Korg Modwave vs. Wavestate Synths - Daniel Fisher

[@sweetwater]

Share your thoughts on the Korg Wavestate and Modwave in the comments, then smash that subscribe button so you don’t miss out on more sweet synths! 💫

[@fortheloveofnoise]

They are awesome and I am looking forward to even more great synths from them this winter NAMM.

[@catastrophicjones]

If Daniel Fisher offered a masterclass on synthesis and sound design, I would take it in a heartbeat. I'm quite happy with my Wavestate but these sound really awesome together.

[@sweetwater]

Hi Catastrophic Jones. Here's your free SYNTH CLIPS Masterclass: kzbin.info/aero/PLlczpwSXEOybYYaBCTcjxxKz1QmxytbIf -_Daniel_

[@boxed-sound]

Jesus, Daniel you're a genius on these machines. That first jam with the strings and the arp was absolutely beautiful.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

Yes that Wavestate string pad was lovely

[@straighttalk2069]

The Wavestate is in a league of it's own, especially since the 2.0 firmware update that supports user sample import. Great video.

[@timdanyo898]

We need all three: WS, MW, and OP6 in desktop module versions :-)

[@CaptainErn]

Yesssss!

[@BubbaSatori]

Modules are an insta buy for me.

[@timdanyo898]

@@BubbaSatori I keep imagining a Korg made powered case with all three modules with some sort of audio/midi router/mixer interface built in.

[@timdanyo898]

@Wilderness Music Korg should make a full sized 37 key module keyboard to work with the 3 system rack. 🤓

[@Bigmojo75]

I’d go for rack versions

[@UnlikePluto]

Love this guy, legend in the reviewing game

[@lushfauna]

The random button is what makes these great to me, endless sounds

[@samiam9059]

Love the 6gig of waveforms on the Wavestate and the complete original waveforms of the wavestation.

[@samiam9059]

or is it 16 gig?

[@benbowland]

Dear god that first intro jam was gorgeous. Probably my favorite Daniel has ever done. 7:35 has serious Tomita vibes too.

[@gokolink]

Its rare that I resort to head bopping in these demo videos, but this is one of them, very tasteful playing!

[@Gainn]

Since the 2.0 update the Wavestate has become my crazy generative groovebox. I like the Modwave more for sound design, but you can pretty much build an entire track and play it live on the WS now.

[@wegmeister2]

Great comparison Daniel! Fun to listen to your video and exploration. They are different beasts for sure and both are great tools. I have the Modwave and I keep digging deeper and creating with it. Korg's software update for Modwave (1.1) now allows importing and creating your own waves and samples. Pairing the Modwave with Korg's provided software opens a huge realm for creation.

[@audiolego]

Perfect for ambient music

[@derrickaf1]

Man! Your skills with synthesizers and soundscape creation is inspirational for composers and enthusiasts. Thank you:)!

[@NineteenEighty8]

I remember when this was released. I hoped they released all 3 in a desktop version, the mod, wave, and op are now released in desktops and finally ordered them! FOOK YEAH! Been waiting for years. Thank you Korg. Korg and Roland both are doing things right, they LISTEN!

[@ishta]

Daniel is the best synth demo person on YT and dang awesome keys player and musician overall. Music not tech talk or fiddling. He makes cinematic grade music while showing what the machines can do. The WaveState deep dive is a gem. I have downloaded the audio of his demos and listen to it in the car or while reading or even gardening. Sometimes I play with them with my saxophones. That's how deep this guy is.

[@christianwelde]

Wonderful demo, as always from Daniel!

[@jasmeerlabeer4591]

I've been waiting to find a video on this. They both seemed so similar.

[@andrevillemaire5561]

Got them both, very happy. The wavestate has lots of nice sounds to create melodies while the Modwave has all the great background noises and more to compliment the wavestate. A delight for any composer. Thanks for the video Daniel.

[@shadowbanned5164]

I have a wavestate which is in my setup to stay how would you rate the two synths and which one would you pick if you could only have one?

[@andrevillemaire5561]

@@shadowbanned5164 For the moment it seams that i would choose the Wavestate if i could only have one.

[@gpr4eva]

Waiting on a new Korg board with Modwave, Wavestate, Opsix, Prologue & all the Kronos goodies combined. IT'S JUST A DREAM THO

[@jamesmacleod671]

That would be the ultimate swiss army knife synth to kill all other synths, KORG Z2 maybe.

