PPG wave 2.2 Synthesizer (1982) - RetroSound soundscapes - sound demo

(c) 2017 vintage synthesizer demo by RetroSound
supported by UVI: bit.ly/retrosou...
PPG wave 2.2 Synthesizer from the year 1982
some self programmed retro sounds
The PPG Wave 2.2 is the direct successor of the Wave 2 but with 2 oscillators. Only 500 Wave 2.2 were manufactured.
The sound character is different to the later Waldorf Microwave synths and different to the Wave 2.3.
- 8 Voices
- 2 to 16 Oscillators per voice
- 30 Wavetables with 64 waves per table
- analog 24 dB/oct lowpass SSM 2044 VCF
- Curtis CEM 3360 VCAs
- micro processor (6809)
- 8Bit DACs
Used by: Trevor Horn (Propaganda, Art Of Noise, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Grace Jones), Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Robert Palmer, Talk Talk, Tears For Fears, Thomas Dolby, The Fixx, Thompson Twins, Tangerine Dream, Gary Numan and much more
Facebook page: / 265713782347
#RetroSound #PPGwave #PPGsynthesizer

[@retrosound72]

The PPG wave 2.2 Synthesizer 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: kzbin.info/aero/PLe08Lbpy8pPYKXe4iF4ANVVO6C6qz53WZ

[@maggotswamp]

Grace under pressure led me to this blue beauty 😍

[@howiesworld9056]

Possibly the only synthesiser capable of recreating the abstract sounds I would hear in my dreams as a young child. One of my goals in life is to eventually own a 2.2 so I can hear the sounds myself.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@howiesworld9056]

Some of the sounds this thing produces are so powerful, it actually vexes my emotions. Just a second ago the sound at 7:05 with high - quality headphones in caused me to start gasping, wide - eyed stares at the ceiling as I fell into a paralyzing panic. It touches at something deep within my memory and disturbs me in a way no other sound has before. You can make a rich synthesizer with a whole load of oscillators and patches on it and I wouldn’t care. A good synth should be defined as one that touches your soul like religion.

[@ianbrown3304]

O dear

[@snuppssynthchannel]

My dream rack: Synclavier II 9600, Fairlight CMI, PPG wave 2.3, Oberheim Matrix 12, Moog Memorymoog, Hartman Neuron, John Bowen solaris, Yamaha CS-80, Yamaha VP1.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@inversion66]

Don't forget to budget for a tech to keep it all running.

[@blueeyedsoulman]

@@inversion66 I had the PPG 2.2 and it was in the shop more than in the studio and that was in the 90's! Lot's of voice card issues.

[@edgarbeat275]

The film Heart like a wheel uses featured tracks using a sythclavier II kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWGxc4mVgrhoeqs 1:09:32 The Sythclavier II mood setter track in above link. I would love a Sythclavier 1 link below. youtu.be/ZmxbpoIID

[@jamesstevens2362]

Love what the bass notes are doing to the camera. Now that's FAT! The PPG wavetable based synths seemed so far ahead of their time. I was amazed by their rich and unique sounds, especially after seeing what Tangerine Dream would do with them. Inspiring! Thanks for the great demo!!

[@retrosound72]

thanks a lot for the feedback

[@Projacked1]

I was thinking the same here haha....

[@marguskiis7711]

PPG sounded horrible. Thats why it was abandoned so fast. 1984 barely anybody used it.

[@williamblackwelder1495]

I mean…sounds pretty damn good to me. And apparently Tangerine Dream thought so too for a few albums 🤷‍♂️

[@annother3350]

@@marguskiis7711 it was just too futuristic

[@LukeCorradine]

MInd blowing really! I once had a producer asking me why I still kept my wave 2.3 and that the plugin was easier and just as good. I took him in the room, dimmed the lights and switched on the beast... the windows were shaking and the air was pure energy... we both looked at each other with our jaws on the floor

[@retrosound72]

😁👍 thank you

[@SPAZZOID100]

Luke Corradine vst’s last 25 years??

[@dannybrazen]

Amen brother! Don’t believe the vst hype! I’ve got an original minimoog and prophet 5 plus the vst equivalents. There’s no comparison. I applaud musicians who can make interesting music from the software, to me it’s the most uninspiring thing ever

[@joeturner6192]

One of the most underrated synths of all time. Many of those sounds still sound great today! Would love to own one.

[@retrosound72]

agree with you

[@marguskiis7711]

horrible nasty cheap sound it made.

