Trying the Korg Wavestate MKII - Wild Sounds You Won't Hear Anywhere Else?

[@DouglasRosser]

This is the ultimate "I am never going to write a complete song I am just going to play with patches until I die" synth.

[@Jason75913]

🤣🤣🤣

[@SlaserX]

Isn't that what we all dream of?

[@SynthoidSounds]

The "never writing a complete song, just play with patches" concept, AI is already hovering on that event horizon. I try to go in the opposite direction . . . biologically created content still has its moments (well, maybe).

[@iMACHINEfpv]

how did THIS just sell me? shid.

[@HonorV2ultimate1tb]

hahahahha!!! thats the man yo!!!!...i wanna be like your mind set!! i jus was at the shop...saw it...didnt know wat it was till now!!

[@stevenrice148]

This is insane! I need one, therefore i shall have one. Not sure i'd ever complete a full tune but that vector is just too crazzzy to ignore!🎉

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

1:29 Jack, you completely missed the script on that first patch! The magic sauce of that patch is that you can morph between 10 different pad sounds by twisting the Sample knob while playing. Also...the audio you recorded from the Wavestate in this video for some reason is in mono. So this video completely misses the stereo magic that this synth can produce.

[@legrandmaitre7112]

Also... pretty well all those patches are on the Mk1

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

@@legrandmaitre7112 All of them. The patches are identical.

[@Jason75913]

These guys screw up their audio setups every few videos.

[@SynthoidSounds]

Yeah . . . I was hoping for much more original performance preset / soundscape examples. Seems like they just plugged the KWS in and started poking around with the factory installed presets. Nothing wrong with that, just making note of it (OK, very bad pun). There are 100s of unique examples out there, some of which I have here or have created.

[@georgenewman5860]

@@ScottsSynthStuff No, I see some on the list that I don't have on my MKI.

[@WilliamFeryll]

When Oz got on with that doom riser - I’m sold❤

[@FGCLovesYou]

I'm not even a techno guy (I mainly do piano rock / chamber pop stuff, though I'm hoping to integrate some harder stuff into that in the near future), and that was *still* incredible. It does a really great job of showing the crazy power of the synth, and how it all fits together.

[@georgenewman5860]

This synth is so flexible in what it can do. It is great fun to get home after a long day of work and just goof around with the preset sounds, but it also offers so many different ways to be creative making your own patches.

[@pierredion5296]

When there is the word knob in the patch, use the mod knobs to modulate!

[@minimoog4236]

I got a wavestation AD in '95 still haven't finished playing with it yet.

[@magicknight8412]

I loved the first Wavestate, but this sounds immense! wonderful stuff

[@SlaserX]

This is the only one I don't have from the six/wave/state series. They're all incredible, I just wish they would combine them all already

[@clarenceoveur9497]

Kronos 3 ;)

[@Money_Fiend]

Great Vid!! Made me want one. I was also looking at the Minilogue. Can you do a comparison of the Wavestate and Minilogue, to compare the types of sounds you can get and the main differences? I am new to Synths, too, and there aren't any videos comparing these two.

[@iotaprime2892]

Need to center the joystick when switching patches. (sorry if pointed out earlier)

[@MusicWizard85]

This MKII is a great synth if you don't already own the original. I have the original and don't find the upgrade worth getting even though it's $50 USD cheaper than the original. The SE on the other hand is over priced.

[@enochroot9438]

Would love to Jack try a Wavestate SE if you get one instore, he would really the aftertouch and somme of the new performances

[@francescodefendi3201]

Now we need Luke from Korg…

[@htechdance]

Luke's the best!

[@racalik]

great content aside - I'm always a big fan of this wooden table there, especially the knot/crack 😁

[@BelongingToTheUniverse]

Guys, why is the sound mono in your video? Because of this,we don't hear all the beauty of the sound...😮

[@geekmastermind]

Yeah, it didn't sound good.

[@Fastvoice]

At first I thought my setup was wrong when I saw the stereo output on the keyboard.

[@jeffreylewis4767]

I’m not going to say anything till I hear it with my monitors- but maybe they could (for all demos), show an onscreen EQ display. I’m listening on my iPad.

