Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Advanced Wavetable Desktop Synthesizer

The 3rd Wave desktop module a powerhouse wavetable synth with 24-voice polyphony and 4-part multi-timbral capability that's like having four independent synthesizers at your fingerprints. It has all of the power, all of the polyphony, all of the multipart capability, all of the I/O, and all of the awesome sound quality of the full keyboard version. Each of its 3 oscillators per voice can be any of these 3 choices:

A classic PPG 8-bit wavetable with all the original processing A high-resolution anti-aliased 96KHz wavetable Analog modeled waveforms with spline interpolation

Create up to 64 custom wavetables of your own using the built-in Wavemaker. With the sample-to-wavetable capability, you can connect an audio source to the audio input and generate a wavetable at the touch of a button.

CLASSIC LEGACY, MODERN SOUND

While the 3rd Wave has roots in the classic digital wavetable synths of the past, it takes that concept into the 21st century with a lush, expansive sound that's a product of its expanded wavetables and warm, organic-sounding analog filters, 4 independent parts, and 24 voices.  

It boasts not only a punchy, Dave Rossum-designed 2140 analog low-pass filter with variable saturation, but a second, SEM-style state-variable filter (low-pass, high-pass, notch, and band-pass) for additional tone-sculpting. Run both filters in series for harmonically complex textures.

4-PART MULTI-TIMBRAL

• With 24-voices, the 3rd Wave has enough power for the most note-intensive performances.
• And that polyphony really comes into play with its ability to layer up to 4 independent parts or split zones -- each with a completely different sound, sequence, and dual effects.
• Each part has independent panning, volume, and a dedicated stereo physical output. Use the multiple outputs and part placement to create spatial audio mixes.

MODULATION MATRIX

• The secret weapon of any synth is its mod matrix, and the 3rd Wave doesn't disappoint.
• With 16 assignable slots, 12 additional fixed-source slots, 27 sources, and 114 destinations, it has the flexibility of a modular.
• And all of this power is per multipart. That means up to 4 independent layers of sound, each with its own mod matrix.

SEQUENCE NOTES, SONGS AND PARAMETERS

• The 3rd Wave's sequencer is an inspiring tool for both composers and sound designers because it is pattern-based and can sequence notes, songs, and parameter changes.
• For composing and performing, enter notes and chords in real time with or without quantization for maximum groove and arrange up to 24 patterns of up to 32 measures in length into songs just as easily.

3rd Wave Desktop Module Specs

SOUND ENGINE

• 3 High-resolution Digital Oscillators Per Voice
• 64 total user wavetable positions with 48 wavetables that contain 64 waveforms per table (32 legacy PPG waves with room for another 16 of this type)
• 32 original 8-bit wavetables from the PPG 2 series instruments with room for 16 more user created 8 bit wavetables
• 7 high-resolution modeled analog waveforms (sine, saw, triangle, supersaw, pulse, white noise, pink noise)
• VCO sync
• Free-running oscillators
• Linear FM
• 6-stage wave envelope per oscillator with variable time and position that can be looped
• Optional wave flow section that allows for no wavetable as well as no waveform interpolation
• Upper wavetable mode as with the original PPG 2 series
• Unison, poly unison, and chord unison mode with variable voice count

Analog Low-pass Filter (per voice)

• Dave Rossum designed, classic, 2140 low-pass resonant filter
• 24 dB per octave slope
• variable saturation amount
• optional resonance compensation

State-Variable Filter (per voice)

• 12 dB per octave slope
• Continuously variable between low-pass, notch, and high-pass, operation with optional band-pass mode

4 ADSR+ Delay Envelopes

• Filter, Amplifier, plus 2 additional envelopes switchable between exponential and vintage  PPG-style response
• Freely assignable to multiple modulation destinations

4 Low-Frequency Oscillators

• Triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, pulse 1, pulse 2, pulse 3, and random (S&H)
• Variable delay
• Note reset
• Syncable to master clock BPM

2 Digital Effects

• BBD, stereo delay, tape delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, distortion pedal, rotating speaker, ring mod, room reverb, hall reverb, super plate reverb – most modeled on famous hardware devices
• Syncable to master clock BPM
• Parameters modulatable via mod matrix

WAVE MAKER TOOL

• Built-In Custom Wavetable Maker
• “Sample-to-wave” functionality. Connect an audio source to the 3rd Wave’s Audio In port, press “Make Waves” and the synth samples the audio to create a custom wavetable
• Samples to convert can also be brought in as a 96 kHz wav file through USB
• Store up to 32 custom wavetables
• 64 waveforms per wavetable
• Accepts pitched or un-pitched material as input
• 96 kHz sampling rate
• 16-bit resolution
• 1024 cycles per waveform, converted automatically to cover entire keyboard range
• Flexible wave-sampling length
• Imports Serum™ wavetables

SEQUENCER

• Performs both Note and Parameter Sequencing
• 4 parts per sequence
• 24 sequences per preset
• Up to 32 measures per sequence
• Variable quantization resolution per sequence (32nd, 16th, 8th, quarter, half, whole note, or quantization off), that is settable in real time
• Variable swing

ARPEGGIATOR

• 1 Arp per Multi-part
• Up, down, up/down, and assign modes
• Variable range (1, 2, or 3 octaves)

MOD MATRIX

• 16-slot Modulation Matrix Per Multi-Part
• 16 slot modulation matrix with 27 mod sources and 114 mod destinations
• 12 additional fixed-source mod paths
• Modulation assignment buttons enable quick and easy modulation routing
• Mod Matrix runs at audio rates
• Sequencer can record and play mod parameter changes in real time

CONTROLS

• 41 knobs and 43 buttons enable deep, comprehensive editing with minimal menu diving
• Pitch and Mod Wheels
• Responds to MPE
• Responds to polyphonic aftertoouch

PROGRAMS

• 500 factory programs. User rewritable

IN/OUT

• 4 Stereo outputs (2x 1/4″ phone jack per part)
• Headphone out (stereo 1/4″ phone jack)
• MIDI In, MIDI Out, and MIDI Thru
• USB port for bidirectional MIDI communication
• Audio Input for creating user wavetables from external audio source (1/4″ phone jack)
• Audio Input can also route audio through the filters, output chain, and effects
• Sustain/footswitch input
• Volume pedal input
• Expression pedal input

POWER

• AC adapter (DC 15V, 3.0A).
• Operates worldwide on voltages between 100-240v, 50-60 Hz, 45 watts maximum power consumption