PPG wave 2.2 Wavetable Synthesizer (1982) pt.1

[revokdaryl1]

Very cool synthesizer. If I'm not mistaken this beauty was used heavily by Gary Numan, particularly on his album "The Fury". Great video and thank you for posting.

[djemptyx]

I could listen to these PPGs all day long :) I hope to get close to some of those lush sounds on the Blofeld. I know one can get close!

[sturoc0]

at round 2:40 what is the arpeggiatted patch consist of ?

[900GTi]

If you can't afford a Wave, get a Microwave 1

[MichaelJHuman]

Wow, around 4 mins, I think that outdoes the DX synths for a sweet bell like tone.

[lobit12]

hey congrats! you got one of these.  now you just need an arp chroma and a cs-80?

[burnsport1]

also, 6:44...great sound!

[burnsport1]

4:10 great sound!

[douro20]

I think the best I've ever heard of this synth was when Mike Rutherford programmed a custom sound for the intro to "In The Living Years".

[douro20]

@CypherTheIncredible

You would be very lucky to find one for less than US$2000. You can get the same kind of sound with a Waldorf Microwave XT, but unless you're lucky enough to find an XTk you have to have a keyboard to control it.

[douro20]

The reason these were so expensive back in their day is the sheer amount of ROM space required for all of the waveforms- there are 32 wavetables, and each has 64 waveforms- that's a total of 1,920 waveforms!

[douro20]

Oh, pardon me, that's 2048 waveforms!

[douro20]

I wish I could afford one of these...I know the Waldorf Microwave XT is very similar, but you have to have a separate controller for it.

[retrosound72]

@douro20 I have also the Microwave 1 and Microwave 2 and the sound-character is very different especially to the PPG. the same concept but the PPG sound is very hard with a lot of digital dirt. really unique.

[douro20]

@retrosound72

Yeah, thank you for reminding me of that. The Waldorf synths are going to be cleaner sounding by virtue of being 16-bit.

[renevanderwouden]

One of my favorite synths

[calyx93]

Great demo - love mine to death. Won't ever part with them. To me, they're one of the few digital synths that have a "soul" - probably due to the great filters and that poor, underpowered CPU. The funky timing on the LFO is evidence of that :)

[abrokenframe82]

Depeche Mode used the PPG Wave 2.2 on the A Broken Frame album. The Song See You has the choir sound at the beginning.

[halation777]

I HATE that "Mayhem" guy.

[zedster911]

One of my all time favs on my wish list

[TheFederalDrugs]

I always think the PPG, had it been cheaper - some chance - would have stopped the rise of the DX7, and therefore ushered in the digital/ analog modelling synth that didn't arrive until the Nord in 1996. This is the missing link. As it happened, the dreadful DX7 took over and all knobs and dials disappeared for about 15 years...

[freethoughtmusic]

@TheFederalDrugs You're soooo right. I mean the DX7 had its good points but the DXs and the Roland D series were just bloody keyboards, not synthesizers for the most part. I had FM synths (still got my old TX802) but don't miss my D10 one bit. I knew someone who traded a Minimoog for a DX7, course he kicked himself in the ass for evermore.

[NosferatuAaacaado]

Holy shit.

[HolyKatana]

@CypherTheIncredible A lot. They're pretty valuable.

[alexnordh]

It must be the ultimate synth ever. From dirty-cold krautrock sounds to cheesy italo sounds in the same machine. You just need this to cover all styles.

[TheSynthZone]

If you like the sound of the Wave but have an issue obtaining one as most do you might try the .Vsti version which is not exactly lame. ppg 2.V

[TheSynthZone]

Tangerine Dream and even Thomas Dolby used these at one time. Dolbys hit album was based on this machine, he dumped it and did Howard the Duck...hmm Tangerine dream still has theirs stashed away, or so I read.

Did you get the Waveterm b unit too?

[D10078]

Looks like it's fresh out of the box! MINT! No damage that I can see via YOUTUBE or from your camera.

[retrosound72]

@D10078

yes like new. :)

[frusciante94]

I search a sound very similar at the one at 40 seconds, can you help me???

[retrosound72]

@frusciante94

this is the legendary PPG choir.

[paciok1971]

@frusciante94 the vst sonik sinth2 have the PPG Vocal Formant inside the sound-library. Try !!

[paciok1971]

@frusciante94 the vst sonik sinth2 have the PPG Vocal Formant inside the sound-library. Try it !!

