Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave

Overview

The Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is a 24-voice wavetable synthesizer with analog filters, 4-part multitimbrality, and advanced wave playback. It is a spiritual successor to the PPG Wave series, combining the original 8-bit PPG wavetables with modern high-resolution wavetables, analog-modeled waveforms, and (as of OS 1.8) a sample oscillator type.

The core concept is the 6-stage Wave Envelope — a dedicated envelope for sweeping through the 64 waveforms in any wavetable. With three independent oscillators each carrying their own wavetable and Wave Envelope, layered up to 4 parts deep, the timbral possibilities are immense.

Key Specifications

Connections

Front Panel

Rear Panel

Presets & Programs

Sound Banks

500 presets in 5 banks of 100. Each preset can have interesting Mod Wheel assignments, sequences, and multi-part layers. All presets are editable and resavable.

Selecting Programs

Use the BANK and PROGRAM knobs to select programs. The main display shows the current preset name, part, and parameters.

Init Program

Press soft button 1 (init prog) in the Program Select screen to reset to a basic preset: one P-wave, one U-wave, filter and amp envelopes set to useful defaults, mod wheel routed to wave offset.

Compare

Press COMPARE while editing to toggle between your edited version and the last saved version. Hold COMPARE and turn any knob to view its current value without changing it.

Saving

Press WRITE → press WRITE again (or soft button 4 OK). To save to a different location, change the bank/program between WRITE presses. Saving stores all multi-part edits, miscellaneous settings, and sequences.

To cancel a save while WRITE is blinking: turn any knob or press any parameter button.

Naming a Program

Press WRITE (blinks), then use the soft knobs: cursor (move position), symbol (choose character), add (insert), remove (delete), clear (delete all). Press WRITE again or OK when done.

Favorites Lists

Create up to 10 Favorites lists with up to 50 presets each. Access via soft button 4 (favs) in the preset screen. Use soft knob 4 (list #) to select which list, soft knob 1 (fav row) to set position 1–10, then add current to add.

Multi-Part & Splits

Multi-Part Overview

The 3rd Wave is 4-part multitimbral. 24 voices are divided equally by active parts:

Exception: Splits and the Sequencer dynamically allocate voices as needed.

Part Buttons

Lit + blinking = active, audible, and selected for editing. Lit only = active but not being edited. Unlit = inactive/silent. Press any unlit button to activate it. Press any lit button to deactivate it. To toggle editing on/off for an active part: hold MODE and press the part button.

To edit multiple parts simultaneously: double-press the desired part buttons. Any parameter changes apply to all selected (blinking) parts.

Multi-Part Volume, Tuning & Pan

Press MODE to enter multi-part parameters. Use soft knobs 1–4 to adjust volume (0–100) or tuning (-50 to +50 cents) per part. Press soft button 3 (pan) for panning controls (-50 = full left, +50 = full right, 0 = center/pan spread active).

Output Routing

Press MISC, navigate to output routing. Use multi-part buttons to assign parts to Main, Outputs 2, 3, or 4. Press global to apply routing globally across all programs.

Creating Splits

Press MODE → soft button 3 (splits). Part 1 auto-assigns to Split zone 1. Press add to add zones. Hold split note and press a keyboard key to set the split point between zones. Up to 4 zones total. Enable/disable voice sharing with soft knob 4.

Oscillators

Three digital oscillators per voice. Each oscillator independently selects any wave type (P/U/A/S) and carries its own Wave Envelope. Oscillators also support FM modulation between each other.

Front Panel Controls

Misc Tab Parameters

Free-Running Oscillators

By default, oscillators reset their phase on each note-on. Enable free running analog osc in the Misc menu for continuous (unsynced) phase — applies to A-waves only. Creates organic, phasing interactions between oscillators. Caution: may cause clicks with sine waves at note-on; use Amp Attack ≥ 20 to avoid.

Wave Types: P / U / A / S

Wave Flow & Smoothing

Wave Flow Button

Toggles smoothed transitions between waveforms in a wavetable. When ON: waveforms morph smoothly. When OFF: waveforms "step" with audible discontinuities — classic PPG character.

Wavetable Smoothing

Applies interpolation to transitions between waveforms as the Wave Envelope or other modulation source sweeps through them. Applies to P and U waves. Most noticeable on low notes (growling character with it off).

Waveform Smoothing

Applies interpolation to pitch accuracy within each individual waveform. With it off, notes play the nearest sample point — slightly out of tune, exactly as the PPG behaved. Most noticeable on high notes (slight aliasing) and when using pitch bend or LFO pitch mod on low notes.

Use Upper Wavetable

PPG-authentic feature. Enables sweeping past position 63 of any P wavetable into the last 4 waveforms (triangle, pulse-width square, square, saw) and then into wavetable P30 ("upper wavetable"). Toggle via the wave flow button → soft knob 1.

