Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Desktop verison announced ($3500)

[Willx]

I think I saw a price of $2K mentioned somewhere, but don't quote me on that.

Yep it's on their News page about the 8M:

"The 3rd Wave 8M is expected to be available and shipping in July 2025 for $1,999 USD."
https://www.groovesynthesis.com/2025/05 ... nthesizer/

[Hanz Meyzer]

Wow, so generous! A digital synth with eight(!!!!!) voices for only 2000$! Is this xmas already? Because of the smaller housing, the bigger cpu couldn't be fit in, I completely understand that.

[cryophonik]

Wow, so generous! A digital synth with eight(!!!!!) voices for only 2000$…

Well, to be precise, it is a hybrid synth with 8 analog filters and that alone drives up the production cost. But, yes it’s still an expensive synth made in relatively small numbers for a niche market, not a mass-produced plastic digital Roland toy.

[Hanz Meyzer]

Ah ok, that seems to make more sense then. Sorry. In the end, as long as people are willing to pay such a price... But I wonder if it was also possible to create an affordable 16 or even 32 voice "analog workstation", not only with one special feature, but with all at once? So similar to a digital workstation, but all in analog? Is it really the production price then?

[cryophonik]

Anyone here own the 8M? I'm considering replacing my UDO Super 6 desktop - great synth in many ways, but the honeymoon is over and I think I want a different digital/analog hybrid with better visual feedback and just a different workflow. The demos I've been hearing/watching for the 8M have me pretty interested as a replacement. I'm happy to hear from owners of the OG 3rd Wave as well, although I don't need that many voices or parts - 8 voices and 2 parts is plenty and more than the 6 binaural voices from the S6. Anything I should be aware of before I make a decision? This isn't a dealbreaker, but from what I can tell, there is no librarian or plugin available for the 3rd Wave, correct?

[Constructed Identity]

No there isn’t. And they never did as much with the nice screen as they could have. I suspect Groove Synthesis is mostly just the one guy and his son but they are still supporting it, got an update the end of December.

[Jim Roseberry]

The 3rd Wave's Analog Filter has character (sounds great IMO).
The Mod-Matrix is very capable.
If you have other Synth bases covered, it's a great addition.
I wouldn't want 3rd Wave in lieu of a true Analog synth.
It can cop some analog sounds pretty well (slower attack sounds)... but (to my ears) can sound a bit digital with with faster attack sounds (bass, leads).
The UI is pretty nice. They could have done a bit more with the large display (as mentioned above).
If 3rd Wave had multi-sample capabilities similar to Quantum-2, it would have more universal appeal.

I got a 3rd Wave thinking it might be a "Hybrid" type substitute for the MoogOne.
3rd Wave is a great synth in it's own right, but it's not a replacement for a flagship analog synth.

As far as "Hybrid" synths, 3rd Wave is (IMO) the best sounding.

[zerocrossing]

The 3rd Wave's Analog Filter has character (sounds great IMO).
The Mod-Matrix is very capable.
If you have other Synth bases covered, it's a great addition.
I wouldn't want 3rd Wave in lieu of a true Analog synth.
It can cop some analog sounds pretty well (slower attack sounds)... but (to my ears) can sound a bit digital with with faster attack sounds (bass, leads).
The UI is pretty nice. They could have done a bit more with the large display (as mentioned above).
If 3rd Wave had multi-sample capabilities similar to Quantum-2, it would have more universal appeal.

I got a 3rd Wave thinking it might be a "Hybrid" type substitute for the MoogOne.
3rd Wave is a great synth in it's own right, but it's not a replacement for a flagship analog synth.

As far as "Hybrid" synths, 3rd Wave is (IMO) the best sounding.

I think Groove Synthesis's "issue" (not really an issue) is that they leaned pretty heavily on, "it's a modern PPG" in their marketing, and if you are looking for the sound of a modern PPG... it falls very short of the target. You'd be way better off with Behringer's PPG clone, or even something like the Waldorf M.

I ended up selling my 3rd Wave because I was really looking for that sound, and I was a lot happier with Waldorf's software than I was with it, for that sound. I was also disappointed with the fact that the mod matrix doesn't run at a fast enough rate to do good audio rate modulation, outside of the hard wired oscillator FM, which I'm sure happens in the digital realm. This is also true of my Melbourne Instruments Nina, but I like the character of the Nina more than the 3rd Wave. It doesn't suffer from that "sounding a bit digital" that you mentioned. This could be in part because it uses a pair of VCOs and a single digital wavetable oscillator.

