Starsky Carr's Studio: Vintage & Modern Synth Setup Explained

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Welcome to a full synth studio tour — a look inside my hardware setup featuring vintage analog synths, modern wavetable instruments, modular gear and classic drum machines.

See how a mix of vintage synths, modern instruments, modular gear and drum machines all come together in one integrated setup. In this video I walk through the studio, explain how everything is connected, and show some of the instruments that regularly appear on the channel.

The studio is constantly evolving as new synths arrive, others get repaired, and different setups are tested for videos. In this walkthrough you'll see how classic gear like the Juno-60, Prophet series, Minimoog, TR-808, TR-909 and Jupiter synths sit alongside modern instruments such as the UDO Super 8, Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave, Waldorf M, Arturia PolyBrute and Roland System-8.

I also explain how everything is routed through the studio — from CV-controlled vintage synths integrated with MIDI, to the AudioFuse interface and Neve summing mixer that handle the audio side of things.

If you've ever wondered how to organise a hardware synth studio, integrate vintage CV instruments with modern DAWs, or just want to see a room full of iconic synths and drum machines, this video gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the setup behind the channel.

You’ll also hear a few stories along the way — including the slightly ridiculous “six degrees of separation” link from my studio gear to Charlize Theron and Kevin Bacon through the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack.

Whether you're into analog synthesis, wavetable synths, modular gear, or classic drum machines, this studio tour is packed with gear, ideas and inspiration.

Gear featured (selection)

• Roland Juno-60
• Roland Jupiter series
• Moog Minimoog, Voyager % Sub37
• Sequential Prophet synths
• Oberheim OBX8 and OB6
• UDO Super 8
• Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
• Waldorf M
• Arturia PolyBrute
• Roland System-8
• TR-808 / TR-909 drum machines
• Analog Solutions Leipzig & Fusebox
• Modular & Eurorack gear"

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave 61-key Advanced Wavetable Synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

w/ ZAPP!

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Tempera Space Jam

video upload by Corbusier

"This track is part of the Beetlecrab February/ March Challenge. The theme is 'Epic Lofi Space Opera'

There were no additional effects used.
Sound sources: Sequential Rev2, Oberheim TEO5, 3rd Wave 8m, Lyra-4 and a singing bowl

Enjoy!

Corbusier on SoundCloud:
/ l7eieqmnaauhs9jl7i"

3rd-Wave Synthesizer song demo

video upload by Brian Schaft

"Short little song that showcases some of the bubbly digital waveforms among its traditional waveforms as well."

Modern Synth Sound Design on the 3rd Wave with Sam Gutman | NAMM 2026

video upload by Groove Synthesis and Sam Gutman

"What does deep sound design look like when it's shaped by years on stages with Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, and YG Marley? ‪@SamGutman‬ brought that perspective to our booth at NAMM 2026, and the result is a masterclass in what the 3rd Wave can really do.

In this session, Sam digs into the full range of the 3rd Wave's synthesis engine: PPG wavetables, modern wavetables, virtual-analog, linear FM, and sampling. Through the eyes and ears of a working musician, Sam shows how these tools come together in real musical contexts, from lush layered pads to sounds that complex arpeggiators.

Along the way, Sam showcases custom patches he built for the 3rd Wave 24K keyboard, demonstrates complex multi-part layering, and shares the creative thinking behind his sound design choices. Whether you're a seasoned synth programmer or just getting curious about what wavetable synthesis can do, there's something here for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:04 What is Wavetable Synthesis?
04:27 Classic PPG Wavetables
05:57 Modern Wavetables
08:15 Analog Subtractive Synthesis
10:35 Subtractive Filters
10:55 Additive Synthesis
11:40 FM Synthesis
13:15 Sampling
14:54 Layering
18:10 Bob Coover on Binaural Sound
20:12 Bob Coover's Summary"

Analemma - downtempo ambient

video upload by rustyjaw

"Have worked on this on and off for a couple of months. The basic outline of the track took shape fairly quickly, then the familiar self-doubts crept in and I spun for a while. Not seeing a way to move forward, I stopped working on it. The holidays came and went, and I left this project in stasis. But when I finally came back to it with fresh ears, I could sort of see a path forward. I reworked parts and found the groove again.

