Korg Wavestation SR "Vector Synthesizer"

[AnalogNoiseLab]

Did Björk use this in Human Behaviour? Sure sounds like that at 2:02

[Vincefromsin]

@AnalogNoiseLab Yes she did! With a preset wave sequence... ;p

[rayek4eq]

Like the björk ;)

[NickDrake101]

Very nice demo...this module is a great little synth...a little quirky, but makes some really great sounds. You haven't made anything recently with the Korg..I hope you still have your Wavestations.

[Scifimaster92]

It's funny, I had this idea of using a Wavestation (possibly in combination with a Roland D-50) to play the opening theme from "Finding Nemo." Unfortunately, I have no idea how to play the instrument, much less program it. Also, I consider myself more of a writer than a musician.

[Tandream69]

From 2:50 Sounds like Tangerine Dream in best form :)

[seanywarsong]

This was/is one of the go to instruments for genuine new age music. Very emotive synth, fits right in with an Ensoniq SQ1 & a slew of analogue synths!

[BarbierBruno]

it sounds as the prophet vs



[vintagesynthlover]

Never mind, i used other sysex manager and now it works. But i dont know what for in sr are those rom banks from 4-11? u can only save to banks 1-3?

[vintagesynthlover]

Im sending ws sysex files to sr but i get message in sr "cheksum error" or "timeout error", what it means? is sr presets same as on original ws?

[aquamarinedream]

I hear the sounds that Jan Hammer used on Beyond The Minds Eye.

[digitaluniverse21]

I own both, the software and the hardware. What I can tell is that the software does NOT sound the same at all, no way! My Wavestation keyboard sounds are great and when editing them, I can get even more incredible sounds. The software does not offer the same capability and goodness. Also, it is right to mension that the software is very unstable.

[maccagrabme]

@digitaluniverse21 Change your headphones or speakers because the software sounds better here. If you want the weaker sound then get D16 Decimort or similar and lower the bitrate.

[digitaluniverse21]

@maccagrabme I own both the software and the hardware and have been programming both of them. I can tell you that I can make great sounds when programming my hardware and no way I could get better patches from the software. If it was possible to ask Tony Banks, keyboard player for Genesis, he would agree with me as he Korg Wavestation keyboard is the main thing for him.

[maccagrabme]

@digitaluniverse21 I think you are getting carried away. A synth is a tool to produce music primarily. Are you honestly telling me that you produce worse music if you were to use the plugin instead of the real thing? If you are so convinced then please post a demonstration of a song or even a simple sequence you have that you think sounds so much better and let the listener judge. Thanks.

[digitaluniverse21]

@maccagrabme Hi there. I composed a music using 100% Korg Wavestation sounds (hardware). The quality of the recording is not that good because I own a simple gear. However you will be able to listen to the clarity and goodness of the Korg Wavestation sounds. This music was made with different small movements in order to use more sounds on it. Enter "digitaluniverse21" and listen to the music "Vector Waves"

[ConnorMcLeanMusic]

Sounds so good... It's not analog, but it's still delicious.

[retrosound72]

@ConnorMcLeanMusic

yes unique sound

[Alterstateresearcher]

Unlike the other Korg VST's in the Legacy Package, I was hard pressed to hear any difference between the Wavestation keyboard and the Wavestation VST, and I was trying to be critical.

[sapient110]

no matter what i hear playing vector synthesis i just love it

that morphing between 2 voices just sounds so amazing

[carlosaglez1]

Xprhaze VSTi is a vector synthesizer, similar to Korgs line

[vintagesynthlover]

is "WSC" cards useable in sr, or only those "PSC" cards?

[maccagrabme]

I can see why those new digital toys from Roland are selling by the truckload and ending up on ebay a month later because kids are completely confused as to what is analogue or digital. BIG difference in sound between the two technologies and unfortunately Roland is knocking out digital thin sounding remakes, not the real deal.

