There is more to the 3rd Wave than its five types of synthesis and Dave Rossum-designed analog filters. Built into the instrument is a pattern sequencer, and it is one of the quickest ways to catch an idea before it gets away. When a musical idea strikes, you can record it right there on the…
Press a single key on the 3rd Wave and you might be hearing four completely different synthesizers at once. That is the idea behind multi-parts, and it is one of the most powerful and most overlooked features on the instrument. In this first episode of Patching In, we take you through multi-parts hands-on, and the…
The 3rd Wave 8M desktop module has been in people’s hands for about a year now. Over that time, it has been measured, sequenced, multitracked, compared with its bigger siblings, and lined up against everything else in its category. Reading back through the reviews, a few common threads emerge: that the 3rd Wave synth engine…
The Groove Synthesis team is heading back to Berlin for Superbooth, May 7-9 at FEZ. You’ll find us at booth O246 with the full 3rd Wave family set up for hands-on quality time. It’s been a great first year for our newest product, the 8M: a 2026 Sound On Sound awards nomination, strong reviews across…
If you’ve ever wondered why certain synthesizers just feel different when you sweep the filter, there’s a good chance the answer traces back to one person. Dave Rossum designed the filter chips that defined the sound of the Prophet-5, the SP-1200, and dozens of other instruments that shaped modern music. So when Bob Coover invited…
Great sound design starts with knowing what you need a sound to do. Whether that’s holding its own on a festival stage, sitting right in a mix, or becoming something entirely new in the studio, the goal is always the same: make it musical. Sam Gutman knows that process from both sides. As a keyboardist…
We’re heading to Downtown LA for Buchla & Friends 2026, and we’re bringing the whole family. Hosted by our friends at Buchla, this two-day synthesizer gathering happens January 24-25 at C&I Studios, and it’s one of our favorite events of the year. Picture 80+ boutique synth makers under one roof, headphones plugged in, everyone geeking…
We’re bringing the complete 3rd Wave family to NAMM 2026, and we’re not coming alone. Artist Appearances Join us in Hall A at Booth #11000 for special sessions with two incredible artists: Friday, January 23 Saturday, January 24 Exclusive NAMM Giveaway With Anthony Marinelli We’ve teamed up with Anthony Marinelli for an exclusive NAMM giveaway:…
Under the Hood Improvements for the 3rd Wave Orinda, CA, December 24, 2025 — OS Version 1.9c for all three 3rd Wave models is now available as a free update, and it’s all about making your 3rd Wave an even smoother operator. This version includes only a few updates, but has significant improvements to the…
We are a small group of synth lovers and engineering geeks who created the 3rd Wave out of our love for the original wavetable synthesizer from Germany. We wanted to make a worthy successor to that platform, so the question became what would happen if we built the modern, easy-to-use wavetable synthesizer we always wanted?…