Korg Modwave Synthesizer

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.