create sonic soundscapes never heard before this is the synth to get. Absolutely exceptional synth.
I really love my WaveState of the generative music ideas it can generate, no other hardware synth can really do that, with high quality samples.
$2,000 for the SE. Korg’s Reverb’s store has extensive info
Who would overpay that much?
@@d3tuned378 Yeah as beautiful as the SE is, that price tag is really a little high frankly, as I don't think it brings that much more to the table than the original model.
@@sonarfreqFor around 2 grand, I'd pick up a Kodamo Mask1 instead. Support the little guys.
Loved my wavestate but I sold it. I would get so into designing cool sounds and sequences but that was also the problem with it, just too time consuming so it had to go unfortunately but maybe one day when I have all the time in the world I'll get back in lol
Sounds like euro. Spend all day producing sounds, not music. Not a bad thing though😊
Starting around 19:10 in the video; the shape lane on the pc interface creates an optical illusion of parallel lines going diagonal.
Good business using you for quality control, among other things.
People asked for a desktop unit with less shit screen, so they stuck an even bigger keyboard to it and kept the screen tiny with cramped controls.
Absolutely epic troll move, you love to see it 😂
BFD... it has a software editor - which is awesome in how it provides feedback on parameter changes.
I’m not surprised they didn’t re-manufacture the screen. There’s still a chip and electronics shortage, and they have already manufactured a ton of that type of screen for all their recent products. People are so demanding even when their demands make no sense for a business to implement, and cry like children when their own personal demands weren’t met. And at a Behringer-cheap price point.
I’m not saying a bigger screen wouldn’t be great, what i’m saying is get real, Korg is a business operating during a parts shortage.
As always, well executed review. Thank you! Can not understand why they did not add a bigger screen ... Hm, does this imply that there will be an Opsix MKII???
I'm not sure the Opsix was that popular sadly (although I bought one just before it was discontinued). The Modwave MKII though might be a possibility?
I have the Mk1, but surely after the release of the Native version, don’t all of these just become fancy controllers?
Fancy? My $200.00 midi controller has after touch and at least 2.5 times to knobs and sliders. Lol. This is 100% a limited audience product. I am not sure who that audience is, but they must be out there.
Great video as always Senior L Pop. Curious, do you have patches/libraries for Moog Subsequent 37?
Thanks! Sorry no I don't
What are the labels below the bank buttons? Why didn't you talk about those? Those are new. Good review for those that are already familiar with older ones, not so much if brand new to wavestate.
Can you adjust the sensitivity of the after-touch to increase it?
I may have missed it but there's no global way to adjust it. You can of course change the mod depth of aftertouch every time you assign it to something
thank you. excellent presentation
I wish more synths did mod processors. They are under valued, and may be even more innovative than the concept of separate length lanes. A mod processor is basically a customizable calculation inside a modulation route. Like modulate a with b but just by adding or multiplying a with b but by using a function f that specifies how a will effect b. The EaganMatrix can do it and the Korgs (Wavestate, Modwave) can do it, although the Mod processors only have a limited set of options to pick from for what the function f will be. And for the rest I don’t know any other synths that can do it.
Kurzweil synths?
Alchemy in Logic has up to 16 Mod maps which can do all this kind of stuff.
@@autonomoushologram6072 cool! I don’t know alchemy yet though I recently started with Logic. Would like to see it in hardware synths though.
@@jantuitman Guess it's always going to be trickier and costlier to implement more "niche", complex functionality like this in hardware, esp when it requires dedicated physical controls or space. Even with pure digital hardware synths its pretty difficult to implement in a user friendly, usable way, Software definitely has the big advantage here imo. Alchemy is pretty amazing, and can do a lot of stuff that's kind-of similar-ish to the Wavestate.... and a lot more the Wavestate can't do. Its modulation options are ridiculous - up to 16 each of LFO, Envelopes, MSEGs, Env Followers, Step Sequncers and a massively flexible perform section, as well as the afore mentioned Mod Maps. Def worth checking out if you are into flexible complex modulation possibilities. Other software synths that have this kind of stuff include Equator and Cypher 2 from Roli, Zebra by U-He. In the hardware world, there are also plenty of options for Eurorack / modular for function generators and other interesting / crazy modulation options, but obviously that's a whole other kettle of expensive and time-consuming fish.
