Korg Modwave Now Available To Pre-Order

Korg today announced that its modwave wavetable synthesizer is now available for pre-order.

The modwave builds on Korg’s legacy in wavetable synthesis, starting with 200 wavetables with 64 waveforms, adding 30+ modifiers and 13 Morph Types and the ability to blend wavetables, a dozen stereo filter types, a flexible modulation system, five LFOs per voice, Motion Sequencing 2.0, Kaoss Physics, gigabytes of samples and more.

Official Korg Modwave Intro Video:

Audio Demos:

Pricing and Availability

The Korg modwave is available to pre-order now, with a street price around $700, and will be shipping in limited quantities Fall of 2021.

37 thoughts on “Korg Modwave Now Available To Pre-Order

  1. With polyphony and all the keyboard splitting, sequencing and dynamic mods, wouldn’t a larger keyboard make more sense? A desktop/rackmount module would too.

    1. They should release them as modules with an optional keyboard enclosure, a bit like Roland Boutiques and their K25M. Perfect if you already have a good keyboard, if you don’t want a keyboard at all, and you would be covered if you do want a keyboard. They could even make different kind of controllers for them like a grid. Also it would make things on the manufacturing side.

      1. Funny thing is: Korg already had such a system once, about 15 years ago!

        It was called the “Korg Komponent System” and was available in three different sizes; including 61, 73 or (fully weighted) 88 keys (or a ‘module only’ option if you prefered.) The ‘Komponent System’ was introduced alongside the Korg M3 and the Korg Radias.

        I could see this system working very well today. Maybe it would be a good idea for Korg to adapt it for Minilogue XD, Wavestate, Opsix and Modwave modules.

      2. remember the mimilogue x modual? takes up too much space and no aftertouch function and not rack mountable. dont encourage korg to do anything that makes since

  2. Which is your favourite among the trio – OPSix, Wavestate and Modwave. I feel that OPSix will be most popular due to it’s easy access to FM world and Wavestate will have staying power to stay fun and interesting. Modwave will in my opinion, lose its novelty and appeal in a short time. YMMV.

    1. I’m actually the most excited about Modwave. FM is complicated. Making good sounds other than typical bells and house bass plucks is pretty hard. There is also great Elektron Digitone and Digitone Keys, and Workstations such as Yamaha MODX series which all are good at FM and reasonably priced. I’m not too familiar with Wavestate but it looks gimmicky. Wave sequencing sounds cool, but is it very practical for typical audience? Modwave creates modern sounds found in electronic music these days. I see it as a hardware version of Serum VST, which is extremely popular. Also, I don’t see much competition. Maybe Waldorf Iridium which is super expensive.

      I’m definitely going to get Modwave. It’s inspiring, hands on, sounds great, and it’s practical for modern electronic music I’m interested in.

  3. None of these questions come to the heart of the matter: What will Jexus do with it? What unknown snippets of B movies will be given a new soundtrack using this device?

  4. You can’t be serious? You think this is a knockoff of a DW8000? Maybe, dunno, read some specs?

    The DW8000 had 16 sampled waveforms. It wasn’t a wavetable synth either. The ModWave has 2GB of sample ROM, not even counting “the Modifier and morph features allow for a staggering 230 million wavetable variations”.

    You aren’t even comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing a pair of sandals with a Tardis.

    On the internet, knowing you’re talking about doesn’t seem to be that much of a concern. But you can actually use that same internet to know a thing.

    Lolwut indeed.

    1. yeah but at the bottom of it all is a digital emulation of a dw8000. they digitally modeled (read: knocked off) the analog architecture of the original. it’s the equivalent of getting a dw8000 plugin built into some hardware, except your daw wouldn’t be limited to 32 polyphony or whatever.

      1. The DW8000 is one of the very early hybrid synth designs. It’s not accurate to compare it to a very modern, Waldorf-esque, take on digital wavetable synthesis like the Modwave.

