Live sound design jam on Korg Wavestate - Berlin Sternwarte

Here's a live sound design jam with the Korg Wavestate - Ambient with a touch of Berlin School.
The patch/performance is called "WF Berlin Sternwarte" and is a part of the "Berlin School and Ambient Construction Kit" available here: gumroad.com/wa...
My music on Bandcamp: waveformer42.b...
The performance uses four layers. Layer A is an arpeggiator, Layer B is a solo instrument, Layer C is an arpeggiated bass and layer D is a pad.
Layer A (arp) and Layer C (bass) use the Multi Filter and morphs between a low pass filter and a band reject (notch) filter using the Pitch Envelope, adding a nice and bouncy attack. For Layer A, I have mapped the Mod Wheel to control how much the Pitch Envelope affects Filter Morph and mapped the joystick to Filter Cutoff, Env amount and Morph amount. During the jam, I felt the need for some racheting, so I added that as I played, using the Step and Shape Sequences to trigger the Filter and Amp Envelopes. See the patch notes in the video for more details.
Layer B (solo) also uses the Multi Filter and morphs between low pass and band reject (notch) using the Pitch Envelope. Changing Pitch Envelope Decay controls how fast the higher frequencies fall off. Filter Envelope Decay is also nice to play around with. And the sample can be changed with the Layer Mod Knob 3/Sample, or just setting Sample Sequence Start position with shift + START.
Layer D (pad) plays through a series of wavesamples with a time sequence with both short and long steps, with random probability. As for the other layers, I use the Multi Filter and morph between a low pass + band pass filter to a band reject (notch) filter. The latter let all the high frequency content from the wavesamples through. The Pitch LFO is set to a random waveform and routed to a gate in the Mod processor, and the output from the Mod Processor controls the Filter Morph amount. the result is a series of bursts of high frequency content at irregular intervals. This is fed through a delay and reverb, and it makes the pad more interesting and unpredictable.
Performance mod knobs:
Knob 1: Layer A (arp) Octave
Knob 2: Layer B (solo) Octave
Knob 3: Layer C (bass) Octave
Knob 4: Layer D (pad) Octave
Knob 5: Layer A (arp) Amp Level
Knob 6: Layer B (solo) Amp Level
Knob 7: Layer C (bass) Amp Level
Knob 8: Layer D (pad) Amp Level
During the jam, i add more wavesamples to the Sample Sequence for both Layer C (bass) and Layer D (pad). A little bit of menu diving (or rather, menu snorkling, as was suggested in one of the Facebook groups) in a live jam.
Sample Sequence for the bass layer
- Enter + Step to solo the step
- Step A1: MS: Wave: Pulse LoFi 250
- Step A2: MS: Wave: Saw Chroma
- Step A3: MS: Wave: Saw Down A2600
- Step A4: MS: Wave: Square A2600
- Step A5: MS: Wave: triangle LoFi
- Step A6: MS: Wave: Wobble Wave
- Step A7: MS: Wave: Ramp MG
- Step A8: MS: Wave: Pulse 10% A2600
- Enter + Step to disable soloing
- Note advance
Sample Sequence for the pad layer
- Enter + Step to solo the step
- Step A1: MS: Syn_WS: Voice Syn
- Step A2: MS: Syn_WS: Magiq 1a
- Step A3: MS: Syn_WS: Synth Pd2
- Step A4: MS: Vox: Pop Ooh
- Step A5: MS: Vox: Choir Whisper F
- Step A6: MS: Vox: Tape Boys Choir
- Step A7: MS: Syn_WS: Spectrum
- Step A8: MS: Syn_WS: Res Wave
- Enter + Step to disable soloing
- Note advance
The audio is recorded to SD card on a Zoom R16 and normalized in Audacity. Video is recorded on iPhoneX. Audio and video is synchronized in DaVinci Resolve 17.
Gear:
- Korg Wavestate
If you want to support me, consider using these affiliate links when buying gear (or other stuff):
- Thomann: www.thomann.de...
- Reverb: reverb.grsm.io...
... or buy my music on Bandcamp:
waveformer42.ba...

