To the Alamo Music Management Overlords: Keep this Zach guy around for videos. He is a good blend of nerd, interesting, and knowledgeable. We nerds have to stick up for each other.
He’s not reading from a prompt and seems passionate about what he’s talking about. So much more interesting than an actor that doesn’t care. We care about these things and it’s good to hear it from someone that feels the same way we do.
I've had a Wavestate for almost a year now and just recently got an Opsix. I'm still learning the Opsix, but it has yet to surpass the Wavestate for me, which I absolutely love for making rhythmic wave sequences.
The OpSix is really a gem. Unfortunately Korg undersold it by emphasizing only the FM aspects. I would say it’s more of an operator-based synth, with a complete reimagining of what an operator can be - a cross-mod, a filter, or an effect. Oscillator Sink has shown how you can rewire the operators to build a filterbank, a Buchla, a virtual analog, and even a physical modeling engine. There is a modular playground aspect to it. Coming from an analog background, it took some time to get in the flow of sound design with it, but it has really grown on me lately and taught me a ton about additive synthesis. I just wish the build quality were a bit nicer - a bit cheap and plasticky feeling. Could do with a few more dedicated controls too - it’s not exactly menu diving, but you do spend a lot of time flipping between screens.
modeswitching I totally agree with you. And after having turned my listening recently to 'modular synthesis' music / performances (which I love), I get the impression that the Opsix is very much like succeeding in putting the whole modular synth culture into one small, powerful box - saves you having to wrestle with several hundred patch leads!!
Playing in a cover band, Opsix actually met with pretty much ALL my needs, the only reason why I needed another keyboard was a digital piano for realistic piano sounds. Everything else I've been able to do on the Opsix: EPs, pads, supersaws, organs, you name it. But I think this is a trend with all 3 KORG siblings in this video: they are marketed for a specific ability they have and the on-boars controls are dedicated to that, but overall they can do like 10 other things
I have a fairly sizeable synth setup and more often than not Im just firing up the wavestate on its own with the headphones and I just lose myself in the sound....Beautiful little synth.
I have the Wavestate & Opsix, and haven't touched a VST since. But the Opsix is my favorite. I've had it for a year now, and still can't stop spending hours programming patches on it. Especially since firmware version 2.0 was released ...They added my favorite filter ...a Comb Filter.
Any tips for a noob about where to place the "FM filter", "wave folder" and "ring mod" operator types? I understand a bit more about the operator chain hierarchy now, so you can say "Algo 1 op 3" as an example
@UChbIdQR7Nf-1hKVxWR9fcWg the OpSix has faders which I use all the time. Pots for ratio, which I use all the time. Data knobs which I use all the time. A pitch and mod wheel I use all the time.
I used Hardware in the 90s, had Yamaha DX100, Korg DW8000, Waldorf Microwave, Yamaha Motif module, Juno 106, and Roland XP-30 so this cool setup and variation was fun to use. Now in soon 2022 just VST and a midikeyboard, and there are many great VST, but that Wavestate is that kind of hardware I really would love to use. Great video as always!
All 3 of these boards are insanely cool. I have the Minilogue, and now, the Opsix - really thinking I want all 3 of them featured here. I LOVE that these boards have such great polyphony compared to analog boards of the same class.
This is a brilliant overview! Thank you so much, dude!! I've owned OPSIX for some years now and I love it...BUT, I am starting to lust big time over Wavestate. I was a kid in the 90's and Wavestate just has that sound that I remember (and long for) + it looks like a real deep sound design machine (especially in combination with field recording and samlpling...) and together with OPSIX = golden! Thanks again for the very interesting video :)
For now I have just the Wavestate, which I love after some time using it. Not an instant gratification but now I really appreciate it. Of the last two I will go with the Opsix and I’m glad is your favorite also. To my ears is sound fantastic. From demo to demo I can’t really gel with the sound of the Modwave, and it share also all the samples possibilities of the Wavestate
Masterclass. So eloquent, answering logical questions that appear as he breaks down to the core of these gadgets. Regardless of the topic he is talking about, this is how smart people explain things. Thanks a lot.
I have the Wavestate. It is a magical keyboard, in that it makes out of this world beautiful sounds, and I don't know how. LOL Actually I have a pretty good idea. Steep learning curve, but super powerful, once you get your head wrapped around it. Plenty of great presets, to get you started, and new software editor is very good too. Nice to see explanation/demo, of the other two synths, in this line. Thanks for the great content.
I like the idea of the Opsix most as it opens up FM in new ways, but soundwise I'd go with the WaveState any day. Too bad I do not own any of this handsome three...
You remind me of a dungeon master from 1984....and that's a good thing. I also like the no frills video format. No fancy adobe effects or social media shilling.
Thank you Zach for this wonderful video. I must say that the music examples on your videos are always very pleasurable to listen to regardless of which synthesizer you use. ⚜️x🤘🏻x⚜️
I only read about / heard about the Opsix before I went right out and got an Opsix! But I can testify it's a fabulous synth, with extraordinarily amazing sound potential. The control knobs, faders, menus are very good. Programming is not the easiest thing, but you can learn (with patience and helpful hints from all available places on the internet) to create some totally amazing patches to use in your music.
I just bought my Opsix yesterday, brand new from Zzounds for ....wait for it ... $329 !!! The price dropped for about a day and now Zzounds has stopped carrying them. I even called them before ordering to confirm it wasnt a typo and the rep told me that was the price set by Korg for Zzounds. Unfortunately I was a little late to the game.and by the time I ordered it went backordered so I have to wait til the end of Aug before they fulfill my order. Just a small price to pay for an Opsix with a $420 discount !!!
I guessed you preferred the Modwave over the others. You enjoyed yourself much more on this one! You could hear it in the playing. I have a Wavestate and am just starting to learn how it ticks. Modwave next becuase as others say, I want 'em all!
I would like a 61 note version of my Wavestate. It's just a bit short on notes, but definitely not short on sound creation. Combined with my MODX7, there's a lot more to explore before I come anywhere close to running out of options.
@@MKA63 … Korg says the Wavestate has 64 stereo voices (double the 32-voice polyphony of the old Wavestation). Is that not the case?! Or is there some ‘trick’ to it … ?