I think the bass in this is probably the most interesting part, it came about from experiments with MIDI FX on Hapax, using random LFOs to influence filter and amp settings on the OB6, creating this off-kilter wobbly sound with some funkiness. That then inspired the percussion.

The major players in this are: 3Rd Wave (the opening sound), OB-6 on bass, Prophet, Digitakt, Digitone doing background ambience, Minilogue, and a sprinkling of the Make Noise NUSS system."

Scene Transition #synth #electronicmusic

video upload by Mutt Retro

Where Digital Meets Vintage Soul

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"This demo explores the overlap between modern digital synthesis and classic instruments. The ‪@GrooveSynthesis‬ 3rd Wave 8M sits at the center, supported by the warmth of the OB-X and the expressive touch of the CP70 electric grand piano. Using presets by ‪@devinbelangermusic‬ and ‪@MattJohnsonskeyspace‬

I am not yet good enough to program it myself - their sounds are a wonderful start to get to know the instrument and its vast sonic possibilities. #3rdwave"

Vangelis Cover From Chariots of Fire: Abraham's Theme. #moogmuse #CS80 #3rdwave

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"Playing with this beautiful melody - using OBX, Muse, CS80 and my new 3rdWave - with lots of vintage Lexicon"

Gyroresonant Scattering - Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave - Self Playing Patch w/ Artmatic Designer

video upload by Tumeni Knobs

"This is a "self playing" or "generative" patch programmed on the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave. There is no sequencer or arpeggiator or midi used, just a lot of patch programming of the synth. This recording is actually two tracks layered together, each one slightly different. One is a fully hands-off version of the patch, and the other is performance recording where I was turning knobs as it played (mostly saturation, cutoff and resonance). This recording of the patch is in Bm, and each track uses different notes in the scale, with some overlap.

The dynamic range this patch produced was amazing, and in the end it required some heavy EQing to cut the lows out so as not to blow speakers when played at volume. Low cut and high cut filters were applied as well as a standard master bus compressor. It still gets pretty glitchy and grungy at times, but it doesn't clip.

There is a little bit of the 3rd Wave's delay effect that goes in and out, but much of what may sound like a delay effect isn't - it's just the way the patch plays. Valhalla Supermassive, applied in the DAW, totally sends this patch into space. Each track has a different reverb applied.

The animation was created in Artmatic Designer in my usual style, but this time, because I used two audio tracks, I used two video tracks layered as well. The base layer is the "as rendered" version right out of Designer, and the second layer is a copy processed in DaVinci Resolve with the Edge Detect effect. That processed layer is manually programmed to fade in an out on top of the base layer which dramatically changes the visuals.

I have a bunch of works like this, but this one seems next level to me. I've watched it a bunch of times now and always with eyes wide open, ears tingling and mouth agape. Hopefully someone else enjoys it as much as I do. ;-)

Cheers!

P.S. Gyroresonant scattering is a process where charged particles, like electrons, interact with electromagnetic waves in a magnetic field, causing changes in their energy and motion. This interaction can occur in environments such as planetary magnetospheres, affecting the behavior of particles within those regions."

Groove Synthesis - 3rd Wave

video upload by NOISEBUG

https://www.noisebug.net/

"This unit is in mint condition, just listed on Nosiebug’s Reverb shop

An incredibly powerful #wavetable #synthesizer #3rdwave"

Pics previosly captured here.

Groove Synthesis - 3rd Wave 24-Voice 61-Key Wavetable Synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

Additional NOISEBUG Listings

Update: video here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Modern Synth Meets Vintage Sound | The 3rd Wave

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

🌊 Sign up for your chance to win a 3rd Wave
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/3rd...

🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro...