[@sublibrarian]

This is way better than the official Korg tutorials and demos! Thank you!

[@CrisBlyth]

I'm on day 3 of having this play on loop in the background while I work... still really enjoying this !

[@TheRealG2024]

this thing is vast. a whole universe inside of it.

[@Waveformer]

Thanks 😃

[@deeplyaddictiverecords564]

told myself no more hardware synth,then Waveformer comes along with this..Damn, where is the buy button.

[@simonburns1055]

Your listening to decades of electronic music evolution right there. Thanks KORG

[@Waveformer]

Yes, they really nailed it with this one :-).

[@pthomas36]

You're like the Wavestate guru! Beautiful sounds and composition.

[@Waveformer]

Thank you, Tom 🎛🎶😊

[@LukezyM]

I still can’t wrap my head around this synth. Would it be good for anything other than ambient, like techno or house?

[@TheAce12570]

@@LukezyM You have a very powerful arpeggiator & step sequencer and some pretty damn good filters in this synth, if you can't make techno with that you can't do it with anything.

[@dimitargadzhev3800]

Thank you very much, I am going to save the video in my Favorites - it is the best way for learning this beautiful instrument!!!

[@Timetraveller2208]

24.41, i can hear elements from JMJ's Equinoxe album. I'm loving how you comment on every single thing you do. This will be extremely useful for all of us!! Subbed!!

[@Waveformer]

I see what you mean :-). It’s a great album 🎹🎶

[@scoobysienna]

brilliant...this is what i wanted to see the wavestate do.thankyou and merry xmas

[@rayderrich]

The longer I watch this, the harder it becomes to not press the Buy Now button on this synth. My wife is not happy with you, I am ha ha ha.

[@Waveformer]

Haha 😂. My apologies to your wife.

[@suntrekkerthompson8741]

Amazing! Just got one this week and am blown away by this. Thank you very much for helping to speed up the learning curve.

[@Waveformer]

Thanks, Suntrekker. It’s a wonderful synth.

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Thanks! I bought one of these today based on your video. I love making oldschool electronic music and this machine will be great for sonic backdrops of hypnotic melodic arp/seq as well as traditional harmonic drones to improvise over. It’s really the best of both worlds - performance heavy but also program heavy as well. 🤩

[@GrootsieTheDog]

I finally have some time this weekend to download your patches. Looking forward to making some music!

[@justjonny4596]

Seriously loving your wavestate videos. More tutorials please. These are gold dust!!

[@SparklesofGold]

Love your posts and the info attached.

[@CrisBlyth]

It's kinda got a Jarre vibe.. REALLY enjoying this.. :)

[@TheSynthZone]

if there was a jarre vibe I would run far far away. Shultze, Froese and others, yes. =)

[@amb13nt59]

I think I've said it before: your mastery of this amazing tool is amazing, Waveformer. Very nice!

[@Waveformer]

Thank you 😊 😊😊🙏🏻

[@user-jl1qd9pn6w]

what an astonishing composition

[@tamaspolyak5564]

Shine on you crazy Wavestate? I like it!

[@downburstlive]

Amazing stuff coming out of that synth. And of course your skills are out of this world 🚀 love that ❤️

[@Waveformer]

Thank you Marián. I love that synth for its sound design capabilities 😀.

[@Sentientfx1]

Tangerine Dream - eat your heart out... Excellent work!

[@thomaskolb8785]

The ratcheting sequencer effect is brilliant, I will need to try it out. A lovely jam too, amazing stuff!

[@paulw2604]

Absolutely superb. As the previous poster said, a strong Jarre vibe - he is one of my favourite musicians, hope he gets to hear this! You are a true master of the Wavestate, and a very creative musician.

[@oldgittarist]

Stunning sounds...many thanks.

[@MrKayMrKay]

Thomas, I'm impressed! This is just super wunderbar Berliner Schule Musik! And knowing that it is live makes it so much more perfect! If I understood it well, every timber comes live from the Wavestate? Is that so? I'm thrilled by the power of this little synth just like it has been designed to make that kind of music!!! I felt like I was listening to first era Tangerine Dream performance here! Congratulations, truly...

