Ambient Sound Design with Waldorf Iridium & Korg Wavestate

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Wavestate is a brilliant machine for creating generative ambient patches/performances. What’s so cool about the wavestate is the ability to phase loop elements other than just pitch and instrumentation. For example shape, time duration and speed, and modulation can all have different looping patterns. One could easily do a performance just with the wavestate.

[@crappie050764]

The Wavestate is a great ambient machine, that's for sure

[@PrimitiveBaroque]

Reason why I just ordered it today :D

[@lineriderrulz]

I've been on the fence about whether to get a Wavestate for a while. Now that the Modwave (which I believe is based on the DW8000?) has been announced, do you think the Modwave would be more versatile when it comes to pads and drones, or would you choose the Wavestate still? I guess with the Wavestate the SE is coming, which I think is a bit ugly because ll the control layout is the same and pushed into the middle, but on a keyboard stand that would provide space for FX pedals usw./etc.

[@PrimitiveBaroque]

@@lineriderrulz Wavestate is incredibly lush with the right hands and layering, it's just a sampling-based subtractive way of designing your sounds layer by layer, but remember it's also sequencing based so you can get the most out of it once you understand the presets, sample library, and programming, so it can be a difficult workflow/or learning curve. I agree that creating your own soundwaves would perhaps equal more versatility (it would be an awesome compliment to Wavestate, too), but I was also indecisive about the ModWave. Tbh I found that I'd rather pay a little more for a HydraSynth Keyboard since it's wavetable-like and also supports its own brand of FM, & also includes aftertouch, so it's like you're getting 2-in-1 with full features. I guess it depends on what synthesis style you're comfortable to spend your hours on.

[@lineriderrulz]

@@PrimitiveBaroque Hey, thanks for your reply. Eventually I decided on the Hydrasynth Keyboard because your comment pushed me decision in favour of it :) It's fantastic! Really versatile and I think it would be possible to get many different sounds out of it, including pads which is what I love. I noticed when using LFOs to morph the WaveList that it doesn't seem to use the full range. Even when LFO waveform is triangle and depth in the Mod Matrix is 100% it seems to stay too long at each side. Did you ever experience this? It's a shame that it's only 1 part/monotimbral and 8 voices but only because I love it so much! I saw some complaints about aliasing but never noticed it, to me it sounds better than a lot of cheap VAs. I noticed you are a tracker software user? ;) good to find another, Ableton seems so popular these days, hardly see any tracker users now... (not that anything is wrong about that)

[@PrimitiveBaroque]

@@lineriderrulz I personally wish I have the module version too lol. When I start working with it, I feel like another Hydra would be nice. But I really love it too. It's my most premium piece of gear. About your issue: (1) Are you sure it's updated to the most recent version? If so, (2) I'm not sure if the LFOs stay too long, but I did notice the LFO while wavescanning I feel like it stays too long on the first wave, the start after the first cycle, if you set WaveScan to 1 (edit: not 0) in OSC1 and the LFO & Mod to 128. You have to set the Wavescan to 4.0 (half value of eight possible waves in list) to get the whole LFO to run and both ends should play equally. What happens is the LFO starts at the lowest possible wave in the list, in our case Triangle, with wavescan in OSC1 to 1.0, so it won't go any lower or negative than that, so the LFO seemingly gets stuck at that value. To make the LFO go negative you'll have to start the LFO wavescan at base half of eight possible waves by setting 4.0 under OSC 1/Wavescan, and set the Phase to 180-200 degrees in the LFO, that way it'll start at Triangle and get the right timing. There's also a smoothen option in page 2 in the LFO. But if it still sounds like both ends seem to just stay too long too, I'm hearing it too, and it does feel like it could go smoother, but it doesn't really bother me. I hope that's what you're referring to. And yes! I do use tracker software, Renoise. I'm really just using it as a midi sequencer for phrases and such. I try to avoid using too many samples and focus on getting the most out of my synths (I have about 5 hooked up). I just route everything to the Mixer, and have an external audio recorder to get the tracks. I'm on Linux so Renoise was a natural option for me. The other sequencers are nice too, but I like the hotkey workflow of trackers. Edit: I meant wavescan to 1 in OSC1, not zero

[@francisco-leal]

Thanks for sharing the process. Nice insight of both Iridium and Wavestate ❤

[@marcus268]

Der Iridium ist ja wirklich heftigst - ein Traum was man hier modulieren kann. Auch eine sehr schöne erklärung der synth patches.

