The Sound of Silent Circle - Touch In The Night with the PPG Wave System

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-22 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com

A 80s hit in germany from germany.
Silent Circle - Touch In The Night (1985)

I used here the PPG Wave System for all sound and drum parts.
PPG wave 2.2 synthesizer in combination with the Waveterm A
I used the Waveterm sample library for different sounds.

The PPG wave & Waveterm Synthesizer System from the year 1982 is one of most fascinating synthesizers ever. You can find a lot demo videos, sound tutorials about the Wave and the Waveterm in the PPG wave playlist.

The PPG playlist:"

PPG 2.0, 2.2, & 2.3 Vintage Wavetable Synthesizers

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

PPG 2.0 via this auction

"This is the very rare and sought-after PPG Wave 2.0! extremely hard to find and in good cosmetic condition. This model has a very low serial number which makes it an early model. Technically superb and cuts right through the speakers!"

PPG Wave 2.2 via this auction "This PPG Wave 2.2 is in beautiful condition and works like a charm! The one we are selling, belonged to Modern Talkings producer Ralf stemmann! It was used in countless Hits by him! Just waiting to be played."

PPG Wave 2.3 via this auction

"The legendary PPG Wave 2.3 outperforms any digital synthesizer by a mile! The sound is iconic and infectious. A workhorse and a must have for any synth player. State of the art digital technology that can’t be duplicated. The best digital synthesizer ever built. This PPG Wave 2.3 can be connected to a Waveterm B, which gives you a complete 8-track recording and sampling system. The sample library is out of this world."

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1985 PPG Waveterm B

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Works perfectly! Like its older brother (Waveterm A), the Waveterm B is a state-of-the-art instrument that is still used by many top studios around the globe. The Waveterm B features – 16 bit sampling, 5.25 inch floppy disk drive, WAVE 2.3 plays samples with 12 bit resolution (compressed), sequencer on board, storage of patches and the possibility to load multiple samples into the PPG 2.3"

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PPG EVU Expansion Voice Unit

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Video posted here.

"With Midi, OS 6.0. eproms of OS 8.3 included plus a brand new battery and ppg connection cable to connect to a waveterm or ppg Wave. New switch power supply and excellent cosmetically and technical condition. Extremely rare. With midi around 30 units built. No scratches. It already works with velocity and some other midi control functions"

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PPG Expansion voice unit EVU (PPG wave 2.3 in a rack)

video upload by synthlegends

"The EVU (Expansion Voice Unit) is basically a Wave 2.3 synthesizer without keyboard. It is developed as a predecessor of the Wave 2.3 to help the PPG system to get more voices. It is also superior to the then current Wave 2.2 in that it is 8-voice multitimbral and already has 12-bit technology. Each of the 8 voices can be adjusted separately in volume and pan position. Usually it has to be connected via the computer interface to the Waveterm and also a PPG wave synthesizer and the sounds can be controlled from there. So you have a 16 voice PPG. In my studio I don't have a Waveterm so I controlled this EVU via MIDI. This unit has the latest Firmware 8.3 so you also can control it with any MIDI Keyboard, but it lacks the sound tweaking. The EVU were very rare. The last I saw in as a auction on ebay was 7 years ago. There were maybe only around 50 units built. This unit is mint and I think to sell it, because I have no waveform unfortunately."

Synthesized - UK Synth Event at The Center for Computing History This Saturday & Sunday

via The Center for Computing History

"Synthesized is a two day festival celebrating the computer and synthesiser - and how the two technologies grew up together.

The two technologies have crossed paths many times since the CSIRAC mainframe played the "Colonel Bogey March” in 1951. The mighty Fairlight CMI, the PPG and the humble Dragon 32 both share the same processor - as do the Moog Source, Prophet-5 and the ZX Spectrum.

By 1990, the Atari ST found its way into almost every recording studio. Technologies from the flagship Yamaha DX7 and Roland D-50 found their way into almost every PC sound card of the 1990s. Today, modern computers can emulate almost any classic synthesiser with near perfect accuracy.