Wonderful dive into this impressive instrument. Thank you loopop. I'm a Wavestate Native user but would spring for this standalone if it had a good size screen (like the one they have on Nautilus or Kronos maybe?).
Looks really cool
Thanks for the review! 👍
I really like the wavestate 2 engine and the sounds it can make. Only thing I was missing to its engine was a send reverb. So we could have no reverb for drums or bass layers. It really just a code thing to implement, that can make this synth so much more flexibale.
Wait... They didn't add separate audio outputs for parts neither in MK2 and SE?? Strange decision
They really should have made a module version so I could control it with my hydrasynth deluxe... When is the Opsix MKII coming...
In EU it's 933EUR = 1019USD! It would be nice if Korg release desktop module version for mk2 following Minilogue XD example...
Still missing the simple functionality we had in the original Wavestations where we could crossfade between the different waves within a wave sequence using a controller like the modwheel, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence. Even on the Kronos, when choosing the modwheel to control the positioning within the WaveSeq, the xFade functionality just stops working for whatever reason, enabling us to only do hard changes between the waves. I wish the Wavestate allowed us to do this too but from what I've seen (and tried) so far, it's not possible :S Only way to do such a thing with our own samples is either getting an old Wavestation and using third party cards with them or code our own software solution for it. If only they'd allow us to load custom samples in the iWavestation app on the iPad (or the WS app on the Korg Legacy version for PC/Mac) that would be perfect! :)
Couldn't this be done by utilising two layers and setting up a controller like the modwheel to fade in one layer, while fading out the other layer, without having to 'play back' the wave sequence?
That's the main reason I got rid of mine. Wave sequences are strictly time-based here, cannot modulate the wave pointer with anything else than time. The other reason is that Korg keeps neglecting the MPE standard: it would have been a dream, with that limitless mod matrix, even more so on the modwave. Oh well.
@@straighttalk2069 you can do this with using all 4 layers using the vector stick. The problem is when needing to do this with more than 4 sounds. On the Wavestation, being able to xFade between steps using a controlller meant you could xFade between even 255 sounds if you wanted to (though such a thing would exhaust the bank's limit of steps pretty quickly 😅). I was just hoping a Wavestate firmware update or the mk2 would give us step xFades on controllers rather than having to 'play back' the sequence but then again i suppose if they haven't even (fully) done it for the Kronos, what are the odds of doing it on the Wavestate? Wishfull thinking I suppose ^^
yes to this day I find it very strange they took one of the greatest sound morphing platforms of all time and evolved it into a supercharged rhythm generatror. the core idea of the original is missing.
@@towardstar I'd think the core idea would be WaveSequences, and on that front they indeed evolved it in quite interesting ways. Still, I don't get it why they'd take such an awesome feature out :( As I said in the previous comment, they kinda let us control the sequence with a controller (without needing to 'play' it) in Kronos but when doing so the xFades get disabled. I wish they gave us that kind of functionality in either Kronos or any of the Wavestates :( If that was to happen I'd instantly buy one! I'm sure there's a lot more of us missing that kind of thing ^^
Is that the Castlevania opening ??
were they trying to do a Juno 106 look?
This is a very complex synth. More complex than hydra. Thanks for the review.
The 2 synths are totally different so cannot really be compared.
You have lane sequencing on the WS and only an ARP on the HS.
Then you have sample based on the WS and Wavetable on the HS.
Then how you set up the modulation on the HS. Add the PAT keybed and the 2 synths aren't even comparable.
@@DankePlace I know. I was just referring to the degree of programming complexity. But thanks.
Sounds like the original Bladerunner soundtrack, i guess some similarities to the Fairlight I think was all over that. This is that soundtrack in a box. So cool.
This is definitely at the top of my bucket list for next year. My very close friend 'ex' will have a duckfit at me if I got one this year...... after only recently getting a Deepmind 12 and a Korg PA 600 a year ago ;- ;-)
Wish they would add a master cutoff filter
ok now I might finally get one. ps. will there be a modwave & opsix SE?;)
Would love to hear what you do with it! Re the others unfortunately I couldn’t say even if I knew
Thank you loopop for this review. Now let's speak og the price :
- Korg Wavestate MKII : *890 €* | Korg Wavestate SE MKII : *2,190 €*
So the gap between the both : *1300 €* . 1300 € for what ? Two octaves more, 120-96 =24 voices more and aftertouch.
