Wavetable Synthesizers

[fmr]

I still like Surge. A lot of different settings, and all the settings in one window. If you understand the logic, then it's very easy to work. A powerful synthesizer, although not updated for a long time.

It's abandonware, and no longer being sold, AFAIK. Developer now works for Bitwig.

I also like z3ta. Also an old synthesizer, but flexible in the tuning. Surge and z3ta are my two favorites.

Z3ta+ is a great synth, but not a wavetable in the true sense of the word (it doesn't dynamically SCAN through a wavetable, rather uses fixed waves).

[fmr]

I should've been more specific. I'm trying to make a list of all the current wavetable synthesizers out.

First you will need to define what is a wavetable synth. The word has been used for many different things. Technically, any synth the "looks" to a table where there are waves stored is a wavetable synth. In that sense, any ROMpler that has a table with waves is a wavetable synth. They are "wavetable lookup" synths.

Used in the sense Wolfgang Palm used it (dynamic scanning wavetable synth) the number is no so vast, still, there are many that fit. For example, Zebra, although many don't usually list it, is a wavetable synth TOO.

But I'm sure there may be a list compiled somewhere with all the wavetable synths. In Waldorf alone, you have PPG Wave 2.V, PPG Wave 3.V, Largo, and Nave. This is just software, because in hardware basically ALL of the Waldorf synths had wavetable among their features. The same way, all of the (overpriced) Wolfgang Palm soft synths are wavetable too. As are Electra2 and Icarus, from Tone2. And, as weird as it may seem, also are HALion and Falcon, which are usually regarded as samplers, but they are between the most complete wavetable synths available, as well.

And Serum, of course. And an old Concrete FX synth that, for some years, was the only wavetable software synth: Kubik.

Terratec Komplexer was also a wavetable synth. DUNE and DUNE 2 are wavetable synths. Mu-Lab MUX is a wavetable synth. Fathom is a wavetable synth. Native Instruments Massive is a wavetable synth. Reaktor has many ensembles that are wavetable synths. And so on.

[Urs]

I should've been more specific. I'm trying to make a list of all the current wavetable synthesizers out.

Then, technically, Zebra2 is a wavetable synth and shouldn't be missing on the list. And if you tie knots together, u-he are working on another.

[fmr]

I should've been more specific. I'm trying to make a list of all the current wavetable synthesizers out.

Then, technically, Zebra2 is a wavetable synth and shouldn't be missing on the list. And if you tie knots together, u-he are working on another.

Don't forget to include me on the betatesting list

[overhishead]

technically i believe most synthesizers are wavetable, unless they are modeling waveforms mathematically in realtime. i am curious about the advantage of using wavetable (in the sense you mean of course) synths today when there are lots of ways to modulate the signal that were not possible when PPG was invented.

[fmr]

technically i believe most synthesizers are wavetable, unless they are modeling waveforms mathematically in realtime. i am curious about the advantage of using wavetable (in the sense you mean of course) synths today when there are lots of ways to modulate the signal that were not possible when PPG was invented.

Like I said. The OP needs to differentiate between "wavetable lookup" synths, and "dynamic scanning wavetable lookup" synths.

[recursive one]

Then, technically, Zebra2 is a wavetable synth and shouldn't be missing on the list. And if you tie knots together, u-he are working on another.

For some reason I thought you weren't too keen on the whole wavetable thing. Do you mean the new Hive waveforms/oscillators or a whole new synth?

[ATN69]

I should've been more specific. I'm trying to make a list of all the current wavetable synthesizers out.

Then, technically, Zebra2 is a wavetable synth and shouldn't be missing on the list. And if you tie knots together, u-he are working on another.

I have Serum and I like it. The sound is however quite harsh, not that there is something wrong with that, but I would love to see a high end wave table synth that can be as smooth, lush and warm as Zebra2 or Diva.

[Urs]

For some reason I thought you weren't too keen on the whole wavetable thing.

That's correct. Plain wavetable synthesis wasn't my cup of tea. But I recently had an idea (for Hive, indeed) which made me change my mind. Like, hell froze over, or so

[recursive one]

For some reason I thought you weren't too keen on the whole wavetable thing.

That's correct. Plain wavetable synthesis wasn't my cup of tea. But I recently had an idea (for Hive, indeed) which made me change my mind. Like, hell froze over, or so

I remember you already shared some info not so long ago about planned new waveforms for Hive which will be dynamically changeable. Very much looking forward to this.

I have Serum and I like it. The sound is however quite harsh, not that there is something wrong with that, but I would love to see a high end wave table synth that can be as smooth, lush and warm as Zebra2 or Diva.

My thoughts exactly. I have Serum and love it, but I'm using it mostly for "robotic/sci-fi/unnatural" kind of SFxes (I actually need plenty of those for my psytrance tracks). On the other hand, I'd love to have a wavetable or (better) wavetable/VA hybrid with warmer, analogue like sound, for more musical-sounding patches. I think Hive with wavetables in whatever form could be just this.

[whyterabbyt]

I also like z3ta. Also an old synthesizer, but flexible in the tuning. Surge and z3ta are my two favorites.

Indeed. The real definition of a 'wavetable synth' is that is uses a wavetable. The term wavetable was used before variations like scanned wavetables (cycling through multiple single-cycle waveforms) existed, and how a synth uses a wavetable does not actually change whether or not its a wavetable synth or not. The proper taxonomy is that scanned wavetable synths are a subset of wavetable synths, end of story.
You'll get resistance to that from people who will insist that the term only covers scanned tables, that the lazier nonspecific useage somehow trumps history and taxonomy, but the term predates that method.
If the OP is nonspecific about meaning scanned (or multicycle) wavetable synths, then I think its perfectly reasonable to include single-cycle wavetable synths like z3ta.

[EnGee]

I'm actually not restricted to wavetable synthesis. I just like 'any' modulations done in the oscillator level. So that I love FM, Additive ..etc. Also, the Buchla concept (which I think it is implemented in Aalto) is genius as well.

Not only in oscillator's level! In filter's level as well, like in Europa and Thorn. Anyway, new concepts or implementations need time to get known and get famed.

Hive definitely needs one of these methods. It doesn't have to be wavetable, although it is very marketable it seems nowdays!

[Delta Sign]

Yeah, adding movements to oscillators is nice. It's quite depressing to think about how many times many of us made variations of filtered saw and square waves

It's one of the reasons why I like Zebra so much. With the wavetable and the 2 osc FX it's possible to get 3 dimensional movements going with just a single osc. Well, 5 dimensional if you count sync and PWM as well. 5 dimensional wavetable synthesis, now that's a marketing term

[Lotuzia]

Waldorf Largo and Nave, NI Massive. I like synths with character, those certainly have some.

[Dasheesh]

Arcsyn