I finally landed on the Sunobuno Polyvera for my modern "vintage" wavetable hardware synthesizer. Mostly because it offers really great aliasing options, great sounding analog filter with filter FM, and various overdrive options. It can really get deliciously dirty in a way that the 3rd Wave can't. I don't really need a hardware VA synth, because I have a handful of capable analogs, including a Prophet 6, which I believe uses the same filter as the 3rd Wave. I also have many great plugins that have excellent analog filter emulations on board. The 3rd Wave was just kind of redundant for me, though I imagine if you're against using software, it would be a great addition to any collection.

[cryophonik]

Thanks guys, lots of great info to consider.

If you have other Synth bases covered, it's a great addition.
I wouldn't want 3rd Wave in lieu of a true Analog synth.
I got a 3rd Wave thinking it might be a "Hybrid" type substitute for the MoogOne.
3rd Wave is a great synth in it's own right, but it's not a replacement for a flagship analog synth.

Thanks Jim. The 3rd Wave would be my lone hybrid synth among several analogs (Sequential, Oberheim, Moog, and Studio Electronics) and one rompler (Integra 7). One of the “problems” with the Super 6 as my only hybrid is that it’s primarily an analog wannabe with some digital waveforms (that sound very harsh to me) - I don’t mean that as a criticism so much as that I just find myself getting frustrated with its limitations and I usually just say screw it and turn to my Rev2 or something. Essentially, I feel like the 3W will pick up nicely where my Prophet 6 and Rev2 leave off and give me a much larger hybrid sweet spot compared to the Super 6.

I think Groove Synthesis's "issue" (not really an issue) is that they leaned pretty heavily on, "it's a modern PPG" in their marketing, and if you are looking for the sound of a modern PPG... it falls very short of the target. You'd be way better off with Behringer's PPG clone, or even something like the Waldorf M.

I’m definitely not after a PPG clone and the M does not appeal to me at all. I actually have never had much love for any wavetable synths, but I just like what I’m hearing from the 3W and the interface and workflow are far more inviting to me than the Super 6. surprisingly, I’m also liking what I hear from the new Waldorf Protein, go figure.

Bottom line is that my Super 6 is for sale, and now my tough choice is between the full 3W desktop or the 8M and tbh I’m pretty torn. I don’t need 4 parts and 24 voices for a synth that will have a limited role in my workflow, but the knobby interface seems more inviting to me. However, I have watched and read some reviews where people have said they actually prefer the interface of the 8M. The difference in price isn’t small, either. Anybody here used both versions?

[zerocrossing]

I think Groove Synthesis's "issue" (not really an issue) is that they leaned pretty heavily on, "it's a modern PPG" in their marketing, and if you are looking for the sound of a modern PPG... it falls very short of the target. You'd be way better off with Behringer's PPG clone, or even something like the Waldorf M.

I’m definitely not after a PPG clone and the M does not appeal to me at all. I actually have never had much love for any wavetable synths, but I just like what I’m hearing from the 3W and the interface and workflow are far more inviting to me than the Super 6. surprisingly, I’m also liking what I hear from the new Waldorf Protein, go figure.

Sure. The point behind my post was just to say that at the level of instrument we are talking about, everything is very good, and it’s mostly a matter of what’s best for your personal taste and situation. I love a good wavetable synth, and I have nostalgia for the 8 bit stuff from the 80s. I have limited space for hardware, so I only pick stuff up that’s very different than what I can achieve in software. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think those other synthesizers are great.

[cryophonik]

I love a good wavetable synth, and I have nostalgia for the 8 bit stuff from the 80s.

Not to go too far OT, but have you checked out the Protein? I’m pretty impressed at its sound and how much they shoved into that little box!

Back on-topic, you had the full version of the 3rd Wave, right? Desktop?

[zerocrossing]

I love a good wavetable synth, and I have nostalgia for the 8 bit stuff from the 80s.

Not to go too far OT, but have you checked out the Protein? I’m pretty impressed at its sound and how much they shoved into that little box!

Back on-topic, you had the full version of the 3rd Wave, right? Desktop?

