Sam Gutman Unleashes the 3rd Wave: Not Just Another Wavetable Warrior

Let’s get one thing straight: the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave isn’t just another wavetable nostalgia box. Sam Gutman wastes no time smashing preconceptions, opening with a taste of the classic PPG sound before flipping the script. Sure, wavetables are the headline act, but this synth is packing a whole arsenal under the bonnet.

Gutman’s intro is a cheeky riff on waveform monogamy—why settle for just one when you can have a buffet? The 3rd Wave cycles through waveforms like a DJ swaps records, serving up evolving textures that go way beyond the usual suspects. If you thought this was just another digital clone, you’re in for a surprise. The 3rd Wave is deeper than your average VST rabbit hole, and Sam’s about to show you why.

Here’s where things get spicy. The 3rd Wave doesn’t just tip its hat to the classics—it drags them onto the dancefloor and gives them a modern makeover. Analog subtractive? Check. FM? Absolutely. Sampling? You bet, and it’s not just tacked on as an afterthought.

Gutman highlights the dual filter setup—think Oberheim meets Prophet 5, with a side of saturation for extra filth. Add in the ability to import or record your own samples, and suddenly you’re not just tweaking presets, you’re building sonic Frankensteins. The 3rd Wave’s flexibility means you can go from vintage warmth to digital chaos without breaking a sweat. It’s a mash-up that actually works, and Sam’s demo patches prove it’s more than marketing fluff.

Now for the party trick: layering. The 3rd Wave lets you stack up to four independent layers, and we’re not talking about just slapping oscillators together. Each layer gets its own full set of controls—oscillators, mod matrix, LFOs, filters, envelopes, effects, sequencers, the lot. It’s like having four synths in one, all ready for a sonic street fight.

Gutman walks us through the interface, showing how you can jump between layers and unleash a dozen oscillators or four arpeggiators at once. Want a patch where each layer morphs, bends, or arpeggiates independently? Easy. He even demos a patch with four arps running simultaneously—practical? Maybe not. Fun? Absolutely. This is the kind of power that makes menu-diving purists weep with joy.

If you’re after complexity, the 3rd Wave delivers. But the best bit? It’s all accessible from a knob-per-function layout, so you’re not buried in menus. Gutman’s patches show off just how wild things can get when you start stacking layers and letting them interact. This is synth architecture for people who think one filter is never enough.

Let’s be honest: words and screenshots can only take you so far. The real punch of the 3rd Wave is in the sound, and Gutman’s video is packed with demos that’ll make your speakers sweat. If you want to hear those evolving textures, wild layers, and filter sweeps in all their filthy glory, you’ll need to watch the full thing. Trust me—this is one synth that demands a proper listen.