Wave Envelope

A special-purpose 6-stage envelope dedicated to sweeping through the waveforms in a wavetable. Each oscillator has its own independent Wave Envelope. Each stage has two parameters:

• Position — which waveform (0–63) to reach at this stage
• Time — how long it takes to sweep from the previous stage's position to this one

Position 0 is always the Wave Offset value set on the oscillator. Stages 1–6 travel forward from there. The Wave Envelope can also be routed as a modulation source to other destinations via the Mod Matrix.

Front Panel Controls

Looping the Wave Envelope

Press ON → select OSC → open Wave Envelope screen → press soft button 4 (misc). Use soft knob 2 to turn Loop On. Set LP Start PT (stage 1–6 where loop begins) and Release PT (stage where loop ends).

Menu Parameters

Wave Surfer

A single knob that simultaneously moves the wave offset position across all three oscillators. Each increment moves each oscillator's position by the same amount relative to its own wave offset setting. Range: -63 to +63. Press RESET to return to zero.

Works on P and U wavetables only (not A or S). If Upper Wavetable is enabled and you push past position 63 on a P wavetable, it spills into the upper wavetable (P30).

The Wave Surfer display shows each oscillator's base offset + Surfer offset = resulting position in real time.

Sampling (OS 1.8+)

The "S" oscillator type holds multi-sample containers (slots). Each slot can contain up to 8 samples mapped across the keyboard. Total memory: 3.3 MB / ~35 seconds at 48 kHz.

Sample Requirements

Recording Directly

Connect audio to AUDIO IN → Global → manage sample memory → go → New → arm → play source (auto-starts on signal detection, auto-stops on silence) → trim start/end → save.

Importing from Computer

Connect USB (3rd Wave appears as "thirdwave" drive) → open "audio" folder → clear any existing files → copy mono .wav files → Global → manage sample memory → go → New → right arrow → load file → ok → trim → save.

Bulk load up to 100 .wav files at once via Global → manage sample memory → right arrow → bulk load.

Assigning to Slots

After recording/importing, samples must be assigned to an "S" slot container before use. In the Save Sample screen: choose slot number, set root note (press a keyboard key), set bit depth (16/12/8-bit), name it → OK. The sample appears in the "S" category on any oscillator's Wavetable knob.

Editing Samples

Backup & Restore

Export individual samples as .wav files via Global → export sample memory to wav. Export slots as .bin files via Global → Export Sample Library. Restore by copying .bin files back to the "audio" folder and using Global → bulk multisample import.

Unified Program Data File (.pgdata)

Exports a program together with all its samples and wavetables into a single file. Global → export unified data file → ok. Load via Global → import unified data file. Bulk export via Global → bulk unified data file export (up to 25 consecutive programs).

Sample Start Location Modulation (OS 1.9)

Sample start location is now a modulation destination (last item in the destination list). Route any modulation source to dynamically vary where sample playback begins per note.

Low Frequency Oscillators

Four independent LFOs per program. Syncable to the arpeggiator/sequencer clock for tempo-locked modulation. LFOs can be pushed into the audio range for AM/FM-style effects.

LFO Waveshapes

Sine, Triangle, Reverse Sawtooth, Sawtooth, Square, Pulse 1, Pulse 2, Pulse 3, Random (S&H)

Controls

Extended Sync Divisions (OS 1.8+)

When synced, additional slow divisions are available: 6 beats, 8 beats, 16 beats, 32 beats. Access via LFO button → soft button 2 (misc) → set sync to on → soft button 1 → soft knob 1 (freq).

Creative LFO Routing Ideas

Filters

Two filters in series: State-Variable Filter first, then Low-Pass Filter. Each has its own cutoff, resonance, and envelope amount. Using them together with different settings creates a vast tonal range.

Low-Pass Filter (4-pole Analog, 24 dB/oct)

Classic resonant filter. High resonance causes self-oscillation at the cutoff frequency.

State-Variable Filter (2-pole Digital, 12 dB/oct)

Zero-delay feedback. Continuously variable between LP, Notch, and HP modes. Does NOT self-oscillate. Adding resonance does not reduce bass (unlike the LP filter).

Filter Envelope

Dedicated ADSR envelope with delay for both the LP and SVF filters. Shapes harmonic content over the duration of a note.

Amplifier Envelope

ADSR with delay controls the overall volume shape of a note over time. Along with the filter envelope, this is the most important factor in defining a sound's character.

Envelopes 3 & 4

Two additional Delay+ADSR (5-stage) envelope generators for modulation routing. Route to any destination in the Mod Matrix. Can be set to loop (repeat) for cyclical 4-stage modulation effects.

Modulation Matrix

16 modulation slots. Each slot: one source → one destination → one amount. Amount is bipolar (-127 to +127).

Controls

Example Routings

Effects

Two effects per part. Each part in a 4-part program can have its own pair. Effects are saved with each program. Time-based effects sync to the arpeggiator/sequencer/MIDI clock.

Effect Types

Clock Sync Divisions

When clock sync is enabled on a delay effect, delay time syncs to the master clock in these values: Whole (4 beats), Half Dot (3), Half (2), Quarter Dot (1.5), Quarter (1), Quarter Triplet (1.33), 8th Dot (0.75), 8th (0.5), 8th Triplet (0.33), 16th Dot (0.375), 16th (0.25). Maximum actual delay time: 1 second. Longer synced values at slow tempos are halved until under 1 second.