[@vorlich1]

Thanks for this, just recreated it on my Iridium, new to synthesis, but finding the Iridium easy to work with, despite some UX idiosyncrasies. Nice to stumble across a KZbinr whose music I'd enjoyed previously.

[@timewalker_]

Thank you for creating this tutorial. I find it very useful and inspirational to try these techniques with other synths and see what comes out. For example load more percussive sounds in Digitakt and play with envelopes on the Digitone. They are completely different but some of these examples were insightful. Thank you! I think it's great if more artists like you explain the techniques on the abstract instead of advertising certain gear. Keep it up!

[@MystictheArtist]

Thank you for taking the moment to share your process and experience.

[@crybo]

Yes!!! Great stuff! More of this please.

[@alterego161]

Immer wieder erfrischend Martin! Danke dafür

[@Sydalesis]

- Good video ! Thank you Martin!

[@danielpirone8028]

Great tutorial! Excited that my Iridium is finally shipping today!

[@Shevaron]

Just picked up a Wavestate for $415 . Updated to the newest version and loving it. I’ll try inputting your patch!😊

[@DarkManifestMusic]

Thank you so much for this! Great instruction as well as inspiration! Guidance like this is exactly what a newbie like me needs.

[@pepel81]

I have received my iridium. This tuto is awesome for me: starting creating patch from nothing is very interesting! I expect another tuto like this one in the future ! Thanks a lot from France.

[@Jason75913]

badass choir samples rule for pads, and romplers rock at this The wavestate's layers give me an idea to try on my Kross2, big thanks!

[@Vincenade]

Thanks a lot Martin!! This is so useful! I do not have Iridium yet, but based on your technique, I can build the same stuff in other synths! 🙏👏👏👏

[@janetcraft]

I don't have these beautiful instruments, but I sure enjoyed watching this video instruction and learn more about how these synthesizers work.

[@116boogie]

Just got my wavestate.all i can say about this video is dope and your setup is dope bro big up.

[@lamdahalbe]

Find's gut, dass du nun auch endlich zu uns sprichst! :) Immer weiter so!

[@haydenalvaro6276]

I realize I am kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good website to stream newly released movies online ?

[@darwingabriel4463]

@Hayden Alvaro Lately I have been using FlixZone. Just google for it =)

[@stinkypete9070]

Thanks for posting, this is wonderful, the wavestate patch is pretty much what I've been after. Very helpful

[@spoppp]

Congratulations for inspiring to us so much. I love all your sessions, but this video...amazing. Thank you very much for this

[@troyjlandry]

I love this! and your cat in the background grooming itself while i'm trying to focus on you talking. lol

[@vincentsky]

Excellent walkthrough on both synths, but your workflow on Iridium was on point. 👏🏻

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you!

[@FingersInTheNoise]

Thx Martin, I will try some new idea with my Wavestate ;)

[@clubinsky]

Super, das ist mal genau das was ich suche, ein einfach erklärtes Sound Design Tutorial . Auf den Punkt gebracht.vielen Dank für Die Arbeit und dein geteiltes Wissen.👍🏼👍🏼

[@SteveHorne]

Thanks for this, Martin! Very interesting on sound design, especially for the Iridium- I don’t have the Wavestate, but it does look very cool. Hope you continue to make these instructional videos!

[@mzekonis]

Hi Martin - nice tutorial. Great to get some insight into how you create your unique ambient sound. thank you.

[@FranciscoDiazYules]

Great video, music and tutorial.

[@DigitalBard1]

You're a really good teacher. Thankyou

[@psilozine]

Thanks for sharing this - really helpful! I pretty much understood granular synthesis but had never used it much - you really brought it to life - I can apply everything I learnt here to my own kit. Please do more of these if you have the time.

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you, also for your support on bandcamp! I plan to shoot more tutorials in the future. I am glad that you find it useful!

[@DaveS-Ace]

Love this video Martin. Picked up an iridium last week, it didn’t work 😢 just waiting for a new one, I have faith. Can’t wait to try out ur tips 😊

[@argyreplanitia]

Ich habe jetzt auch einen Iridium und habe den Patch hier nachgebaut - besser als jedes Handbuch. Vermutlich habe ich in einer Stunde mehr über das Gerät und seine Bedienung gelernt, als wenn ich einen ganzen Tag lang das Handbuch studieren würde.

[@MartinStuertzer]

Das freut mich! Wenn ich einen neuen Synth kennen lerne gehe ich zuerst ins Init Patch, da lernt man am meisten.

