https://github.com/mo0kid/wave
Wave Emulation:
A High-Fidelity Recreation of the Legendary Waldorf Wave The Waldorf Wave stands as one of the most ambitious and expensive synthesizers of the early 1990s. A flagship wavetable instrument with up to 48 voices (expandable), a large graphic LCD, sophisticated multi-timbral capabilities, and a unique hybrid digital/analog signal path, it remains highly sought after by collectors and sound designers. Original units are rare, complex, and costly to maintain—making accurate software recreations especially valuable.Enter Wave Emulation, an open-source JUCE-based research instrument developed by mo0kid (also associated with DJW Audio). This project carefully recreates the documented signal path of the Waldorf Wave rather than simply approximating its sound.What It EmulatesWave Emulation models key elements of the original hardware architecture:250 kHz 8-bit/time-multiplexed wavetable voices
The ES2 ASIC’s signed mixer overflow behavior and 12 dB digital high-pass filter
CEM3387 three-pole reconstruction filters and separately saturating nonlinear resonant four-pole low-pass sections
12-bit control-voltage stepping
VCA and panning stages
The distinctive 480 × 64 monochrome graphic LCD
When authenticated Wave OS 1.700 firmware is loaded, the emulation uses the firmware’s own routines to generate all 64 original factory wavetables. Without firmware, it falls back to decoded PPG V6 samples and procedural tables.Features and User ExperienceThe interface is a detailed recreation of the Wave’s front panel, based on high-resolution SVG artwork. Transparent hit regions map to the original controls, while a live framebuffer renders the authentic LCD display. Additional highlights include:Fully playable 61-note on-screen keyboard (C2–C7) with visual feedback and glissando
Performance faders that retain physical positions and apply assignments only after movement
Zoomable interface, hideable keyboard section, tooltips, and fine-adjustment (Shift + drag)
Support for alternative SVG panel skins
Disk image mounting (.img, .ima, .dsk, .st), conversion tools for .SET and .WTB files, and emulated floppy operations
Multi-threaded voice processing (up to three threads) for higher polyphony
Availability and RequirementsCurrent version (0.1.12) offers:Windows x64: Standalone EXE + VST3
macOS 13.0+ (Apple Silicon and Intel): Standalone app + AU, VST3, and AAX
Important: The release does not include any firmware, ROM archives, or factory sound sets. Users must supply their own Wave OS 1.700 files (w2sys.bin and wdv.sys)—available from Waldorf’s legacy Wave page—and optionally their own sound disks or images. The plugin remembers the firmware folder for convenience.Installation is straightforward: extract the Windows ZIP or run the signed/notarized macOS installer, then load firmware via the System menu.Development Approach and HonestyThe project is notably transparent about its accuracy boundaries. It runs original firmware binaries on emulated 68000 CPUs, models shared memory, LCD hardware, and voice-card behavior in detail, and prioritizes sample-accurate processing for MIDI, envelopes, filters, and VCAs. At the same time, it openly states that the internal oscillator ASIC remains a behavioral proxy based on available documentation, and certain low-level aspects continue to be refined against real-hardware measurements.Recent updates (0.1.12 and earlier) have focused on wavetable loading, Store/Total Recall reliability, voice allocation, MIDI routing, disk handling, and overall stability.Why It MattersLike other recent high-fidelity hardware emulations, Wave Emulation goes far beyond typical soft-synth modeling. By loading and executing authentic firmware while carefully reconstructing the analog and digital signal path, it aims to preserve both the sonic character and the distinctive workflow of one of synthesis history’s most iconic instruments.If you own (or can legally obtain) the required firmware and sound material, this project offers an exciting opportunity to experience the Waldorf Wave in a modern DAW environment. Development is active, and support via Ko-fi is available for those who enjoy the work.Explore the project, download the latest release, and dive into the detailed documentation on the GitHub repository.Happy wavetable exploring!
Bringing Vintage Hardware Synths Back to Life: Two Remarkable Emulations
In the world of music production, few things excite synth enthusiasts more than accurate, hardware-level emulations of classic instruments. Two recent open-source projects stand out for their ambitious approach: they don’t just approximate the sound of legendary synthesizers—they run the original firmware and hardware code, delivering authentic behavior inside your DAW or as standalone apps.
Here’s a closer look at these two impressive efforts.