Gentle correction: The wavestate is an evolution of VECTOR synthesis, NOT wavetable synthesis. Vector synthesis, at its heart, is nothing more than the mixing of the levels of up to 4 simultaneous samples over time. The wavestate does not use wavetables at all. The modwave uses wavetables and is an evolution of wavetable synthesis. A wavetable is a collection of related, usually evolving, single-cycle waveforms that form a kind of shape-shifting oscillator. Wavetable synthesis, at its heart, is changing the timbre of an oscillator over time by changing the position of the "playback head" within the wavetable, moving from one single-cycle waveform to another. Modern wavetable synthesizers will interpolate between the waveforms in real time to make the transition very smooth; early wavetable synthesizers did not have this smoothing and exhibited digital artifacts (that some people enjoy) as the waveforms change.
the reason people say its an evolution of wavetable synthesis is because a part of its sequencer essentially behaves as a table. its much more than mixing the levels of 4 samples , its mixing 4 "sequencers" which each have 6 independent "lanes".. that have 16 "steps". so for example.... the 3rd lane is the sample lane. 1 sample can be loaded per step and theres 16 steps.. so "layer A" can have 16 different samples, which can be manipulated by the other lanes (timing, shape, pitch etc). very similar to a wavetable albeit much more resolution at the expense of less versatility. the vector element comes into play because theres 4 instances of those lanes being summed in a mixer which can be controlled by either lfos or x/y joystick. so in a nut shell, on layer A you could load 16 simple waveform samples and make them flow into each other seamlessly using the sample lane sequencer then use the dedicated mod knob or lfo to cycle through and control the "state" of the "wave" sequencer.. the end result would be similar to a basic wavetable synth patch... but then you could simultaneously do the same thing on layer b but with complex acoustic/multivoice samples instead of single cycles. then blend the two layers using the vector mixer. its really powerful just really unconventional. i have a single bass patch that morphs from acoustic slap bass to saw bass and everything inbetween as you scrub through the table. or a string patche that's an emulated synth string and one end, a melotron in the middle and a full orchestra at the end of the table.
@@LeeOnTheTrack Great discussion; I enjoyed reading it. I would still make the minor (and maybe pedantic) point that “wavetable synthesis” is not the right descriptor.
Thanks for explaining this you two! I was kinda confused listening because i was like... Wait I thought the ModWave was the wavetable one, I thought the Wavestate just used wave sequencing (I think that's what Korg called it)
Very good comparison. For completing the litlle history : wave sequencing was the precursor of it... And thereby also mentionning the Korg Volca Keys, Monotribe, Monologue, Minilogue and the great brothers (with different keyboards, number of keys) : Prologue... And all build around a wave sequencer as heart of this kind of sounddesign building... Then the wavestate was introduced... with in the maintime also (and already as precursors) the Volca FM and the Opsix... And finally the Modwave... Korg has a very logic vision for developing new synthesizers based on a philosophy and a kind of 'mission'.
I personally have the Opsix and love it. I’ve had it for about a year now. There’s nothing like the feeling of using a real synth. You just can’t get the same experience from a software synth. The deep synthesis of the Opsix is my favorite.
Thanks for the video!!! I had to listen to it twice after your vote for the Opsix. As for listening to the comparisons my order was Wavestate, Modwave and the Opsix a close third. I can't believe you didn't give us at least 5 min. of all 3 midi synced together. Oh wait, I bet you still have all of them? Who Knows with a little spare time before Christmas? Great Vid!!! Thanks
Right in the intro you talk about how Korg is responsible for the analog renaissance of late. When you consider everything, it really started with the Korg Monotron. That small device paved the way for Korg’s line of analogs by Tatsuya which showed other companies that analog was cool again. Arguably Korg’s market success brought demand to create behemoths like the PolyBrute that we see today from Arturia, a previously all digital company.
Ever since i bough a Mega Drive (Genesis) in 1990 it has sold me to every great FM synth and lately the Opsix. I wish they made a 61 key version of it though.
Wavestate seems like the pick here, to me. FM and Wavetable are done very well/better, elsewhere, by several manufacturers. What are the alternatives for Wave-Sequencing?! VSTs, I imagine … any other hardware, tho’?! Also, I just really like its rhythmic nature … 🥰
Absolutely great performance..I own Korg Lee Triton, KorgM50, Roland synthesizersRS-5,Amd 5 PSRs. BUT i love Korgs..You untroduced very well and natural .I am looking for techno ,trance in this machine and you showed...Thank you to make me falling love robot machine....Thank you 🙏♥️🎹⚘maestro🙏♥️I want your advice should I get one or stay with my collection ..Please PM..I am asking you its very important for me now..I am in middle of road to choose ... Thank so much ...give me a shout
I currently own a Kronos 2 SE and a Wavestate MK II, I also have the OpSix Native VST but I am definitely leaning toward getting the new ModWave MK II when it starts shipping.
Excellent review on this system of production. The elephant in the room has always been cost & reliability. KORG is an awesome brand. These days have been about to many cooks in the kitchen & putting off people by being to nerdy. Creation is about fun. Some folks don't have internet access, even in 2024. Hence why these tools are important. Affordability also levels the playing field. A pair of decent boots, don't make the player. My personal choice after watching this review is the Wavestate. Time to start looking for 2nd hand. Money is a problem for us simple folk.
I think many do not know that in the late 80s Korg was saved by Yamaha and much of the FM synthesis of Yamaha's DX7 was ported over to Korg via technology transfer and Yamaha pulled engineers from Sequential Circuits demise. This resulted in the M1 with the help of Yamaha and it allowed Korg to become profitable enough to but back controlling interest. But that op six is a DX7 with a filter and variable waveforms in the operator.
I own them all three and I never looked back. All are full polyphonic modular Systems on their own right. The learning curve is steep but they much more operable then a MODX or Montage because of their Software. The Sounds are gorgeous and you can do really previously unheard stuff with them. What more is there to want? Hoping for a resurrection of the physical modeling synth Prophesy, maybe Korg should team up with some Yamaha VM guys or Emillie Gilles of Mutable Instruments to do this....
Wow, you own all 3 of these Korg synths? Can you explain simply for a layman, why you think these 3 especially the Wavestate is better than the Yamaha Modx or Montage? Also, I mostly just want cinematic score, heavenly meditative spiritual ambient sounds, so will the the Korg Wavestate be enough, you think? Thank you.
I was very pleased to hear your comments as you covered the lineage correctly, which is precisely what makes these things so relevant as digital hardware in an age of software. The Wavestate was an irresistible move when it landed. And I adore it. After watching smdizens of review and programming videos I recently also bought both the Opsix and then, two days later, the Modwave. For precisely the reasons you outlined. These are three very different, very relevant and very powerful beasts, each pushing the envelope in their own synthesis type.
I want to see them expand on gadget! People need to get hip with that software. It’s a TRULY intuitive and incredible alternative to a standalone , or a clunky laptop by going mobile with computers. They should flesh it out to a truly” pro app “ status since Apple has dropped the ball on iOS with no Logic Pro offered! This is korgs chance to take AUM out of the running too. We still badly need a real central hub on mobile that works with third party apps and gadgets as well . On most computers Gadget opens in Logic Pro in the plugin folder. It should be the other way around! These synths too could become gadgets as well. Korg is big enough to complete a version of Gadget to do exactly that . Someone should especially with all the power offered by the m1 silicon ! What are you waiting for Korg? Peace 👽
Wavestate is a great synthesizer. Literally my only complaint is the housing and keybed which they're planning on fixing with the Wavestate SE, but that was announced over a year ago with no updates. At this point I'll just assume it's lost to time...but they did finally officially announce the Drumlogue so who knows?
Three fantastic designs; nice overview and demos. The decision to sell them as VSTs was smart; hopefully modwave will join the other 2 there soon possibly for a bundle price? The keybeds are junk which is understandable at the price point. Maybe they are selling "too well" to release the SE versions (wavestate shown at NAMM '21) along with the module versions? A well done granular (highly focused like these) with cutting edge delays (think Other Desert Cities) is something Korg could pull off at roughly this price as well I think and would be a perfect addition.