[@Waveformer]

Yep, every sound comes from the Wavestate. It’s all just one take, no overdubbing or daws involved. Just a very light mastering in Ozone 8 with a tiny bit of eq, and compressor.

[@MrKayMrKay]

@@Waveformer I've watched the presentation of the synth by Sonicstate and now I have enough information to conclude that the synth is awesome and very deep but the most impressive how you programmed it to obtain this result! Great synth, awesome musician

[@TheSynthZone]

add some Moogs, some other flavors and away he goes.

[@markh5399]

Thanks for the ideas. Nice music . Peace. Shows what can be bone

[@futumama1]

I love this...and with description...amazing.

[@Waveformer]

Thanks. I enjoy doing sound design while I play. Its a great way to explore and compose at the same time.

[@trikOsk]

And i am here again! Fantastic!

[@Waveformer]

Welcome back 😊

[@billsoraparu9673]

Beautiful and Amazing Art! Thank you!

[@GaryInThailand]

Excellent training in realtime interaction with the WaveState beast. Going to spend some quality time this one. Thanks!

[@GaryInThailand]

Not to mention COOL MUSIC! ;)

[@Waveformer]

Thank you, Gary. It’s been rewarding to spend the time learning how to program this thing. Kind of a steep learning curve, but then my head was finally able to wrap itself around how it worked, and now I just get a flood of ideas that I want to explore.

[@GaryInThailand]

@@Waveformer Please keep posting. I really appreciate your approach to documentation. It really gets across what is happening at each step.

[@FunkTree]

Finally someone who knows how to use this beautiful machine

[@heliopijpe]

Atm I'm doubting between the unique yet intimidating creative flow of the Wavestate and the beautiful FM synthesis of the Digitone Elektrone Keys for ambient soundscape design as my main hardware synth ^^ ... choices ...

[@JayHosking]

Really got lost in this one while working. Great work!

[@amazonit8386]

Beautiful, Mr. Waveformer!

[@Waveformer]

Thank you 😊😊😊

[@svenschweiger3360]

First synth I had to buy... love it. Great job jamming while simultaneously showing operation data - best tutorial/jam I found so far. Thnx!

[@vladimirvoevodich623]

Had same thoughts but still think it will be too complicated as first synth.

[@svenschweiger3360]

@@vladimirvoevodich623 it is complicated, but still you can explore the presets and play around with them - my second was the minilogue xd - that might have been the better first one ;)

[@CrisBlyth]

@21.53 - yesssss. :)

[@Iain2000]

Fantastic composition. Remnants of Tangerine Dream and Jarre here. Really showcases the capability of the Korg Wavestate. Well done.

[@Waveformer]

Glad you liked it, Iain 😊

[@mark35mi]

Just... brilliant.

[@DoctorRevers]

Thank you. Needed this right about now. This is amazing. 👍👍🍻

[@mark35mi]

I loved how you made an incredibly interesting half hour journey... on ONE performance set that you designed. I want to purchase a Wavestate JUST FOR THAT ABILITY!!! Epic. And you created MORE performances. So cool.

[@lucianocatarin9176]

Tangerine dream style,very good

[@drKrollspell]

- Fabulous!! Love it 😀

[@rodneilson5831]

Awesome I must get one, could listen to this all day pure escapism from COVID

[@MarianoPerez]

I want an iridium, but this video makes me think twice about it. I can probably get a few of these synths for much cheaper.

[@hollsound]

Fantastic presentation! Adorable sounds 🤩

[@georgesboutz8080]

I only wish I could get this out of my Nord LA1. Absolutely brilliant....... thank you!

[@user-KORG]

Достойный аппарат! У меня KORG pa 300, думаю что то прикупить из вариантов .

[@davidbanner9001]

Decided to wait for the Wavestate_Module version. I'm sure it will come eventually. I used to love my old Wavestation, but it was such a pain to program the bloody thing. It's the only reason I sold it all those years ago. But the soundscapes it produced were so beautiful.