[@metalplatedfacejob]

I would take a prologue 2 with a full on opsix on board any day let alone all of these synths in one.

[@Lainer1]

Sweetwater has racks now of Mod, OpSix and Wavestate go check.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Was the best breakdown/contrast of these I’ve seen … Thanks!

[@petermgruhn]

Oo, I like the red. Whoever is in charge of studio colors keeps doing nice work.

[@ARPMAN]

Well done! No more space, wait for desktop expander versions. Great presentation

[@geoffk777]

I have both, and both are interesting and worth having. But the ModWave is easily my favorite of the two. Many of the samples on the WaveState aren't really that interesting, so it gets its value from cycling through them. But the intrinsic tones on the ModWave are interesting themselves and have internal changes and motion (which you can add to with layers). So the ModWave ends up producing much more interesting and distinctive sounds.

[@michaelbrehmer4115]

I have also both synthies and find the Wavestate very interesting.

[@geoffk777]

@@michaelbrehmer4115 It's not bad and I'm keeping it. But of the two, I still prefer the ModWave.

[@henrikgustav2294]

I would think modwave + the original wavestation is a great match

[@jiribitrych326]

Daniel Fisher . I thank you for your appreciation for my message. You are the number one in music. I don't know English. I am Czech

[@strykermoonfall2220]

Great work as always. I prefer the Wavestate but they both sound dope.

[@fmagic2000able]

Please, please, please can you do another demo with the Opsix included with these beasts as well!

[@maedaeburning]

Daniel Fisher you're so cool lmao. Seriously though you know how to vibe the hell out with these synths

[@kevinperry3639]

Great video, lots of good information. Thanks for sharing 🤘

[@MACRONOne]

The ModWaveState review! Awesome.

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

Be careful Daniel, my friend hooked up those three and added an XD. I believe he created 4- D synthesis and opened a wormhole! I've not "seen" him since. But.....if I listen very carefully....I can hear my refrigerator running. 😵😵

[@SteveHarris_Worship]

🤣

[@sonicultura]

They both sound amazing! Not sure to get the Modwave when having the Wavestate though... Thanks a lot for the great demo!

[@aqueous5099]

Please update us about the wave state se. I hope the patching and sampling abilities continue to get updated-even refined.

[@thecompletejake]

I absolutely needed this video. Thank you!

[@mark35mi]

Love it Great showcase as always Daniel. Thanks.

[@Bigmojo75]

Got them both plus the Opsix. All three are stunning extensions of specific types of digital synthesis.

[@entropybentwhistle]

Daniel Fisher, inventor of the best synth demo method ever: cut a full prog album THEN talk about the synths.

[@johnomarlarnelladams7519]

The Wavestate synthesizer has really clear digital sounds, while the Modwave synthesizer lines has clean textured digital sounds.

[@av3nger3]

8:35 Well jeeze Louise. There he goes getting all technologically transcendent on me. That right there could be the beginning of a piece with some thick drums and bass.

[@MikeUIibarri]

This is the video that convinced me to drop the hammer... for both. I wish your Zero Financing had the details I needed. I love both these monsters.

[@dimitargadzhev3800]

Amazing performance, thank you very much!!!

[@c.g.3250]

So wunderbare Teile und ich besitze lediglich einen davon der mich als "Leihe" weg fliegen lässt, auf eine schöne und spielerische Art!!!! Danke 👍🕊️♥️✌️

[@kierenmoore3236]

Is that just an arpeggiator or some-such that kicks in on the Modwave at 1:31 (or is it just moving through a wavetable)? … because that’s the kind of (rhythmic?) movement I was expecting to hear from the Wavestate (which I then do hear clearly from the Wavestate, from 2:34 … and later throughout the video). Though, Daniel does explain at 18:20 that they can be programmed to do some of what the other does, which might explain it … 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️ Edit: ah, Modwave has ‘motion sequencing 2.0’ … derived from the Wavestate’s ‘wave sequencing 2.0’, which I suppose gives a similar vibe (but by varying the given preset’s PARAMETERS in sequence [Modwave], rather than changing the sound SAMPLES being played in sequence [Wavestate], I presume … ??) Also, what triggers the Wavestate wave-sequence(?) to stop at 3:45 (looks like it is triggered by the cessation of the lead playing on the Modwave [MIDI? Except that that MIDI cable is Out from Wavestate, “In”to the Modwave] … or maybe by a(n unseen) Pedal in the ‘Damper’ input of the Wavestate)?! 👀 Edit: still not sure exactly how this worked, tho’ I’m assuming it was via MIDI … ??

