Building upon the success of the first wavestate, the KORG wavestate mk II Digital Wave Sequencing Synthesizer is an advanced performance instrument that's based on the original Wavestation and harnesses the power of the flagship OASYS and KRONOS keyboards. The instrument is capable of generating an organic and inspirational pallet of lush evolving pads and driving rhythms that are ever-changing. Taking its cues from modular synths, groove boxes, and algorithmic compositions, the compact 37-note form factor transports easily and fits neatly into any stage, studio, or desktop setup making it well suited for musicians, producers, composers, and sound designers.
What's New
- Polyphony increased from 64 to 96 voices
- Increased space to import your own samples (from 2 to 4GB)
- Cosmetic makeover (joystick color, mk II logo)
- New Sounds: 15 new Performances and 43 new Programs. All of the existing 246 Performances have been updated. 485 of the existing Programs have been updated (out of a total of 756)
Wave Sequencing 2.0
- Create organically evolving and ear-catching patterns
- Each step of a Wave Sequence has a duration, a sample, and a pitch
- Wave Sequencing 2.0 splits apart the timing, the sequence of samples, and the melody, so that each can be manipulated independently
- Add additional characteristics including shapes, gate times, and step sequencer values
- Each characteristic has a dedicated lane and can have a different number of steps and its own start, end, and loop points
- As sequence movers forward, individual lanes are combined to create the output
- Lanes can also randomize the step order every time they play, with realtime control over the range of included steps
- Individual steps can be randomly skipped, with a modulatable probability from 0 to 100%
- Four onboard arpeggiators can interact with Wave Sequences for even more possibilities
- Example—A sample may be matched with a different duration, pitch, shape, gate length, and step sequence value every time that it plays. Modulate each lane’s start, end, and loop points separately for every note, using velocity, LFOs, envelopes, Mod Knobs, or other controllers. Each note in a chord can be playing something different
Deep Expression and Four-Program Layering
- All basic controls are at your fingertips with dedicated front-panel controls including filter, envelopes, LFOs, and effects
- Eight programmable Mod Knobs are customized to bring out the most in every sound, often taking them in entirely new directions
- Use the knobs in real-time performance and save the results as new sounds
- Add in the Pitch Bend, Modulation Wheels, and the unique Vector Joystick for multiple dimensions of real-time expression
- Most front-panel knobs, and onscreen parameters can be modulated, including modulation settings for individual wave sequence steps
- Transform modulation signals using quantization, smoothing, curvature, and more
- Layer up to four Programs together in a Performance, each with its own effects and arpeggiator
- Use the vector joystick to mix the individual voices of the four Layers and modulate any other parameter
Randomization
- Press the Dice button to generate new sounds via intelligent randomization
- Randomize the entire sound or just a part of it, such as the filter, Sample Lane, or effects
- Use the results directly or as a jumping-off point for your own creations
Production-Ready Effects Engine
- Onboard effects deliver production-ready sounds
- Each layer has three dedicated effects
- Performance has a master reverb and parametric EQ
- Effect Types:
- Compressors, EQs, choruses, flangers, phasers, and stereo delays
- Waveshaper, talking modulator, reverse delay, multiband mod delay, and Overb (from the OASYS),
- Modeled effects including VOX guitar amps, VOX wah, multihead tape echo, and a collection of classic guitar pedals
Filters
- Add vintage character with the aggressive MS-20 low-pass or high-pass filters, or the strong and sweet Polysix low pass
- Shape and refine with a full collection of resonant 2-pole and 4-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject filters
- Multi Filter creates modulatable blends of multiple modes simultaneously
Massive Sample Library with 96 Stereo Voices
- Gigabytes of samples, more than a thousand-times larger than the original Wavestation
- Sample Banks:
- Plug-In Guru
- Selections from the KORG KRONOS and KROME libraries
- Original KORG Wavestation’s samples and wave sequences (including all options)
- Play up to 96 stereo voices with pristine clarity, using KORG’s proprietary antialiasing sample playback technology
Set Lists and Smooth Sound Transitions
- Set lists offer effortless organization of Wavestate performances
- Delivers instant access at the gig or in rehearsal
- Smooth sound transitions allow previously played voices and effects to continue to ring out naturally, even after a new sound has been selected
Connections
- The rear panel offers balanced stereo 1/4" outputs and a dedicated headphone output for private playing or onstage cuing.
- The 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O jacks allow for the connection to external equipment and sequencers, while the class-compliant USB MIDI (USB-B) port can connect to Windows and Mac computers.
- A dedicated wavestate editor/librarian is available for free at the KORG website.
- The KORG wavestate mk II ships with a power adapter.