[@mikeexits]

This makes me want to actually learn how to make patches on my Wavestation EX! Beautiful. :)

[@executionsquad3926]

Beautiful. I've been checking synths for a decade :)

[@izzystardust44]

Egg-cellent work on this piece. Very Tangerine Dream-ish which I love! I'll have to study how you did this.

[@RaidersOfTheLostHeart]

beautiful sounddesign ☺️♥️ great video my friend, many regards 🙋‍♂️🌄

[@mh22xv]

Really really nice work. So inspiring and awesome sounds in your wavestate palette

[@errolnijsen1977]

Incredible! just bought your soundbank. Very cool stuff! keep up the good work!

[@amrowahbymusic]

Great work indeed.

[@meecek]

ha! 1K likes collected now, kudos, very nice :)

[@Waveformer]

Cool! Thanks 😁🎶🎉

[@SebticSmile]

So wonderful! It looks too deep for me so I'll content myself to listening to your fantastic jams with it!

[@joxer96]

Great stuff! The only negative is that it makes me want to buy a Wavestate!

[@drKrollspell]

- Perfect 👌 !! So good 😀 I was thinking of what you might add to the mix and after a while I figured out it is nothing.

[@Pheonix0114]

Incredible

[@giannighilardi6396]

Gr8 !!!

[@bastian7097]

Hello good sir, I‘m kind in awe about your wavestate and modwave performamces. Very good videos that I‘ll consult probably quite few times when I actually have one of those. The thing is that I need to decide for either the wavestate OR the modwave. And it‘s kind of hard for me to do that. Now you seem to have quite a good grip on both of them and I‘m wondering how‘d you decide if you had to. I want to use it alongside a groovebox (mc 707) and want to use it for…well…moving motion sequenzes or how you‘d call it. Embedded it some sort of psy/ambient/chill-style music. Maybe I could hear your opinion on which one you like better or which one might be more versatile in terms of creating organically moving sounds and sequenzes? That would be so nice. Anyways, have fun and thank you for showing us what those synths can!

[@Waveformer]

Both synths are excellent and deep and lets you create complex (or simple) motion/wave-sequences. Wavestate is sample-based, so you can create a patch that fades smoothly between a choir, a cello, a classic synth sound, etc., or create a drum loop from samples. You can’t do that on a modwave. But on the modwave, You can morph through a wavetable with smooth transitions from waveform to waveform, and you can do oscillator sync, simple FM, AM and more. That’s not possible on the Wavestate. I’m not sure which I would have chosen if I only could have both. They are both great :-).

[@bastian7097]

@@Waveformer Thank you. I decided for the wavestate. I'm stoked. :)

[@Waveformer]

@@bastian7097 yay! Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do :-).

[@MKOFT3N]

amazing

[@NickGambino]

simply amazing!

[@davidl8094]

Very well performed and presented...and quite informative. I reckon I'll just have to take the plunge for this golden lyre of a synth. My wallet is squirming at thought, but this is just too nice a machine to pass by. Thanks for a great video...

[@stephenmurphy8349]

Really nice sounds!

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

I don't own this synth but have seen many tutorials and reviews of it. So surprisingly I was understanding your parameter changes quite well. Maybe the synth is not as hard to program as some think. At least for me, a subtractive, and FM synth programmer as well as a beatbox composer I am thinking the learning curve may not be as long as first thought.

[@thebreathalyzer]

Beautiful sounds, love it. This synth seems like everything a hybrid synth should be, I like it still gets an analog kind of vibe. The only thing it’s lacking is aftertouch control. If you played this using breath control via MIDI I bet it would be amazing.

[@SpyderBlackOfficial]

After touch on a 61 key bed just announced

[@trikOsk]

awessoooome!

[@Waveformer]

Thanks, man 😁

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

Really good

[@davidsmith9592]

You're an absolute beast on this thing! Would you say it's your favourite synth? It seems like it's enough for you to make full compositions on. Is there anything that you miss when working with it standalone?

[@Waveformer]

Thanks :-). Yes, I think it’s my favorite at the moment. Especially the way the wave sequences work together with the arpeggiator enables me to design sounds and compose in a way I couldn’t do with any of my other synths. Lots of fun 😀. What I miss ... it would be nice if there were individual effect sends for the reverb for each channel.