[@Jason75913]

They screwed up the recording. Yet again. This happens every few vids.

[@djemael1015]

​@@Fastvoice😂

[@benoitminfirgilbert4368]

I have one and it's the first version, they changed something on the "motherboard" because the connectivity doesn't work on mine and they sold them knowing the problem. on the other hand I don't think that aftertouch is essential because you can program all kinds of afterthings on it

[@Jason75913]

And you didn't get it serviced?

[@noodldoodl1970]

Thumbs up just for that baguette moment.

[@lifetunes767]

Love seeing the new wavestate. The recording is in mono though. :(

[@arbous65]

Thanks a lot for the video. You made it very entertaining. I'm wondering if the tools allow to remove and reshape sounds drastically because otherwise a lot of patches have signature sounds that can be identified in a composition. One good thing with the synths with options to build things from ground up, is that any texture created from rudimentary VCO, LFO, envelope, etc. is going to be truly yours not Korg's or at least it is more generic and doesn't have such a distinct footprint. I'm wondering if composers feel a sense of ownership of the sounds with this tool. If it is matter of playing something and getting high, we can just press the play button on an mp3 player or playing an existing loop in Maschine. You know how it works in Maschine that you listen to a patch and visually can see separate samples and layers and can make a decision to change a sample or tweak it more, etc. Does this unit allows a transparent way of figuring out how to individually manipulate those layers or rebuild them. Unfortunately there is no visual for it. I mean what if you like layer A from one patch combining it with layer B from another patch. Can you audition and access, copy, paste, etc. to use some existing ideas but in a way rebuild things the way you are imagining? Does it have ways of categorizing the sounds. For instance you like to audition all the etheral pads to find what works for you, then for the second layer audition all the percussive acoustic things, then for the 3rd layer all the analog sounding bass and run just that to create a pattern while modulating how much noise to mix in the pattern, and for the forth layer you leave it for melodic exploration of some early Junoesque saw tooth with filter resonance and chorus? I hope there will be more demos to explore possibilities of making these sounds more personal. Thanks again.

[@HonorV2ultimate1tb]

this is gross wild!!! in my country some of these scenes wud have been banned....criminalised!!! i sure as hell gonna get 1 now !!!!

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Great synth! Great demo

[@TimesOfTheSines.official]

If u don't need the hardware, I highly recommend the Native softsynths of all 3... Wait for a Korg sale & buy all 3 Natives for less than the cost of 1 of the hardware versions. Some may actually prefer learning & using these korgs via the native UI's imo?

[@georgenewman5860]

I sure enjoy having the knobs and buttons. I have the wavestate and have played with the Opsix VST and I much prefer having the physical unit. Would I prefer three VSTs to one synth? I'd probably take the three VSTs, but it would be a tough call.

[@King-oj8hr]

No…

[@SynthoidSounds]

Y'all having way too much fun, thanks for posting . . . but actually, I look for and create performance / presets and soundscapes that don't currently exist, or are at least not common. I've been immersed in seemingly endless exploration on my Wavestate (my neighbors will find my skeleton slumped in front of the synth some day), some YT videos do present truly unique soundscape examples. As for the "never writing a complete song, just play with patches" concept, AI is already hovering on that event horizon. I try to go in the opposite direction . . . biologically created content still has its moments (well, maybe).

[@cpe1704tks]

Did you already do the Mc-909?

[@gwugluud]

I'm going to buy it just because it's so shiny.

[@lashtal]

""Sometimes a baguette is just a baguette."- Freud

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

This is one of the synths i simply find no single use in my personal music, other then that it seems liek wet dream for cinematic music.

[@dimtech]

There is almost no difference with the first version... it just has more polyphony, but the presets are also the same

[@Slowlyburnedelectronics]

Hi! The patches that contain percussion sounds can be midi synced with external clock?

[@bryantwalley]

You pretty much have to sync these with an external clock. If you don’t, every time you change a patch the tempo will jump. It is bad programming.

[@dontworryaboutit1655]

Does it have a sequencer? Or track recorder?