Great overview thanks Korg really are doing great stuff...remembering it’s past but enhancing it for a new era! Ok I’m not a fan of little keyboards ( I really hope the make a flagship with several of these engines in one synth). Only one I think they’re missing is a modern VA - (king Korg is great but repackaged in a more radias -like format would be awesome)....
I have the Opsix and I love it. I think any one of these synths is great if you're trying to move past the hipster "analogue" trend and actually make music. The Opsix can definitely do most of those classic analog sounds anyway, while being able to do so much more. The main selling point of these synths is honestly just the polyphony. Monophonic analog synths have dominated the market and, until now, there were no affordable fully polyphonic synths. The Peak, Hydrasynth, and Deepmind are great, but they still only give you 8 notes. Korg's three synths are incredibly powerful and are the types of tools that you would actually use for sound design, movie scoring, and literally any genre of music. I'd say these synths are for the actual musicians out there, and not just the gearheads.
Most of the great music that all modern synths and workstations aim to emulate came from tech with 8 voices or less. The point is fairly moot. Many can't make music on boards with ten times the features, just as they can't the old. There is also nothing in affordability. Since you can adequately build tracks with a cheap novation plugged into ableton. Opsix lacks a fair bit on build quality. Easiest entry point for power is probably hydra explorer wired to a hydra desktop for 16 voice by-tim synth. Obviously those looking for 16 wide octave now have the deluxe. Korg have products for all people but the only ones that excel are their flagships. Other than that competitor companies have them made.
Yes. Your analysis is spot on. Im a saxophone player of 35 years bringing that musicality and understandiing of melody to the synth now at this point in the game. Im glad it did it this way as opposed to the other way around.
@@kierenmoore3236 @Kieren Moore I know. I said "affordable". Besides the Deepmind, those synths are all TWICE as expensive as the Opsix (Edit: 3 times as expensive!). And the Opsix STILL has more polyphony. C'mon dude. Please read what I wrote before you try to refute my point. I'm obviously aware that $2500 synths exist. The new Korg lineup is great because they're more capable than most of those "high end" synths, but at half the price.
@@pazminoproject There are loads of polyphonic digital synthesizers, and there have been for years now. And “affordable” is entirely relative … especially across time!! Polyphonic analog synths are way more affordable now, than when they emerged. Anyway, I’ll leave you to it …
All three are great. It would be great if they made keyboard detachable so you can make table top such as Minilogue XD module. I have originals such as Wavestation AD, Prophet VS, TX802, TX7 and must say compared to these new Korg versions all look like crusty old-timers. Cheers! S
Intyeresting, definitely now that the modules exist. But for me personally, the question is what they would add to my EX-8000, Wavestation SR, TX802 and Microwave II, other than (obviously) the interface. Sure, things have evolved in the past 30 or 40 years, but the question is whether they have evolved enough to add yet more gear.
Great video. Is there a good reason why the Opsix doesn't have sample memory like the Wavestate? It would have been killer to be able to experiment with operators, patches and samples.
i have the opsix. not crazy about some of the presets... gonna explore users soon. i have the novation mini nova. nothing will ever replace that! but they can do great things together.
I have the wavestate about a year and some and there is STILL so much i have yet to discover or do on it as of this writing. It was a toss up between it and the opsix which i have decided im going to purchase as well BEFORE seeing this video which really gives a good account of all 3 synths. All that being said , upon hearing the sonic pallette of the MODWAVE it thinks its a combination of the OPSIX and the WAVESTATE in its abilities and i probably would have gone with the MOD in retrospect if I had seen this comparison today.
I am thinking to add a Wavestate to my MPC live 2. My goal is to make ambient music, chill out, down beat, ank funk, live. Creating and jamming from scratch. But it have no hold button... It's a must for me to make drones and twist them manualy, or with multiples automations. Create layers, mix them, mute them, apply effects, warp the sound, etc... Do you think the Wavestate will be good for that ? Better than the Modwave ? Would there be a better choice under 1000$ (not bigger size) ?
The Modwave aggressively switches between waveforms. It's not chill, it's mental. The Opsix is the most chill and retro of the bunch, it does great ambient pads. The wavestate is basically a modern WaveStation if that's your thing.
@@danielbarbieri8199 Good choice! These Korg units do not have the best keyboards and they are basically just a raspberry pie. But that's all 1k buys you these days unless you go modular or build / fix gear.
I am not sure but the way that the wavestate sounds is way better than the other 2. Perhaps you didn't go deep enough on the other 2... I am still trying to decide what to buy is either the wavestate or the mv
Yeah, on the opsix it sounded like he played the same patch over and over again. I know he played several but they all sounded the same. The opsix is capable of so much more... Even with firmware version 1.x, let alone 2.x which probably makes it the most amazing synth engine so far. Having seen how powerful the opsix is, I'm looking for a reason to buy the modwave or the wavestate now, but honestly I'd rather buy a bigger version of the opsix with more advanced envelopes, more modulation (including more wheels/knobs!) and multitimbrality.
There aren't any rumours here (Japan) of a Opsix SE. I'd expect those to stay with the Wavestate range (Korg USA). If anything I'd look more to the coming new flagships. Which we expect to hear more about in the future, post recovery from the pandemic.
lovely and I don't even really like modern stuff, but these are pretty tough to dump on. Control surface based FM and wavetable synthesis are amazing and quite cheap, feels so hands on, 'mind blown! they say and I'll join in! And I know everyone seems to say that about every synth now (in unison) but it really is 'Mind Blown', this time esp. with FM stuff. There's a massive amount to be said for any knob per function non-subtractive Synth, just opens so many doors. Sure the underlying synth needs to be good too, but these days they often are! Controls are so huge in defining usability in every way right? but years back I'd be far more easily be persuaded: 'So! who cares, I'll struggle by on this little menu system and unreadable font... stop moaning I'd threaten myself'. Then I gave up on FM for ages man, dull as dishwater but good for little jingle bells n stuff, Spector and all that tripping his box off inviting you to Christmas parties. ring a ling a ding dong ding, yeh now you're talkin Philip. But weren't they real bells anyway? So fortuitously, the time eventually arrived when lately I bought that Digital Electrons MEGA FM. You know that little 4-OP, FM Yamaha Genesis synth-on-a-chip, in-a-box, x2, thinger. And I was like Woot! I mean I don't even know why the hell I bought it for, I guess for sane hands on FMing and i was hoping to stumble across the odd semi decent 'used in such and such a game' patch. Every time I use it I think 'this is so F-ing cool though. Soooooo....then why the F didn't they build the DX7 like this (i.e with controls. - not changing the original DX itself including noise and aliasing and 'shit-brown' colour scheme which l adore, F that...just the controller part yeah?)'. Well, god knows, they must have tried being all Spacey Trancer and Trancy Spacer, it was the 80s after all. It's not like Yamaha couldn't implement those controls well (at least on this kinky Genesis 4 OPer), the control 'ports' are all there and correct and have great implementation and were sat there for all those years just waiting to be controlled properly. It's just Yamaha couldn't afford knobs. Now, some game programmers at the time had some crappy Software-based implementation that sucked but worked OK for Yuzo and that but it was obv limited to one synth. This was because yamahaa could not afford knobs, or Ayano's Karaoke monthly expenditure. But they should have made this back in the day cause turns out this synth was all this time a monster. Turns out this MEGA FM MOFO let's you do stuff dead easy you maybe didn't even think was possible on FM synths: Make a 4 OSC supersaw? and unison/detune it? OK, sensei, this can be done. Make indescribably beautiful tines, which become pianos which become pads, by morphing....sure, master, not that hard. Not only that but did I mention this synth sounds GOOD, and by good I mean GOD, It sounds like God in the machine.....Or I mean one of the best early gen FM synths. So by by good I mean better than Toejam and Earl produced by Phil Spector, by good I mean better than Yuzo Koshiro on an average day... You see it's all about outputs. You see it's outputs distort. Like mad zippy trippy distortion that sounds something like the old SSL zipper effect but in Quad, sometimes you want that, sometimes you don't, and for games you seldom care either way. But that's why when we aren't making Games I have a trick just for you. Here is the trick: You turns that main volume knob down to 64 and most any distortion drops off there. Then you send the synth through a little art Tube MP and return the synth to a prosumer level nicely thickened and saturated by tha tube n dat innit. well not tube n DAT, you could do that, but mostly just tube is enough. Then add back as much or as little Zippy dist as you want but this way you got something akin to a distorta-bell TX81Z. So I'm like....This sucker is godlike and k=can make you weep, so Alamo Soundlab should review it to prove they just don't sidle up to Behringer but need a bit more in this vein, so what's next folks help me out? don't say DX1 please, yes of course I want one, but need space. Also I wants handsoners only please, help a brother out. TA. OPSixer? Well in my old school days one wouldn't venture far from Yamaha for FM sounds but that might be cool now? fresh n that. Get fresh for the weekend showin out! Anyone got that one secret FM synth or wavetable that's heavy controllable?