[kansascitycomputers]

thats like the richest sound yet on all of the frequencieseven better than oberheim

[TheSynthZone]

@kansascitycomputers Comparing an analog synth to a wavetable synth is very tough. Try running a wave through an Oby if you like the filter! (or get a sherman filterbank)

[bytex666]

Great channel you have, I've seen you on the vintagesynth forum some time ago :)

Do you own all the vintage synths you test? If so, you must have a big warehouse by now to store them all in? I saw a PPG wave 2.3 for 4000 EUR on ebay, can you really afford to buy it?

[player042]

I love this synth! All the sound you make with it are soo rich and atmospheric!

[retrosound72]

@player042

:))

[MacXpert74]

Nice! Finally a good demo of the PPG wave on Youtube! It seems a lot of people have forgotten about this synth, because it's almost none existing on Youtube.

[retrosound72]

@MacXpert74

:) thank you.

I will try that the PPG not forgotten. ;)

[hoodwink808]

@MacXpert74 that scuz they cost $10.000 secondhand on ebay.

[MacXpert74]

@hoodwink808 Yeah, but that's true for many classic synths. But you can find many more clips from synths like the Fairlight CMI, Jupiter 8, Memory Moogs etc. than anything about the PPG waves. And those synths (in good condition) are very expensive too. Maybe more PPGs broke down. or PPG owners just don't like Youtube ;)

[TheSynthZone]

@MacXpert74 Not many waves were built due to internal company issues. The designer is still working and thats awesome. Mass produced commercial synths are common but wave is rare beast! Use what you have though, many people love all kinds of electronic sound.

[hoodwink808]

@MacXpert74 yeah man, thats true, they can all cost a bit, but, a joop8 doesnt cost 10k, nor a memory... an original fairlight would fetch that easily i would guess, if not more...

i have got the waldorf softsynth version of the ppg... and i love it... and while i have heard waldorf did a fair job, it doesnt sound as good as this... this sounds great.. i can only imagine how good it is in the room there playing the thing... lucky fulla.

[hoodwink808]

Respond to this video hello mr retro sound... have you played , or heard waldorfs softsynth version of the ppg... if so, how does it compare ??? obviously not as good, i would nt expect that, but is it a fair representation?...

[jezuz12345]

1:24 is sooooo good! Keep it up! :-)

[retrosound72]

@jezuz12345

:)

[paciok1971]

The sounds of first Depeche Mode, Broken Frame and Constructio Time Again. Fantastic!!

[retrosound72]

@paciok1971

yes. :)

[TheSynthZone]

@paciok1971 I always characterized Depeche by their use of the Emax which often sampled many , many synths!

[SPFXsynthesisers]

Great synth and well demonstrated.

1.33 to 1.50 would make a great Boards of Canada type track.do it and get signed to warp :-)

Hey I don't know if you use Kontakt at all but I have made a virtual quadra synth for it go to my my channel and check it out if you get some time.

Peace

[retrosound72]

@SPFXsynthesisers

thank you :)

I will check it!

[Switcher1972]

Quite a beast indeed - reminded me some Tangerine Dream tunes from the early-80's.

[retrosound72]

@Switcher1972

yes TD used the wave in many albums (EXIT, Poland, White Eagle)

[AnalogAudio1]

Hi Marko, schöne Demo... kannst Du mir bitte sagen, wieweit der Ensoniq SQ-80 soundmäßig vom PPG Wave entfernt ist? Ich meine in Punkto Filter und Schnelligkeit der Hüllkurven...

auf jeden Fall weiß ich, daß der Ensoniq das Durchfahren von Wellensätzen nicht erlaubt.

[retrosound72]

@AnalogAudio1

Hi, danke. Der SQ-80 ist eine saugeile Kiste! Es gibt Wellenformen mit denen du PPG ähnliche Sounds machen kannst. Also diese typischen PPG chöre oder die gläsernen Hybridsounds. Der SQ-80 läßt sich auch hervorragend bedienen, keine Untermenüs. Da macht das Schrauben richtig Spass, auch ohne Knöpfe. Wavetable Sounds sind natürlich nicht drin und der Klangcharakter ist schon anders aber wenn du auf diese Sounds stehst, dann gibt es neben dem Prophet VS kaum etwas besseres.

[retrosound72]

Das Curtis Filter des SQ-80 klingt natürlich auch anders als das seidig weiche SSM Filter. Die Hüllkurven sind ok, nicht wie beim Pro-One aber akzeptabel.

[marsupialmicron]

A pleassure to listen to

[retrosound72]

@marsupialmicron

:))

[picturemusic75]

Klingt sehr schön, danke..!

[retrosound72]

@picturemusic75

:))

[soundmanhaven1]

wow marko the sounds sent goose bumps up me so sweet :)

[retrosound72]

@soundmanhaven1

:)) yes! thank you

[Posthuman2003]

Beautiful sounds roll on part 2 Thanks Marko!