[@begenius7088]

In WS you have Lanes .There are 4 of them, and each one can have as many as 16 steps ,so practically you can actually have a 4 track sequencer kind of ,inside the 4 wave sequencing lanes. The only thing found difficult is the learning curve is too steep ,so be patient and give it time to learn the basic programming steps. Now i can program a drum seq on one Lane, a Bass line on another, Pads on the 3rd ,and solo synth on the 4th one! .I can move /mix all 4 of them real time via vector joystick!

[@lordzombie]

It doesn’t have a sequencer in the usual way we think of it. So I have mine hooked up to a key step pro.

[@benoitminfirgilbert4368]

i keep mine but i'll by the platinium or others version .

[@Sharpened_Spoon]

Speed wobbles! 🤣🤣🤣

[@psypher19111911]

You totally neglected the biggest new improvement of them all - THE JOYSTICK IS BLUE NOW! 😂

[@Fastvoice]

I see a stereo output - but I can hear only mono? Where's the fault?

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Recorded in mono

[@AndreiMuresan-x5e]

a clowns team... patch mono players

[@eyesintheskies]

Would love the SE but out off space, anyone know if the desktop version has aftertouch?

[@halcyonwinds1970]

Yup! As far as I know, all versions can use aftertouch as a modulation source. My first version WS can. I use my Hydrasynth deluxe to control it sometimes, though because of the way I use it (rhythmic and textural elements) I don’t miss the AT very often. Been thinking of swapping out for a desktop one now that it exists. I absolutely love the WS engine.

[@eyesintheskies]

@@halcyonwinds1970 thanks for the info, the keyboard version would be handy for just sitting on my bed,🤔 hmm my only aftertouch keyboard is massive so think i'll get the keys version then i can always swap. Only question now is is it worth the extra for the new mkii vs a used mki sure extra polyphony is great but how much does a man really need 😂 Anyway still in debt for my new sampler so shouldn't even be looking at new kit 🤦🏼

[@halcyonwinds1970]

@@eyesintheskies it’s got 64 voice polyphony even on the MK1, which is 16 per layer if you’re using all 4 layers. I can honestly say I’ve never run out of voices on that like I do occasionally (with long release patches) on my Hydrasynth which has “only” 16 voices total for two layers. I have definitely sat in bed playing with the wavestate on numerous occasions. The effects are so good, the sequencer so powerful and the sounds so diverse… I can make patches that allow me to play a whole song. That’s what I love about it, each patch can be like a song that you can play and explore. Clever use of layer hold, a sustain pedal and arpeggiator and you can do a whole lot. All that to say, I don’t think you’d be missing out if you saved the money and went with a mk1.

[@eyesintheskies]

@@halcyonwinds1970 yeh your right its a bonkers amount really! I mean its loads more advanced than the original wavestation. Though i very much doubt itll achieve the same legendary status, just because of the times we live in, the wavestation was very ahead of its time & is all over records people know & love. Nice to see it evolving though. Will have to stick to the ipad app for now {still paying for last splurge!} but its going on the list. Cheers for helping me confirm the mkii is not worth the extra 👍🏼

[@ChrisP3000x]

Mono

[@Answersonapostcard]

mono comment

[@ChrisP3000x]

@@Answersonapostcard ?

[@Jason75913]

They goofed.

[@Answersonapostcard]

just imagine how good it sounds in stereo!@@Jason75913

[@davepanrios]

Glowsticks not included! 😆

[@legrandmaitre7112]

I hate to tell you, but pretty well all those patches were on the Mk1...

[@AndreiMuresan-x5e]

A very good synth in a hands of a patch players. A team of clowns! Why didn't you invite Luke?

[@bryantwalley]

Did they move the tempo setting to global or does it still jump all around when you switch the patch? Having to jump through hoops with a work around is kinda ridiculous.

[@jdssurf]

did u ever find out

[@jdssurf]

lol sry thought this said 11 months ago, not hours

[@Jason75913]

Tempo is always a per-patch setting in every Korg product. Same goes for all the other products of all manufacturers. I would not expect this to change, if I were you. Closest thing to a synth with "tempo in global settings" would be the Moog and Behringer mono synthesizers and the like.

[@bryantwalley]

Wrong. @@Jason75913 . I have keyboards and synths going back 30 years from different manufacturers and you can change the patch on them without the tempo changing. Most of the ones from the most recent 20 years have a tap tempo that will stay locked in until I change it.