[@mark35mi]

When might we expect a new KIT?!? I purchased the first. Cannot wait! Brilliant work!

[@Waveformer]

It is more or less ready. I’m preparing a demo video and will package everything up. Sometimes life is just too busy to get time to do the fun stuff. Hope to release something in June :-).

[@mark35mi]

@@Waveformer Great news! Stoked. Supporter. Even purchased your album. Keep me posted! Cash in hand. :)

[@Waveformer]

@@mark35mi will do. Thank you for all your support 😊.

[@DayflightTrok]

It’s unbelievable. Do you use only the factory samples or your own?

[@nivac5227]

I don't understand why the arpeggiators sequences act like if Note Advance were on, (i.e. 5:00). Excellent sounds and ideas as always!

[@FunkTree]

Great

[@StereographicTV]

Quite brilliant. Thanks for sharing your workflow and the detailed notes on what's going on. I presume you start the arps going before all this. Does the Wavestate save these as a part of the performance?

[@geluix69]

Korg really need to produce a rack version of this synth like the Wavestation A/D.

[@TheSynthZone]

Better than that we hope. It was almost amazing.

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

The WaveState depends on that display for all the deep parameters, I wonder why they made it so small? I also wonder why there aren't video outputs on all synths using displays for an optional larger external screen? Screen size of the Elektron gear is why I never consider them for purchase.

[@thomaskolb8785]

Man, a VGA output to duplicate the screen to a monitor is an excellent idea. It would be cool and cheap. Why didn't KORG think of that?!

[@dirtycelinefrenchman]

The newer Elektron screens are just fine. No complaints. The OLED screens are such a step up..

[@hector3550]

Buenísimo!!

[@Sam_Utah]

Thanks, T-Dreamy motion synths, really good listening experience. I just got Wavestate and learning it. How did you get the larger display to work? Is that a hack or supported. Sub.

[@Waveformer]

I haven’t modified the Wavestate. I just enlarge the screen in a video editor so it’s easier to see for those watching the clip on KZbin 😀.

[@Sam_Utah]

@@Waveformer Makes sense now. I thought maybe it was a hack like on my Montage, with the right combination you can output touch screen to a monitor, had that setup for a few years. Good video skills!

[@HEC9]

As always...N1C3!! : P

[@TheSynthZone]

You have single handedly proved what a waste of time the wanna be Tangerine Dream we got stuck with is=----- both lame and uninspired. Tired acid jazz, I guess. THIS is terrific, wonderful and talented. With a slight polish this is amazing and very buy- able! Make a collection and sell the rights to me, I will share 50/50 ! lol and make waveformer a EDM household name. Do you want to allow us to do this? remember, silence is assent...lol

[@Waveformer]

Blush. You’re too kind 😊. If you want to do a remix or something, let me know and I’ll send you the original audio recording.

[@smokymountainblogger5509]

Absolutely superb! I’m inclined to ask if you would be willing to provide lessons or a tutorial manual on the Wavestate?

[@nightrawdeluxe]

Nice performance, great play 👍🏼. How do you capture such a play? Live audio recording, or midi recording (will midi record all the button movements too?)? Keep it up, ✌🏻

[@XTINCTIONation]

Fucking Majestic ✨ 🌌 🌏

[@vladimirvoevodich623]

Looks like this thing can compete alone with your "traditional" kits containing: Microfreak, Monologue, MS-70CDRs and so on... I was very impressed with your performance and bought Microfreak + MS-70CDR to start some tryouts with Berlin school and ambient music. Looks like I know which thing will be next... Wavestate. It's real allrounder... I am afraid to imagine what it could do coupled with looper...

[@Waveformer]

Yeah, the Wavestate is great. More complex to program, but not that much menu diving. Lots of useful knobs and buttons for direct control of parameters. The sound quality is great, as are the modulation options and the effects :-).

[@InkyDaCaT]

Omg Im looking up wavestate as just bought one, and listening and thought this guys good I best subscribe 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤷🤣🤣🤣too funny😁🙌🙌🙌🙌😂🍻💗💗💗💗mate

[@Waveformer]

Hahaha 😂. Good to see you here, Lisa 💕🎶

[@InkyDaCaT]

@@Waveformer hope alls good with you my friend 😉💗🌟

[@dennismossinkoff7993]

monstersound!!!!!