[@TronDawg]

The best! Pure gold

[@AviPFine]

very cool demo and great explanation on the similarities and differences of these two. love mine. never tried the midi yet between them, not sure how id go about it yet as ive never yet tried clocking midi from one synth to another just yet.

[@jiribitrych326]

Thank you very much for your demonstrations. Very nice. I already have the Wavestate Synths machine at home, which you have on video.

[@goodboid]

I want a desktop version of the wavestate, sitting right next to my Radias.

[@brmbkl]

Technical insights and beautiful musical examples, all in one place. Daniel is one of the only ones online that can really convince me of a product. And Bob Ross vibes to boot. (If the man ever made of a gps voice to download, I’d buy in a second)

[@samuelwnovak]

Was NOT expecting the bassoon and clarinet samples 🤣🤘

[@sweetwater]

Hi Sam. Yup, the wavestate and modwave share the same massive 2GB library of sounds with a little bit of everything. -_Daniel_

[@Pighood]

Synthesizer Patel has a harrumph

[@aristotlekumpis7095]

Still waiting for the 61-key version of the Wavestate...

[@Georg89]

Great demo! 😊 I‘m still not sure which one i should get as addition to my minilogue, which brought me into subtractive synthesis. I‘m interested in moving ambient and pad sounds as atmospheric addition to my more guitar-heavy „ambient“ songs.

[@32ndBrother]

Nice work Daniel 🎶🎹🎛🎹🎶

[@SuperOssi]

wow awesome patches thanks

[@LaurensLeurs]

15:59 Wow, sounds great!

[@unclemick-synths]

Well that doesn't make the decision any easier! 😀 I've been thinking of getting the MicroFreak anyway but the new update would give me an opportunity to get some hands-on experience of this kind of technology to inform a decision.

[@unclemick-synths]

@@djdawless Thanks. My leaning is towards the Modwave but before deciding I want to understand wavetables better by using them. It's like FM - yes there's the stereotypical sounds but what is it _really_ capable of? I'm not too worried about the MicroFreak keyboard because I'm planning on playing it from my Roland wind synth.

[@Furvolte]

@@unclemick-synths I don't know if this answer is too late but you can do a lot of thing with it. I think it you should check out vital, a free wavetable synth vst, that apparently can compare very closely with the reference, serum. I a am new in the world of synthesis but i find amazing sounds with vital. I see it as a more advanced analogic substractive synthesis. The idea is close except that you can go way deeper in shaping the wave of the oscillators. Having way more complexe waves than classical saw and square, that you can twist in all the possible way. And this being able to cover the domain of more traditional analog synthesis if you want by feeding the wavetable with a good ol' simple simple wave. Additionally what I love is the incredible amount of modulation possible. You can modulate anything with anything. Allowing to creat very complex textures. I love the potential of adding randomness in the sound. Anyway... I need to acquire a modwave!

[@unclemick-synths]

@@Furvolte thanks! I got the MicroFreak and I am getting to learn what wavetables can do for me. I have particular tastes in sounds - I'm not so keen on harsh glitchy sounds but I like a lot of energy and movement and wavetables definitely provide movement! The ModWave takes things further so it's moving up the wishlist.

[@Lainer1]

Now...MINIfreak.

[@birdie17uk]

Nice Shepard tone on the Modwave in the jam....

[@HonorV2ultimate1tb]

great....was the orange coloured cable a midi cable?....in order to get both keyboards tempo in synchronised beats?.... plse enlighten...thks

[@paulallen8777]

These sound great. 7:36 sounds a lot like Tomita.

[@brandonmoss7976]

Can you please do it another jam session with these two instruments please 🤗 I would like to hear more 🤣

[@rg2027x]

Very enjoyable listening 👍🎹👍 I zoned out with my cat and it was like sonic therapy. Wish Korg would make a (61-key) synth with Wavestate, Opsix + Modwave combined into 1 unit 🙄 Call it "WOM" or something 🤣 "here is the WOM you been Waiting for".. I'd buy it on that alone

[@tehedx]

I stopped pulling my hair out about wanting things in another way than they actually are. If space allows it, just add a master keyboard free of choice and bring a MIDI Thru box along.

