Leak! Korg is launching the Wavestate synthesizer tomorrow

06 Jan 2020 by Robin Vincent |

5,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Korg Wavestate FM review · Source: Gearslutz

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Somehow Future Music Magazine managed to send out their latest edition a day early and have gazumped Korg by having a complete review of their brand new Wavestate keyboard a day before it was due to be announced.

Wavestate

We already knew there was something special coming and Korg doesn’t even know how to disappoint.

It appears to be the spiritual successor to the Wavestation that Korg released in 1990 that combined the Vector synthesis from synths like the Sequential Prophet VS with Wave Sequencing or an advanced form of Wavetable pioneered by synths like the Waldorf PPG but with the ability to jump between waveforms. Wavestate is looking to bring that back but with a modern approach and exciting price point.

The photos of the Future Magazine review are all over the Gearslutz forum and what we can gather is that Korg considers this “Wave Sequencing 2.0”. It uses up to 4 sounds layers which contain a wave sequence of multiple PCM samples that can be stacked or split across the keyboard. Each layer has independent sample selection, timing, pitch and modulation resulting in competing rhythms and loops lengths.

Modulation is run by the vector synthesis which can assign parameters to the 4 axis of the vector grid. You can then get to work with the joystick via the dedicated 5-stage looping vector envelope or via external MIDI. There’s a lot more modulation available in terms of per-voice envelopes and LFOs to set the 64 stereo voices in motion.

The filter on the Wavestation was not up to much so Korg has replaced it with multiple resonant filter models including emulations of the MS-20 and Polysix. But there are many more models inside to play with.

At the end of the signal chain is a bit fat effects engine with 3 effects slots per layer. Effects include reverb, delay, EQ, modulation, tremolo, ring modulation and an amp modeller. There’s also a global reverb and EQ.

Korg Wavestate FM review

Take control

Of course the form of the synthesizer is thankfully a huge departure from the featureless curves of the Wavestation. It still has a screen but the handful of buttons is joined by an array of knobs and controls for a more instant, hands-on experience. Hopefully, it will make programming a bit easier although Korg has also included randomisation features to offer some instant satisfaction.

Future Music gives it a fabulous score which Korg must be happy about even if they are annoyed at this leak the day before their big reveal. At £699 it’s pretty decently priced too. With other digital synthesizers like the Argon8 and Hydrasynth just hitting the market in a similar format it’s an exciting time for fans of wavetables.

We should have the full details tomorrow including videos and sound examples because that’s the key missing element at the moment.