Without computers we wouldn’t have FM, wavetable, additive and phase distortion synthesis - or even be able to save the sounds on our analog synthesiser.

This year it's a special celebration - MIDI, the protocol that allows our synthesisers and computers to talk to each other, is 40 years old this year. We'll be demonstrating the power of this little five-pin cable that all electronic musicians know and love by showing a range of MIDI equipped computers.

It's with much sadness with note that Dave Smith, a key player in the development of MIDI and founder of Sequential Circuits and designer of the groundbreaking Prophet-5, has recently died at the age of 72.

Over the years we've were lucky enough to have a Fairlight CMI, a PPG Waveterm and a Greengate DS4 together in the same room. We even had Colin Holgate from Greengate and John Molloy from 80s band Mainframe to demonstrate it to us.

This year we hope the event will be even bigger, even better, even noisier and will have more wonderful synthesisers for everyone to see and use! While we're waiting to confirm exhibitors for this year - and to get you all in the mood - here's some pictures from the last event."

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You like ItaloPop? Matia Bazar - Ti Sento with the PPG wave 2.2 Synthesizer

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-22 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: retrosound.creator-spring.com

The song was on an old ORWO music cassette that I had recorded at RIAS Berlin sometime in the mid-80s. The ending was stalled because the moderator had babbled into the recording again. As so often. 😃 I loved the song because I liked those metallic PPG synthesizer sounds. Without even knowing at the time that it was a PPG or how look a PPG synthesizer. 😉 It didn't matter either, because that was all unattainable at the time anyway.

Matia Bazar - Ti Sento (1985)

I used here the PPG wave 2.2 synthesizer for the most sounds. Layered with the E-MU Emulator II (strings, choir layer, percussion and some fx sounds)

The PPG Wave Synthesizer from the year 1982 is one of the most fascinatic synths ever. Used by Trevor Horn, Rush, Ultravox, Gary Numan Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Propaganda, Tears For Fears, Robert Palmer and many others. Here can you find the full PPG wave playlist with a lot single sound demos, wavetable demos, PPG Waveterm demos and one synth demo tracks. Enjoy.
The PPG playlist:"

PPG Wave System

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

From the same seller as the DX1. This one is listed for less at $44,285.69.

PPG WAVE 2.2 (switchable to 2.3 modification!)
PPG WAVE PRK FD
PPG WAVETERM B
PPG custom Hard case
PPG WAVETERM B library
PPG cables
PPG manuals

The Lost PPG Tracks (Music from the PPG System) by Cornel Hecht

"I found an old PPG Waveterm floppy disk in my studio.
Many years ago I saved some ideas and sounds on it.
Now I finalized these ideas: "The Lost PPG Tracks".
A musical reminiscence of the wild 80s with
pulsating synthesizer sequences and bizarre sounds
directly from the time machine.
Welcome to the 80s!"

The Sound of Tangerine Dream

video upload by RetroSound

Also see: The sound of Tangerine Dream - Moog Minimoog

"(c)2007-22 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: retrosound.creator-spring.com

The PPG demo is inspired by one of my favorite tracks from Tangerine Dream. Love On Real Train from the year 1984 featured the PPG Wave 2.2 and the Waveterm A.
All synthesizer sounds: PPG wave 2.2 & Waveterm A
Sequencer: Doepfer DarkTime Step sequencer

The PPG wave & Waveterm Synthesizer System from the year 1982 is one of most fascinating synthesizers ever. You can find a lot demo videos, sound tutorials about the Wave and the Waveterm in the PPG wave playlist."

Waldorf M 1.07 RC Update Adds PPG Waveterm Transitions Replay, Additional Filter Modes & More

This one is via an anonymous reader. Full release notes below.

Regarding PPG Waveterm Transitions Reply:

"I always dreamed of PPG Waveterm Transitions replay. So there are they here in M! Now in classic mode one can use the second oscillator as a PCM oscillator and play one of the 64 transitions, saved into internal flash. They could be loaded from the SD Card to the M and used for your patch. So you can make 4 channel Drum Machine with analog and digital VCF on each channel. Or multisample layered patch. And the OSC1 stays free to play its own wavetable. So I am very curious, what you can introduce with this new feature."

