Korg Wavestate - editing, creating and varying wavesequences

I love my new Korg Wavestate.

I only bought it a week ago so am still getting to know it.

 

I was thing of selling my old Wavestation ??

Though I probably won't.

They each have their strengths & weaknesses.

The old wavestation can have up to 32 sound sources per note.

It's sound is just monumental.

The new wavestate (as far as I understand) is just 4 sound sources per note.

However, it has a much more flexible wave-sequencer.

This alone is I think a good enough reason for owning both.

 

The Korg WaveState uses the new Wave Sequencing 2.0 technology.

It's nothing like a conventional analog synth. 

For instance, there are no oscillators. It's all sample based.

You can't load your own samples. Instead, one makes sounds using samples from it's (huge) library.

 

A sound can consist of just 1 sample or be up to 64 samples long .

The wave-sequencer is what makes the Wavestate so special.

The way it combines multiple samples into sequences is unique. 

The old sequencer was very rigid.

The new sequencer allows users to morph and shape the parameters of each sample.

There are 7 parameters (Korg calls them lanes).

 

These lanes are Master, Pitch, Sample, Timing, Shape, Gate, step Sequencer.

 Each sample can have its own pitch, timing, envelope shape, gate, etc.

 

You can set independent step lengths & independent loop points to the 7 lanes of parameters. You can change play back directions, randomize the probability of each sample.

 

Varying these 7 parameters during a live performance is really really cool.

The 8 white MOD knobs are labeled to do exactly this (though of course they can be assigned for other duties).

 

You can use lane presets to vary your wave sequences or do the editing from scratch.

When editing each lane, you can edit individual steps or whole lanes.

If you wish to edit a particular lane, press the "Lane Preset" button.

You will see the edit page for the lane that is currently lit.

In this pic page 3 (pitch lane utility) of the Layer A, Pitch Lane pages is viewable.

 

To scroll through the different pages of Pitch Lane, use the SHIFT and PAGE +/-.

Each lane, apart from the master lane, has 3 pages. The last is always the "utility" page.

The second is the "step" page

 

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1. Master.

When enabled, the Master Lane force-restarts all of the other Lanes 

(to step 1) after either a specified number of beats or time has elapsed. This is all dependent on the tempo.

    

Unlike the other lanes, there are no steps in this lane.

 

 

 

 

2. Timing:

This Lane controls how each step transitions or crossfades to the next Step. It also adjusts the length, speed

of each step. (Not to be confused with the gate step). 

 

If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 

 

 

 

The timing lane can have a completely different length to the other lanes.

To add steps for example, go to page 3 (Utility) , change to "add steps to end".

This is useful for creating rhythms or evolving sounds. The crossfade is especially useful for the latter, allowing for smooth transitions between samples.

 

3. Sample.

This Lane sets the sample played by each Step. Each step gets its own sample. 

 

If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 

 You can set probability of each sample in page 2

 

 

4. Pitch, 

This lane of course sets the pitch of each Step.

 

 If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step.

 

 You can set probability of each step in page 2

 

 Like the other lanes, you can have up to 64 steps, arranged in 4 banks of 16      

 

 5. Shape.

The Shape Lane creates a contour over the duration of the step. 

It can affect volume and/or the Pitch of Step Sequencer Lanes

  

If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 

 

 

You can see the shape of each envelope in page 2. There are lots of envelope shapes to choose. 

To choose a new envelope, go to page 2 and using the < > cursor highlight the shape name and twist the value knob.

 

 6. Gate.    

This controls how long the Step sounds, as a percentage of the duration from the Timing Lane.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Step Sequencer (Step Seq)  

This Lane generates a modulation source to control other synthesis parameters like envelopes, LFOs, etc

 

It sets a different level value on a per step basis.

 

 

If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the value & probability for each step.

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To solo  a step for editing, press ENTER and the STEP in question.

The step button will now flash.

This is esp handy in the sample and shape lanes where you may want to play the sample over and over again.