Korg WaveDrum Digital Percussion Synthesizer

WaveDrum can be used as a stand-alone percussion instrument, or integrated into an existing drum kit or percussion rig, according to the company. Unlike digital trigger-based systems, WaveDrum was designed to use a real drum head as the playing surface, for an authentic and familiar feel. This is designed to allow the performer to employ sticks, brushes, mallets and/or traditional hand-drum techniques (mute, slap, bend, etc.) to play with comfort and confidence.

There are actually two playing surfaces on WaveDrum: the head and the rim. Under the head is an audio transducer, similar to a microphone. This transducer drives WaveDrum’s DSP and PCM sound engines, supposedly providing a far more expressive and natural playing experience than trigger-based systems that rely on PCM playback alone. The rim is outfitted with different-sized raised patterns on the left and right sides. In addition to using the rim as a traditional playing surface, rubbing a stick or mallet over these raised patterns can create interesting percussion effects, similar to an afro-cuban güiro, for example.

100 preset programs and 100 user programs are stored in memory, with 12 favorites available for instant access. Reverb and Delay effects are designed to add depth and character to the sound.

Availability
The Korg WaveDrum Digital Percussion Synthesizer will be available in January 2010 with a pricing TBA.

For more information, visit www.korg.com.