It would have made more sense in light of cost and the pandemic. Easily made and people have even been doing it themselves (chopping the keys off). However, in light of their past promises to release Wavestate SE and wider octave editions - it remains to be seen what marketing thinks will make them bank. Demand on modules (global net) isn't actually that large. Behringer stated this several times. Which of course, is bad enough from a budget company as a statement. Korg (if true) wouldn't want to invest vs a sure return. As such - people like the idea of more keys and aftertouch more; because they are trying to fend off sales of Osmose and Hydra.
I have the Opsix and the Wavestate, the only thing I hate is that they made them so small, better than the miniature synths of course but give me 61 keys at least lol.
I want a Nautilus…my wallet says no you don’t…would the one of these satisfy that Korg itch regarding leads and pads? Working with MPC Live 2 Machine Analog Lab and Studio One.
i just saw a video where a person used a red-hot carving knife to melt-cut the wavestate chassis and completely remove the keyboard. it was clean and there are only 2 small ribbon connectors on the keyboard, so the left over wiring is minimal. I mention this because i can't fathom how i could position all 3 of those so i could both play AND operate them. cant be done imo. they need to be modules, controlled from a larger, more complex keyboard, preferrably with aftertouch vs only velocity which is just asking to break those cheesy keyboards doing velocity stuff. ps. there is a box for microfreaks for people who want to lose that garbage keybed too.
Correct title should be Korg Modwave vs Opsix vs Wavestate. I clicked wondering why the Modwave and Opsix were being compared to the Wavestation from 1990/1991. Probably a simple mistake.
No, but really. Korg should make a modern version of the Korg DSS-1. The original is HUGE. It’s literally a small table. I need a smaller, better version of it that still resembles its original self in sound and somewhat with the design too. Since they are basically remastering the dw6000 and dw8000 with these three synths, they’re on track with doing the same with the DSS-1. They’re all digital synths too. Unfortunately we’ll never see something like what I speak of though…
From a playability standpoint, the Opsix is hampered by having only 12 slots in its mod matrix (for some reasons called "virtual patch"). On the other hand, both the wavestate and the modwave have a practically unlimited mod matrix: the only limitation is having max 31 (!) different sources for *each* single destination, but you can have hundreds, if not thousands, of destinations at the same time. This is awesome, but unfortunately neither implements what would be a very interesting usage of such a feature: the MPE standard for expressive controllers. A huge missed opportunity there. 😞
To the Alamo Music Management Overlords: Keep this Zach guy around for videos. He is a good blend of nerd, interesting, and knowledgeable. We nerds have to stick up for each other.
Yeah, he's really good.
He’s not reading from a prompt and seems passionate about what he’s talking about. So much more interesting than an actor that doesn’t care.
We care about these things and it’s good to hear it from someone that feels the same way we do.
I've had a Wavestate for almost a year now and just recently got an Opsix. I'm still learning the Opsix, but it has yet to surpass the Wavestate for me, which I absolutely love for making rhythmic wave sequences.
The OpSix is really a gem. Unfortunately Korg undersold it by emphasizing only the FM aspects. I would say it’s more of an operator-based synth, with a complete reimagining of what an operator can be - a cross-mod, a filter, or an effect. Oscillator Sink has shown how you can rewire the operators to build a filterbank, a Buchla, a virtual analog, and even a physical modeling engine. There is a modular playground aspect to it. Coming from an analog background, it took some time to get in the flow of sound design with it, but it has really grown on me lately and taught me a ton about additive synthesis. I just wish the build quality were a bit nicer - a bit cheap and plasticky feeling. Could do with a few more dedicated controls too - it’s not exactly menu diving, but you do spend a lot of time flipping between screens.
Agreed!!
modeswitching I totally agree with you. And after having turned my listening recently to 'modular synthesis' music / performances (which I love), I get the impression that the Opsix is very much like succeeding in putting the whole modular synth culture into one small, powerful box - saves you having to wrestle with several hundred patch leads!!
There have been more user friendly mod matrix interfaces. My aging Supernova did it very, very well...
@@Syd4510 that's a unique take on an FM synth.
Playing in a cover band, Opsix actually met with pretty much ALL my needs, the only reason why I needed another keyboard was a digital piano for realistic piano sounds. Everything else I've been able to do on the Opsix: EPs, pads, supersaws, organs, you name it.
But I think this is a trend with all 3 KORG siblings in this video: they are marketed for a specific ability they have and the on-boars controls are dedicated to that, but overall they can do like 10 other things
I am in love with my Wavestate, but now I want them all..
I have a fairly sizeable synth setup and more often than not Im just firing up the wavestate on its own with the headphones and I just lose myself in the sound....Beautiful little synth.
I have the Wavestate & Opsix, and haven't touched a VST since. But the Opsix is my favorite. I've had it for a year now, and still can't stop spending hours programming patches on it. Especially since firmware version 2.0 was released ...They added my favorite filter ...a Comb Filter.
Any tips for a noob about where to place the "FM filter", "wave folder" and "ring mod" operator types? I understand a bit more about the operator chain hierarchy now, so you can say "Algo 1 op 3" as an example
@Lucian VSTs 🤮
@Lucian Right. Couldn't possibly be that hands on control is better than a mouse that can only alter one parameter at a time 🙄
@Lucian that's literally false. I can turn multiple knobs simultaneously. Do you even know how synthesizers work?