Ensoniq SD-1 32-Voice VST/AU Emulation
The Ensoniq SD-1 (released in 1990) is a powerful wavetable synthesizer from Ensoniq’s lineage that began with the ESQ-1 and evolved through the SQ-80, VFX, and VFX-SD. It features Transwave technology for additive synthesis and waveform modulation, dual multi-mode digital filters, extensive modulation options, a built-in effects processor, and a full 24-track sequencer. Its rich piano samples and versatile sound design capabilities made it a favorite workstation of the era.
The project by Sojus Records (a long-running netlabel) delivers a MAME-based, cycle-accurate VST3/AU emulation built with JUCE. This is the first proper software recreation of the SD-1/32, and it aims for complete authenticity.
Key highlights include:
Full functionality matching the original hardware (check the original manual for reference).
Comprehensive preset and disk manager supporting internal RAM/ROM, cartridges, and external files (.SYX, disk images like .HFE/.IMG, etc.).
Instant import/export of programs, presets, and banks.
Sequencer control via DAW transport, BPM sync, and song position.
VST automation of panel controls, full MIDI I/O, multiple panel layouts, resizable GUI, and four audio outputs (main stereo + optional dry aux).
Cross-platform support: Windows (VST3, AVX1/AVX2), macOS (Universal Binary VST3 and AU for selected DAWs), and Linux (VST3).
Important notes: You must supply your own ROM files (SD-1/32 and LCD ROMs). The plugin includes a user-friendly installer process for them. As a cycle-accurate emulation, it is CPU-intensive—higher buffer sizes are recommended on older systems. Multiple instances are supported.
This project demonstrates how AI-assisted coding can help musicians bring previously unemulated hardware into modern workflows. Downloads and detailed installation instructions are available on the GitHub repository.
KORG MS2000R Hardware Emulator (ms2000r-emu)
The KORG MS2000 (and its rackmount sibling, the MS2000R) is a classic early-2000s analog-modeling synthesizer known for its warm virtual-analog sound, vocoder, arpeggiator, and motion sequencer. It remains popular for its hands-on workflow and distinctive character.
ms2000r-emu by Tuth takes a pure hardware-emulation approach: the original H8S/2350 main CPU firmware runs instruction-by-instruction, while the DSP56362 audio engine runs on the dsp56300 emulator library. Nothing in the sound engine is reimplemented—the audio comes directly from the machine’s own code.
Current status (v0.9.3) includes:
Fully working firmware: programs, vocoder, arpeggiator, motion/mod sequencer, demo songs, MIDI IN/OUT, and program WRITE (with emulated non-volatile flash).
Complete front panel recreation: 32 knobs, switch matrix, LED matrix, and 16x2 LCD (including custom characters).
Audio inputs for vocoder and OSC1 AUDIO IN.
.SYX bank/program loading and saving.
Plugin extras: Library page for browsing presets, host tempo/MIDI clock sync, transport control, and state saving within projects.
Multiple plugin instances supported (each runs as a separate machine).
Availability: Windows-only for now, offered as both a standalone application (with full ImGui front panel) and a VST3 plugin. You must provide your own firmware dumps (flash.bin and DSP boot ROM; LCD character ROM is optional).
The project credits collaboration with AI (Claude) guided by the hardware owner, plus the essential dsp56300 library from The Usual Suspects / gearmulator project. It is licensed under GPL-3.0.
Find builds, ROM requirements, and build instructions on the GitHub repository.
Why These Matter
Both projects represent a growing trend of high-fidelity, firmware-level synthesizer emulations. Unlike traditional soft-synths that model or approximate sound, these run the original code, preserving not just the tone but also the exact behavior, quirks, and workflow of the hardware.
They require users to supply their own ROMs/firmware (standard for legal reasons in such projects) and can be demanding on CPU resources due to their accuracy. Yet for fans of the Ensoniq SD-1 or KORG MS2000R, they offer an exciting way to use these instruments in modern DAWs without hunting down aging hardware.
If you own the original machines or have legal ROM dumps, these emulations are well worth exploring. They highlight the creativity of the open-source music community and the potential of combining classic hardware knowledge with contemporary development tools.
Check out the repositories for the latest releases, documentation, and updates—happy synthesizing!
1. https://github.com/sojusrecords/Ensoniq-SD-1-32-Voice-VST-emulation
2. https://github.com/Tuth/ms2000r-emu
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