        The Modwave is a fine digital instrument. The DW8000 comparisons are a bit too far fetched. 😉

    2. roland digitally models their old analog stuff and everyone here says they’re “chasing ghosts.” korg digitally models their old analog stuff and “it’s the tardis, yo.” this site is hilarious.

      1. Nah. Roland puts out boutique pieces saying ‘it’s exactly the same but modeled’ and makes a big deal out of the authenticity. Korg isn’t marketing this as ‘the DW-8000 reborn’, they just treated the architecture as a good starting point and added a lot of up-to-date features. Totally different design and marketing approaches.

        1. They also have a design team in California made up of the guys who designed 80s and 90s classic synths, and they’re tasked with making great new modern designs, not rehashes of their old designs.

          That’s why Korg’s new synths are so interesting, they actually give synthesists tons of power, way more than vintage gear.

    3. > You are comparing a pair of sandals with a Tardis.

      Solid rising golf clap to thunderous applause for that comparison.

  5. Respectfully.

    You don’t seem to know what you are talking about. Wait, “seem” may not the right word.

    How do you have the idea that Korg emulated the DW8000? The website says they “built on the legacy”. That does not mean “digitally models”. English can be hard sometimes? It’s, like, a metaphor, yo?

    Go read the article on CDM about the ModWave. Then come back and tell me if there is still some confusion. It is like a Tardis because it is bigger on the inside. That’s why I said Tardis.

    Yo? Lolwut.

  6. Korg was smart to set up a line that’s part-vintage, part-Kronos engines. The comments make it clear that people are flocking to one personal favorite over the others. Seems like a win.

    Musically, I prefer the Wavestate. The next person will be gaga over smartly accessible FM. A third is already cackling over the moDWave’s Serum wavetable compatibility & Kaoss Physics pad, which is a wild new direction for the idea. I was a happy DW player, so I appreciate the reference, but now? You should use it as the controller for a moDWave. Weird & wunderful.

  7. It’s a pity about the 3 octave keyboard, I’m not a great keyboard player but 2- and 3-octave keybeds always make me feel cramped before I even start playing. Same with the lack of aftertouch and audio in.

    But it sounds really excellent, looks very fun to program/improvise on, and $700 is a Nice Price, this could go on to be a very popular lead/performance synth. Unexpected GAS attack!

  8. Wonderful sounding machine. Hope they add a 4 or 5 octave version to the line up. Feel like this one is meant to be played.

  9. +1 in case Korg read this for module, pref with audio in – mostly because this amount of modulation cries out for aftertouch. How about a super-module with all three engines and MPE?

  10. The UI on this things looks a bit messy. Also, their product line continues to become more confusing. Sure it’s lovely, though. Glad to see digital continue to be trendy, though.

    1. Korg and Sequential have the best synth lines out there, from classic analog to really modern stuff. Their two lines alone are enough to make this the best time ever for synth fans.

  11. Il pre-ordine è diventato una tecnica di marketing…korg la usa per far precipitare i probabili acquirenti all’acquisto della modwave utilizzando la frase, quantità limitate…al di là del valore innovativo dello strumento, in tempi di assenza di sintesi rivoluzionarie, anche novità relative sono benvenute.

  12. Assuming, based on the speed of releases, that the OpSix, WS, MW all have same digital hardware inside (similar as what Roland does with Aira and also the Jupiter X hardware ) – no offense – could Korg release a 2/U1U rack and then download either one if these “models” into it. Release a VSTplugin to control each of them in a DAW. Still not 3 synths in one as a the S8, but the pricepoint is different. Saves money, saves space, add sound possiiblities. Thank you “Korg Aira/Boutique ” 🙂

  13. With these three synths, it’s unfortunate that Korg has paired some of the most interesting synth engines in a log time with cases that are sort of ‘meh’.

    Really love the capabilities of these synths, but when you pick them up, they’ve got plastic backs and feel pretty lightweight.

    I’d second the request for module versions as a result – or a version with another octave and a metal case.

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