Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave - Desktop

The 3rd Wave is a powerhouse wavetable synth with 24-voice polyphony and 4-part multi-timbral capability that’s like having four independent synthesizers at your fingerprints.

Each of its 3 oscillators per voice can be

• A classic PPG-era wavetable
• A high-resolution complex wavetable
• An analog-modeled waveform

Create up to 64 custom wavetables of your own using the built-in Wavemaker. With sample-to-wavetable capability, you can connect an audio source to the audio input and generate a wavetable at the touch of a button.

 CLASSIC LEGACY, MODERN SOUND

While the 3rd Wave has roots in the classic digital wavetable synths of the past, it takes that concept into the 21st century with a lush, expansive sound that’s a product of its expanded wavetables and warm, organic-sounding analog filters

It boasts not only a punchy, Dave Rossum-designed 2140 analog low-pass filter with variable saturation, but a second, SEM-style state-variable filter (low-pass, high-pass, notch, and band-pass) for additional tone-sculpting. Run both filters in series for harmonically complex textures.

4-PART, MULTI-TIMBRAL

With 24-voices, the 3rd Wave has enough power for the most note-intensive performances. And that polyphony really comes into play with its ability to layer up to 4 independent parts or split zones — each with a completely different sound, sequence, and dual effect.

Each stereo part has independent panning, volume, and a dedicated stereo physical output.

MODULATION MATRIX

The secret weapon of any synth is its mod matrix, and the 3rd Wave doesn’t disappoint. With 16 assignable slots, 12 additional fixed-source slots, 27 sources, and 114 destinations, it has the flexibility of a modular. And all of this power is per multipart. That means up to 4 independent layers of sound, each with its own mod matrix.

SEQUENCE NOTES, SONGS & PARAMS

The 3rd Wave’s sequencer is an inspiring tool for both composers and sound designers because it is pattern-based and can sequence notes, songs, and parameter changes.

For composing and performing, enter notes and chords in real time with or without quantization for maximum groove and arrange up to 24 patterns of up to 32 measures in length into songs just as easily.

UPDATE, OCTOBER 2026: Groove Synthesis & Ocean Control Introduce 3rd Wave Terminal, a Free Companion App for the 3rd Wave Synthesizer Family

Created by Ocean Control, the brand of composer Pedro Macedo Camacho, and by Groove Synthesis, a new desktop application for Mac and Windows now lets owners organize their program libraries, edit every parameter in expanded detail, and build wavetables and multisamples directly from audio files, including MP3s.

The desktop app gives owners a second way to work with their instrument: organizing and archiving program libraries, editing sounds in expanded, menu-free detail, and building wavetables and multisamples directly from imported audio, including formats the hardware alone cannot use without conversion. 3rd Wave Terminal is available immediately at no cost for registered owners by going to the Groove Synthesis website.