Korg Wave Drum Percussion Synthesizer

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List Price: $850.00
Sale Price: $345.00
Today's Bonus: 59% Off

• Responds naturally to sticks, mallets and traditional hand drum techniques
• Innovative technology combines DSP synthesis and PCM samples; plus effects
• 100 preset + 100 user programs; Live Mode stores up to 12 favorites for instant recall
• Jam along to the 100 loop phrases or to the MP3/CD/AUX input; headphone output

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The original Korg Wavedrum was a quick success in 1994 for it's unique design and sounds (designed by a father specifically to help his musically challenged son). Sonically richer and programmable, the 2nd generation Wavedrum was introduced a couple years ago. At just 13" in diameter, the updated Wavedrum might have added plastic parts but still feels like a professional instrument with even a tensionable head. Scraping a stick across side ridges are but one aspect of a completely unique playing experience and truly organic sound. Connectors include 1/4" in and out, Aux in, and headphone jack. Alas, it's lack of MIDI ports and clunky interface are limitations. Needing to be plugged in, moreover, limits portability.

You may also want to consider last year's Mini Wavedrum. It is not just smaller, lighter, and cheaper. It's a wholly different animal targeting perhaps a singer-songwriter looking for accompaniment in a live setting rather than a simple percussion instrument for a studio musician (whether pro or amature). And so, the Mini has a built-in speaker and battery option (6 AAs). It has but a simple cheap and non-adjustable rubber pad rather than the outstanding tactile skin of the fullsized Wavedrum (and so, I give it but 4 stars). The completely unique feature of this puppy is the clip microphone sensor that makes every surface (book cover, shoe, table top, etc) a new playing experience. Although sounds can be tweaked, there's no longer the editable instruments (with but a fraction of the big brother's features). Bottom line, it's hard to predict what sounds the clip or the pad will produce (both are velocity sensitive) ... but, this is also it's charm. If you were hoping for a cheaper Wavedrum, you'll be disappointed. But, while the mini is more of just a fun toy it's still a very fun little instument for the spontaneous jam. It makes any table drummer sound like a million (alas, sometimes the hand-strike can be louder than the speaker but headphones work great). Still no MIDI interface and you can't store anything you create.

Both will appeal to musicians who value a truly original performance, or to any beginner simply looking to enjoy playing a musical instrument (what it was in fact designed for).

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I've been looking to get a wavedrum for over a year, and the wait was worth it. I'm really impressed with the expression you can get with this. I'd recommend getting some mallets, as they strike a less sharp sound than drum sticks. The palm mutes and hand playing are great too. My only complaint, which you can fix, it's quiet out of the box, turn on the 2x volume option. Once that was set, it's just a matter of setting what you like.

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Amazing assortment of sounds, really easy to work with great feel I have not been a fan of electronic drum in the past but this as an amazing instrument

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This is a great product! The best price I've seen online! I can't wait to use it at church this week!

I already owned the much more expensive Roland Handsonic HPD-15, which I have been using for years. The Handsonic is a terrific electronic hand-drum unit, with a huge amount of sampled percussion. I had tried the Wavedrum in a music store years ago, loved it, but couldn't justify buying yet another electronic percussion unit. The price dropped when the Wavedrum standard was discontinued and was so cheap I couldn't resist. I only saw the cheap price for a short time, then it disappeared.

The Wavedrum is a different, and much more organic and responsive instrument. The combination of the real head (not rubber) modeled synthesis, samples, and piezo pickups adds up to an instrument that feels and plays like a real drum.

The array of sounds is fine, albeit not nearly as complete as the Handsonic. The Wavedrum is programmable, but the interface is terrible a few digits or letters in a tiny red rectangle which are hard to decipher.

There is no MIDI, or a way to connect to a computer, but the Wavedrum was designed for musicians to play, and a joy it is to do just that.