[AzoneRecords1]

Is this the analogue version?? I have played the digital, such beautiful sounds even on the digital, would love the analogue synth in my studio :)

[TheIntelligentest]

@AzoneRecords1 do you mean sofware/harware or digital/analog ?

The Wavestation is a digital synthesizer in both hardware and software versions.

The hardware and software sound exactly the same. I own both.

For anyone wanting the wavestation sound I would recommend the software.

It's functionality with computer based recording makes it better than the hardware.

[TheIntelligentest]

@TheIntelligentest exactly the same, almost (-:

[AzoneRecords1]

@TheIntelligentest Well, I heard the original wavestation of old was analogue, I have used the digital vsti, so if they sound the same then there is no point trying to source out an old analogue one then :)

[vintagesynthlover]

what editor you use? cannot find one working in these days. 

[retrosound72]

@vintagesynthlover

search for WS edit

[vintagesynthlover]

@retrosound72 i got it. next is how to use it whit sr? i have midi-> usb cable. how can i load the sound to editor, or send it to back. or using sounds from net. I also replaced internal battery, it was easy.

[Shotec1]

AWESOME. Thank you for it.

[strangerwerner]

Jarre on Revolutions ????

it was the ROLAND D 50 ; )

[santanpolenc]

This Synth is my platonic love , I love that Synth. Congratulations Retrosound !!!

[alienorbiter]

Jean Michel Jarre uses this on Revolutions !

[M4Essence]

WoW...0:35 - 1:11 is the PaTcH JaN HaMMeR used in SoNG...ViRTuaL ReaLiTY from BeYoND ThE MiND'S EyE...

[richardbirch2007]

Please learn how to use your caps lock before trying to communicate with anyone via text.

[Coneman3]

First half reminds me of the film Leon.

[THEDEFOCATOR]

Does anyone know what synth was used on the old INNER CITY house tracks? This synth or maybe prophet vs?

[maccagrabme]

Inner City used Yamaha Tx81z for bass. Not sure about the other sounds but would like to know.

[douro20]

Some of those wavetable sounds remind me of the patches which came with my DW8000, even if they sound just a bit different...

[cdspoo]

It's the exact same thing. The VSTi doesn't have inputs like the A/D, so you can't put in other signals into a sequence (IMO very cool), and can't use the plug-in as an effects unit like the A/D can be. They're both cumbersome to program, though.

[amonster8mymother]

yea i got one.

[arpquadra]

I actually think the TG33 is every bit as good as this machine and they can be had for next to nothing.

I think the TG33 was a result of Yamaha buying Sequential and pulling the guts from a VS and making the TG33/SY22.

You have to hand it to America,they did give the world some amazing synthesisers its a shame all the great synth makers bit the dust when the Japanese/Yamaha DX7 came out and killed analogue for a time.

[sauermusicDE]

The SY22/TG33/SY35 synthesizers are not bad but they do not have a filter section. You have to use the "feedback" parameter on the FM elements to simulate some kind of resonance. And some of the internal AWM samples might be "filter sweep"-like waveforms (not sure about that, never checked it out).

[Desmaad]

@sauermusicDE Conversely, you could feed the thing through an external filter or DSP.

[zzzxtreme]

created by the infamous dave smith

[CMIKE9783]

I love the ambient sounds in the wavestation! Since it is no longer being sold, where do go for such good ambient/clear mystical pads? (Hardware wise) Anything similar?

[MSchneider66]

you could look for the korg karma :-)

[winterpiss]

the korg wavestation vsti is avalible. dont know about the hardware though...

[rodtruckdesign1]

look for wavestation on ebay...you might find samples or you might even get lucky and find a used wavestation

[douro20]

Isn't the EMU Emulator and other EMU8000-based synths quite similar in capability to the Wavestation?