"You can load up these old samples and use your M as if you had a PPG Wave + WaveTerm combo."

New filters: Notch 12dB / Oct, LP 24dB/Oct, BP 24 dB/Oct,HP 24 dB/Oct, Notch 24 dB/Oct, Sin Waveshaper + LP 12 dB/Oct, Dual LP/BP 12 db/Oct, BandStop 12 dB/Oct. Almost all of the MicroWave 2 XT's digital filters are now available on the M.

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PPG WAVETERM B - Handmade Miniature 1/6 scale

video upload by Ronaldo Lopes Teixeira ROLT

Update: video re-uploaded.

Arturia Microfreak V4.0 // 400 PPG wavetables

video upload by Starsky Carr

"This is a quick demo of how to use the Arturia MIDI control centre to upload wavetables in .wav format to the synth. It's really simple, but I have done it for all 400! Patrons get free access to my Arturia formatted files.

Patreon: https://patreon.com/starskycarr

**These aren't the factory wavetables** - they're copyrighted. These are from the Waveterm which was an additional unit to hook to your PPG to add user waves."

PPG Waveterm A - Compute a Wave in 1982

video upload by RetroSound

"The PPG Waveterm A
is the heart of the PPG System from the year 1982.

The Waveterm based on an old german computer called Eltec Eurocom II with Motorola 6809 processor.

- creation of Waves and Wavetables
- fourier analysis / resonator
- additive synthesis
- 8 bit Sampling for the WAVE 2.2
- sequencer / event generator
- storage of sounds on 8" disc"

Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v vs 2.2v Synth Plugin Head to Head

Synth & Sundry

"Comparing three identical patches on the Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v VST synth plugin and its multiple PPG Wave wavetable emulations (Wave 2.3, Wave 2.2, Wave 2.v) against the older version of the audio plugin, the PPG Wave 2.2v

Contents:
00:00 Leafy Intro
00:36 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 1 (2.3 Mode)
00:57 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 1 (2.2 Mode)
01:26 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 1 (2.v Mode)
02:17 Waldorf PPG Wave 2.2.v Patch 1 (old plugin)
03:43 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 5 (2.3 Mode)
04:29 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 5 (2.2 Mode)
05:26 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 5 (2.v Mode)
06:14 Waldorf PPG Wave 2.2.v Patch 5 (old plugin)
07:27 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 21 (2.3 Mode)
08:25 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 21 (2.2 Mode)
09:24 Waldorf PPG Wave 3.v Patch 21 (2.v Mode)
10:27 Waldorf PPG Wave 2.2.v Patch 21 (old plugin)
11:32 Leafy Conclusion

There were three versions of the PPG Wave wavetable synthesizer. The first iteration was the Wave 2 (from 1981) which had 8 oscillators and the CEM 3320 VCF 24db/oct filter chips. It was in good company since the Sequential Circuits Pro One used those too for its analog filters. The next year the Wave 2.2 version came out with 16 oscillators (so two per voice) and a different filter chip to accompany its now beefier 8 voices. Both the 2.2 and 2.3 used the SSM 2044 VCF chip which was also present in the much lauded Octave Plateau Voyetra 8 and the Korg Mono/Poly. The final 2.3 iteration from 1984 increased the oscillator resolution from 8-bit to 12-bit when used in conjunction with a Waveterm A or B music computer unit which allowed for sampling and sequencing very much in the vein of the legendary Fairlight CMI.

If you'd like to support this channel with a one-off purchase, please check out our affordably priced music: https://synthandsundry.bandcamp.com"

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Cyboogie (Official Video)

Flightless Records

Some synth spotting with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard off of their 2019 album Fishing For Fishies. Can't believe I haven't posted this one yet.

Props look like an ARP 2600 meets LMNC. Also a Fairlight / PPG Waveterm looking CRT in there as well.

