Sound Design BEAST! 3rd Wave 8M gets New Firmware

video upload by The Midlife Synthesist

"3rd Wave 8M gets a big update! In this video I explore the wavemaker and the new Shimmer Reverb effect"

3rd Wave Shimmer Verb Demo (No Talking)

video upload by Groove Synthesis

"Shimmer Verb is a brand new reverb effect in 3rd Wave OS 2.0. Check out some of the sounds it's capable of in this demo performed by Christian Frentzen.

The idea behind a shimmer effect isn't new, but the way we've built ours gives you a lot of freedom to create and control inside the synthesizer. Most importantly, it sounds great without harshness or the need to EQ.

This Shimmer will give you the ability to shift the pitch in fractions of a semitone across a full two-octave range, from one octave down to one octave up, which means you're not limited to complete octave or semitone shifts. Dial in something in between, and you'll land on intervals that most shimmer effects can't reach, from lush and consonant to genuinely dissonant and unsettled, depending on where you land and how you play into it.

Examples:
00:00 - Lush Bells
00:24 - Falling Shimmers (Pitch Envelope)
00:45 - Warm Shimmers
01:30 - Detuned Warmth
02:00 - Snappy Verb
02:26 - Sidechain Shimmer (LFO-modulated)
03:04 - Long and Dark (Pitch -12)"

External MIDI Amiga Synth? Wait, what?!

video upload by Jeremy Parker

"A few years ago I restored my childhood Amiga 500, and only recently found a way to use a soft synth, Aegis Sonix V2, with external MIDI control. I saw ‪@magicalsynthadventure3216‬ video on the topic a while back, and on a whim decided to revisit the idea of using my Amiga as a synth. Thanks to an Amibay.com forum thread, I learned that it's pretty easy to get Aegis Sonix V2 to respond to incoming MIDI, and so I was off to the races. Enjoy!

Magical Synth Adventures video: • Commodore Amiga Music Production: Modern S... [below]
Amibay thread: https://www.amibay.com/threads/aegis-...
Stone OakValley Studios info on Aegis Sonix: https://www.stone-oakvalley-studios.c...
OctaMED info: https://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/10...

00:00 Intro
02:28 The Solution
03:33 Sonix Demo
05:31 Sonix & Reaper
07:33 Amiga Groove

Commodore Amiga Music Production: Modern Sound Design on Retro Hardware

video upload by Magical Synth Adventure

"A delve into obscure software instruments on the Commodore Amiga. Here I look into both realtime & non-realtime varieties, covering a staggering array of synthesis types!

Additional attributions:

I forgot to give a shout out to uncle Brian! Sorry uncle Brian!
Endless Tunnel Animation: KRITRIMVAULT
Syndicate Intro: BullFrog Productions

Links:
SOFTWARE
http://old.exotica.org.uk/websites/dr...
http://ftp2.grandis.nu/turransearch/"

Update: An interesting side note is that Sonix was released in 1987 with a beta in 1986. That's 10 years earlier than Dave Smith's Seer Systems Reality, which was released in 1997. Seer Systems Reality is often credited as the world's first soft synth. Curious if the distinction was between an editor/interface for the existing Amiga sound chip vs. a self contained software synthesizer.  

I asked Google AI just to see what it would say. Here it is:

CLICK FOR MORE »

J3PO // History

video upload by Julian "J3PO" Pollack

"Julian 'J3PO' Pollack performs an original composition, "History," a live DAW-less performance recorded entirely in one take with no overdubs.

Built around a sequencer, hardware synthesizers, and an acoustic (felt) piano, "History" explores the space between composition and improvisation. Every musical decision unfolds in real time, allowing the performance to evolve naturally from a simple repeating pattern into something entirely its own.

Gear used:
• Arturia KeyStep Pro (sequencing)
• Roland TR-8S
• Oberheim Two Voice Pro
• Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave 8M
• Yamaha Acoustic Upright Piano

Effects:
• Meris Mercury 7
• Strymon Timeline
• Strymon El Capistan

Visit https://www.j3po.net for tour dates, music, courses, and original synth preset libraries."

Inside the 3rd Wave Sequencer | Patching In

video upload by Groove Synthesis

"Did you know there is a full pattern sequencer built into every 3rd Wave synth? 💡

Episode 2 of Patching In is all about the pattern sequencer built into every 3rd Wave synth. It follows a pattern-based, MPC-style approach, and it is a quick way to catch an idea before it gets away: record parts and patterns in real time, capture your knob moves as parameter automation right alongside the notes, string those patterns into a full song, all without ever leaving the instrument. You also have quantize that can be applied or undone, and also swing on each part and pattern.

