Wolfgang Palm shared this sneak preview of a new PPG Wave 2.3 wavetable synthesizer.
It appears that this will be a reissue of the classic PPG Wave 2.3, an 8-part multitimbral digital wavetable synth, released by Palm Products GmbH in 1984. The synth was used notably by Tangerine Dream, which made it a key part of their sound in the ’80s and later.
The new version intended to be no-compromise, full-size reissue. The developers note it will support full integration with legacy PPG systems, recreates the classic PPG sound 100% and should be vastly more reliable.
Details are still to be announced at the project site.
This is the sound of the TD album ‘Exit’.
A couple of things:
First, I love that it’s MIDIed to a DX7. That makes the retro demo complete.
Second, is it kind of late to the party considering Groove Synthesis’ 3rd Wave, the Behringer Wave and Waldorf M (I know it’s heritage – but I got one and it does PPG very, very well too)? I know we haven’t seen the full specs yet, but judging from the demo it seems to be a 1:1 clone.
Third, it’s not 1984 anymore – why would they (including the Behringer Wave) waste valuable LCD characters on i.e. “TTUNE:440 CASS:0 PPG-WAVE 2.2 V6” instead of preset names?
Surely this can be buried in another menu – it’s not like I at all time wonder if my synths are in 440, nor do I need to change it so often that I have to have it easily within reach.
And just “2.2” or “2.3” should be easy enough for everyone to understand, giving you valuable space for other stuff?
I expect it will be about eight times the price of the Behringer Wave…
ahah!!! this news is great!
I had the 2.2 and it was the best synth i ever had.
And i have had all the most beautyful ones: from CS80 to JP8, Minimoog, Waldorf Wave, DX1….
Of course there are cheap option today, but in 40 years they will not be fixable like today a 1984’s PPG Wave 2.2/2.3 is fixable.
40 years from now a whatever Berhinger will be crumbled, near to dust.
The PPG reissue will use different components from todays cheap synth, different quality, and it will be future proof, like the original PPG Wave 2.3
The cheap options of today are like fast food version.
If you are poor go for the VST or Berhinger, if you have the money go for the this one.
Wolfang Palm is a serius person,
not a clown and a thief like the one who drops rubbish clones of the vintages, with out any respect for those who created the originals, just to make money, using low quality components.
!!! PPG WAVE 2, 2.2 and 2.3 are MONSTER SYNTH !!!
Long life to Wolfang Palm, Creator of Wavetables Synthesys
If it is indeed faithful to the original:
Amazingly beautiful sounds – horrible, horrible interface.
He should’ve found a way to incorporate a screen into the design. Not the size of the Waveterm but smaller. Even a cheap non touchscreen would do the trick.
Then it would not be a reissue.
You start making a new synth, you better make it a new synth.