Is there anyone here who think this deserves such a gap in price ? Except for the 24 voices, it's easy to get a 61 keys synth or master kb with aftertouch for a fraction of this price.
Once more, Korg is out of range (as Korg did with the Prologue 16 wich has been a complete commercial flop, partly because of its price).
If you look at this price range, there is a huge rivalry, and a some are very powerful.
It does come with what looks like a nice case, so that's a couple hundred there... But really I don't know. It's way too much
Yes the price difference is very high. Even the for MKII is too high. But I think we should wait a bit and see real street prices. I guess these are more or less MRRP.
The extra plastic on the enclosure is really expensive. That’s why there’s no additional controls there to help users master this mindf**k of a sequencer, the extra holes to drill and additional pcbs and knobs and buttons would make it cost double 😅 Korg has lost it, they’re not making any meaningful updates to their hardware.
@@captainlovett4724 the sequencer isn't that bad to use, it takes a while to get used to it but it's really fun. I have a mk1
@@ncapone87 ...and better build quality.
Beautiful dream that must come true 😊
A question, if I have Wavestate SE hardware and I should want to use it as a unique sound generator for various midi tracks in my DAW, may I assign each sound to a specific midi channel in order to use many of them contemporaneously?
(About sound I mean a combination of multiple layers and not a single layer)
No, it can only run one set of up to 4 layers (performance) at a time. But in that case why not just use the plugin
@@loopop Ok so, you are telling me that theWavestate Native can do what I described? If yes I will use the software but...I loved the Wavestation and I didn't get it on 90's and I really want to have the new baby 🥰
For my needs I can use the plugin if it works for this ...but with future hardware anyway 😊 I would have preferred to save money😂
@@federicovalmassoni3827 you can use as many instances of the native plug-in as you want as long as your CPU will allow
@@loopop Thanks for your confirmation 👍🏻🙂
You need two phd to understand it :)
It is good but somehow I felt it is not good in any setup (with other synth) so finally I sold it. Btw there were always connection problems between the editor soft and the synth.
Is the bottom of the Wavestation SE keybed made of metal or the same as the Nautilus 88 keys (which is not) ?
Why is the screen so small!? Beautiful demo.
idiocy is why 🫤
They still didn't add the per-layer reverb sends? Weird, the modwave has had them since the beginning, and it has only two layers rather than four, so they would be even more useful here.
Can you review Erica synths steam pipe?
When I get my hands on it!
Yeah interesting synth 😊
excellent video as usual, loopop. ty. will the native be updated to mk2 as well? if so, eta?
Thanks! There's nothing to update in Native to enable it to do what MK2 does - it's all the same except voice count
@@loopop thx, loopop, for being so responsive to your viewers. i was kinda hoping to get the added voice count. hopefully, they’ll add that!
@@randomVEL oh sorry I meant to say the voice limit isn’t applicable because it depends on your computer - there’s nothing to add :)
ahh, looks like i need to understand further. i’ll read up on that. ty
ah, yes. i get it now. duh, me :)
Now we need a Modwave II
And the Optwelve !
@@SantiagoGT15
capable of reading all presets of less than twelve operators Fm synths
and replacing all branches of algorithms that used sine waves to mimic saw/square waves with actual saw/square waves thus simplifying the algorithm and freeing operators, crapping on compatibility with the DX7 in the process.
and it gets a bigger screen
and more knobs (think MegaFM).
and multitimbrality where 1 timbre=1 midi channel plus 1 output channel
and time offsets per operator for separating transient and rest of the waveform.
at the same time the Volca FM is degraded to a DX7 preset loader in order to stop the asine comparisons between DX7 and Opsix.
Hell, even yamaha couldn't care less making the Reface DX compatible.
please add anything I've missed ;-)
@@hermask815 I've never been able to update the firmware in my Wavestate and I'm pretty sure I've tried every method I could find, although I gave up trying at some point and it's been on top of my list of gear to sell for that reason.
Do we have keyboard split function?
yes
is this now available? Can't find that anywhere
I've sold my wavestate but still have the VST version. Let's wait and see where the price will settle for the SE, I'd really love one with a 5 octave keyboard. Increasing the voice count is very important, voice stealing can be very annoying at times (it will "steal" the voices from a free running rhythm causing it to stop). I am definitely tempted.