Fliederkind - Es ist das Wir (Official Music Video)

Fliederkind

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

"Hi! Wir stecken mitten in der Produktion von „Schlotterschaum“, unseres nächsten Albums mit Synthpop-Songs. Als kleinen Vorgeschmack haben wir ein Video zum Song „Es ist das Wir“ gedreht, um Euch die Wartezeit zu verkürzen! Es ist eine kleine Verbeugung vor Wolfgang Palm und seinen ikonischen Produkten wie dem PPG Wave 2, PPG Wave 2.2 und PPG Waveterm, die in unserer Musik einen zentralen Platz einnehmen. Wolfgang Palm ist dieses Jahr 70 Jahre alt geworden. Bleib gesund!

In der Zwischenzeit könnt Ihr Euch natürlich weiterhin an unserem aktuellen Album „Zeitgestalt“ erfreuen. Demnächst erscheint auch ein Hörbuch mit den gesammelten Texten von „Zeitgestalt“ und „Schlotterschaum“ – stay tuned!
-----------------
Hi! We are in the midst of producing our next album, "Schlotterschaum". This song will tide you over until the release date at the end of 2020. In the meantime, enjoy our current album "Zeitgestalt" and look out for the audio book with the collected lyrics of "Zeitgestalt" and "Schlotterschaum" coming soon. This video is a litte tribute to PPG and iconic products like PPG Wave 2, PPG Wave 2.2, or PPG Waveterm, invented by Wolfgang Palm, who celebrated his 70th birthday this year. Happy Birthday and many thanks for your inspiring instruments!
-----------------
Fliederkind: Fliederkind im Sommerwind (Official Music Video)
Album: Schlotterschaum
Music by Egbert Schark
Lyrics by Maximilian Schäfer
Produced by Horst Schnebel
Video by Neil Schark 2020

Lyrics:

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Hermann Seib Joins Behringer/Music Tribe Wave Synthesizer Development Team

The official announcement:

PPG and its Wave synthesizers have been the brain child of the industry icon Wolfgang Palm and have graced the stages of artists like David Bowie, Jean Michel Jarre, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Stevie Nicks, Pet Shop Boys, Mike and the Mechanics, and Stevie Wonder just to name a few.

After the announcement of Behringer and Music Tribe to look for collaboration partners for the development of the next generation Wave hybrid synthesizer, we have been fortunate to gain a legendary engineer to the team – Hermann Seib who has been deeply involved in the PPG Wave history. But hear from the man himself:

About Hermann Seib

“I'm a software programmer/analyst living in Vienna, Austria and have loved playing and creating music throughout all my life. I started playing guitar at age 12 and when the Roland SH-101 became available, I got one and was instantly hooked. But as for most people, there came a point where I had to decide whether I want to become a musician or a programmer. Computers won hands down so I never became a great guitar player and instead I practiced my programming skills instead. These shiny new home computers that just became available were simply too fascinating – and they sustained my life ever since.

PPG and I have a rather long common history. I first saw the original press release for the Waveterm A in 1982 and immediately wanted one. Unfortunately, I also couldn’t afford it as I was at just starting my career.

Around 1987, I was finally able to buy a used Wave 2.2/Waveterm set. Since that time, I have become a fan of these machines and know pretty well how they work. However I'm much more of an engineer than a musician and to me, the Wave synthesizers are "computers with attached tone generation circuits". Around 2000, I started to reverse engineering their operating system, so that I could understand how they work from a computer perspective. It took me quite a while to understand the sound generation side of the things and while I still wouldn't say that I've fully mastered every detail, my understanding was good enough to create an upgrade to the original V6 software. The result was version 8.3, which is a commercially available upgrade.