GROOVE SYNTHESIS 3RD WAVE ADVANCED WAVETABLE SYNTHESIZER

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

The Smaller The Better? First Impressions of 3rd Wave 8M

video upload by The Midlife Synthesist

"A first taste of the 3rd Wave 8M Advanced Wavetable Synthesizer
Thank you ‪@GrooveSynthesis‬ for making this video possible!"

Groove-Synthesis 3rd Wave (sound.report deutsch) (Edit)

video upload by The Green Man(TGM) + sound.report by Heiner Kruse

00:00-01:10 Intro mit Soundbeispielen (der erste Sound ist eine Eigenkreation).
01:10-02:40 Einführung, PPG Style Sounds
02:40-04:36 Oscillators, Parts
04:02-04:36 8M Display
04:36-07:36 Wavetables, VA
07:36-09:12 Samples und Bulk unified Data export Teil 1
09:12-09:59 Kits und Multisamples
09:59-10:56 Eigenes Sample in Wavteable konvertiert
10:56-12:04 Wave Envelopes
12:04-13:48 analoges Filter
13:48-15:45 Layer und FX, 80s Drums
15:45-20:25 Sequencer & Arp für Ideen + Performances
20:25-23:50 Samplespeicherverwaltung, Backup, Sampling
23:50-27:24 Wavetable erzeugen + exportieren
27:24-28:58 Restore via Image Backup
28:58-32:46 Import von Unified Programs/ Stereoklavier
32:46-35:11 Fazit
35:11-38:15 Mehr Sounds (+ Hinweis auf Wavesurfer)

Meet the 3rd Wave 8M: Overview by Bob Coover

video upload by Groove Synthesis

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

"In this video, Groove Synthesis co-founder Bob Coover provides an overview of the capabilities, features, and sounds of the 3rd Wave 8M.

Meet the 3rd Wave 8M: An 8-voice desktop synth powerhouse that brings Groove Synthesis’ award-winning wavetable technology to more studios, stages, and creative spaces than ever before. This isn’t a watered-down version. This is 8 voices and 2 parts of pure, uncompromised 3rd Wave DNA in a more accessible, compact package. Same premium sound engine. Same analog filters. Same innovative synthesis. Just more accessible to more producers and musicians.

In this overview, Groove's co-founder Bob Coover walks you through the five synthesis methods (PPG wavetables, modern wavetables, virtual-analog, linear FM, and sampling), features and performance controls, and explains which 3rd Wave might be the right one for you.

Chapters:
00:00 - Sound Demo
00:41 - Introduction & Overview
05:59 - PPG Wavetables
08:31 - Modern Wavetables
10:08 - Virtual-Analog Waveforms
12:00 - Sampling
14:30 - Sampling & FM
16:03 - Features & Performance Controls
18:46 - Which 3rd Wave Is Right For Me?"

Moog Muse -nature sounds, woodwinds and pads

video upload by Brian Schaft

"A song that incorporates a some of the Muse's smoothness. Done almost entirely with the Muse, except for the crow call- which is the 3rd Wave."

Machina Bristonica 2025 - A Quick Look Round

video upload by Runningonair

"Just a little video about my trip to Machina Bristonica. Not by any means a full review, I wouldn't have it in me to attempt such a thing.

Links:
Equipment
https://sequential.com/modern-analog/...
https://www.genki.is/katla
https://groovesynthesis.com/
https://novationmusic.com/products/mi...
https://www.arturia.com/products/hard...

Artists
Sakr
https://sakrmusic.bandcamp.com/
Tim Exile
https://timexile.bandcamp.com/
Nadia Struiwigh
https://nadiastruiwigh.bandcamp.com/


https://runningonair.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fNUf...

https://paypal.me/runningonair?

The compact giant! 3rd Wave 8M synth demo

video upload by Matt Johnson’s Keyspace

"Whether you're into sound design, classic analogue flavours, or modern digital texture, the 3rd Wave 8M has serious range. In this demo, I walk through a variety of patches and show just how versatile this little beast is!

You can buy my presets here
https://www.mattjohnsonproducer.com/p..."

See dealers on the right for the 3rd Wave 8M.