[retrosound72]

no, the Emus are sampler and the wavestation is a sample rom based synth with vector synthesis

[auxili160]

@retrosound72 good answer. these boards are still viable today

sure soft synth is 'taking over' but its a headache

[truebrunorc]

@douro20 you can "sweep" the sample memory in Emu Morpheus and UltraProteus, but this is definitely not the same, though may be interesting as well (I made a clip about this on YT).

[usermarcliam]

I'm going to install this again (:

[Fingermush]

Around :40, the legendary pink dots kick in.

[Lumhiere]

hi i just want t0 if it's p0ssible t0 use tw0 wavestati0n SR 0n my setup ?? and d0 y0u think its advisable ??

[BlackmoonUK]

I think it's advisable to type using the correct letters.

[Lumhiere]

sorry for that the "o" letter on my keyboard is broken i just had a change on my keyboard today

[MASCHINENMUSIKREC]

Damn !  You make me regret that i have sold my

Wavestation A/D for 200 euros back in the days.

grrrr...

:)

[thorium64]

can always get the Korg wavestation VSTi.

from there you can download thousands of sounds that you can import into the synth.

[Rocinante01]

plenty of them available on ebay and prices have gone way down. you can get an AD for under 250 US these days. I've had 4 of them.

[geeceen]

does anyone know if the microkorg's digital waveforms are from this?

[retrosound72]

from the DW-8000 / EX-8000

[gregvb]

It would've been nice to actually SEE the unit.

[pupacchiotto2004]

Korg have the wonderful sounds to play Jean Michel Jarre music and Vangelis music.

[BlackmoonUK]

Yeah, I can hear some of Jarre's 'Revolutions' in this demo.

[cdspoo]

This didn't exist back then. He used a lot of D-550 on that album, though... Many stock patches.

[BlackmoonUK]

My god you are right..... I just checked the album, 1988. Amazing!

[BlackmoonUK]

PS. I actually own a Wavestation EX now, and a lot of these sounds are very familiar to me.

[lavakava]

japanese ingenuity at its best!

[Gazdatronik]

The wavestation was designed by an American in America named Dave Smith

[Rocinante01]

damn straight!

for clarification, the wavestation is essentially a prophet vs. SCI went under and yamaha acquired their technology and released the SY22 and TG33, then shortly after acquired korg, and released the wavestation, all of them were progressively more sophisticated versions of the Prophet VS. American made baby!

[0e0]

this isn't exactly true..i think the prophet VS is very sophisticated and the analog VCF and VCA makes the sound just stellar.

having said that the Wavestation is a really interesting synth.

[lakey7v]

Wow sounds great! Reminds me of the sounds used on Human by Gary Numan.

[WakemanFan90]

can i use it through a Korg Polysix and a Roland Juno 60?

[retrosound72]

You need a keyboard with Midi Out.

[WakemanFan90]

Is this just the rack module playing, or do you play it through another synth, tell me how it works xP not so good at this, but want to learn

[retrosound72]

I play the WS SR rack module over my Yamaha DX-7.

[gregvb]

I run mine through my Roland JP-8080.

[techanic]

A long time synth nut with many machines past and present, the Wavestation is one of my favorites. A little work to program, but capable of much more than most others. This kbd does things nobody else can do, well worth grabbing one or the vst if you are serious about making new interesting sounds.

[maltcus]

i know where i can get a wavestation sr rack for $199. it works fine. thinking bout getting it. would it be worth it?

[melodicnoize]

Definitely worth the money. I have the keyboard... It pretty much lays the Yamaha TG-33 to rest, as far as vector synthesis goes (had the TG-33 for awhile too). $199 is a steal... go for it.

[alacazam]

$199???

I have one on ebay right now and it is around $99 with a couple days to go till auction end. Go to eBay and type in wavestation SR.

[Rocinante01]

SRs will go under 135US. well worth it. you'd probably spend more on coffee in a month.

[InsertName125]

That's a lot of coffee.

[Rocinante01]

well, that's a grande latte at starbucks every day for a month. if that sounds like too much, consider how many people get one every morning before work, 5 days a week, usually another for lunch, and a few when they go out at night. sickens me. DOWN WITH STARBUCKS! What ever happened to a good ol cup a joe?