[@argyreplanitia]

@@MartinStuertzer Ich mag ja die sehr ausführlichen "Getting Started"-Guides von Native Instruments, die sind vorbildlich. Wenn man da durch ist, hat man einen sehr guten Überblick über das jeweilige Gerät, ab da kann man alleine loslegen und unklare Details mit dem Referenzhandbuch klären. Das vermisse ich beim Iridium etwas, da kam mir dieses Video gerade recht. Der "Schnellstart" dort ist schon arg kurz geraten.

[@sleeprightsounds7012]

This is great! This type of ambient sound development is so interesting. Definitely going to check out more of your stuff. 🤘😵🤘

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

Yesssssss tutorials finally I hope you've been really wanting to learn how to create all this stuff and not spend the next two years of my life practicing all the wrong techniques you know what I mean?

[@nomoonbanquet6460]

Very interesting... The Iridium is a very deep and complete synth I would say also fascinating, yes yes I have to take it Thank you.

[@zoevoid]

Aloha Friday Martin :) I still have the screen protector on my Iridium too, would love to see more about the Iridium

[@Stue007]

great examples of your fantastic sound design capabilities 😊

[@randomtopology]

therapeutical tutorial :))) loved every second

[@randomtopology]

I would personally consider this like 2 vids in one, so you can watch them in full, no skip in your own time, but no worries I love it like this either

[@lelandbobpalmer]

16:12 Dimmu Borgir, right? :) Thank you for the lovely and inspiring tutorial - I just got my Wavestate and looking forward to digging into this vast sound design machine!!

[@MartinStuertzer]

Yes! Have fun with the Wavestate!

[@gregbigwood4532]

The cat is having a sound bath!

[@jane5645]

Ich liebe dein Tiefgang ! freue mich wenn ich wieder Beifahrer sein darf :-)

[@themorphingorb]

Hey Martin! Great stuff! I'm contemplating getting the Korg Wavestate as well. I'm hearing mixed things about the build quality but the sounds speak for themselves;) I had a Native Instruments S61 Mk2 just suddenly die on me the other day for no apparent reason whatsoever! I'm done with NI. It was a nice keybed, but very cheap build. I'm hoping to be able to make good use of it;) Thanks

[@MartinStuertzer]

My best guess would be to try the Native version released by Korg as VST. Sounds exactly like the hardware. The keyboard is super cheap and has no good feel to it. Rest ot the synth is ok.

[@themorphingorb]

@@MartinStuertzer Dangit, Korg! I had really hoped it would be of good quality:( I've had my eyes on the Roland Gaia 2 also.... idk... I'll have to think it over real good. I could try and save up to buy the Wavestate SE. I hear that's a good piece of kit.

[@scootercommuter3029]

Sounds great! Inspired me to buy a Wavestate, and maybe the Iridium later (pricy though!).

[@voidofwoid]

Das Iridium-Manual kratzt leider nur an der Oberfläche. Videos wie dieses hier helfen da sehr viel weiter. Um so weit in die Tiefe zu kommen wie du braucht es halt sehr viel Zeit. Vielen Dank!

[@RichWeller1]

Thank you. Another excellent video. Very creative and inspirational, especially the use of so many layers. Anything in future about how you create your dub techno chords/textures would be great :-)

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you, I am sure that I will do a tutorial about this soon.

[@moonbikerabbit]

24:23 Sweet dreams, Neptun💤

[@SKRDyaheard]

You are great man! super helpful videos.

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you!

[@SKRDyaheard]

@@MartinStuertzer I got the WaveState Just a few days ago and it has a big sonic potential but it's just not as intuitive as my Elektron gear! Super helpful to get your take; not that many vids on sound design. I would love to see a video on Minimal / ambient techno and drums!

[@Roiikka]

Just that Intro is good enough haha. Nice

[@artlandu2869]

Vangelis(blade runner) ...steve roach (empetus)🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 increíble

[@dietervoser4425]

Sehr schön tönt das !

[@GrootsieTheDog]

This will ge a great challenge to recreate both sounds on just the Wavestate which i think i can do with splits and using a "granular" method on the wavestate using the timing lane, etc 😊. I might just end up with something entirely cool, unexp cted and different in my attempt.

[@mxas3334]

Hey Martin, ein sehr anschauliches Tutorial, welches mich vor allem den Mod - Modus besser verstehen lässt. Eine Frage hätte ich jedoch: wie hast Du den Supermassive FX hinzugefügt? Von Ableton aus?

