NAMM 2022: Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave wavetable synth full details
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Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave · Source: Groove Synthesis
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave · Source: Groove Synthesis
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave · Source: Groove Synthesis
One of the only new synths seen at NAMM this year the 3rd Wave was turning heads and impressing ears and now we have the full details.
3rd Wave
We saw a few glimpses of Groove Synthesis’ 3rd Wave Advanced Wavetable Synthesizer in the lead up to NAMM but after their big reveal at the show we can settle back and assess what it’s got to offer.
It’s a PPG inspired 24-voice wavetable synthesizer with 3 oscillators per voice, an analogue lowpass, Dave Rossum designed filter, a state-variable filter and built-in wavetable making. It has 4 envelopes, 4 LFOs and 2 digital effects.
The oscillators can either be a classic PPG-era wavetable, a modern high-resolution wavetable or an analogue-modelled waveform. It comes with 32 classic wavetables and 48 new hi-res ones and plenty of room for your own. The analogue modelled waveforms are all the usual ones, including a Supersaw and colour-variable noise. The waveforms can be modulated from a 6-stage loopable envelope which can either leap from one wave to another or smoothly transition.
A modulation matrix with 16 assignable slots, 12 fixed slots and up to 114 destinations gives you enormous flexibility.
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Multi-timbral
The 24 voices can be divided up into 4 parts of multitimbrality that can either be layered or split into zones across the keyboard. Each part can benefit from its own sound, sequence and effects settings and has its own output with stereo panning.
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
Sequencing
The synth also has a pattern-based sequencer that includes capturing parameter movements. It seems to be about realtime recording, with or without quantization of up to 32 measures. You can then arrange up to 24 patterns into songs. The multi-timbral side means that you can sequence a couple of layers while playing over the top which is very nifty. There’s also an Arpeggiator in there somewhere.
Making wavetables
Lastly, there’s a built-in custom Wavetable Maker. You can sample straight into the 3rd Wave or bring audio files over via USB to generate custom wavetables.
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
Advanced Wavetabling
All in all the specs are impressive. The multi-timbral angle seems rare in synthesizers these days and gives it an opportunity to do a lot of work in your studio or sound design. The PPG influence is very obvious but hopefully, 3rd Wave can carve out a bit of its own character.
Release is planned for August and 3rd Wave should cost £3795.
- Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave: Groove Synthesis
- Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave: Groove Synthesis
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2 responses to “NAMM 2022: Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave wavetable synth full details”
Sounds nice. Looks nice. But that price?!!! I guess they’re going for the wealthiest end of the pro market. I’m not against that – I like the idea that there are now synths out there which are simply unattainable for mere mortals like myself; It adds to their mystique and perhaps creates an aura of envious respect for the lucky few who’ll appear on stage with them – like there was for anyone with a Jupiter 8 or CS80 or Fairlight back in the day. Almost everything new was relatively affordable in the 90’s and 00’s if you had 2 or 3 grand to spend. Maybe the Korg Oasys was the first to buck the trend?
I think it’s priced well. Small companies have high costs and a synth like this would be expensive to develop.
Also $3000 in 1992 is like $6k so this is only $1900 in 1992 dollars