Korg Wavestate Synthesizer Review

In the latest Sonic Lab video, Sonic State synth guru Nick Batt takes a look at the new Korg Wavestate synthesizer.

The Wavestate is an updated take on Korg’s Wavestation, which featured wave sequencing and vector synthesis. Korg says the Wavestate is built from the ground up, though, “taking cues from sources as diverse as modular synths, groove boxes, and algorithmic composition.”

Check it out and let us know what you think of the Wavestate!

22 thoughts on “Korg Wavestate Synthesizer Review

      1. iWavestation has far fewer samples, and I’m guessing that’s not the only limitation, but I don’t have the app, so I can’t say.

  1. I especially like the idea of this as an endless source of great rhythms you can easily refine. The random patch generator is a winner in something this complex. Its almost like a generative source, but with serious user options. If someone releases an editor so I don’t have to strictly squint at the display, I’m in. The OS is comfortably Korg-y, but I’d welcome a little help keeping 4 layers of it in mind at once. Great big brass patch, Nick!

  2. it needs a desktop module! it could be quite knob-light like the WS SR (assuming there’s a decent editor of course) and it could probably do with a full sized keyboard with AT.

    I also think user samples would be neat, but this does seem quite well-stocked.

  3. I guess this wont be a best-seller as most users wont spend 2 hour to make a good patch…this is too deep!

    Korg get back to the drawing table…!

    1. The first batch of preorders from all the big US retailers sold out immediately and loads of people are now waiting on the second shipment from Korg. I think it’s already shown it’s going to be pretty popular.

  4. Takes me back to the Wavestation era, when synths were all about layering many ROM waves, just like other Rolands, Korgs, Yamahas, Ensoniqs of the period.

    Making sounds took forever, and there were many subtleties to consider.

    I loved the power of my Wavestation but things have changed since then. I would much rather create Wavestate-style sequences nowadays by ramming samples together in Logic.

  5. I’m with Nebula in using Logic for the major things. My workflow gradually left hardware behind for the most part, so buying this will be a leap of faith. There’s always a cry for whatever version a company DIDN’T make, but for me, the ideal would/will be a module and a decent editor.

    I seriously love the release velocity, which is rare and great for more expressive playing. You know how it is. You watch a new item for a few months as it gets into the field. Eventually, you either get over it or one day, you leap up and buy it. I have to decide if my 2-layer brain can handle a 4-layer synth.

  6. The Wavestate….Great design in its layout of controls…n well thought out in its software..but too much menu diving….but for some that’s the ticket….price very nice, but poly after touch should have been included…

    1. Why would the choice of processors used by ‘quite funny”?

      If it does contain a standard Raspberry PI, then there’s a possibility – like a lot of other recent Korg gear – of end-user mods to add new features.

      Anybody know if that’s the case?

    2. Not funny at all. I mean why not, its not what the hardware is but what it does. Was the Oasis keyboard any less because it ran on a Linux kernel?

    3. Sixty years ago some people have been to the moon with a computer that was 4 megabytes of ROM, and that could not even run any simple basic program that you use today.

      Puts things in perspective, right ?

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