THE COMPLETE CREATIVE INSTRUMENT
The 3rd Wave 24K is where decades of synthesis evolution meet uncompromising design. Built for professional keyboardists, composers, and studios where the synthesizer isn’t just another piece of gear but the creative centerpiece.
Twenty-four voices. Four independent parts. A 61-key Fatar keybed with velocity and aftertouch. Every parameter is accessible through dedicated controls in a knob-per-function layout. This is synthesis without barriers.
FOUR SYNTHESIZERS IN ONE
Each of the 24K’s four parts operates as a complete, independent synthesizer with its own sound, sequence, pair of effects, and dedicated stereo output.
Layer orchestral pads beneath aggressive leads. Split bass and keys across the keyboard. Run four different sequences simultaneously. Film composer Drew Neumann was able to use all four parts to recreate the impossibly rich soundscapes that defined Æon Flux. That same depth is waiting for your next project.
THE ANALOG DIFFERENCE
At the heart of every voice is a Dave Rossum-designed SSI2140 analog lowpass filter with variable saturation that is paired with an SEM-style state-variable filter offering lowpass, highpass, notch, and bandpass modes. Run them in series for harmonically complex textures.
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The DC-coupled output stages deliver low-end power you don’t just hear but feel. This is the signal path that defines the Groove Synthesis sound, present in every voice, every part, every note.
Listen to the audio demos in uncompressed PCM quality below to hear the 24K in its full glory.
SYNTHESIS WITHOUT LIMITS
The built-in Wavemaker lets you create up to 64 custom wavetables. Connect any audio source and generate wavetables at the touch of a button.
All five synthesis methods can be combined within a single patch, layered across oscillators to create sounds that would otherwise require multiple instruments.
Listen to the audio demos in uncompressed PCM quality below to hear the 24K in its full glory.
Each of the three oscillators per voice can independently run:
- Classic PPG-era wavetables with the authentic processing chain and imaging character
- High-resolution modern wavetables that will make a wavetable from your audio, and that allow Serum wavetable import
- Analog-modeled waveforms for classic subtractive synthesis
- Three operator linear FM per part for metallic, bell-like, and complex harmonic textures
- Sampling audio sources that allow up to 8 samples across the keyboard
Hear the groove
MODULATION DEPTH
Sixteen assignable modulation slots. Twelve additional fixed-source slots. Twenty-seven sources. One hundred twenty-seven destinations – per part.
This is modular-synth flexibility in a self-contained instrument, with the ability to save and recall everything you create.
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SEQUENCER & PERFORMANCE
The pattern-based sequencer handles notes, chords, and parameter automation across 24 patterns with up to 32 measures for each pattern. Enter in real time with adjustable quantization, then arrange patterns into complete songs.
For live performance, the knob-per-function layout means every tweak happens in the moment, not buried in menus.
MPE and polyphonic aftertouch support capture every nuance from compatible controllers.
24K KEYBOARD SPECIFICATIONS
24 Voices
4 Part Multitimbral
3 High-Res, Multiple Sample Rate, Digital Oscillators Per Voice
- 64 total user wavetable locations with 56 shipping wavetables that contain 64 waveforms per table
- 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 (saw, square/pulse, triangle, sine, supersaw, white noise, pink noise)
- Linear FM – 3 Operator
- Sampling. 8 way multi-part. Loopable with seamless cross fading. 35 seconds at full bandwidth
- Oscillator Hard-Sync
- Optional wave flow section: 1. Wavetable interpolation on/off 2. Waveform, (pitch), interpolation on/off 3. PPG Upper Wavetable mode on/off
- 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
- 6-stage wave envelope per oscillator with variable time and position that can be looped. Can be assigned to any destination
4 Low-Frequency Oscillators
- Triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, pulse 1, pulse 2, pulse 3, and random (S&H)
- Variable delay
- Note reset or free running
- Syncable to master clock BPM
- LFOs can be polyphonic or mono
2 digital effects (per part)
- BBD, stereo delay, tape delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, distortion pedal, rotating speaker with tube model, 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
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 audio is analyzed to create a custom wavetable
- Audio to convert is brought in as a 96 kHz wav file through USB
- Store up to 64 custom wavetables
- 64 waveforms per wavetable
- Accepts pitched or un-pitched material as input
- 96 kHz sampling rate
- 16, 24, or 32-bit resolution
- Audio up to 20 seconds can be analyzed
- Imports Serum™ wavetables
Pattern based with song mode
- Performs both Note and Parameter Sequencing
- 4 parts per sequence
- 24 patterns per 3rd Wave program
- 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
1 arpeggio pattern for each part
- Up, down, up/down, assign modes, and random
- Variable range (1, 2, or 3 octaves)
16 slot modulation matrix with 30 mod sources and 127 mod destinations
- 12 additional fixed-source mod paths with the same number of sources and destinations
- 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
77 knobs and 39 buttons enable knob per function with virtually no menu
- Pitch and Mod Wheels
- Full-sized, five-octave, semi-weighted, premium Fatar keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
- Responds to polyphonic after touch
- Responds to MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression)
500 factory programs. User rewritable
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
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
- Shipping Box Dimensions Imperial Units: 44″ x 20″ x 13″ inches
- Shipping Box Dimensions Metric: 112 cm x 54 cm x 33 cm
- Shipping Weight Imperial Units: 35 lbs
- Shipping Weight Metric: 16 kg
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