Around 2000, I became involved with Paula Maddox and Dave Forward in a project called "Waveterm C". The idea was to recreate the Waveterm in a more modern PC running Windows version and use a USB interface to communicate to the Waves/EVUs/PRKs. Well, we got the software side up and running, for which I was responsible for and it worked to a point where you could create wavetables and transient sounds. The USB-based hardware interface worked quite well, too, but unfortunately the project never became mature enough to be launched.

https://www.hermannseib.com/waveterm/

I also created WaveSim, my simulation of the famous Wave/EVU, which was first only as a standalone Windows program and later available as VSTi as well. Wolfgang Palm was aware of these activities for quite a while and in 2008, he contacted me. We exchanged ideas and he helped me understand some details of the Wave synthesizers, which resulted in further WaveSim improvements. Wolfgang then went on to create lots of new, vastly improved wavetables that could be loaded into WaveSim which can be found here.

https://www.hermannseib.com/english/synths/ppg/wavesim.htm#palm

Later in 2012, Wolfgang became interested in porting his PPG WaveGenerator, which was only available as iOS Plugin, to VST and Audio Unit on Windows and Mac OS - a project I was heavily involved in. Subsequently I entered similar collaborations on Wolfgang’s other PlugIn creations such as the PPG Wavemapper 2, PPG Phonem, and PPG Infinite.”

Why did you decide to join the Behringer Wave project?

“My main motivation is to help recreate the Wave to ensure it gets as close as possible to the original, as the legacy and “soul” of this synthesizer is very dear to me. And because it’s blue 🙂. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with the Behringer engineering team and participate in the testing and comparison with the original unit since I have a deep understanding of the original code the makeup of the unit. We’re currently discussing the development of an app for wavetable management. I am very excited to be part of the Behringer Wave synthesizer project to make sure the legacy of this legendary synthesizer will live on.”

PPG Waveterm A / B

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"For your consideration a a very rare PPG Waveterm. This is a Waveterm A that has been modified to Waveterm B. With the right boot disc, you can also get it to load A.
The Boot discs that I currently have seem to be compromised, and won't load, so it has not been tested further than powering on.
The unit recently had the power supply rebuilt, and the display was serviced, and is steady. Currently running on 120V. All that is included in the listing is the PPG Waveterm as pictured. Due to it being untested, it is being sold AS-IS."

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PPG Wave 2.2

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is one of my most prized and cared for possessions. If we weren't in the middle of an unprecedented financial crisis, I would prefer have this beauty buried with me. ;) It's the absolute king of wavetable synthesizers, the first and only of its kind if you ask me (and virtually anyone else who's had the privilege to use one). I've had this particular one for the better part of 20 years, and she's never let me down (unlike multiple new synths where I find myself flustered when firmware corrupts or memory erroneously wipes out); she's just been steadfast and true for her treasured time with me. Always kept in a non-smoking studio, voltage regulated and on battery backup. When I bought this beauty some 20 years ago I was under the impression the previous owner had a good working relationship with PPG when they were still in business and this was one of the first editions in circulation. This beauty was exported to the UK and found a home with one of the curators of the early 2000 (UK) PPG Conferences. With the help and guidance of PPG connoisseur, H. Seib, she was gone through with a fine tooth comb and had been swapped out with new bushings, keys and factory formatted. Since my acquisition of this unit (3rd owner by my understanding) I had created and sculpted custom waves with the Waveterm A (When it still functioned, but sadly that is now a very distant memory) and a wide range of factory sounds which are still in place. I had considered the upgrade to V8.3 to save much of the library I had created but wouldn't attempt it without the expertise and assistance of a few friends in Toronto who had years of experience working on these, but sadly that never did come to fruition. Time is always the greatest enemy, isn't she? ;) I also have the entire factory soundset from the floppy disk of the 2.3, Waveterm A and B as well as many wavetables shared on the old PPG forum so the update would probably be worth it. It's a fairly easy upgrade and still available to purchase if you're considering using the SYSEX features of V8.3. There was discussion some years ago about a virtual waveterm being available at some point (Waveterm C), perhaps a gentle nudge in the PPG discussion forum and it will eventually materialize with those DIY monowaves. ;) Until then, I leave you with one of the worlds finest synthesizers ever imagined. This is the stuff dreams are made of, not kidding. Serious inquiries only, thanks!

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