As always, Bob walks you through it all in the full video, and the companion article goes deeper, with step-by-step recipes for recording patterns, automating parameters, and arranging a song on the 3rd Wave: https://groovesynthesis.com/2026/07/2...

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Sounds
00:49 - What is the sequencer on the 3rd Wave synth?
01:31 - What are multi-part sequences?
02:08 - How to record parts in the sequencer
03:22 - Sequencer controls & parameter recording
04:17 - How to find out more"

Vermona drumDING Workshop at SchneidersLaden

video upload by SchneidersLaden

"On March 26th we had Vermona in the showroom for a deep dive into one of the standout instruments of SUPERBOOTH25: drumDING.

Blending analog drum synthesis with sampling and sequencing, drumDING opens up a fluid, hands-on workflow where sounds can be created, captured, and reshaped on the fly. With features like parameter locks, polymetrics and performative controls, it’s built for spontaneous groove building and evolving rhythmic structures.

In this workshop, Thomas walks you through the concept, demonstrates the workflow, and shows how quickly ideas can turn into fully formed patterns."

You can find additional posts featuring the drumDING here.

Four Synths in One: Multi-Parts on the 3rd Wave | Patching In

video upload by Groove Synthesis

"Every program on the 3rd Wave is really four synths in one. In Episode 1 of Patching In, our new hands-on series, Bob Coover takes you through multi-parts: navigating the part buttons, mixing and panning your parts, building huge stereo/binaural patches, setting up stacks and splits, and running four-part multitimbral sequences from a single program.

Read the full companion article for a more in-depth discussion: https://groovesynthesis.com/2026/06/2...

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction into multi-parts on the 3rd Wave
00:42 - Navigating the part buttons
01:11 - How to control your edit selection
02:13 -Volume and tuning settings
02:55 - Panning the parts
04:03 - Using Pan Spread for PPG-style panning
04:24 - Assigning programs between parts
05:08 - Four-part multitimbral sequencing
05:43 - How to find out more"

Meet Acid Drip - A DIY Bassline Synth & Drum Machine

video upload by Marcus Dunn

"Check out the GitHub Repo if you are interested in building your own

GitHub - https://github.com/lonesoulsurfer/Aci...

Instructables - Coming soon!"

Note: Acid Drip is based on the BadAss basS Synth and DrumKid featured further below.

"An RP2040-based acid bassline synthesizer and drum machine built on the Mozzi audio library. Two instruments in one device, a 16-step acid sequencer and a 16-pattern drum groove box running simultaneously on dual cores with a 320×240 ILI9341 TFT display and 16 Cherry MX pads.

NOTE: the images of the synth are V1. V2 is what I hve provided in this repo and looks a littke different (extra pot for mix added)"


Open Source Credits: Acid Drip is based on the BadAss basS Synth and DrumKid:

Acid synthesis engine adapted from Badass Bass from 10 years ago:


BadAss basS Synth video upload by Tschibo00

"this is the demo of my DIY Arduino-based synth with built-in sequencer. Code+schematics can be found on https://github.com/Tschibo00/BadAssba..."

Drum engine ported from DrumKid by Matt Bradshaw:


Drumkid Review & Demo // Lo-fi Drum Machine video upload by Saturday Music Machines from 2023

"Drumkid is a lo-fi aleatoric (an element of chance) drum machine with MIDI. It generates rhythms using random numbers. It’s designed to be used for both live performance and recording, with controls that allow organic transitions between rhythms and fills."

CLICK FOR MORE »

DrumComputer Claude Extension [AI Comes to Software Synthesis]

video upload by Sugar Bytes

"Make beats by just describing them. DrumComputer as a Claude desktop extension — Claude picks the right presets and composes the groove, DrumComputer delivers WAV, MIDI and sounds for your DAW." https://sugar-bytes.de/drumcomputer#c...

Also see Syntplant's PhenoType directly below for descriptive synth design. See the AI label for AI related posts. Note the AI Synthesis label is reserved for the manufacturer.

The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

Robert Coover, founder of Groove Synthesis and the mind behind the 3rd Wave synthesizer, shares the story of how this instrument came to life at Superbooth 2025 event in Berlin.