[@Seanrayamusic]

Instant thumbs up!

[@mauchkimberly]

Not what I was looking for, but cool none the less.

[@rixcom7621]

Wow!! Just purchased the Iridium and Wavestate. Awesome video!! What a powerful sound you get out of these instruments!! Low end sounds like some of my vintage synths! No sound coming from the Rev2 engine just MIDI to the Iridium? Cheers!!

[@MartinStuertzer]

Why do I never get a commission? :) The REV2 was only sending midi in this video. Have fun with the synths!

[@rixcom7621]

@@MartinStuertzer Yes you should! Lots of good knowledge in your videos! I've been following you for a while. Love the OB sounds you're getting from the Iridium. Thought it was a mistake not buying the Quantum but seems the digi filters are just as nice sounding. Cheers!! :)

[@JudgeFredd]

Love it

[@brianhodge2455]

Lovely, and very insightful. Plus I was not expecting a bonus snippet of Dimmu Borgir, but around 16:15, there it is. :-)

[@MartinStuertzer]

I am happy that you spotted the easteregg! :)

[@sebastianmatook4447]

Cool, Thanx

[@pstralen]

Hi Martin! Thank you for your videos. I'm enjoying them all :) I have a question: can you program the Iridium in such a way for it to have a rhythmic function in a song?

[@LabofmusicRecords]

nice Setup :)

[@sudhanva-bhat]

Amazing video, could you maybe also demonstrate some ambient sound design using waldorf blofeld?

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you! If you send me a blofeld I would be happy to do it!

[@renaldo8572]

cool merci😍

[@alexnoble2465]

Ahhhh that cat knows where it's at.

[@Sea_Dog7]

Brilliant. I wish I had your intelligence to figure all that out.

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you! It is just a lot of practice.

[@just_pierre9730]

Hi Martin, your music/videos/tutorials are really brilliant. I learned a lot of it. My question about this tutorial : why do you use the Valhalla Supermassive FX? Are the effects on the Iridium not good enough?

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you! As much as I like the Iridium there are better options, like the Supermassive. Did I mention that it is free? You should check it out!

[@PavelHolec]

Very nice! I wonder if the Wavestate would be able to perform a comparable quality of delay+reverb on its own (the effect you added at the end of video).

[@MartinStuertzer]

Unfortunately the effects of the Wavestate are very basic. Any stock plugins from Ableton, Bitwig or other DAWs sound much better.

[@kilonaliosI]

The wavestate is more than capable of performing by itself because its effects are the typical Korg effects than you will find on the most expensive synths, workstations like Kronos, not only they are top quality but also a wide variety of them, including many distortion effects like ring modulator which means the effect section on the wavestate goes far beyond the typical audio effect and actually allow you to perform advanced audio synthesis techniques. Even more so because of the advanced wave sequencing technology is that makes it capable of changing samples or modulating a sample down to a fraction of a fraction of a second which turn the synth to a massive audio effect unit by itself that you will rarely find on other hardware or software synths with the exception of completely software module environments like Reaktor and MAX. It is hands down The Synth for ambient music.

[@MartinStuertzer]

@@kilonaliosI Can we agree that this falls into the realms of personal taste? You made a good point that the effects within the Wavestate can be automated and modulated within the patches. But still I prefer the sound of a Valhalla DSP Delay or Reverb over the on board FX.

[@imun1ty]

@Martin This is a phenomenal tutorial. Is there a software synth you could recommend that has a lot of the features of the Iridium? I do have the Wavestate and Roland Jupitor XM

[@MartinStuertzer]

Thank you! I am using Arturia Pigments a lot and would believe that the same sounds could be programmed with it.

[@noodldoodl1970]

When you like the video after 20 seconds and then try and like it again after 20 minutes...

[@PostQuantumWorld]

Excellent video. I am a little confused as to if the Iridium can emulate the Wavestate. Can wave tables be designed to mimic a wave sequence. Would love to see an in-depth video on this.

[@suitandtieguy]

this sounds great! i'm only 2 minutes in!

[@chrolimeg]

your cat is definetly enjoying your music :) As a new owner of a wavestate I´m looking for ambient sounds and i'm grateful for your programming tips. It has great potential for these kinds of dsounds, but in the future i have to explore the wavetable synthesis, the Iridium offers. It sounds very promising an inspirational. Despite that, Do you have any recommendations concerning drum machines combined with the wavestate?