@UChbIdQR7Nf-1hKVxWR9fcWg the OpSix has faders which I use all the time. Pots for ratio, which I use all the time. Data knobs which I use all the time. A pitch and mod wheel I use all the time.
Love the historical perspectives that complement the technical explanations and real world demos. Awesome channel :)
I used Hardware in the 90s, had Yamaha DX100, Korg DW8000, Waldorf Microwave, Yamaha Motif module, Juno 106, and Roland XP-30 so this cool setup and variation was fun to use. Now in soon 2022 just VST and a midikeyboard, and there are many great VST, but that Wavestate is that kind of hardware I really would love to use. Great video as always!
All 3 of these boards are insanely cool. I have the Minilogue, and now, the Opsix - really thinking I want all 3 of them featured here. I LOVE that these boards have such great polyphony compared to analog boards of the same class.
This is a brilliant overview! Thank you so much, dude!! I've owned OPSIX for some years now and I love it...BUT, I am starting to lust big time over Wavestate. I was a kid in the 90's and Wavestate just has that sound that I remember (and long for) + it looks like a real deep sound design machine (especially in combination with field recording and samlpling...) and together with OPSIX = golden! Thanks again for the very interesting video :)
These all pair very nice with something like Akai Force, Maschine Plus, MPC Live 2, MC707, Octatrack MKII etc.
Please DONT tell me that 🤣I'm a groove box freak😂😂
You read my mind 😎
Just ordered the wavestate, a dream synth for me honestly
The greatest thing from this newest Korg releases its their budget and all new features added. The wavestate and Opsix are amazing !
Love all 3 of these synths by Korg. I will likely get the Wavestate first, then the OpSix.
For now I have just the Wavestate, which I love after some time using it. Not an instant gratification but now I really appreciate it. Of the last two I will go with the Opsix and I’m glad is your favorite also. To my ears is sound fantastic. From demo to demo I can’t really gel with the sound of the Modwave, and it share also all the samples possibilities of the Wavestate
Masterclass. So eloquent, answering logical questions that appear as he breaks down to the core of these gadgets. Regardless of the topic he is talking about, this is how smart people explain things. Thanks a lot.
I actually came here trying to find good, hipster, retro FM synth. But instead I found the future of humanity in Opsix and your playing.
I have the Wavestate.
It is a magical keyboard, in that it makes out of this world beautiful sounds, and I don't know how. LOL
Actually I have a pretty good idea. Steep learning curve, but super powerful, once you get your head wrapped around it.
Plenty of great presets, to get you started, and new software editor is very good too.
Nice to see explanation/demo, of the other two synths, in this line.
Thanks for the great content.
I like the idea of the Opsix most as it opens up FM in new ways, but soundwise I'd go with the WaveState any day.
Too bad I do not own any of this handsome three...
Best comparison I have found of these 3. Now I want all of them. Thank you!
That Opsix is ridiculously good.
You remind me of a dungeon master from 1984....and that's a good thing.
I also like the no frills video format. No fancy adobe effects or social media shilling.
Thank you Zach for this wonderful video. I must say that the music examples on your videos are always very pleasurable to listen to regardless of which synthesizer you use. ⚜️x🤘🏻x⚜️
I bought the opsix on a whim when it went on that super sale a little while ago. I'm so glad I did - it's fantastic.
I only read about / heard about the Opsix before I went right out and got an Opsix! But I can testify it's a fabulous synth, with extraordinarily amazing sound potential. The control knobs, faders, menus are very good. Programming is not the easiest thing, but you can learn (with patience and helpful hints from all available places on the internet) to create some totally amazing patches to use in your music.
I just bought my Opsix yesterday, brand new from Zzounds for ....wait for it ... $329 !!! The price dropped for about a day and now Zzounds has stopped carrying them. I even called them before ordering to confirm it wasnt a typo and the rep told me that was the price set by Korg for Zzounds. Unfortunately I was a little late to the game.and by the time I ordered it went backordered so I have to wait til the end of Aug before they fulfill my order. Just a small price to pay for an Opsix with a $420 discount !!!
I guessed you preferred the Modwave over the others. You enjoyed yourself much more on this one! You could hear it in the playing. I have a Wavestate and am just starting to learn how it ticks. Modwave next becuase as others say, I want 'em all!
Dear Santa ... I need all three. 😀
I would love a rack version of each (basically the interface without a keyboard), the way the JP-8080 and MS2000r were done.
I would like a 61 note version of my Wavestate. It's just a bit short on notes, but definitely not short on sound creation.
Combined with my MODX7, there's a lot more to explore before I come anywhere close to running out of options.
@@MKA63 … Korg says the Wavestate has 64 stereo voices (double the 32-voice polyphony of the old Wavestation). Is that not the case?! Or is there some ‘trick’ to it … ?
Gentle correction: The wavestate is an evolution of VECTOR synthesis, NOT wavetable synthesis. Vector synthesis, at its heart, is nothing more than the mixing of the levels of up to 4 simultaneous samples over time. The wavestate does not use wavetables at all. The modwave uses wavetables and is an evolution of wavetable synthesis. A wavetable is a collection of related, usually evolving, single-cycle waveforms that form a kind of shape-shifting oscillator. Wavetable synthesis, at its heart, is changing the timbre of an oscillator over time by changing the position of the "playback head" within the wavetable, moving from one single-cycle waveform to another. Modern wavetable synthesizers will interpolate between the waveforms in real time to make the transition very smooth; early wavetable synthesizers did not have this smoothing and exhibited digital artifacts (that some people enjoy) as the waveforms change.
the reason people say its an evolution of wavetable synthesis is because a part of its sequencer essentially behaves as a table. its much more than mixing the levels of 4 samples , its mixing 4 "sequencers" which each have 6 independent "lanes".. that have 16 "steps". so for example.... the 3rd lane is the sample lane. 1 sample can be loaded per step and theres 16 steps.. so "layer A" can have 16 different samples, which can be manipulated by the other lanes (timing, shape, pitch etc). very similar to a wavetable albeit much more resolution at the expense of less versatility. the vector element comes into play because theres 4 instances of those lanes being summed in a mixer which can be controlled by either lfos or x/y joystick. so in a nut shell, on layer A you could load 16 simple waveform samples and make them flow into each other seamlessly using the sample lane sequencer then use the dedicated mod knob or lfo to cycle through and control the "state" of the "wave" sequencer.. the end result would be similar to a basic wavetable synth patch... but then you could simultaneously do the same thing on layer b but with complex acoustic/multivoice samples instead of single cycles. then blend the two layers using the vector mixer. its really powerful just really unconventional. i have a single bass patch that morphs from acoustic slap bass to saw bass and everything inbetween as you scrub through the table. or a string patche that's an emulated synth string and one end, a melotron in the middle and a full orchestra at the end of the table.
@@LeeOnTheTrack Great discussion; I enjoyed reading it. I would still make the minor (and maybe pedantic) point that “wavetable synthesis” is not the right descriptor.
A very good comment on your part making these clarifications. Thank you!😊
Well said!