[retrosound72]

@Posthuman2003

:)

[justwaving]

Awesome sounds!

[retrosound72]

@justwaving

:)

[hdprice]

Fabulous lush sounds... WOW... Worth every penny!

[retrosound72]

@hdprice

:)

[zombieAndy1979]

Awesome synth, its so good to see a PPG in the flesh so to speak, well at least showing off some of the awesome sound :D

[ppgwaveterm2]

OMG! PPG 2.3 is just removed from Ebay. Does anyone know how much they are worth now? $4000-5000?

[retrosound72]

@ppgwaveterm2

3000-5000$

[ZorroZ350]

Glückwunsch zum Wave, Marko!

Endlich mal  ein Video mit guter Audio Qualität.

Eine Bitte :-)

Wann ist der Ton in deinen Videos endlich syncron zum Bild?

Warte schon lange drauf. ist das so schwer?

VG

Christian

[retrosound72]

@ZorroZ350

Hi, danke.

ja das ist das große problem beim cutten. vielleicht bekomme ich das irgendwann mal hin ;)

[Zoolookuk]

Amazing harmonics, thanks for the demo

[Enufo]

so warmmmmm... beautiful sound! thanks!

[retrosound72]

@Enufo

:)

[Mutlu1Moog]

was für ein synth ist das?!?!?!!!!!!!!klar der wave...doch finde dieser hebt sich total ab von den anderen synth´s und kein meter vergleichbar mit den anderen produkten von waldorf...(oder kenn ich zu wenige?)

gefällt mir sehr :) super video und wunderschöner synth...möchte ihn auch iwann mal haben^^

viel spaß damit ;)

[retrosound72]

@Mutlu1Moog

danke :)

Der Wave klingt in der Tat ziemlich anders als die Microwaves und deren Nachfolger. Ich habe/hatte alle MW`s hier. Einen großen Anteil daran hat das wunderbar klingende analoge SSM Filter. Außerdem bringt der PPG viel "Schmutz" im Klang mit. Und das alles fehlt ja den MW`s. Der MW1 hat außerdem ein Curtis Filter und das hört man.

[Mutlu1Moog]

@retrosound72

ich warte auf den 2ten part...man hört ja nicht oft den ppg in hoher qualität :) verträumter klang^^

[retrosound72]

@Mutlu1Moog

teil 2 kommt in 2-3 wochen.

[Mutlu1Moog]

@retrosound72

okay super

[xnonsuchx]

Even digital is better with knobs! ;-)

[micromoog11]

hallo Marko,

ein verspätetes gutes neues Jahr!

Gluckwunsch zum großen Blauen!

Ab jetzt wird es einfacher die Kisten aus der Zeit aufzuzählen, die du nicht hast :-)

Spart Zeit ;-)

Weiter so, aber bitte versprich mir: Überspringe dann (demnächst?) das Video mit der Nr. 303 ;-)

LG

Rudi

[retrosound72]

@micromoog11

;)

Hi Rudi,

danke das wünsche ich dir auch!

Ich bin noch im 7. Himmel. :) Ich wollte den Blauen schon immer haben und habe sehr lange nach einem funktionierenden und gut aussehenden (das ist für mich auch wichtig) Wave gesucht. Viele Wünsche habe ich nicht mehr. Der Wave ist wirklich unglaublich im Klang. Völlig anders als die Microwaves. Fantastisch warm und seidig. Ein tolles Gerät!

303....nee du keine Angst ;D

[grauoliv]

Oh yes, the Wave 2.2!!! I haven't looked this one up yet here on youtube. As listening to the sounds I would say, also TWICE A MEN used it in the 80s. Very remarkable! Well done Mr. E!!!

[faszika]

music of the spheres 

[RudyZombe]

So evocative.

[wudsiba]

in part two, can you show a bit of the controls

[JK47Tubing]

@_@..........the sweeps and the phasing on this machine sounds like something that's not out, or totally different from sweeps from any of the new synths out now

[Toadbaby7]

Geddy Lee loved this thing in the 80's.

[adam872]

Geddy Lee from Rush used the PPG quite a bit in the 80's. You can hear it all over their 1984 album Grace Under Pressure and his PPG was out on stage with him in that time period.

[jauqq]

"Used by:" needs to be edited to include Tangerine Dream..... how can you not mention Tangerine Dream when you mention the PPG ? ;-)

[BenedictRoffMarsh]

It's like Tangerine Dream in a box.

:-)

[retrosound72]

@BenedictRoffMarsh

;) yes

[TheSYNTHOID]

@BenedictRoffMarsh I know you, you're a VST developer! I've got your MiniPops emu!

[BenedictRoffMarsh]

@TheSYNTHOID Yes indeed. I guess it was a bit obvious I had Mini Pops on my mind during this project.

