| Wavestation | |
|---|---|
 Korg Wavestation | |
| Manufacturer | Korg |
| Dates | 1990–1994 |
| Price | $2195 £1575 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 32 |
| Timbrality | 8 patches (Wavestation, EX and A/D) and 16 (SR) |
| Oscillator | 4 digital oscillators with 396 waves each |
| LFO | 2 x 32 – Triangle, Square, Sawtooth, Ramp |
| Synthesis type | Digital vector synthesis with Wave Sequencing |
| Filter | 32 low-pass |
| Attenuator | 32 ADSR envelope generators |
| Aftertouch expression | Yes – Channel (mono) — Wavestation A/D capable of receiving polyphonic aftertouch |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage memory | see memory allocation chart |
| Effects | 2×47 or 55 |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61-keys |
| Left-hand control | Pitch and Modulation Wheels, Joystick |
| External control | MIDI |
The Korg Wavestation is a vector synthesis synthesizer first produced in the early 1990s and later re-released as a software synthesizer in 2004. Its primary innovation was Wave Sequencing, a method of multi-timbral sound generation in which different PCM waveform data are played successively, resulting in continuously evolving sounds.[1] The Wavestation's "Advanced Vector Synthesis" sound architecture resembled early vector synths such as the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS.
Designed as a "pure" synthesizer rather than a music workstation, it lacked an on-board song sequencer, yet the Wavestation, unlike any synthesizer prior to its release, was capable of generating complex, lush timbres and rhythmic sequences that sounded like a complete soundtrack by pressing only one key.[2][3] Keyboard Magazine readers gave the Wavestation its "Hardware Innovation of the Year" award,[4] and in 1995 Keyboard listed it as one of the "20 Instruments that Shook the World."[5]
The Wavestation lineup consisted of four models: the Wavestation and Wavestation EX keyboards, and the Wavestation A/D and Wavestation SR rackmount sound modules.
In 2020, Korg released a new hardware 3-octaves-full-of-knobs keyboard version called Korg Wavestate, which integrate a much more powerful version of the original Wavestation, called "wave sequencing V2".
- ^ Korg Wavestation Player's Guide & (1990), p. 54, §9.1. Introduction to Wave Sequencing
- ^ Reid, Gordon (June 2004). "Korg Legacy Collection (Part 1)". Sound on Sound. – see "The Wavestation Family"
- ^ Reid, Gordon (November 2002). "40 Years of Gear – The History of Korg: Part 2". Sound on Sound. – see heading "1990" & "Milestone—The Wavestation Family"
- ^ "15th Annual Keyboard Readers Poll Awards". Keyboard Magazine. January 1991. p. 33. (see also clipped page on "Jungleib Archives". 1991. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help)) - ^ "20 Instruments that Shook the World". Keyboard Magazine. January 1995.