Wavestation Vocoder FX

vectorman · Post by **vectorman** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:58 am

For some reason, since the Wavestation plugin has no audio inputs like the A/D rack, I had kind of overlooked the vocoder algorithms in the WS plugin's effects section. I started messing with it this morning, and even just using internal sounds as carrier and modulator, it's quite a cool resource. Rhythmic, pulsing pads are as easy as modulating a pad (carrier) with a wave sequence (modulator), not to mention more unusual combinations, like modulating a bell pad with a sitar.

It would be great if the WS plugin had audio input to make full use of the vocoder, since the VST spec has made that possible for a while now (Native Instruments Absynth 4, for example, allows audio to be routed into its oscillators). I guess one could always use a dedicated vocoder plugin if need be, but it would be rather slick if the virtual WS had A/D style functionality and you could accomplish that within the WS plugin itself.

Ben Hall · Post by **Ben Hall** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:50 pm

I agree, I used the vocoder quite a bit on my own WS sounds, and I kinda thought the plugin would probably offer audio inputs a la WS A/D to process audio - which of course, it doesn't...

There isn't even a vocoder in the MDE FX either...

vectorman · Post by **vectorman** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:46 pm

I just hope audio input is something that will come along in a future update, assuming there are going to be any serious feature revisions in future updates. It would be a genuine shame if the addition of filter resonance ends up being the only substantial update we ever see.

I'd love to see Korg update the WS voice architecture with some additional filter modes that use more modern and analog-sounding algorithms, envelopes with more breakpoints for more complex shapes, etc. Granted, if you mess with it too much, it starts to veer away from being a classic synth emulation.

Heck, just keep the current Wavestation for the sake of nostalgia and wheel out a Wavestation MKII that has a slew of new filter modes, multi-segment envelopes, audio input, user waveform slots, and a new, modern GUI. I'd think that would generate considerable excitement with the folks at the electronic music magazines and on KVR audio.

steff3 · Post by **steff3** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:55 am

+1

Full AD-functionality would be great.

also a reasonable interface and workflow would be high appreciated. As others mentioned the VSTi is even behind the hardware for some things and ways behind hardware+Editor.

Also the availability of third party sample sets would be nice. (or sample ram even nicer). better modulation (more breakpoint envelopes etc.) would also be highly appreciated.

But I guess we have to wait 20 years for the OASYS-vsti.

best

vectorman · Post by **vectorman** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:28 pm

Since major revisions to the Wavestation plugin don't seem likely at present, I broke down and bought an A/D rack off of the Bay. I suspect I'll probably just use it for those times when I want to shape sounds with my mouth via the vocoder and use the plugin the rest of the time for its convenience. Patch programming is so much easier on the plugin and I have no idea how to easily transfer patches programmed on the plugin to a hardware WS (unless there is something out there that will convert WSRAM to sys-ex).