Are most of the Korg Wavestation SR sounds lifeless?

[aldipower]

I recently got myself a Korg Wavestation SR hardware from the second hand market and despite it offers more then 600 presets out of 4 MB sample ROM, I could not find any sounds that really inspire me. Most of them sound more or less artificial, flat and lifeless (exactly this combination) to me. I already figured out how to turn of the effects globally. The built-in reverb wasn't great either. Applying my own effects makes it slightly better, but still, all the sounds are really not that inspiring to me.

Is there someone out who experienced the same? Is it just me?
I could not find too much examples on YouTube of a cool SR usage.
Do you know some great songs out there that utilize the SR maybe, so I could take a listen?
Or do you know great custom preset banks, you have experience with?

Besides the Wavestation SR I also have an E-Mu Proteus/2, Roland JV-880, Ensoniq SD-1. They interestingly all have 4MB of sample ROM too, but offer way less presets. But they all sound much more organic and solid to me, not that flat. I really like them. I've even produced an entire album with them! Shameless plug, you can listen to it here: https://aldipower.bandcamp.com/album/das-reihenhaus

Maybe the SR just does not fit my style and taste. And maybe I need to find some better custom banks. Really, it would be interesting to know if someone of you experienced the same.

[kritikon]

I'm quite the Wavestation fanboi, and now Wavestate fanboi. But I can perfectly see why you think they're artificial flat and lifeless. Wavestation is absolutely digital and unmistakably so, but I just like its character (mostly I don't like digital synths - wavetables sound metallic, VA is pointless, spectral can sound nice but doesn't tend to do anything useful for me). I think you either like wavesequencing or you don't, nothing in-between. The Wavestation plugin can be made to sound a bit more lively and less flat cos it has added resonant filters, but all the HW Wavestations effectively had no filters as such. There is some modulation possible but TBH it doesn't really change the sonic character much, if at all. Consequently I don't think you're going to find patches that work for you.

As you mentioned - the FX are quite dated and most Wavestations benefit from 3rd party FX, especially decent reverb. They can sparkle a lot more, but ultimately will still sound very digital. Wavestations are very different from those other digital you mentioned. They suit cinematic sounds, long ambient noodling etc but not too many mainstream stock sounds. Wavestate is an utterly different beast in that it sounds very Wavestationy but it also has strong filters, a shitload more modulation (of everything) and stunning FX. You can use it for VA, sampled instruments, noodling, cinematic soundscapes and just plain weird. Can't do it with a Wavstation though, sorry. It's limitations are attractive if you like that character, but it really does have strong limitations.

I'm a fanboi so I hate saying this, but you are absolutely right. If you don't like that sound...it is flat, artificial and lifeless. You're not wrong, you just bought completely the wrong hw. I can recommend the Wavestate though....

[Ah_Dziz]

There is little going on in the wavestation that can be done with any decent sample playback engine better. I can see how they would have been fun at the time....
Otherwise it's just a neat way to see how folks used the Limited rom samples to me. As far as "sounding" any kind of way, it's not in any meaningful way different from any form of sample playback.

[ugo]

There is little going on in the wavestation that can be done with any decent sample playback engine better. I can see how they would have been fun at the time....
Otherwise it's just a neat way to see how folks used the Limited rom samples to me. As far as "sounding" any kind of way, it's not in any meaningful way different from any form of sample playback.

I see your point, but can’t fully agree.

The Wavestation/Wavestate isn’t so much a sample player triggered by a sequencer as it is an odd and complex multitrack step sequencer that is played as a single polyphonic instrument. Entire step sequenced tracks do the job normally assigned to single sound sources. Elektron gear (which I’m heavily into) is generally considered as most tightly integrating step sequencing into the sound design process, but even they retain some distinction between the synth engine and the sequencer that triggers and modulates it. With the Wavestation/Wavestate, there is no distinction at all. Synth and sequencer are one and the same. In some ways it makes sense to think of it along the lines of transwaves and wavetables, but that isn’t the same either. Wave sequencing encourages you to approach sound design from a somewhat different mindset than pretty much anything else. Of course it has limitations and drawbacks, but when you embrace the concept you can end up with stuff you might not have otherwise thought to do.

I strongly dislike romplers and tend to find little enjoyment in using samples outside of manglers, resynthesizers, and granular…and yet I love my Wavestate. In a way, it is a paradox. It simultaneously is - and is not - a standard rompler, oddball synth, sample mangler, and groovebox. It fits their basic definitions but in kind of opposite ways than you’d normally expect. If I approach it as any one of those things it can be a bit underwhelming, but when I embrace the weirdness of the combination I have a hell of a lot of fun with it.

Not that any of that is likely to change aldipower’s current dissatisfaction with the Wavestation, but maybe this perspective can help them find a path to more inspiring sounds - with or without the synth.

[Ah_Dziz]

Wavesequencing can be setup, by voice, via granular synthesis in reaktor or pure data or Max MSP. I've got nothing against really any fun way of playing with sounds. I just don't think the wavestation is necessarily the best way to do these things.

[kritikon]

It certainly is not straight-forward to program it, for sure. Personally I've not heard anything even remotely like it in hw though. Software has some options. Wavestate is the way to go if anyone wants wavesequencing in sw form - I find it relatively easy-ish to program. But it sounds like the OP is more into hw.

[epiphaneia]

I grew up with the Wavestation and I still love it.

To me, its "classics" are sounds like Guardians, Sandman, Ancient Light, Station Platform, Deep Atmosphere or Lost Generation. That's the kind of pads the WS excels at, imho - if you don't like these and search for standard rompler fare (" analog brass pad xyz",...), then the WS won't serve you well.

I must have made dozens of variations of these sounds alone during the years, and they never get old. Indeed they sound a lot better if you switch off the internal effects and add a good external stereo chorus and an Eventide Blackhole.

If you're in Germany and don't want your SR anymore, I might buy it though

[HAL76]

That is all prejudice. Sample ROMs are full of life that squeals of joy.

But some people can´t play it that good as some exceptional others. Maybe that might eventually be it.

[aldipower]

Oh, wow, wasn't here for some time and find quite some responses! Thanks for all your insightful and meaningful additions. Now, I feel a little bit more confident and I will just keep the SR in the rack for a year or 2 and see if I am getting warm with it at some point. Every thing has it place in it's life I guess and despite the SR shortcomings quite some people obviously like it.
@epiphanics Thanks for your sound hints. And I am indeed in Germany, but yeah, I will keep the Sr for a while.
@HAL76 You might be right. I am not the best player.