Summary: Korg WaveStation line of synthesizers. Digital sample-based
synths with a great deal of programming depth and flexibility. Based
on vector mixing between waves and "wavesequencing", which lets you
step through different waves over the life of a note.

Synth: Korg WaveStation
Review by: Mike Perkowitz (map@cs.washington.edu)
Years Made: ? through current
Polyphony: 32 oscillators total, but patches can use *many* oscillators
Multitimbral: Yes, up to 16 channels
MIDI: yes, fairly complete, including sysex control over individual 
	parameters (but in a totally boneheaded way)
Other external control: 
	the A/D model has 2 audio inputs which can be run through the
	effects section or treated as additional waves
Patch storage: 
	varies over different models. each has a ROM bank of waves,
	wavesequences, patches, and presets, with additional RAM
	banks that hold more of the above (except actual waves).
	RAM cards and PCM wave cards available.
Voice architecture:
	  Oscillators: each can play back a single wave (from among about 500,
	fewer on the original WaveStation) or a wavesequence. each bank can
	hold 32 wavesequences. a wavesequence is a series of waves, each
	with a level, crossfade time (crossfading requires an extra 
	oscillator!), and transpose. wavesequences can be stepped through
	automatically or from various modulation sources.
	  Each patch can use 1, 2, or 4 oscillators. There are the usual
	LFOs (two) and envelopes (several) and filters (no resonance, dont
	make much difference to the sound) for each oscillator. There's
	also a wave mix envelope which lets you control the mix between
	the oscillators. you can also do this in realtime with the joystick.
	  Presets can be assembled from up to 8 patches, including level
	information, transpose, split/layer, etc. Presets also define
	effects. There are two effects units which can be routed in parallel
	or serial, with different patches being routed differently. The
	effects are quite good (and include a filter/distortion which
	makes up for the main filters somewhat).
	  Multisets can define multitimbral assignments of presets. With
	only two effects units though, not every preset can have its
	programmed effects settings: they have to be redone for the multiset.
	  Programming is not simple but is reasonable on all models but
	the SR -- they have nice large LCD displays and a fair number of
	editing keys. The SR is much more compact and consequently somewhat
	harder to work with.
Sequencer/Arpeggiator: none
Models:
  Original WaveStation: keyboard, velocity and aftertouch sensitive
  WaveStation EX: added more wave samples (and more effects?)
  WaveStation A/D: 2-unit rackmount version, has analogue inputs
  WaveStation SR: 1-unit rackmount with more sound banks (but no more
	wave samples). better effects routing, can read 01/W series
	PCM cards, no analogue inputs. the only WS still in production.
Comments:
  The WaveStation is one of few real programmer's machines being made today.
  Though based around samples, it's not a sample-playback box -- many of
  the samples are simply weird and unusual. You get lots of samples from
  the Prophet-VS, a number of standard analogue synth waves, and multiple
  resonance and filter sweep samples. And precious few pianos, strings, etc.
  The editing is not too difficult: it's not overly hard to dive in and
  make changes, and the pages are reasonably laid out. Drawbacks: the
  weakness of the filters is a top complaint of many users. The wave samples
  themselves are very unusual (characteristic, even) and atmospheric,
  but are often short on bass oomph. The limitations on the effects 
  (particularly in multitimbral use). And, if you use it multitimbrally 
  with a number of complex, layered sounds, you might find that 32 
  oscillators is not sufficient. But still, a deep, fascinating programmer's
  machine.