In this 9-minute interview he talks about:
working with Dave Smith at Sequential,
why he wanted to revive the iconic PPG Wave sound,
how four synthesis methods (wavetable, analog, FM, sampling) came together in the 3rd Wave,
the challenges of creating a high-end synth as a small team,
the evolution from the keyboard version to the desktop module,
what’s next for Groove Synthesis – a new product so unique it may even get a patent.

💡 If you’re into synth history, sound design, or want to know what drives independent makers to create instruments at this level – this is for you.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:23 Working with Dave Smith at Sequential
02:07 The ambition behind the 3rd Wave
03:57 The start of Bob's career
04:38 The launch of the 3rd Wave and Groove Synethesis
05:28 3rd Wave Keyboard and Desktop
06:28 Expanding the 3rd Wave with sampling
07:19 About the built-in sequencer
08:15 The new mystery product coming in 2026!"

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave — The COMPLETE Review (Every Feature Explored)

video upload by Scott's Synth Stuff

"The Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is a 24-voice wavetable synthesizer with real analog filters, three oscillators per voice, and a 6-stage wave envelope that can independently sweep each oscillator through 64-position wavetables. It's built as a modern successor to the PPG Wave 2.2 and 2.3, carrying the original PPG wavetables alongside 56 high-resolution modern wavetables, analog-modeled waveforms, and — as of OS 1.8 — a built-in sampler. In this review, I go through every major feature of the 3rd Wave in detail: the four oscillator types (PPG legacy, modern user wavetables, analog-modeled, and samples), the dual filter architecture (4-pole analog low-pass plus 2-pole zero-delay state-variable), all four envelopes, the four LFOs, the 16-slot modulation matrix, 11 built-in effects, the arpeggiator, the pattern-based sequencer with parameter automation, 4-part multitimbral layering and splits, the Wave Maker custom wavetable tool (including Serum wavetable import), unison with chord memory, MPE support, and more.

Whether you're considering buying one, comparing it to other hardware wavetable synths like the Waldorf Iridium, Modal Cobalt, or ASM Hydrasynth, or just curious what a modern PPG-inspired instrument sounds like in 2025/2026, this is the full picture. I cover every section of the signal chain with sound demos, explain what makes the wave envelope system unique, show how to build patches from scratch, and give my honest take on where the 3rd Wave excels and where it falls short. Timestamps for every section are below — jump to whatever interests you."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tech Talk: K.A.S.I. - Serge Modular, Improvisation & Organic Movement (Electronic Beats TV)

video upload by Telekom Electronic Beats TV

"For this episode of Electronic Beats Tech Talk, we visited Kasi in the studio to explore her unique approach to live electronic performance, modular synthesis, and hardware-driven sound design.
She is currently studying Electronic Music Production and Performance at Catalyst – Institute for Creative Arts and Technology.
Working with the Serge Modular System, selected Eurorack modules, the Erica Synths Perkons, and the Elektron Analog Four MKII, Kasi creates a sound world between experimental ambient, hypnotic textures, and raw, groove-driven techno.
In this conversation, she talks about improvisation, real-time interaction, unstable modulation, and why she treats sound as a living system — shaped by psychedelic experiences, abstract art, and organic movement.

Production & Camera: Romi Agel & Holger Wick / Sense Music & Media
Edit and Graphics: Klara Mottlova"

SUPERBOOTH 26: Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave - Spatial Audio

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Groove Synthesis are showing off the 3rd Wave’s spatial audio capabilities at Superbooth 2026, as well as previewing and upcoming user-created librarian, patch and wavetable editor application."

Trapezoid #synth #electronicmusic

video upload by Mutt Retro

Sequential OB-6 keyboard
Moog DFAM
Roland Juno-106 through Strymon Big Sky
Erica Synths & Hexinverter Hex Drums
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave

SONICWARE Introduces deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE

Playlist:

1. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE - SONICWARE
2. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine [Official Demo Jam] - SONICWARE
3. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Factory Patterns (no talking) - Bonedo Synthesizers
4. SONICWARE deconstruct MINIMAL: Ambient Techno Jam - Freaky Tweaky
5. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Sound Demo (no talking) with custom patterns for Electronic Music - Limbic Bits




"The deconstruct series has arrived — redefining musical structure.
Limited introductory offer: $299 for the first 1,000 units. [see dealers on the right]

deconstruct MINIMAL is a groovebox combining a sampler-integrated drum machine and analog-modeling bass synthesizer, built for the hypnotic grooves of minimal techno and minimal house.

