PPG Synth: J.S. Bach – Two Part Inventions No. 8
An extremely rare PPG 1020 Synthesizer recently repaired by The Analog Lab in NYC. This little beast was released in 1976 and was very ahead of its time by having 2 DCOs! You would almost think its an 8-bit machine at times if you have the square waves set just right. It also has a Ring Modulator.
A monphonic synth, the 1002 had analogue oscillators, the 1020 had digital oscillators, other than that, there’s no difference between the two!
We thought Bach would be appropriate for a quick little demo. Enjoy!
www.theanaloglab.com
Generation – 32 presets for PPG Wavegenerator
Generation –
Sunsine Audio’s new pack for PPG Wavegenerator features 32 presets including 5 basses, 7 leads, 5 keys, 2 arps, 9 pads, and more. In addition 20 unique wavetables have been included, and exchanging these between presets allows a large degree of tonal variation very easily. Each preset has parameters mapped to both the horizontal and vertical keyboard control for expressive performance opportunities.
*Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later and PPG Wavegenerator.*
Format:
• 32 Presets in 1 .bin file
• 20 WaveTables in .wts files
• Full horizontal and vertical key modulation support.
• Easy Installation Instructions
Price: $1.49
Available from – www.sunsineaudio.com
Free Preview Pack – http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/unlxtv
Time machine: PPG wave 2.2 synthesizer – “Dark Voices”
all sounds self-programmed: PPG wave 2.2 Wavetable Synthesizer from the year 1982
recording: multi-track without midi
fx: a little bit delay and reverb
The German made PPG (Palm Products GmbH) Wave 2 series of synthesizers are incredibly great sounding analog/digital hybrid vintage synths. They use digital samples of wavetables and feature analog VCA envelope and VCF (filter) sections for a classic and warm sound. The Wave 2.2 has oscillators that can generate over 2,000 different single-cycle 8-bit digital waveforms! Covered by knobs, the Wave still looks analog and this comprises the “Analog Control Panel”. More complex and new-wave editing of the wavetables and samples is covered by the “Digital Control Panel” where there are several key-pad buttons and an LCD screen. Another familiar treat to analog junkies is the inclusion of an 8-track sequencer which features automation of pitch, loudness, filter cutoff, waveforms and more. A cool feature – its onboard sequencer will also record any filtering and wave changes, in real-time!!
The more commonly encountered Wave 2.3 followed the 2.2 and had enhanced sample-playback capabilities. The sampler was pretty full-featured for its time and included upgraded 12-bit digital waveforms, Fourier analysis and linear playback of samples. The 2.3 model also featured 8-parts multitimbrality and MIDI implementation. The PPG Waves are know to create excellent pads, brass and bass sounds.
In fact it was Tangerine Dream who helped the company and the Wave develop. 1978 saw the development of the PPG Wave Computer 360. But the Wave Computer sounded harsh and tinny. In 1981, the PPG Wave 2 was released which added analog VCF and VCA filter and envelopes to warm the digital sound. The original Wave 2 had 8-voice polyphony, like the 2.2 and 2.3, but it had only one oscillator per voice. The 2.2 offered two oscillators per voice which opened up a whole new realm of sonic possibilities because two separate wavetable sounds could now be combined.
more info: http://www.retrosound.de
PPG modular demo
Before Mr Palm of PPG made his famous blue PPG Wave polysynthesizers he made some analog modulars and mono synths. On the video is a small PPG modular system including a step sequencer shown at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. Very few where made and Tangerine Dream is the most notable user in the late 1970’s.
Vintage Synthesizers I PPG wave 2.2
A voyage into the heart of the PPG wave 2.2 Wavetable Synthesizer from the year 1982.
Polyphony – 8 voices | ssm filter chip module based.
It has been used by Trevor Horn, Gary Numan, Art Of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Depeche Mode, Propaganda, Saga and many more!
Exploration by Marko Ettlich
Demonstration of the PPG wave 2.2 “1982”
Vintage synthesizer demo track by RetroSound
all sounds:
PPG wave 2.2 Synthesizer from the year 1982
recording: multi-track
fx: a little bit delay
The German made PPG Wave 2 series of synthesizers are incredibly great sounding analog/digital hybrid vintage synths. They use digital samples of wavetables and feature analog VCA envelope and VCF filter sections for a classic and warm sound. The Wave 2.2 (pictured above) has oscillators that can generate over 2,000 different single-cycle 8-bit digital waveforms! Covered by knobs, the Wave still looks analog and this comprises the “Analog Control Panel”. More complex and new-wave editing of the wavetables and samples is covered by the “Digital Control Panel” where there are several key-pad buttons and an LCD screen. Another familiar treat to analog junkies is the inclusion of an 8-track sequencer which features automation of pitch, loudness, filter cutoff, waveforms and more. A cool feature – its onboard sequencer will also record any filtering and wave changes, in real-time!!
The more commonly encountered Wave 2.3 followed the 2.2 and had enhanced sample-playback capabilities. The sampler was pretty full-featured for its time and included upgraded 12-bit digital waveforms, Fourier analysis and linear playback of samples. The 2.3 model also featured 8-parts multitimbrality and MIDI implementation. The PPG Waves are know to create excellent pads, brass and bass sounds.
King-style 80s synth pop with Memorymoog, LinnDrum, and PPG Wave 2.3
A live improvisation of a typical mid-’80s style arrangement – a bit in vein of King’s “Love and Pride”. The Memorymoog has the lion share in this video, with its typical, quintessential synth brass. The LinnDrum is the standard drum machine of that era, and the PPG offers an elegant choir sound.
Hardware feature – PPG Wave 2.3:
The German made PPG Wave 2 series of synthesizers are incredibly great sounding analog/digital hybrid vintage synths. They use digital samples of wavetables and feature analog VCA envelope and VCF filter sections for a classic and warm sound. The Wave 2.2 (pictured above) has oscillators that can generate over 2,000 different single-cycle 8-bit digital waveforms! Covered by knobs, the Wave still looks analog and this comprises the “Analog Control Panel”. More complex and new-wave editing of the wavetables and samples is covered by the “Digital Control Panel” where there are several key-pad buttons and an LCD screen. Another familiar treat to analog junkies is the inclusion of an 8-track sequencer which features automation of pitch, loudness, filter cutoff, waveforms and more. A cool feature – its onboard sequencer will also record any filtering and wave changes, in real-time!!
The more commonly encountered Wave 2.3 followed the 2.2 and had enhanced sample-playback capabilities. The sampler was pretty full-featured for its time and included upgraded 12-bit digital waveforms, Fourier analysis and linear playback of samples. The 2.3 model also featured 8-parts multitimbrality and MIDI implementation. The PPG Waves are know to create excellent pads, brass and bass sounds.
On location in Hamburg with Wolfgang Palm
“On location in Hamburg with Wolfgang Palm” is a little ‘vintage style’ documentary we did in April 2010, showing Wolfgang Palm, former owner of the PPG Synthesizer company, inventor of the world’s first digital synthesizer and wavetable synthesis, in front of historic ‘PPG locations’ in Hamburg, talking about the old times… Directed & idea by CS.
English voice & translation by Darrin C. Huss, voice of Psyche.
DATAMASKIN