[@Waveformer]

😁

[@InkyDaCaT]

Have you thought about uploading these to distrokid as 'relaxation music'😉😉😉 people buy that stuff...awesome job as always T😁🙌

[@Waveformer]

Thanks :-). Bandcamp seems to work better for me than Distrokid 🤷‍♂️ 😀

[@InkyDaCaT]

@@Waveformer gfunny nearly typed that lol

[@citok]

Wo sind deine CD zu kaufen ? Wir lieben deine Arpeggio Musik , danke 👍

[@Waveformer]

Thank you 😀. I haven’t released any CDs, but you can get my music here: waveformer42.bandcamp.com

[@henson2k]

How do you remember all that during performance?

[@Waveformer]

I cheat and have prepared some notes in advance :-). Go to the Community tab on my KZbin channel to see an example.

[@jameslock]

Can someone help me please? I write drum and bass and I don't know if to go for the Wavestate for sounds like this or the Modwave to cast Evil Neuro basses? What's everyone's opinion?

[@thekitchensynth]

Fantastic... Have you loaded this jam up to Bandcamp?

[@gchance]

Outside of creating the performance/patch, how much planning ahead did you spend on this?

[@silviaevalopezzotto6502]

Hello... How many simultaneously tracks in step seq ? We're in touch, thnks.

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Hello from Tallinn! Your soundbank does mean, that I could load them into my Wavestate? Thank you

[@Waveformer]

Yes, you can load the soundbank into your Wavestate. Check out gumroad.com/waveformer for more info.

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Very interesting to know, what does mean Berlin School 🏫? 🙄

[@Waveformer]

Music in the style of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, Redshift, and others.

[@MaceOjala]

I was about to ask the same, thank you for being faster. I'm a big friend of (some!) of the works of the artists mentioned, and I'll need to dig deeper into "Berlin School". I associated "Berlin School" with with Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald, and the dubtechno sound from BC, CR etc. I'm learning, thank you :) Also thanks for very smooth sounds

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

@@MaceOjala Your welcome! Music forever in our hearts! 🎼🎼

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

@@Waveformer Thank you so much! Music is always in our hearts 🎼🎼💕

[@themoonshiners666]

Hi. I have purchased the patches but I don't know how to load additional patches. Sorry, but I'm a newbie, and your movies prompted me to buy Korg. Could someone tell me how to do it? Thank you in advance.

[@Waveformer]

Hi. You first need to install the drivers for the Wavestate, and then install the Korg Wavestate librarian. This is described in the Wavestate manual. After that you can open either the complete set list or individual performances/patches in the Librarian, and the patches will be transferred to the Wavestate automatically. Marc Barnes has a video on this that might help you :-). kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJbEeWNvbKqInMU

[@themoonshiners666]

@@Waveformer Hi. Thank you. I received a message from the group that at the very beginning I should install the drivers and then the library editor. As I mentioned before, I am a novice and for me each stage is black magic ;) I can't find the drivers to download so could you help me again. Thanks. Greetings 👍

[@Waveformer]

The drivers are here: www.korg.com/us/support/download/software/0/840/4519/ Make sure you follow the manual included in the download when you install the drivers.

[@themoonshiners666]

@@Waveformer Thanks.

[@themoonshiners666]

@@Waveformer What do you think about these drivers www.korg.com/us/support/download/driver/1/285/3541/

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

Do you have a SoundCloud account?

[@Mordeleitor]

I PET GOAT 3 OST!!!

[@jjrusy7438]

i hold you partly responsible for me rebuilding my music room so i can add live video to my youtube music vids. i really want to start recording me playing and not just put a still picture for the music videos. I also have put a lot of work into rebuilding my music room so it looks nice. I am not rich, so i scavenged for most of the construction supplies and wiring. I am getting very close to being finished, and hopefully i can finish in time to make a little christmas video. And if i dont make it, i wish you and yours a merry christmas and a much better new year.