Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Desktop Synthesizer

The 3rd Wave is a powerhouse wavetable synth with 24-voice polyphony and 4-part multi-timbral capability that’s like having four independent synthesizers at your fingerprints.

Each of its 3 oscillators per voice can be:
- A classic PPG-era wavetable
- A high-resolution complex wavetable
- An analog-modeled waveform

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

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 effect.

Each stereo part has independent panning, volume, and a dedicated stereo physical output.

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
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 mode and chord mode with variable voice count
1 Analog Low-pass Filter
Dave Rossum designed, classic, 2140 low-pass resonant filter
24 db per octave slope
variable saturation amount
optional resonance compensation
1 State-Variable Filter
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
WAVEMAKER 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
77 knobs and 39 buttons enable deep, comprehensive editing with minimal menu diving
Pitch and Mod Wheels
Full-sized, five-octave, semi-weighted, premium Fatar keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
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
1 universal IEC AC power inlet for internal power supply
Operates worldwide on voltages between 100-240v, 50-60 Hz, 65 watts maximum power consumption
Dimensions
Shipping Box Dimensions: 44 x 20 x 13 inches, 35 lbs
Synth Dimensions: 38.5 x 14.25 x 5 inches, 27 lbs

US and EU parcels ship via UPS, ETA 1-7 working days from pickup day zero. That also applies to most locations worldwide.

All shipments are fully insured.

Bigger shipments requiring pallets or custom made crates ship to US, CA, JP, CN, AU and other outside of EU locations via DHL Air Freight, ETA is normally approx. 7-14 working days from pickup day zero.

Big shipments inside EU ship via different freight companies, recently mostly via ACE Logistics. Freight forwarders can use different courier companies for deliveries to final destinations.

Palletising and crating time can vary depending on the size of the shipment and packaging queue. We pack all our shipments with great care.

You are most welcome to pick your order up yourself from our Retrosonic Pro Audio showroom, studio and warehouse in Tallinn, Estonia.

We ship worldwide – contact us for a personal shipping quote or any other questions.

VAT (Value Added Tax) can be deducted if you have a company with a valid EU VAT number or if you're based outside of the EU. Non-EU buyers pay all and any import tax and duty as regulated by their local customs.