Sustaining the legacy of the pioneers PPG Wave synthesis systems, Groove Synthesis has announced the 3rd Wave 8M, a compact desktop synthesiser that offers the distinctive Groove Synthesis sound to a more accessible price point, without compromising on sound quality or core features.
Building on the success of the flagship 24-voice 3rd Wave models 24K and 24M, the 8M features eight voices of polyphony and bi-timbral operation in a streamlined desktop format.
The 3rd Wave 8M continues the Groove Synthesis tradition of combining vintage inspiration with modern capabilities. 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 analogue filters. The intuitive, performance-focused interface avoids menu diving for a natural control flow, preserving and adapting the vital parts of the keyboard’s controls in a compact format.
‘We created the 8M to bring the distinct 3rd Wave sonic character and sound design capabilities to more musicians and producers,’ says Groove Synthesis co-founder, Bob Coover. ‘This isn’t a watered-down version of our flagship 24-voice models – the signal processing chain, analogue electronics, and the sound are the same as on the 24. The 8M just makes the 3rd Wave experience accessible to musicians, sound designers, and producers who don’t need the full scale system.’
The 3rd Wave 8M maintains full patch compatibility with the 24-voice 3rd Wave models, allowing users to integrate the 8M into existing set-ups or upgrade to larger models in the future. The streamlined user interface focuses on performance-oriented controls while using a larger, more intuitive display for deep sound design capabilities.
Key features:
- Full 3rd Wave sound engine with 8 voices and three oscillators per voice.
- Wavetable synthesis, analogue-style synthesis, FM and sampling.
- Two independent parts for layering and splitting.
- Seamless integration with 24-voice 3rd Wave models.
- Eight analogue filters and output stage.
- Performance-orientated, expressive control set with larger display.
- Four balanced outputs for flexible studio integration.
- Small footprint ideal for desktop or touring set-ups.
‘As a bunch of synth enthusiasts ourselves, we know that the sound is everything,’ says Groove Synthesis co-founder, Andrew Silverman. ‘The 8M has the full DNA of our flagship models. We’ve carefully considered what matters most to musicians and sound designers, preserving the elements that define our sound while creating a more accessible entry point to the 3rd Wave sonic universe.’
The 3rd Wave 8M is priced at US$1,999.
More: www.groovesynthesis.com