I had the 3rd Wave 24 voice desktop. Great synth, but a bit dark sounding and redundant in my world. I haven't really paid attention to the Protein. Seems like I'm not the target for it, considering I own there Microwave 1 plugin and I'm happy with it. I'm surprised you like it but don't like the M, which I had and somewhat regret selling. Great sound, IMO.

I spent a really... really long time buying, selling, buying, rinse repeat, for a long time, and the "vintage modern wavetable" synth was the last slot I had in mind that I was having a hard time filling. I felt I had great representations of everything else that I wanted, but that one was eluding me. My path went Nina. Great, but not right for that slot. Kept it anyway. M great, but had a few bugs and I got worried when Vladis disappeared during the early parts of the Ukraine war. (turned out he's fine) I worried that the bugs would never be fixed, and knowing Waldorf... well, you know. Silly, really. I should have kept it, but I sold it and got the 3rd Wave, which I liked, but not for that "slot," and I didn't need a VA with a Prophet 6 filter. I couldn't get those really spikey, bright 8 bit sounds I was after. Everything war warm and gooey, which is great, but I wasn't after that. I gave up trying to fill that slot when Waldorf released the Microwave 1 plugin, but then the Polyvera came out and I totally fell for it. It had all that gritty digital stuff I wanted, a great sounding filter, great drive options, pretty generous modulation and great effects. So, after I got that, I'm calling it done. I'm even thinking of downsizing a little. I have my Uno Synth Pro X for sale, and I'm contemplating putting up my RYTM and Analog Four. Maybe. There's nothing pushing me to do it, so I'm not in any hurry.

[cryophonik]

...Protein...I'm surprised you like it but don't like the M, which I had and somewhat regret selling.

Gotta admit that I was surprised I liked the sound of Protein as well, but I listened to more M samples and, nope, that's up there with the worst sounding synths I've ever heard. Maybe it's just because everybody demoing it on YT makes it sound as nauseatingly harsh and ear-piercing as they possibly can and it probably sounds better in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. While I'm in rant mode, WTF is wrong with all these synfluencers who crank the resonance to levels that nobody wants to hear, then while everybody's ears are bleeding, they say. "wow, that sounds lovely, doesn't it?" NO, IT F'ING DOESN"T!!!!!


Wow, felt great to finally get that off my chest.

Anyway, back OT. After spending the last two days on the couch with a head cold watching the Olympics while also watching/listening to countless 3W demos, I think I sufficiently killed my GAS for it. It's obviously a nice synth, but I think I'm with you and would probably end up selling it after a short time, so maybe I'll reserve my GAS until I can actually get my hands on one.

[zerocrossing]

...Protein...I'm surprised you like it but don't like the M, which I had and somewhat regret selling.

Gotta admit that I was surprised I liked the sound of Protein as well, but I listened to more M samples and, nope, that's up there with the worst sounding synths I've ever heard. Maybe it's just because everybody demoing it on YT makes it sound as nauseatingly harsh and ear-piercing as they possibly can and it probably sounds better in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. While I'm in rant mode, WTF is wrong with all these synfluencers who crank the resonance to levels that nobody wants to hear, then while everybody's ears are bleeding, they say. "wow, that sounds lovely, doesn't it?" NO, IT F'ING DOESN"T!!!!!


Wow, felt great to finally get that off my chest.

Anyway, back OT. After spending the last two days on the couch with a head cold watching the Olympics while also watching/listening to countless 3W demos, I think I sufficiently killed my GAS for it. It's obviously a nice synth, but I think I'm with you and would probably end up selling it after a short time, so maybe I'll reserve my GAS until I can actually get my hands on one.

Well, I'm no YouTube influencer, but I can attest that the M sounds lovely. Similar to the Protein, but with more modulation options. Obviously I've not compared the two directly, but I imagine the Protein is basically a subset of what can be done with the M, but there's also the analog filter, which I though sounded lovely. Maybe take that from someone who's always been a PPG/Microwave 1 fan. If I didn't rely on plugins for a lot of things, I'd probably definitely have a 3rd Wave, though. It's got a great, smooth, warm sound. That's just not what I need.

[wintoid]

I'm trying to understand how the pan spread works on the 3rd Wave. It seems to be saved with the sound, but I don't seem to be able to work out what value was saved in the presets, even if I can overwrite it. Does anyone know how to do this?