● Legendary Groove DNA
● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine
● Sonic Expansion Sampler
● Elastic Bass Synth
● Live-Boosting Effects

● Legendary Groove DNA

Built on the rhythmic and pitch drift of the legendary drum machines — designed to create hypnotic minimal grooves

● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine

Intuitive, deep groove editing with fully per-track accents, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, and phrase rotation

● Sonic Expansion Sampler

Drum machine–integrated 4-track sampler with a 4-bar loop track — beyond drums through textures and phrases

● Elastic Bass Synth

Fluid analog-modeling bass synth delivering acid bass lines and driving techno leads

● Live-Boosting Effects

Live-focused real-time effects for dynamic groove control and performance intensity

Specifications
Drum machine with sampler and bass synthesizer featuring 11-track construction

[Drum Machine]
• Recreates the distinctive groove of legendary drum machines, shaped by subtle rhythmic and pitch drift
• 9 tracks
• 16 drum kits
• Instruments: 10 banks - 130 sounds
• Sample-based engine with dedicated edit parameters for each bank
• BD1 and SD each feature dedicated synthesis engines
• HH recreates the characteristic sound variations of analog drum machines
• Diverse groove edits: Accent, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, etc. can be set per track
• Supports real-time recording via pads, alongside fast step input
• Equipped with an isolator for bold boosts/cuts and delicate tonal adjustment

[Sampler]
• Supports sample import/export and sampling via LINE IN or USB
• 4 tracks: sample selection on drum machine tracks 7–9, plus dedicated loop track 10
• Preset samples: 3 banks - 48 sounds
Track 7–9

CLICK FOR MORE »

Native Instruments Introduces Komplete 26

video upload by Native Instruments

"Get everything you need to take your music from first idea to finished master, including instruments, effects, and sounds trusted by the pros. Komplete 26 gives you synths, sampled instruments, drums, sound design tools, and studio effects – all in one complete music production bundle.

Whether you're composing, producing, or designing sound, Komplete gives you the tools to follow your ideas wherever they lead."

Press release follows:


Berlin, May 05, 2026 – Native Instruments today released Komplete 26 — everything a music producer needs to take a first idea to a finished, release-ready track. With over 190 premium instruments, professional mixing tools from iZotope and Brainworx, and more than 180,000 sounds, it's the most definitive music production collection NI has ever made.

Trusted by the producers behind the records you know Komplete is used by millions of producers, composers, and musicians every month — from bedroom studios to Grammy-winning sessions. It's the instrument collection behind some of the most iconic tracks you know, and the ones you're about to make.

"I use Komplete in every single session. It lets me stay focused on the music instead of the tools, and whether I'm writing or tweaking, it's a fast way for me to transform my idea to something that feels finished." — Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth)

“Komplete has been part of my production journey since day one. I know I can open it and get exactly what I need, every time.” — Nick Hook (Run The Jewels, Hudson Mohawke)

"Komplete is a must-have for me in my studio. As someone who is always blending genres and pushing the edges of sound design, the versatility of Komplete allows me to have an entire sonic world at my fingertips at all times." — Malibu Babie (Megan Thee Stallion, Shania Twain, Sia)

New additions: sounds for every style and stage Newly added is the legendary semi-modular synth, Absynth 6, known for its evolving, otherworldly tones. Also included are Noire and Claire – sampled from rare grand pianos – and the ethereal vocal soundscapes of Moments: Vocal Clouds.

CLICK FOR MORE »

J3PO // All The Things You Are

video upload by Julian "J3PO" Pollack

"Julian 'J3PO' Pollack performs an arrangement of the classic standard 'All The Things You Are' by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, from the musical Very Warm For May (1939). Everything was recorded live, in one take, with no overdubs.

Gear used: Arturia Keystep Pro (sequencing), Roland TR-8s, Minimoog, Sequential Prophet 6, Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave 8M, Yamaha Acoustic Upright Piano."

Listen to Julian's new album: https://lnk.to/soulandcircuitry

Unboxing a $5,000 Synth… It BLEW Him Away 🤯

video upload by Scott's Synth Stuff

"Unboxing the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave — a powerhouse wavetable synthesizer inspired by the legendary PPG Wave. In this first-look video, I plug it in fresh out of the box and explore its stunning sound engine, analog filters, modulation capabilities, and factory presets.

