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 (pictured) 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. It is used by David Bowie, Eat-Static, Electronic Dream Planet, The Fixx, Trevor Horn, Jean Michel Jarre, Art of Noise, Rush, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Robert Palmer, Psychadelic Furs, Talk Talk, The Cars, Ultravox, Steve Winwood, Rush, Stevie Nicks, Thomas Dolby, Pet Shop Boys, Mike and the Mechanics, and Stevie Wonder.

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.

Although PPG fell apart in the mid-late 1980's, their technology found its way into fellow German music company, Waldorf. The Microwave series represents modern day PPG technology, continuing the wavetable synthesis method with modern filters, envelopes, MIDI, and more.

  From Waldorf comes the PPG WAVE 2.V, an amazing new VST Plug-In that recreates the functionality and sounds of the Wave 2.3. Read more about it!.

Keith Hendricks

April 12, 2013 @ 8:38 pm

Want to Buy: PPG PRK-FD Controller in excellent condition. If you have one for sale, please contact me at: hendrikf2009@gmail.com
Thanks
Keith Hendricks

strangeranium

February 22, 2013 @ 12:44 am

Robert Henke, aka monolake, also use a ppg wave. a 2.2 version i think, but do not quote me on that.

Tom

February 13, 2013 @ 9:15 pm

I have a PPG Wave 2 in good working condition. It surely sounds much rougher and gritty than the later versions, and is the only way to capture some of the 80 - 82 sound of Tangerine Dream. I believe it uses cem chips instead of the ssm on the later models. There is only one osc per voice, but one can layer very easily (reducing polyphony to 4). The machine is surprisingly easy to use, and with a sound like nothing else.

stephen parsick

January 21, 2013 @ 7:20 am

it´s a little dangerous comparing PPGs with each other. yes, the 2.2 and 2.3 (pictured) are close to each other, and still, they do not sound the same due to different a/d and resolution. the original wave 2 (released in 1981) bears nearly no similarities with its successors, and even the original wavecomputer 360 has little in common with its successor wave 2 in terms of sound. it´s a bit like comparing a prophet vs with a korg wavestation or an original mini moog with a voyager -- there certainly are family ties but, at the same time, they couldn´t be more different from each other.

christian

December 18, 2012 @ 11:42 am

Hi. I am looking to buy a WAVETERM and a PPG PRK (FD). I'm in Denmark, Europe. If you have one of these for sale please e-mail me: cybercardinal@hotmail.com

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