Question about Kong Wavestate, Modwave and OpSix
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- KVRist
- 279 posts since 31 Dec, 2005
I’m thinking about buying one of these as my first hardware synth, however, I’m curious about the modulation options and capabilities. Since I’m talking about the mod matrix for all 3 of these synthesizers, is it possible to save modulation routings that you create just like saving a preset?
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- KVRAF
- 8735 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
You save modulation as part of the presets. I've never seen any way of saving independent mod routings on these or any other synths. I don't think that's ever been a thing. If that's a requirement for you buying a hw synth, then you're going to be very disappointed.
I have only the Opsix and Wavestate, not Modwave. Opsix has a pretty extensive mod matrix, Wavestate is even bigger - you could have several hundred LFOs in a patch and most things can modulated, even the FX. Wavestate is one of my favourite ever synths, but if I'm really honest - not sure it's a great choice as first hw synth. First off it's not that intuitive for programming - positively byzantine, more like. Second, even I find programming it far easier with the sw, either editor or the native plugin. Opsix is a little easier, Modwave looks the easiest. Thirdly - not sure what benefit you get with having a hw synth if it's a synth that you can get as a plugin. For instance, so many VA plugins and wavetable plugins are so good that not many hw synths are better, apart from the hands on aspect - of which Wavestate is not so good, Opsix better but still a shitload of menu-diving. Maybe it's not to your taste but to me it's analogue hw synths that offer a real difference from sw. Lots of easy knob programming, often different sound too.
Not trying to dissuade you, but possibly if I'd have known Wavestate was coming out as a plugin I might not have bought the hw. I think I would still have bought Opsix though - it does offer good hands-on playing and has a great sequencer, with the sliders and knobs for the operators it makes FM so much easier than almost any other FM synth.
I have only the Opsix and Wavestate, not Modwave. Opsix has a pretty extensive mod matrix, Wavestate is even bigger - you could have several hundred LFOs in a patch and most things can modulated, even the FX. Wavestate is one of my favourite ever synths, but if I'm really honest - not sure it's a great choice as first hw synth. First off it's not that intuitive for programming - positively byzantine, more like. Second, even I find programming it far easier with the sw, either editor or the native plugin. Opsix is a little easier, Modwave looks the easiest. Thirdly - not sure what benefit you get with having a hw synth if it's a synth that you can get as a plugin. For instance, so many VA plugins and wavetable plugins are so good that not many hw synths are better, apart from the hands on aspect - of which Wavestate is not so good, Opsix better but still a shitload of menu-diving. Maybe it's not to your taste but to me it's analogue hw synths that offer a real difference from sw. Lots of easy knob programming, often different sound too.
Not trying to dissuade you, but possibly if I'd have known Wavestate was coming out as a plugin I might not have bought the hw. I think I would still have bought Opsix though - it does offer good hands-on playing and has a great sequencer, with the sliders and knobs for the operators it makes FM so much easier than almost any other FM synth.
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- KVRist
- 109 posts since 18 Dec, 2018
The Opsix is great as hardware because you can play with balancing two sliders or knobs against each other simultaneously... you can learn FM synthesis much quicker than if you are trying to explore whilst mousing one element at a time in F'em, FM8, etc.