From classic digital textures to rich analog warmth, this synth delivers serious sonic depth. Expect real-time sound exploration, surprises, and honest first impressions as I dive in without even opening the manual."

0:00 Intro 0:15 Unboxing 0:42 Power Up 0:50 First Impressions 1:35 What Is It? 2:40 Samples 2:58 Filters 3:40 PPG Sounds 5:56 Multitimbrality 6:46 More PPG 7:04 Saturating a Pad 8:14 Analog Filter Manipulation 8:38 Eurogliders! 9:15 Analog Pad and Analog Filter 11:00 Sequencer 12:27 Arpeggiator 13:42 Wave Surfer 14:12 Unison Mode 15:20 Mod Matrix 16:11 Effects 18:56 Modulating Effects 22:30 Powerful Low End 23:54 Oberheim-y? 26:07 It's Digital?!? 26:27 Filter Compensation 28:02 Hours of Playing!

The Man - The Legend: Dave Rossum Talks Filter Design

video upload by Groove Synthesis

"Bob invited the iconic filter chip designer Dave Rossum to our booth at NAMM to talk about his filter designs. Caution: It gets super nerdy!

In the video, Dave shares the incredible story about how he came up with the design for the 2040 filter on a napkin over lunch with Tom Oberheim, how he avoided stepping on Bob Moog's toes when designing the 2144 filter, and what the sonic differences are between these two chips.

Groove's Bob Coover also talks about his thought process behind choosing the filters for the 3rd Wave Advanced Wavetable Synth. It's all about the grease and the groove!

Learn more about the 3rd Wave Advanced Wavetable Synth here: https://www.groovesynthesis.com

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction by Bob Coover
00:35 How Dave Rossum Developed the 2144 Filter Chip
02:54 Filter Design on a Napkin: The Story of the 2040/2140 Filter
04:07 The Differences between the 2140 And 2144 Filters
07:26 Why Bob Chose the 2140 Filter for the 3rd Wave"

5 Ways to use Wavetables in Actual Pieces of Music

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at how Wavetables can be used to improve your musical productions:

0:00 Intro and the 3rd Wave 8m
1:12 No 1: Warm & Fuzzies
3:11 No 2: Complex Drum Synth
4:47 No 3: Sample to Wavetable
6:58 No 4: Cut through
9:24 No 5: Wave Stepping
10:18 Summary
10:55 Patron Jam

This video is sponsored by Groove Synthesis, thank you to them."

UVI Introduces Vintage Vault 5 & Vintage Casio Legacy

video uploads by UVI



Playlist:
1. UVI Vintage Vault 5 | Trailer
2. UVI Vintage Vault 5 | Showcase
3. UVI Vintage Casio Legacy | Showcase
4. UVI Vintage Casio Legacy | Overview

"Vintage Vault 5 - The Ultimate Vintage Synth Collection
https://www.uvi.net/vintage-vault-5

Discover a living collection of synthesis drawn exclusively from real hardware bringing together 43 UVI instruments spanning five decades of electronic sound, from the warm, evolving textures of early polyphonic analog synths, to the crisp digital voices that defined the '80s and '90s, to the obscure prototypes and cult machines that quietly shaped entire genres, this collection captures the true sound of the hardware that defined modern music.

Also included in SonicPass ➡️ https://www.uvi.net/sonicpass

Video credits: Anthony Hak
Music credits: Harel Tsemah"

"Vintage CASIO Legacy - Legends of Digital Instrument
https://www.uvi.net/vintage-casio-legacy

A premium collection built to honor a generation of iconic instruments, while unlocking their full potential in a modern workflow. With six classics, a Multi groove engine, deep editing, and a huge preset library, it’s a uniquely CASIO sound world for today’s producers, composers, and sound designers.

Also included in the new Vintage Vault 5 ➡️ https://www.uvi.net/vintage-vault-5
Also included in SonicPass ➡️ https://www.uvi.net/sonicpass"

UVI Vintage Vault 5 - FIRST LOOK and Synth Demo!

video upload by MATTHS

"Massive demo of several of the new synths inside of UVI's Vintage Vault 5."

https://www.matthsmatthsmatths.com

UVI Vintage Vault 5 | No Talking | ‪@UVIofficial‬

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

"Welcome to DKS Synth Lab! In this video, we explore UVI Vintage Vault 5 with some of the new instruments included in the collection!

Video recorded in collaboration with ‪@UVIofficial‬"