Korg Modwave Synthesizer
Discontinued, this product can no longer be ordered.
Product no: 9000-0073-7751 Bax Music Warranty: This product comes with a 3-year warranty.
General
The Korg Modwave synthesizer is so mind-bendingly extensive that it's actually tough to put into words. So, it's definitely safe to say that even the most experienced and life-weary of sound-designers are offered something fresh to sink their teeth into. The breathtaking range of what this synth is capable of actually borders on madness. Lunacy aside, it'll take way more than just a couple of nights to get to grips with this machine, but the rich reward for investing all of that precious time, is very genuinely, something entirely new.
A Bit of History
At some point during the '80s, studios got sick of the endless repeat of sawtooths and blockwaves offered by analogue synthesisers of the time. While FM synthesis emerged at some point, it was still at that awkward stage where you couldn't really do anything original with it. In answer, Korg unleashed the DW-6000 and DW-8000: two mammoth wavetable synthesizers, working with little snippets of wave-filled memory. Combine that with the analogue filters and you can suddenly shape truly beautiful things, including the kind of unique timbre that you would usually need an FM synth for. These two gamechangers grew to become underground classics, and now provide the direct inspiration for the Korg Modwave.
The Awesome Features of the Korg Modwave
The range of wavetable sound-creating and shaping options on offer here are seemingly-endless - thanks in part to the extensive morphing which stacks way up into the hundreds of millions. This already underlines the sheer, breathtaking skill of this synthesizer, since every feature is as far-reaching and unlimited as the next. A sweet collection of filters is provided, including a multi-filter and an MS20 filter, and everything that lies in between. In terms of sonic movement, you get to mess around with four envelopes, five LFOS, two key-track generators, motion-sequencers (something you might already be familiar with from the Wavestate or older Wavestation), and Kaoss Physics. The Kaoss Physics engine simulates the motion of a bouncing ball, where the X/Y coordinates, angle of motion and the ball's distance from the centre can be used as controllers.
A Multi-Faceted Beast
If this all sounds a bit much, that's exactly what it is! This synth offers a bizarre amount, alongside a wide 32-voice polyphony for a full and expansive sound and a price tag that should probably be twice, if not three times, the size. And, in terms of use, it's actually pretty simple. Anyone with even just a skin of synth-based knowledge will be able to start getting to grips with it (granted, after a couple of weeks), and no matter the experience level, they'll definitely be blown-away by what's actually possible.
Specifications
Product features
| 19-inch rack size | not applicable |
|---|---|
| Number of keys | 37 |
| Arpeggiator/sequencer | arpeggiator, sequencer |
| Control | dampening pedal (input), X/Y pad |
| Sustainable product | not specified |
| Synthesizer inputs | none |
| Sound source | wavetable |
| MIDI & other | MIDI in, MIDI out |
| Synthesizer options | extensive |
| Synthesizer outputs | line out jack, headphone |
| Synthesizer kind | standard |
| Type of keys | keyboard action |
| Vintage remake | no |
| Synthesizer type | keyboard |
| Difficulty level | difficult |
Weight and dimensions including packaging
| Weight (incl. packaging) | 4,0 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (incl. packaging) | 60,0 x 38,0 x 10,0 cm |
Reviews from other countries
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Wrote the following about Korg Modwave Synthesizer
De immense lijst met presets waar je vrij makkelijk doorheen scrollt (gesorteerd per categorie: bass, leads, pads, etc. tot aan ritmische synths) laat je al meteen de zeer gevarieerde opties horen en vooral: het zeer indrukwekkende geluid. Vol, bombastisch, dun en spannend, snerpend of zacht, kort of langgerekt. En met de duidelijk gemarkeerde draaiknoppen kun je meteen aan de slag met modificatie van het geluid, snel en vrij intuïtief. Het kleine schermpje geeft compact informatie weer over de waardes die je verandert, met kleine grafiekjes en geluidsgolven, labels en andere relevante info. De 4 'mod knobs' zijn in te stellen als macro's en zitten bij alle preset patches gekoppeld aan interessante modificaties. 3 akkoorden aan full-sized toetsen, naast mod- en pitch-wheel en een interessante x,y-pad ('Kaoss') maken het live performen tot een feest, hoewel soms ook een beetje onvoorspelbaar, maar in ieder geval verrassend.
Het meest gecharmeerd ben ik van het relatief bescheiden formaat (fysiek) t.o.v. de auditieve grootsheid. De synth is vrij goed mee te nemen, niet zwaar en kan gewoon heel erg veel. Doordat er veel knoppen direct beschikbaar zijn, in een traditionele synth-logica, hoef je niet diep in menu's te duiken. Het schermpje had wat groter of scherper gemogen, maar geeft verrassend genoeg altijd net genoeg info weer. De fysieke klavier-toetsen hebben geen aftertouch, maar de synth kan daar wel mee omgaan. Koppel hem met MIDI of USB kabel en je kan er van alles mee. Ook als MIDI controller voor je soft synths.
Ik moet het nog verder uitpluizen, maar tot nu toe een dikke aanrader. Zie ook andere reviews online om te bevestigen dat dit een top aankoop is voor de synth-liefhebber met beperkte ruimte en beperkt budget: een volwaardige powerhouse op bescheiden formaat.
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