[@michaelbrehmer4115]

Both synties side by side are one extraordinaire synthie. I have do it and are very satisfied

[@benjwgarner]

The Opsix is a whole different animal, but there's a lot of overlap between the Wavestate and the Modwave that would have made for a better single synthesizer, combining the more powerful wave sequencing of the Wavestate with the wavetable wave scanning of the Modwave. That's one thing that frustrates me about Korg: they have a tendency to release lines of products with disappointing missed opportunities where they could have done something spectacular with the innovative things that they develop but instead stop short, seemingly for marketing reasons.

[@Fauxleroid]

Wavestate or Modwave for 80s horror movie music and synthwave? I’m guessing Wavestate?

[@e8root]

I checked reviews and demos of VSTs and got Modwave as more typical synth engine with very interesting possibilities that wavetables bring to the table. Wave sequencing doesn't speak to me as much.

[@klstay]

Most of the interface on these the same or very close and those parts could be made the same with minor changes/additions. Having both engines in a single synth with a high quality 5 octave Poly AT keybed for around $1300 would sell like crazy. There would be plenty of room for the unique parts of each interface. Then also let users load 2 of each engine instead of just 1 of each per patch. Honestly there would be enough room for the 75% of opsix interface that is unique as well. Sell that for around $1800 with 2 (or 3) assignable stereo outs and 2 assignable hold & sustain input pairs. A patch could be any combination of 1, 2, or 3 of any of those great engines. Even with a screen twice the height and width there would still be more margin in it. Three stereo send/return channels in addition to MIDI over USB would add total DAW integration though the VSTs do exist for those who just care about that...

[@Pissarrio]

what was the third Korg keyboard you mentioned? i heard Kork OP6? is that right?

[@sweetwater]

Yep, the first keyboard of this trilogy was the Korg op-six FM synthesizer. -_Daniel_

[@AviPFine]

the op-mod-state - how would i hook midi cables between them .. hm...

[@sweetwater]

Hi Avi Fine. When sending MIDI Clock to multiple devices, it's best to use a small MIDI Thru box because repeated daisy-chaining will smear the time between the first and last unit. Here are some examples: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ST4MIDI--crumar-st4-4-port-switchable-midi-thru-box

[@eamfos]

Thank you very much !!!..Now i m sure.

[@alexanderscott6332]

Any idea if Korg plan to release module versions sans keyboard?

[@HiGlowie]

Which one is less menu divey?

[@Mr.Tubster]

Beautiful 🍓🍓🍓

[@SergeSidorovStudio]

Очень интересный обзор! Спасибо!

[@United-Bengals]

What a damn great reviews ,,, thanks a ton , sir ,,, lots of love from india !!👍👍👌👌

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

Which one for a beginner? Been looking at Deepmind 6 but keep coming back to the Wavestate.

[@petermgruhn]

"...and then I'm going to jam with them." Immediately starts jamming. Somewhere there's an editor made you look like a liar. Sic 'em!

[@sweetwater]

Hi Peter. After watching all the shots, we decided to put the dual performance first, as it really was the star of the show. -_Daniel_

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Which do you prefer Daniel?

[@ChrisTopheRaz]

Is there a built in drum machine? Or do you have to program those patterns?

[@slobodanmarkovicofficial]

Why all the time using Arpegiator? I would like to hear some sustained sound, or real played patches WITHOUT arpeggiator!

[@liviou2004]

Differences between the both is still not clear. Because you can build a wavesequence with simple waves too, ans so it will sounds as in the Modwave. In the Wavestate list of samples we can find basic waves too. So I'm sorry but it's not clear to me !

[@AdamGotheridge]

Daniel, that was pretty darn brilliant! For real. Great musicality. A couple constructive thoughts: 1. Your voice level to music level was really well done. It didn't go unnoticed. 2. The lufs level is 4.5db low. Probably would have more "impact" if it was "normalized" to that level. 3. You know how when you heard a good old stereo you could tell it just sounded really good and musical, even if you couldn't put your finger on why? I kind of feel that is missing in modern day cpu driven sounds wether they be synth, effects, or just ITB daw mixes. Just a thought/observation. Like the magic that drew you in from wayback is somehow lost.

[@yavamaystudio8045]

Hawe all, wavestate is about rhythmic, moodwave have more seriously complex sounds. The best way If you have all of them with OPsix.