[WARDISWARD]

Well ive got some problems with the vst version ...whenever I want tto create some new waves( or alter them ) in the wavesequence edit , the corresponding wavesequence just changes ....really annoyiing

[williamc99]

This is simply amazing. I think this may have to be your best work yet. Although I haven't seen all of your videos, but this is simply amazing. 5 Stars.

[The777truth]

WOW... can someone help me make up my mind between this and the Alesis A6???

[AshleyBellamy]

Unless you are very expierienced with synth programming you will not be able to program a Wavestation SR from its front panel and will probably find yourself sticking to the presets - or messing them up and not knowing how you messed things up!!.

I haven't got much expierience with the alesis, but wavestation is available as software now anyway. I own a Wavestation SR but if I were making the choice today, knowing what I do,and knowing wavestation can be brought as a vsti, I would buy A6.

[AshleyBellamy]

just to add to I've said, I'm not saying anything negative about Wavestation. It kicks ass.I own the hardware version and the software version and I love them both dearly. They are awesome.The software version is absolutely spot on and sounds exactly like the real thing - it also comes with every sound expansion set ever made so I'd definitly reccomend the software to anyone.

[The777truth]

Great information! Thanks for your advice !

[leandrusi]

I cant dedice between the wavestation module and the roland jv1010. I need pads, bells choirs,all those atmospherics ambient sounds,in one hand, the wavesation has some bad ass pads!, but on the other I could use some good bass from the jv, If the jv had good atmospherical sounds I´d go for it, i dont know...

[Phillowe88]

Get the Wavestation VST and see if you cant pick up the JV on the cheap.

[leandrusi]

yeah I have the vst, but laptops for live playing are out of my budget.

[Rocinante01]

a midi editor is a must for any wavestation. i recommend getting your hands on a copy of MIDIquest.

[austinmaxi]

did Gary Numan use these? sounds very much like some of his work, the radial pair springs to mind.

[Hyper5nic]

Too bad it's only sound. Quick question. What sounds are you playing here?

[retrosound72]

Station Platform, Wave Song, Excalibur,..., Sky Jam,..., Tangerine,..., JX Soundtrack, Deep..., Crystal,...

[Veeroos]

I love this synthesizer. Excellent pads, strings and many other sounds. A must have for ambient music.

[erixoff]

Agreed.

Does someone can tell if the KORG MS2000BR can approach the pad sounds of this ?

thanx in advance.

And thanx for this demo.

[gabriellehto]

No, the MS2000 have other approach.

IMO the Wavestation have a more M1/T1 and O1/w sounds like.

The MS2000 have some similar patches, like these, when you use the MOD SQUENCE but, anyway it have a more analog approach.

So there it is hard to get fat pads and full textures like these ones (of Wavestation). Cheers, Gabriel Lehto

[DieManMachine69]

...Great synth, but perhaps, someone have not listen a TG-33...please, do it!I've got a pair ...they're HYPER than CHEAPER!!!

[davidvector]

One of the coolest synths of all time for my taste (I have both versions and prefer the software one to my EX - much easier to work with and you can layer to your heart's content and still have ample polyphony). I've also used the Prophet VS and PPG, the WS's predecessors, and for sound design potential, I'd definitely take the WS over the other two.

[Raydensheraj]

One of the greatst Synth for Atmospheres and Strings. I have the Korg Legacy Collection but i would kill for a Wavestation EX....

[pierstheoneandonly]

Rompler meets wavetables! Doesn't have the elemental beauty of the microwave as evidenced on your other demo.

[DIGITALSCREAMS]

Are these sounds the factory preset performances? I've just bought one and waiting for delivery...

nice vid thanks

[retrosound72]

Yes, these sounds are all factory presets.

[DIGITALSCREAMS]

Thanks for confirming that. My SR arrived today. HURRAY!!!!