[@MartinStuertzer]

THank you! I must confess that I do drums mostly with Ableton these days. But from the hardware side the Analog Rytm is still my favourite. The mk1 is good too if you want to avoid the pricy mk2.

[@chrolimeg]

@@MartinStuertzer thanks for the advice

[@thaiboxing1658]

Hallo Martin, wie ist der Korg Wavestate? Ungefähr vergleichbar mit dem Access vom Klang her? Mich schreckt es ein wenig ab, dass er viele Untermenüs und dafür ein zu kleines Display hat.

[@AlekseiDroganov]

Hello Martin🙋‍♀️Could you tell me please how nany voices in your prophet rev2? Have you like this synth?

[@MartinStuertzer]

Hi! I have a very mixed feelings towards the REV2. I use the 8 voice version.

[@AlekseiDroganov]

@@MartinStuertzer thank you. I live in Estonia, Tallinn really couldn't decide, what exactly the mighty synth to buy. I really wanted analog four mk2, but then I saw Dave Smith rev2... It's so... Hard. So much pretty machines on the Planet 😍🌏

[@MarianoPerez]

Do you think one is better buying iridium as a first synth and really learn it, or buy something like a system 8, which is significantly cheaper, and use the rest of the money later to add more synths.

[@maximiliandigregorio]

😎 cool

[@imun1ty]

Are you serious about the sawtooth patch that in unison it’s still 16 voices and just the 1 voice sound is masterful. Now I have to look to see if any of my software synths can do this I am doubting it.

[@ralph_s]

I also bought myself the Wavestate end of last year, it's an absolute ambient machine. Love its character. But does require some effort to program...

[@MartinStuertzer]

That is true! I never watched so many tutorials before I learned how to program it myself. :)

[@clubinsky]

Same to me, This week i saw a korg live event and they told me you can make up to 30.000 modulations in 1 Performance. Imagine that. 1 Parameter knob can alone make 31 mods at the same time..... this can be very intresting for Sound design.

[@MartinStuertzer]

@@clubinsky 30,000! That seems a little much. But I did not try to max out the mod matrix yet.

[@briyahsounds5555]

How do you think these two synths compare? If I bought an Iridium, would a Wavestate still come in handy?

[@FranciscoDiazYules]

Does anyone know the differences between Korg wavestate and (new) modwave? Thanks.

[@kovacs-vajdabence8147]

Yeap good question

[@TheBrettEnglish]

Martin! I'm unsure if you're making my life easier or more difficult. I've been saving for an Iridium, but recently the Wavestate has piqued my interest. Going with the Wavestate would not completely drain my account, and there'd be money leftover for other funsies. So maybe it's Wavestate and Matriarch this year, Iridium next year.

[@NatLifeSounds]

Why Iriduim can't be replaced by Logic'x Alchemy? Is anyone did a tests? I think it sounds same great and cost much cheaper)

[@MartinStuertzer]

Like I tried to point out: there are a lot of other methods to get a similar result. For me Alchemy would be more expensive because I would need to buy a Mac and Logic first. ;) But I like Pigments from Arturia and also Omnisphere. In the end the creativity and ideas are the limits, not the gear.

[@NatLifeSounds]

@@MartinStuertzer hmm, new mac m1+logic seems like cost cheaper than Iridium in two times :) But yeas, such result can be done with other VST too

[@lab-by-the-sea]

No Usersamples import in the wavestate, right?

[@MartinStuertzer]

I believe so!

[@clubinsky]

Not yet, but they pass this forward to the Developer Crew, i asked the same in an live Event this week.

[@MarianoPerez]

What synth do you like best iridium or wavestate?

[@MartinStuertzer]

The Iridium is a more flexible and powerful synth than the Wavestate.

[@leNotstrom]

Oha...Martin hat immer noch die Folie auf dem Display vom Iridium....

[@MartinStuertzer]

Wieder! Meiner war mal kurz bei Waldorf zum Auftanken und als ich ihn zurück bekam war die drauf.

[@hartmuthornstein3268]

Lebt Klaus Schultze noch

[@clintblack6070]

Yeah - you don't need a Wavestate or an Iridium - but they'd be nice to have...

[@stormshadow392_]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🦾🦾🦾🦾

[@UkrainerWinklernovsky]

du solltest erstmal die Schutzfolie vom Display pulen dann reden wir weiter😃

[@MartinStuertzer]

Ich habe das ganze Manual drei mal gelesen, aber es steht nicht erklärt, wie das geht.

[@expeditiondechouette]

😂😂😂