I am too, it's a sampling wave table synth with analog prophet filters and prophet vintage mode which is the best ever made. It's got the brightest deepest filters in the world, it has an oberheim digital filter which actually reaches into the high end of the frequency response unlike software and the UBxa even with atrophy settings. It's the grail synth for being so compact with the desktop version, same price as the obx8 desptop and prophet desktop. All you need to do to get all flavors is get a moogerfooger mf 101 to get that incredible moog lushness, the 3rd wave is so amazing cause it's the only synth I know if I can bypass the analog filter and use my own. It's the most flexible machine ever made, it can do more than the moog one, has more polyphony and timbrality and envelopes and lfos, has the polybrute 12 matrix, it has more voices and timbrality than the udo super gemini. It literally destroys everything. I need to ask them if they can implement ribbon and vector joystick destinations to be accessed via midi, and ask for stereo chorus, stereo flanger, and a hyper gain fx like the Korg Kronos so I can maybe even replace my Kronos for leads as it's still the best in the world for leads. What I want is for them to release a wave term b like unit that further increases sampling capability, but more importantly can maybe increase polyphony and fx per timbral section so I can make even better lead sounds, and possibly dethrone the Korg kronos for an all in one unit excluding acoustic instruments which are better with vsts anyways. Maybe another 16 voices, 2 - 4 more fx per section. All they need to do then is add a live set that can be scrolled through with a cc message that can be controlled with a switch pedal or another instruments cc.
Best synth ever made for analog and waveform stuff. Not even Waldorf can compete. Plug in a moogerfooger mf101 and the moog one becomes irrelevant and a waste of space when you can have it all in a desktop format. Same price as the prophet and oberheim desktops. The oberheim filter actually reaches the high end unlike software and the behringer ubxa which all falloff on the highest end of the frequency. I wish there could be 4-6 fx per section and increase the polyphony by another 8 or 16, and improve the sampling performance with a wave term b like add on, as they said they are not going to keep releasing similar Synths, this is their only synth of this nature. Then it can replace my Korg Kronos which is still the best for leads and has the most flexible fx engine and top 3 sampling engine in the industry. They'd also have to add support for a vector joystick and ribbon controller via midi. Super glad they added the polybrute matrix, which makes artuiras instrument irrelevant. I'll plugin my osmose expressive e and have every synth at my finger tips.
For me it's honestly the fun you can have with the envelopes on multiple parts, integrated with the amazing mod matrix and ui. I think this will sit on top of my "dream synthi" list for a long time (or until I get one). To me there's something magical about it that I didn't feel with other gear I tried and had.
I own one (3rd Wave) and constantly use it for wavetable sounds. I don’t care for it too much on analog style sounds. Something about the oscillators sound like paper (I know it’s weird description). But it falls in line with things like when you hear someone say a synth sounds like plastic lol. Although this synth does a lot of things, I still prefer my Prophet 10. My favorite synth. That, and the Virus TI2
Funny I know exactly what you mean about paper. I hear that same thing with my accelerator (although the 3rd wave and Accelerator don’t sound similar at all). Yeah, I’m spoiled with the P10, virus TI, and my SY77. My favorite 3 poly synths. Honestly could probably get rid of everything else (wouldn’t that be something).
Thanks for this video and for your opinions. To me, the pristine sound sets this synth apart from everything else. What you call a 'crystalline' sound is what makes it special. I like that it sounds happier and less angry and that fits me. If you want to see if it can take you to a different place, maybe try staying in a major scale, play your chords, add a sparse solo part that is a little more bouncy, and see how you react to that?
I very much respect that. It's nothing personal. It's kind of the same way that the P12 sounds utterly harsh and I don't really like that. I may have mentioned, but one of the reasons I think it didn't 'gel' with me was that it wasn't mine. It's usually really easy for me to dismiss something I did not pay for or didn't even think I wanted to begin with (because why do I want a reason to buy another thing if I don't have to!). So again - take my opinion with a grain of salt. I actually really DO like that sound - but I felt I could get similar qualities with gear I already have (namely the Ambika). But I get that this is special too, and I have never played or sought out the PPG, so honestly, I don't know how comparable it is to that (but I assume, it is fairly similar). Anyway - thanks for the comment. Nice to hear from folks who love it (and why they love it). Great build quality, great UI too.
@@MIDERA I am guilty on this one of clicking play without reading the title of the video. What immediately came to mind was how did you manage to get such a restrained sound out of the P12. Then I looked at the title. One of the reasons I keep the P12 around is the harsh edge that always is on the verge of angst or losing control but walks or can walk that fine line of remaining in control and bordering on hopeful. I like the clean sound of this one, nicely ambient and not intruding. For me the emotional careening that the P12 brings has an interesting storytelling journey and is why I keep it around.
I also had the desktop and didn’t really gel with the sound. I mean it’s beautiful, but can also even be painful in the high end. Can totally be fixed but still quite the opposite to say my prophet 10. Also the form factor of the desktop was a bit weird. Could be the keyboard is really better. This thing has me split. I kinda love and hate the sound at the same time.
@@MIDERARE-listening, now, I…with headphones, I meant. Listen, all you have to do is find the switch on the WAVE labeled “GEMINI Magic” and flip it to ON!
My overall feeling toward the 3rd Wave, since it was released, has been "omg I want one". I appreciate you being a little more honest in your short review in the description. One thing that irks me about synths like this is the $5000 price tag (I'm not big into modules, so I'd want the full keyboard version). It's almost so out of reach that it's slightly offensive haha. Obviously it sounds very good, and has a ton of features and capabilities, but after listening to enough of your videos with other much more unique sounding, more obscure, and CHEAPER instruments, I honestly can't say I haven't heard a lot more "character" out of an Ensoniq SQ-80/ESQ-1, for example. There's something about the 3rd Wave that allllllmost sounds a little too VA and perfect. It's a beautiful piece of gear though, and with all those features it's a hell of a one stop shop for sounds. I honestly just wish it had more character. Oh, and I wish it was more affordable. I feel like if this synth was $2800, they'd sell like hotcakes. $5k makes it an extremely hard decision, when you can buy 2-3 other very cool synths with that same amount of $$$.
I hear you - I don't know about the costs other than what it was originally listed at and what it ended up selling for a while later. I know Groove Synthesis came out and said why the prices increased, so I won't balk at what they said and what they need. I think most all of my tracks sound the same, so I'm not surprised by what you hear/don't here - I think I just become monotonous over time! I definitely think it's a better synth than the P12, that's for sure. Thanks!
While the specs 'on paper' would suggest the Virus and the 3rd Wave should sound very similar...I don't find that is the case in practice. There are strengths to each, but I personally think the filter(s) on the 3rd Wave sounds subjectively better than the filters in the Virus (which I find myself often having to brighten with EQ to remove a sort of 'haze'). Additionally, with the 'circuit drift' and pan spread parameters on the 3rd Wave, it is easier (in my exerience) to dial in tones closer to a binarual version of vintage analog. Yes...the 3rd Wave can sound PPG-ish...which is on purpose...but if you want it to sound analog, I think it does a great job at that too. I find a lot of the Virus character comes from the FX...which is fine. Both are great synths so there is no real winner except the user. I've owned a ton of synths over the years, and the 3rd Wave is one of the best IMO. Everyone has different tastes though 👍
Totally agree - It's easy for me to prefer the Virus over the 3rd wave, because I own it and don't have to spend any more money! The Virus does 'have a sound' of course. I hope no one takes what I'm saying too seriously.