:-)

[alt1962]

Do you own all the keyboards??

Greeting from So Cali...

[hartig1967]

hey! ein Wave 2.2... wie geil ist das denn?

das letzte mal habe ich den live vor gut 16 jahren im studio von meinem kumpel gesehen ;)

danke für's video!!

[retrosound72]

@hartig1967

gerne! :)

[TheSYNTHOID]

Jesus, now you've got one of these to!?!!?!?!?

[retrosound72]

@TheSYNTHOID

:))

[binnyman]

Where in the world did you come across this beauty ???? And in such pristine condition !!!!!!! With only 500 produced, this was a real find !!!! (and a bit expensive, I imagine !!!) Worth every penny !!! Thanks for the upload :-) Peace

[retrosound72]

@binnyman

after a very long search. :)

[mikak3607]

is it new? where do you get all your retro synths? i'll say: keep them for life! those instruments may not extinct!

[retrosound72]

@mikak3607

:)

[molekulaTV]

Ohh!

Thanks for the upload man!

[UnchainTheNight1]

This synthesizer has needed better coverage for a loooong time.

[HoracePL]

Fabulous! I wish there were some way i could get the sound from it without buying this, as it must be very expensive and sure is rare. I am inspired by all synthesizers, and they all have something unique about them, though i cannot buy them all, i just want the sounds.

[VectronMusic]

@HoracePL

Try a Waldorf Microwave/XT/XTk if you want sounds like these. They are based on the PPG machines.

[retrosound72]

@VectronMusic

the microwave series sound is different. also great but not the same.

[VectronMusic]

@HoracePL

There's also some VST emulations out there.

[HoracePL]

@VectronMusic Yes i am sitting with a Wave 2.2 Simulation. Seems all 0k, allthough it doesnt feel stable (of course as its emulated). But i am trying to learn :)

[retrosound72]

@HoracePL

the new Wave 3.V is really nice

[JVGmidi]

great sounds favorited

[retrosound72]

@JVGmidi

:)

[kornmetal12]

awesome

[retrosound72]

@kornmetal12

thanks

[OriginalBBQMaster]

Der PPG - ein Synth, der mir nahezu unbekannt ist. Danke für das Video!

[retrosound72]

@OriginalBBQMaster

so geil Wolfgang! Mehr kann ich nicht sagen. Mir fehlen noch die Worte.

das ist der Sound von Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Propaganda (Secret Wish) , Art Of Noise (Moments of Love bells), Ultravox, Talk Talk (Its My Life ), Thomas Dolby (Golden Age Of Wireless), Depeche Mode, The Fixx, Prefab Sprout, Saga und und und

[DJNAVENDU]

eargasmic

[retrosound72]

@DJNAVENDU

:)

[kolossaeis]

Marco as usuall great work!! I have a suggestion! Could you make a song themed "Blue Light" the warm light in the night for example...

[retrosound72]

@kolossaeis

good idea!

:))

[simon12332]

wow.. those bell sounds were fuckin ace!

[michal23pl]

congrats! where did you get it from?

[claytond]

Woah ! PPG pads are really beautiful... So rich and warm...

[blissx]

nice get

[retrosound72]

@blissx

:)

[bigtunanorway]

magnifico......

[retrosound72]

@bigtunanorway

thank you

[Korgator]

was sagt man dazu? Glückwunsch auf jeden Fall und viel Freude damit.

Das ist ja ein richtig fetter Sound,mir gefallen vor allem die Glocken Sounds und ja natürlich die Flächen.

Kann man auf der Rückseite noch was extra installieren bzw anstecken(da sind 8 Sockel zu sehen)?

Jens

[retrosound72]

@Korgator

Ein langjähriger Traum von mir Jens. Den wollte ich schon immer.

das sind 8 Einzelausgänge.

[NELLOARA]

good, very good sound,bravo!!!

[retrosound72]

@NELLOARA

thank you

[KirchensteuerAmtTV]

a rare classical

[prettylilpandagirl]

That is pretty sweet! Are these synthesizers available for purchase and if so, where?

[retrosound72]

@prettylilpandagirl

you can buy the software PPG 3.V

[Andybaby]

1:47 - 3:24 those bells!! (especially 2:18 *the* PPG signature sound)!!

[retrosound72]

@Andybaby

yes! :)

[SpringDivers]

The waves (pads) are quite pristine and lovely to listen to. Thanks for the well constructed video. Looking forward to part two.

[retrosound72]

@SpringDivers

:))

[YOUrezahnpastaTUBE]

das ding klingt einfach traumhaft :)... könnte man sich gut als hintergrund musik in träumen vorstellen :) UNGLAUBLICH