Using a bandaid made of poo, wont improve things at all.
Same horrible screen, horrible UI, 3 times asking $, workflow is abysmal without the software.
This isn't even a good MIDI controller by any stretch of the imagination.
Buy a good midi controller with aftertouch. Don't waste money on this kit! Makes zero logical sense imho. How does Korg miss aftertouch? Worse, that stupid screen! In 2023 not to include a vibrant touch screen is really sad and worth passing on. I can bang out a long list of better spent money. Take the price of mk2, subtract from se, and divide that by number of additional keys, equal just how much you paid per key. Lol. To help cut to the chase, $54. per additional key😂. Likewise, 700 x 3 at 2100.00 is about the cost of one SE wavestate. No matter how u cut it, lame. Zero justification for price vs value!
When will Korg give us a merger of Opsix, Wavestate and Modwave in one synth? That's be something new and exciting to experience ❤
absolute insanity, might be close to Kronos-tier, and would likely be similarly-priced
The Opsix is a whole different animal, but there's a lot of overlap between the Wavestate and the Modwave that would have made for a better single synthesizer, combining the more powerful wave sequencing of the Wavestate with the wavetable wave scanning of the Modwave. That's one thing that frustrates me about Korg: they have a tendency to release lines of products with disappointing missed opportunities where they could have done something spectacular with the innovative things that they develop but instead stop short, seemingly for marketing reasons.
am i getting this wrong?
on a FM synth you design a timbre and play it at different pitches(a.k.a notes) alongside other instruments.
this seems like a mixture of a daw/tracker/mpc in hardware with 4 lanes and extensive library attached (korg manuals : wavestate mk1 : voice name list (PDF))
or what would your definition be?
Wave sequencing is really like no other synth (except to a certain degree modwave) - I recommend watching the tips section as well as my first video linked in the description to understand what makes it special.
I understand why the markII looks the same as the original - that's fine.
However the premium SE model should have had a better quality screen (IMO). I'd much rather not take the compulsory stitched luggage case and instead have a better quality display. I think ASM Hydrasynths made better choices in their decisions regarding design priorities for each product tier.
Great presentation! Your thoughts on Wavestate SE vs. Opsix SE for Ambient music and ease of use. Thank you.
Thanks! For ambient music, I'd lean towards Wavestate personally - both are easy to use if you're just playing the presets an endless rabbit hole of textures and complexity if you're willing to dive in
Hi, great video! I am a bit confused. Is it possible in the mk1 version to load user samples? and if yes is it available the same memory capacity for user samples in both versions?
Thanks! Yes, and yes
Thank you for your rapid response!
Hi, is there an option to use filter cut of as a master filter for all 4 layers at the same time ?
Not that I remember off the top of my head but you can map a performance knob to anything you like across layers
@@loopop thank you you r the best!
From Korg site: OUTPUT L/MONO and R (impedance-balanced 6.3 mm TRS phone jacks). Is the output balanced?
unbalanced.
Not bad thanks Looper
Just read through all of the comments and although the unused space left on top of the SE seems to be a contentious issue, I think it's an ideal spot for your mouse mat 'n mouse, or one or two of the smaller desktop module synths, like the boutiques, etc. 👍 Or even additional external effects pedals.
Korg sounds ❤
As a MK1 owner, I've been waiting for the SE, but now am not going to bother. All Korg have done is chuck the circuits into a larger box, without even considering workflow. This synth is so vast in terms of editing it needs a bigger screen - and I don't want to be tethered to a computer every time I feel inspired.
Hi, maybe I missed this but are there slots for saving presets that you have edited, and if so how many?
yes, and I don't remember by heart but alot plus there's a librarian
@@loopop Thx for prompt answer. The machine is in the mail (module). :)
Are the potentiometers on the SE model upgraded from the original or are they the same but with metal knobs?
I don't know - does it matter? Did you have issues with them?
@@loopop They are a little plasticky. Wondering if they were upgraded to metal pots.
@@SoniclayersMusic I doubt the pots are plastic? The caps are
How do you back everything up?
There's a librarian software
Wait what? Teased in 2021 but finally being released?
I wonder if the newer patches with AT will be released on the OG model?
25:10 Techno Viking has been summoned!
Love my Wavestate and Modwave,