[@davidbanner9001]

No aftertouch is so sad for such a synth. It's so expressive and aftertouch would of really made a difference.

[@Jason75913]

You are meant to rely on a MIDI controller for more keys, AT, more pedal inputs, and so forth. The built-in keybed is garbage to begin with.

[@AndreiMuresan-x5e]

Korg Wavestate SE have AT. Are u blind?

[@AndreiMuresan-x5e]

@@Jason75913 Why don't you build something better at KW MK2 price?

[@Paparumbo]

Thin mono . Tut tut.

[@Note_Creator]

Pac-Man in the 2600 matrix

[@indigenaurbano]

can you actually get a rhythm going and play with 'normal' piano sound on top sort of thing? cheers

[@georgenewman5860]

You can, but I think if you just want to play along with a drum track there are synths that are more straightforward for this (Korg Kross for example). Wavestate is very flexible though and that can certainly be done.

[@Mark_Williams300]

So that's Oz

[@Mark_Williams300]

He's wearing last year's Christmas sweater from his Nan?

[@geoffwebber8272]

Well, that was entertaining...

[@electroniccaveman3493]

Synth-Nerd's Arrangerkeyboard...

[@mchockney3664]

Nice little price hike for some polyphony tweaking and a sticker. But it is of course nothing, compared to the SE and it's eye-watering sticker price. But at least you get a gigantic flight case, 95 % of all buyers will never use.

[@MusicWizard85]

There is no price hike on the MKII. As a matter of fact the MKII is $50 USD cheaper than the original was on Sweetwater. Only the Wavestate SE is over priced & expensive.

[@mchockney3664]

@@MusicWizard85 Here in germany, the Wavestate started for 799 Euro list-price and went down a bit from there. The MKII now goes for 899 Euro. That's about 13 % markup, comparing list-prices.

[@MusicWizard85]

@@mchockney3664 That's odd that it's more expensive over there but cheaper here. My original Wavestate was $750 USD and the MKII is only $699 USD on Sweetwater site.

[@Jason75913]

The Wavestate SE is meant for touring musicians. Everyone else can settle for the smaller version hooked up to a MIDI controller. Or at least, that is their clear intention.

[@M_E_T_R_O__9]

um.... i'm not even sure what i would do with half those sounds in my band... its a noise machine lol

[@chinesemusic8019]

it runs on a Raspberry Pi computer.

[@King-oj8hr]

That’s cool.. what’s the issue

[@MKJ2DAY]

I used to be a Korg fan but their elitist customer service was mind blowing. Even face to face at NAMM. Ever met a company that’s never wrong? Great products though.

[@jdssurf]

Examples?

[@Jason75913]

Examples?

[@manny7662]

Examples?

[@moisesherreraa]

It's unacceptable for a professional review that the line sound and the microphone sound from speakers create phase problems and artifacts. We really can not know how the machine sounds!

[@littlemouse7066]

maybe let someone who knows what he's doing make the demo would have been a good idea this is an instrument to create sounds not to play presets.

[@PeteKowalsky]

Yeah, sorry mate, sounds a bit shite. I see I'm not the only one wondering about the synth audio in this video, fellas. It's dual-mono or something - very flat and kinda boring. Methinks you might need a re-do on this one, sir. :) Maybe you recorded into a DAW and could just pan the channels hard L and R and replace the audio, LOL! DOH!!!

[@Fred_Free]

At the second bleep I stopped watching.

[@MrFn65]

Here are the improvements Changes from original Modwave: 1. Voice count. The original’s 32 stereo voices have been increased to 60. 2. New LFO functions. Free-running LFOs, along with delayed start and retriggering options. 3. Improvements to the FX section. There is now more flexibility for increasing ‘wetness’ as well as pre/post options. 4. A revised cosmetic design including a red KAOSS touchpad.

[@Jason75913]

Wavestate, not Modwave

[@MusicWizard85]

The video is about Wavestate, not Modwave. So everything you typed is false. 😅✌️

[@MrFn65]

Oh yes, glad you caught that . @@MusicWizard85

[@DoctorRevers]

Sorry this does not sound good. Come on man.