Thanks for explaining this you two! I was kinda confused listening because i was like... Wait I thought the ModWave was the wavetable one, I thought the Wavestate just used wave sequencing (I think that's what Korg called it)
I would say the open door back to analog was Bob Moog’s Voyager which I have two of!
I got a 1990 wavestation it's a real wonder
I have one too, forgot about it, will try to connect it today and make it sing... while still lusting for the WaveState...
Very good comparison. For completing the litlle history : wave sequencing was the precursor of it... And thereby also mentionning the Korg Volca Keys, Monotribe, Monologue, Minilogue and the great brothers (with different keyboards, number of keys) : Prologue...
And all build around a wave sequencer as heart of this kind of sounddesign building... Then the wavestate was introduced... with in the maintime also (and already as precursors) the Volca FM and the Opsix... And finally the Modwave... Korg has a very logic vision for developing new synthesizers based on a philosophy and a kind of 'mission'.
Thank you Zach, excellent demo's! ,, @ 37.50 i hear Vangelis with that Bladerunner sound :)
I personally have the Opsix and love it. I’ve had it for about a year now. There’s nothing like the feeling of using a real synth. You just can’t get the same experience from a software synth. The deep synthesis of the Opsix is my favorite.
I also like the feel of these synths too. I think they actually feel really great to play too. I like that they all incorporate full sized keys.
Ill second that !
Thanks for the video!!! I had to listen to it twice after your vote for the Opsix. As for listening to the comparisons my order was Wavestate, Modwave and the Opsix a close third. I can't believe you didn't give us at least 5 min. of all 3 midi synced together. Oh wait, I bet you still have all of them? Who Knows with a little spare time before Christmas? Great Vid!!! Thanks
Right in the intro you talk about how Korg is responsible for the analog renaissance of late. When you consider everything, it really started with the Korg Monotron. That small device paved the way for Korg’s line of analogs by Tatsuya which showed other companies that analog was cool again. Arguably Korg’s market success brought demand to create behemoths like the PolyBrute that we see today from Arturia, a previously all digital company.
Opsix is the one for me.
Agreed
Modwave
Ever since i bough a Mega Drive (Genesis) in 1990 it has sold me to every great FM synth and lately the Opsix. I wish they made a 61 key version of it though.
Wavestate seems like the pick here, to me. FM and Wavetable are done very well/better, elsewhere, by several manufacturers. What are the alternatives for Wave-Sequencing?! VSTs, I imagine … any other hardware, tho’?! Also, I just really like its rhythmic nature … 🥰
Great job at demonstrating the opsix' weirdness. Love it.
OP6 is the the gift that keeps on giving.
Absolutely great performance..I own Korg Lee Triton, KorgM50, Roland synthesizersRS-5,Amd 5 PSRs. BUT i love Korgs..You untroduced very well and natural
.I am looking for techno ,trance in this machine and you showed...Thank you to make me falling love robot machine....Thank you 🙏♥️🎹⚘maestro🙏♥️I want your advice should I get one or stay with my collection ..Please PM..I am asking you its very important for me now..I am in middle of road to choose ... Thank so much ...give me a shout
I currently own a Kronos 2 SE and a Wavestate MK II, I also have the OpSix Native VST but I am definitely leaning toward getting the new ModWave MK II when it starts shipping.
The Wavestate looks the goods for this old school punk who wants out of the box lush! Great review.
Excellent review on this system of production. The elephant in the room has always been cost & reliability. KORG is an awesome brand. These days have been about to many cooks in the kitchen & putting off people by being to nerdy. Creation is about fun. Some folks don't have internet access, even in 2024. Hence why these tools are important. Affordability also levels the playing field. A pair of decent boots, don't make the player. My personal choice after watching this review is the Wavestate. Time to start looking for 2nd hand. Money is a problem for us simple folk.
I think many do not know that in the late 80s Korg was saved by Yamaha and much of the FM synthesis of Yamaha's DX7 was ported over to Korg via technology transfer and Yamaha pulled engineers from Sequential Circuits demise. This resulted in the M1 with the help of Yamaha and it allowed Korg to become profitable enough to but back controlling interest. But that op six is a DX7 with a filter and variable waveforms in the operator.
I own them all three and I never looked back. All are full polyphonic modular Systems on their own right. The learning curve is steep but they much more operable then a MODX or Montage because of their Software. The Sounds are gorgeous and you can do really previously unheard stuff with them. What more is there to want? Hoping for a resurrection of the physical modeling synth Prophesy, maybe Korg should team up with some Yamaha VM guys or Emillie Gilles of Mutable Instruments to do this....
I have an MODX and while I like it, I've been drawn to the Wavestate, just purchased one.
Wow, you own all 3 of these Korg synths? Can you explain simply for a layman, why you think these 3 especially the Wavestate is better than the Yamaha Modx or Montage? Also, I mostly just want cinematic score, heavenly meditative spiritual ambient sounds, so will the the Korg Wavestate be enough, you think? Thank you.
@@ddean8395 the problem I have with the MODX is that it doesn’t seem to follow any logic. Especially Sequencing.
@@TechGently Ok, I guess you're right, but I do love the Super Knob on the Yamaha Modfx/Montage, haa.
Modwave for the win .
I was very pleased to hear your comments as you covered the lineage correctly, which is precisely what makes these things so relevant as digital hardware in an age of software.
The Wavestate was an irresistible move when it landed. And I adore it. After watching smdizens of review and programming videos I recently also bought both the Opsix and then, two days later, the Modwave. For precisely the reasons you outlined.
These are three very different, very relevant and very powerful beasts, each pushing the envelope in their own synthesis type.
I just want all 3, and I'm trying to figure out how to pull that off
I want to see them expand on gadget! People need to get hip with that software. It’s a TRULY intuitive and incredible alternative to a standalone , or a clunky laptop by going mobile with computers. They should flesh it out to a truly” pro app “ status since Apple has dropped the ball on iOS with no Logic Pro offered! This is korgs chance to take AUM out of the running too. We still badly need a real central hub on mobile that works with third party apps and gadgets as well . On most computers Gadget opens in Logic Pro in the plugin folder. It should be the other way around! These synths too could become gadgets as well. Korg is big enough to complete a version of Gadget to do exactly that . Someone should especially with all the power offered by the m1 silicon ! What are you waiting for Korg? Peace 👽
Wavestate is a great synthesizer. Literally my only complaint is the housing and keybed which they're planning on fixing with the Wavestate SE, but that was announced over a year ago with no updates. At this point I'll just assume it's lost to time...but they did finally officially announce the Drumlogue so who knows?
Looking to buy. What are the complaints?
Thanks
J
SOON COME..
Three fantastic designs; nice overview and demos. The decision to sell them as VSTs was smart; hopefully modwave will join the other 2 there soon possibly for a bundle price? The keybeds are junk which is understandable at the price point. Maybe they are selling "too well" to release the SE versions (wavestate shown at NAMM '21) along with the module versions? A well done granular (highly focused like these) with cutting edge delays (think Other Desert Cities) is something Korg could pull off at roughly this price as well I think and would be a perfect addition.