[@malcolmgregoire1019]

Can the Wavestate be programmed to act like a sequencer/drum machine without pressing on the keys?

[@shadowbanned5164]

If you mean can it transmit the internal sequences to other equipment I dont think it can do that.

[@aseomg]

If I were the Hindu god Vishnu, I would have a blast playing with Daniel’s setup.

[@sweetwater]

Hi Ase o/m/g. That's what Arpeggiators, Sequencers, and Sustain pedals are for ;-) Thanks for watching! -_Daniel_

[@Jason75913]

A Modwave vs. Hydrasynth comparison as far as sound design would rock a lot harder than Modwave vs. Wavestate.

[@ET2carbon]

Then you're getting into MPE, engine preference, i/o, etc. I don't think korg is on that level

[@Jason75913]

@@ET2carbon Are most people picking up a Hydrasynth really using MPE? I very strongly doubt it. That's more of a feature meant for the minority that are "power users". Not even the keyboardists buying up Korg/Roland/Yamaha/Casio/Kurzweil romplers make full use of their gear, especially Korg/Roland/Yamaha users whose keyboards are extremely versatile (overly so) in the sound design department. And youtube comparisons are always sound engine vs. sound engine. Connectivity is secondary and never much of a focus, if you hadn't noticed. It is important, but not a deciding factor for most people, if you read online discussions. Korg skimped out on the designs of the Modwave, Wavestate, and Opsix because you are intended to add I/O via MIDI controllers and/or PCs, if you hadn't noticed. I dislike that, as many others do. And since Korg desktop modules sell poorly, they don't want to leave out a keybed, so just glued in something very shoddy. That's not the case with the Hydrasynth, obviously, but no one prioritizes that over sound quality and sound engine. Sound first, always sound first. Hydrasynth and Modwave are both digital wavetable VA synths, and Wavestate is a de facto rompler. Enough said. Welcome to hardware. 😎

[@ET2carbon]

@Licinius Varrus welcome to hardware, I've been hardware since 95. Haha don't know who you talking to but it ain't me. Yes, people using roli, embodme, and expressive E,Artiphon etc are definitely using MPE. But, MPE is a subset of the new MIDI 2.0 standard. As long as you're in the MIDI 2.0 realm, MPE is included. essentially if you see Polyphonic aftertouch it means MPE for the most part. They won't really be calling it MPE anymore. But yes, people do care about I/O And engines. There is no sense of getting ROMplers in a hardware set, if you have a powerful computer that you self contain within your VST's and other plugins, people don't want to waste their time. Most serious guys who are using analog consoles don't want a completely digital external "plug out" (roland cough cough). The hydrasynth MPE is a major selling point, as with the MODAL stuff. People who want outboard synthesis to go hot into their consoles or run through tubes and analog EQ/DYnamics from their MPE controllers is a major focus. Sure, not everyone fully utilizes their equipment to full potential, but not everyone understands and they just buy whatever has hype built up by their youtube GAS instructors. I went to 4 years of engineer production university and comprehend how to build my systems thoroughly according to specs and features trying to avoid redundancy and pointless purchases that aren't conducive to my studio's overall goals. The. Small minority just means early adopters

[@Daring2Win]

I wish they'd produce a 61 key with all three engines, for those of us who are just going to pad layer ourselves to death.

[@johngorgis]

its like ppg vs d50

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Which one is the ppg?

[@johngorgis]

@@TwinCitiesOxygen ppg wave it's the original wave table synth

[@diegoperez2912]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Los Mundos de Yupi

[@Cringing_Cranium]

There is no comparison here and they are connected so there is no way to hear what one can do. This is also titled modwave vs, Wavestate and yet you have them paired. Whoops. Back to school for you. I need to know the real differences between them. What the capabilities are vs each other. I guess I am heading over to loopop and hope he does a better job.

[@sweetwater]

Hi MolecularPort. The Modwave and the Wavestate are only connected by MIDI Clock so that both arpeggiators are locked in time. There are no MIDI Notes going from one synth to the other. Thanks for watching! -_Daniel_

[@michaelcox436]

This was useless to me, since you're playing both of them all the time who knows what the difference is.

[@sweetwater]

Hi Michael. Here are links to each of their individual videos. They will help to hear the differences: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWbZmo15osSWjck kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqabhJWidpx-Zqc -_Daniel_

[@gkillmaster]

Great overview! Much appreciated!