Multi-Part Limitations

All effect combinations are fine on Parts 1+2. In 3- or 4-part programs: Tape Delay on both Part 1 and Part 3 (or 2 and 4) limits the second part to one effect. Room/Hall reverbs on both Part 1 and Part 3 cannot coexist with Leslie or Distortion on both slots.

Arpeggiator

Hold a chord and the arpeggiator plays each note in the pattern you choose. Press additional notes while holding to add them to the arpeggio. Use with Hold button to latch notes.

Controls

Sequencer

Pattern-based sequencer. Each program can hold 24 patterns × 32 measures. Each pattern has independent note tracks for each of the 4 multi-parts. Supports parameter automation and Song mode.

Recording a Pattern

Select program → press any SEQUENCER button → choose pattern (soft knob 1) → set measures (soft knob 2) → set quantize (soft knob 3, or off for free timing) → press REC (flashes) → press PLAY (4-beat count-in) → play notes. Overdub as the sequence loops. Erase mistakes by holding the erase soft button during the region to delete.

Parameter Automation

Set param record to ON in the sequencer menu, start recording, then move any front-panel knob. The sequencer records those movements and plays them back. Use clear params to erase automation without erasing notes.

Song Mode

Arrange up to 24 patterns into a song. Each song section specifies: which pattern plays and how many times it repeats (1–64). Enable song loop for continuous playback. Access via SEQUENCER → right arrow → song.

Multi-Part Sequences (OS 1.8e+)

Each part's sequence is always treated as an independent track. Record parts together or separately — the sequencer keeps them individually editable. Clear notes/params per part using the multi-part buttons during the clear operation.

Copying Patterns

SEQUENCER → right arrow → copy → select source pattern (soft knob 3) and destination (soft knob 4) → soft button 4. Copies both notes and parameter automation.

Pan Spread

The PAN SPREAD knob distributes each new voice in the stereo field, alternating left and right. Full CCW = all voices center (mono). Full CW = each voice hard-panned alternating -50 and +50.

Pan position is the sum of: multi-part pan setting + pan spread position + modulation amount. If the combined total exceeds ±50, it wraps around in the opposite direction — so pan movement never stops even when at an extreme position.

Hold Button

Sustains currently held notes indefinitely. New notes played are added to the held set. Works per-part with independent hold status.

Latch modes (per part): Normal = new notes add to held notes. Chord = new notes replace the previously held set.

When used with the arpeggiator: Hold latches the arpeggio so you can release the keys. In Chord mode, playing a new chord replaces the arpeggio pattern.

Unison & Chord Memory

Unison

Stacks multiple voices on each note for a massive, detuned sound. Access via UNISON button. Set detune amount and voice count (how many voices stack per note). Higher voice counts reduce polyphony proportionally.

Polyphonic Unison

Allows Unison to work polyphonically — multiple notes can each have stacked voices simultaneously (within available voice count).

Chord Memory

Hold a chord, then activate Chord Memory. Single notes played afterwards trigger the entire remembered chord. Useful for playing complex chords with one finger while doing something else with the other hand.

Creating Custom Wavetables

The Wave Maker utility creates custom wavetables for the U set (slots U56–U63, or any U slot). Two methods:

From Audio In

Press MAKE WAVES → create via audio in → connect a signal → sample audio input. The 3rd Wave analyzes the incoming audio and generates a 64-waveform wavetable. Save to a U slot.

From USB / Computer Audio

Copy a mono .wav file to the 3rd Wave's USB drive "audio" folder → MAKE WAVES → create via USB → load file → the 3rd Wave analyzes the audio and creates a wavetable → save to a U slot.

Importing Serum™ Wavetables

Serum-format wavetables (.wav files exported from Serum with the standard 2048-sample-per-frame format) can be imported directly into the P "user" slots (P32–P33) or the U set. Copy the file to the "audio" folder → MAKE WAVES → import Serum wavetable → select and save to slot.

Importing into the P Set

Custom wavetables can be saved into P32 and P33 (the two custom P slots). This gives them the 8-bit, 128-sample PPG character rather than the high-resolution U wave format.

Sounding Like a Vintage PPG

The 3rd Wave can authentically replicate the character of the original PPG 2.2 and 2.3. Key settings to enable:

Global Settings

Access via the GLOBAL button. Use soft knob 1 to scroll parameters and soft knob 2 to change values.

MPE Support

The 3rd Wave supports MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression). Connect an MPE controller (such as a Roli Seaboard or Expressive E Osmose) to take advantage of per-note pitch bend, slide, and pressure from MPE-capable instruments.

Enable MPE mode in the Global settings. In MPE mode, each note receives on its own MIDI channel, allowing independent per-note expression. Route MPE expression sources (pitch, slide, pressure) to any modulation destination in the Mod Matrix for expressive, nuanced control.