Great overview thanks Korg really are doing great stuff...remembering it’s past but enhancing it for a new era! Ok I’m not a fan of little keyboards ( I really hope the make a flagship with several of these engines in one synth). Only one I think they’re missing is a modern VA - (king Korg is great but repackaged in a more radias -like format would be awesome)....
I have the Opsix and I love it. I think any one of these synths is great if you're trying to move past the hipster "analogue" trend and actually make music. The Opsix can definitely do most of those classic analog sounds anyway, while being able to do so much more. The main selling point of these synths is honestly just the polyphony. Monophonic analog synths have dominated the market and, until now, there were no affordable fully polyphonic synths. The Peak, Hydrasynth, and Deepmind are great, but they still only give you 8 notes. Korg's three synths are incredibly powerful and are the types of tools that you would actually use for sound design, movie scoring, and literally any genre of music. I'd say these synths are for the actual musicians out there, and not just the gearheads.
Most of the great music that all modern synths and workstations aim to emulate came from tech with 8 voices or less. The point is fairly moot. Many can't make music on boards with ten times the features, just as they can't the old. There is also nothing in affordability. Since you can adequately build tracks with a cheap novation plugged into ableton. Opsix lacks a fair bit on build quality. Easiest entry point for power is probably hydra explorer wired to a hydra desktop for 16 voice by-tim synth. Obviously those looking for 16 wide octave now have the deluxe. Korg have products for all people but the only ones that excel are their flagships. Other than that competitor companies have them made.
Yes. Your analysis is spot on. Im a saxophone player of 35 years bringing that musicality and understandiing of melody to the synth now at this point in the game. Im glad it did it this way as opposed to the other way around.
Rev2 16-Voice has been around for ages. Summit is 16-Voice. Hydrasynth Deluxe is 16-Voice. Deepmind12 is … well … 12-Voice …
@@kierenmoore3236 @Kieren Moore I know. I said "affordable". Besides the Deepmind, those synths are all TWICE as expensive as the Opsix (Edit: 3 times as expensive!). And the Opsix STILL has more polyphony. C'mon dude. Please read what I wrote before you try to refute my point. I'm obviously aware that $2500 synths exist. The new Korg lineup is great because they're more capable than most of those "high end" synths, but at half the price.
@@pazminoproject There are loads of polyphonic digital synthesizers, and there have been for years now. And “affordable” is entirely relative … especially across time!! Polyphonic analog synths are way more affordable now, than when they emerged. Anyway, I’ll leave you to it …
Excellent demos!
All three are great. It would be great if they made keyboard detachable so you can make table top such as Minilogue XD module. I have originals such as Wavestation AD, Prophet VS, TX802, TX7 and must say compared to these new Korg versions all look like crusty old-timers. Cheers! S
37.32 so beautiful. 42.46..amazing
Fantastic performance quite lovely
The sounds at around 14:20 are so cool and perfect for intro music or background music for YT videos or streaming! #KORGWAVESTATE
Im sitting right now , and ACTUALLY program (sliding knobs) a FM synthesizer, the OPsix is SO Nice, - now pair it with a Hydra Explore , and ... 🤪
Intyeresting, definitely now that the modules exist. But for me personally, the question is what they would add to my EX-8000, Wavestation SR, TX802 and Microwave II, other than (obviously) the interface. Sure, things have evolved in the past 30 or 40 years, but the question is whether they have evolved enough to add yet more gear.
Great trifecta of sound sources. How could anyone choose?
“KORG is giving you a reason to use an instrument.” Not only a beautiful statement, but great marketing technique on KORG’s behalf.
it really is. It's saying a lot that I have VST versions of these but want the hardware.
The Opsix is the best one imho
Great video. Is there a good reason why the Opsix doesn't have sample memory like the Wavestate? It would have been killer to be able to experiment with operators, patches and samples.
Then how would they sell you the Wavestste?
I'll take one of each please!
i have the opsix. not crazy about some of the presets... gonna explore users soon. i have the novation mini nova. nothing will ever replace that! but they can do great things together.
I hawe wavestation
I am very satisfied,
modwave reminds me a lot of dx7
Is the piano patch around 16min-18mins a stock patch/preset?
I have the wavestate about a year and some and there is STILL so much i have yet to discover or do on it as of this writing. It was a toss up between it and the opsix which i have decided im going to purchase as well BEFORE seeing this video which really gives a good account of all 3 synths. All that being said , upon hearing the sonic pallette of the MODWAVE it thinks its a combination of the OPSIX and the WAVESTATE in its abilities and i probably would have gone with the MOD in retrospect if I had seen this comparison today.
I am thinking to add a Wavestate to my MPC live 2.
My goal is to make ambient music, chill out, down beat, ank funk, live. Creating and jamming from scratch.
But it have no hold button...
It's a must for me to make drones and twist them manualy, or with multiples automations. Create layers, mix them, mute them, apply effects, warp the sound, etc...
Do you think the Wavestate will be good for that ? Better than the Modwave ? Would there be a better choice under 1000$ (not bigger size) ?
The Modwave aggressively switches between waveforms. It's not chill, it's mental. The Opsix is the most chill and retro of the bunch, it does great ambient pads. The wavestate is basically a modern WaveStation if that's your thing.
@@Harzurner
Thanks for your reply. I finaly decided to use the mpc to sample my modular. Then added a microlab keyboard.
@@danielbarbieri8199 Good choice! These Korg units do not have the best keyboards and they are basically just a raspberry pie. But that's all 1k buys you these days unless you go modular or build / fix gear.
Still like the ms2000 a little more but still pretty cool
Wavestate sounds really good
I am not sure but the way that the wavestate sounds is way better than the other 2.
Perhaps you didn't go deep enough on the other 2... I am still trying to decide what to buy is either the wavestate or the mv
Yeah, on the opsix it sounded like he played the same patch over and over again. I know he played several but they all sounded the same. The opsix is capable of so much more... Even with firmware version 1.x, let alone 2.x which probably makes it the most amazing synth engine so far.
Having seen how powerful the opsix is, I'm looking for a reason to buy the modwave or the wavestate now, but honestly I'd rather buy a bigger version of the opsix with more advanced envelopes, more modulation (including more wheels/knobs!) and multitimbrality.
There aren't any rumours here (Japan) of a Opsix SE. I'd expect those to stay with the Wavestate range (Korg USA). If anything I'd look more to the coming new flagships. Which we expect to hear more about in the future, post recovery from the pandemic.
@@ErraticFaith 👍🏻
I have the wavestate. Ill just say the possibilités are endless BEFORE wave séquences even enter the conversation.
I have only Opsix, Bass Station2 and rd 8 and rd 9. I really dont need anything else.
Great video! Have you make a video on Hydrasynth?
Not yet - on the list
@@asoundlab can’t wait!
As for me, it's the Wavestate all the way!
lovely and I don't even really like modern stuff, but these are pretty tough to dump on. Control surface based FM and wavetable synthesis are amazing and quite cheap, feels so hands on, 'mind blown! they say and I'll join in! And I know everyone seems to say that about every synth now (in unison) but it really is 'Mind Blown', this time esp. with FM stuff. There's a massive amount to be said for any knob per function non-subtractive Synth, just opens so many doors. Sure the underlying synth needs to be good too, but these days they often are!
Controls are so huge in defining usability in every way right? but years back I'd be far more easily be persuaded: 'So! who cares, I'll struggle by on this little menu system and unreadable font... stop moaning I'd threaten myself'. Then I gave up on FM for ages man, dull as dishwater but good for little jingle bells n stuff, Spector and all that tripping his box off inviting you to Christmas parties. ring a ling a ding dong ding, yeh now you're talkin Philip. But weren't they real bells anyway?
So fortuitously, the time eventually arrived when lately I bought that Digital Electrons MEGA FM. You know that little 4-OP, FM Yamaha Genesis synth-on-a-chip, in-a-box, x2, thinger. And I was like Woot! I mean I don't even know why the hell I bought it for, I guess for sane hands on FMing and i was hoping to stumble across the odd semi decent 'used in such and such a game' patch.
Every time I use it I think 'this is so F-ing cool though. Soooooo....then why the F didn't they build the DX7 like this (i.e with controls. - not changing the original DX itself including noise and aliasing and 'shit-brown' colour scheme which l adore, F that...just the controller part yeah?)'. Well, god knows, they must have tried being all Spacey Trancer and Trancy Spacer, it was the 80s after all.
It's not like Yamaha couldn't implement those controls well (at least on this kinky Genesis 4 OPer), the control 'ports' are all there and correct and have great implementation and were sat there for all those years just waiting to be controlled properly. It's just Yamaha couldn't afford knobs. Now, some game programmers at the time had some crappy Software-based implementation that sucked but worked OK for Yuzo and that but it was obv limited to one synth. This was because yamahaa could not afford knobs, or Ayano's Karaoke monthly expenditure.
But they should have made this back in the day cause turns out this synth was all this time a monster. Turns out this MEGA FM MOFO let's you do stuff dead easy you maybe didn't even think was possible on FM synths: Make a 4 OSC supersaw? and unison/detune it? OK, sensei, this can be done. Make indescribably beautiful tines, which become pianos which become pads, by morphing....sure, master, not that hard.
Not only that but did I mention this synth sounds GOOD, and by good I mean GOD, It sounds like God in the machine.....Or I mean one of the best early gen FM synths. So by by good I mean better than Toejam and Earl produced by Phil Spector, by good I mean better than Yuzo Koshiro on an average day...
You see it's all about outputs. You see it's outputs distort. Like mad zippy trippy distortion that sounds something like the old SSL zipper effect but in Quad, sometimes you want that, sometimes you don't, and for games you seldom care either way. But that's why when we aren't making Games I have a trick just for you. Here is the trick: You turns that main volume knob down to 64 and most any distortion drops off there. Then you send the synth through a little art Tube MP and return the synth to a prosumer level nicely thickened and saturated by tha tube n dat innit. well not tube n DAT, you could do that, but mostly just tube is enough. Then add back as much or as little Zippy dist as you want but this way you got something akin to a distorta-bell TX81Z.
So I'm like....This sucker is godlike and k=can make you weep, so Alamo Soundlab should review it to prove they just don't sidle up to Behringer but need a bit more in this vein, so what's next folks help me out? don't say DX1 please, yes of course I want one, but need space. Also I wants handsoners only please, help a brother out. TA. OPSixer? Well in my old school days one wouldn't venture far from Yamaha for FM sounds but that might be cool now? fresh n that. Get fresh for the weekend showin out! Anyone got that one secret FM synth or wavetable that's heavy controllable?
19:40 Wow
I find it disappointing and weird that Kord discontinued the Opsix so quickly. Any insight on that?
Which one has the better presets?
Any thoughts on whether Korg may ever release these in desktop version?
🤷♂️
It would have made more sense in light of cost and the pandemic. Easily made and people have even been doing it themselves (chopping the keys off). However, in light of their past promises to release Wavestate SE and wider octave editions - it remains to be seen what marketing thinks will make them bank. Demand on modules (global net) isn't actually that large. Behringer stated this several times. Which of course, is bad enough from a budget company as a statement. Korg (if true) wouldn't want to invest vs a sure return. As such - people like the idea of more keys and aftertouch more; because they are trying to fend off sales of Osmose and Hydra.
can you import your own recorded samples into the KORG MODWAVE?
Yes. You can import samples and wavetables into the Modwave.
I have the Opsix and the Wavestate, the only thing I hate is that they made them so small, better than the miniature synths of course but give me 61 keys at least lol.
Get a 61 key midi controller.
I want a Nautilus…my wallet says no you don’t…would the one of these satisfy that Korg itch regarding leads and pads? Working with MPC Live 2 Machine Analog Lab and Studio One.
Some advice please - which is the best one for a beginner that wants to get into it, and why isn't the minilogue XD part of this discussion?
@Wilderness Music GREAT way to frame the question! I am #3 myself and a huge Kraftwerk fan--how would you answer to that?
@Wilderness Music Terrific advice-thanks VERY much!
i just saw a video where a person used a red-hot carving knife to melt-cut the wavestate chassis and completely remove the keyboard.
it was clean and there are only 2 small ribbon connectors on the keyboard, so the left over wiring is minimal. I mention this because i can't fathom how i could position all 3 of those so i could both play AND operate them. cant be done imo. they need to be modules, controlled from a larger, more complex keyboard, preferrably with aftertouch vs only velocity which is just asking to break those cheesy keyboards doing velocity stuff. ps. there is a box for microfreaks for people who want to lose that garbage keybed too.
Correct title should be Korg Modwave vs Opsix vs Wavestate. I clicked wondering why the Modwave and Opsix were being compared to the Wavestation from 1990/1991. Probably a simple mistake.
Fixed. Thanks for catching
After vst, waiting for ipad version
Wavestate for the win
Wavestate has some nice sounds but I just don’t feel it all the way. The modwave and the opsix are the way to go for me.
Wavestate is a master u can use 4 different samples
No, but really. Korg should make a modern version of the Korg DSS-1. The original is HUGE. It’s literally a small table. I need a smaller, better version of it that still resembles its original self in sound and somewhat with the design too. Since they are basically remastering the dw6000 and dw8000 with these three synths, they’re on track with doing the same with the DSS-1. They’re all digital synths too. Unfortunately we’ll never see something like what I speak of though…
Very nice synths
But imo too much presets .
Very good video for people like me
Who never want to buy one .
( because ….want all but no no no ) 😀😃
if the Opsix had a sampler I would buy one and never want another synth ever (yeah, that's possible...)
Get a Korg Dss-1 for $600 bucks
@@bullet0657 too limited
I watched hundreds of videos and bought Wavestate, I don't plan to buy the others.
15:35 arp sounds a little mid -80s Kraftwerkian, nice
From a playability standpoint, the Opsix is hampered by having only 12 slots in its mod matrix (for some reasons called "virtual patch").
On the other hand, both the wavestate and the modwave have a practically unlimited mod matrix: the only limitation is having max 31 (!) different sources for *each* single destination, but you can have hundreds, if not thousands, of destinations at the same time.
This is awesome, but unfortunately neither implements what would be a very interesting usage of such a feature: the MPE standard for expressive controllers. A huge missed opportunity there. 😞