[@SPAZZOID100]

margus kiis ?????

[@marguskiis7711]

The unpleasant sound of PPG was the main reason why the synth was soon abandoned when technically less advanced but much better sounding X7 appeared.

[@JasonSuttonNewRiverRestaurant]

@@marguskiis7711 Unpleasant? It was most of Depeche Mode for at least three albums.

[@analogsynthplayer]

Ian Stanley of TFF and Stuart Neale of Kajagoogoo used this synth on early albums. This synth will make sounds my ARP Quadra won't make. Excellent demo

[@retrosound72]

Thanks a lot

[@soloharmonicsrobj8246]

In 2010 I had a short conversation with Rupert Greenal of The Fixx during a meet and greet. He highly praised the PPG synthesizer. This definitely is a phenomenal instrument. The Fixx use it in much of their eighties work. Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream used it as well. I'm hoping to someday experience at least a software version of the PPG.

[@retrosound72]

Yes Rupert was great on the PPG.

[@MrLawrence0071]

I have the plug in from waldorf. I thought: what on earth do ppl love about this shit? But when you hear the real thing here, oh boy what a huge difference! Lovable!

[@retrosound72]

yes the PPG has so a deep low end

[@kronossonork6994]

Best sounding synth ahead of its time

[@retrosound72]

yes :)

[@VersesRecords]

it's just plain ridiculous how good that thing sounds!!!!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@votekmendo6485]

Amazing Synth! Just bought a PPG 2.2 and also a ULTRA RARE PPG 2. They are both on the bench getting serviced at the moment. Cant wat to get my hands over these magical beasts. Nice Demo! especially the last sections. PLEASE upload more.

[@tsitracommunications2884]

Lucky dude:)

[@RayyMusik]

Gorgeous! Reminds me of getting a 3rd Wave.

[@retrosound72]

💙🎹👍

[@SynthgodXXX]

Super deep machine, very cool for sound designing & soundtracks!! A+++

[@retrosound72]

thanks a lot :)

[@resofactor]

Hey Rik, it's funny seeing you so often on all the best synth Channels and in comments lol

[@Bendy2K]

Such a beautiful machine.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@resofactor]

If only 500 units of these were physically manufactured, then getting the Waldorf Edition VST makes sense.

[@AndrewTSq]

I LOVE these old digital synths . Thanks for this great video!.

[@retrosound72]

thanks for watching :)

[@Shkveezer1]

Totally unique machine....just like the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS....

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@Tuxemuun]

4:26 - 4:46: my favourite patch! I love this synth. Excelent demo!

[@retrosound72]

thank you

[@RetroArchiwizacja]

finally best video after 2-3 years! thank you Retro Sound

[@retrosound72]

;) thanks

[@Mikegrungejazz]

1982? Has that classic movie soundtrack feel.

[@retrosound72]

yes :)

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

aka Tangerine Dream feel

[@donjoe6580]

Geddy Lee use PPG 2.2 in Rush Grace Under Pressure album adl also live.

[@SPAZZOID100]

“Power Windows”

[@morphoice]

Such an incredibly beautiful and haunting instrument. I'm so happy I'll have the change to use it excessively on my next album.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@lordvader2339]

Tolles Gerät, was man heutzutage leider nur noch recht selten zu hören bekommt. Zwar digital, dennoch ein anderer Klangcharakter als z.B. der DX7. Wenn ich mich richtig erinnere, haben die Pet Shop Boys in ihrer frühen Phase den PPG Wave oft und gerne eingesetzt. Danke an Retrosound, dass du diesen Synth etwas genauer beleuchtet hat. :-)

[@retrosound72]

Gerne. :) Dank fürs reinschauen.

[@stefbarone]

Wow, one of the most beautifully sounding synth ever!!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@0r1zuru]

The tears of nostalgia ran over my face :D Sounds great!

[@retrosound72]

:))

[@kianwood5044]

you know your into hardware when a synth can make you cry

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@raymatthews3796]

Cleanest sounding synth I have ever heard.

[@johncharles5043]

Good day Brandon, glad to see your channel grow!

[@naytfb739]

This sounds so pure

[@ingorichter649]

Amazing instrument professional demonstrated.

[@retrosound72]

thank you :)

[@ensoniqman1408]

Great! Reminds me of my old Ensoniq SQ-80 digital Synth

[@retrosound72]

yes a bit

[@GrahamLaight]

Excellent sounds! Sounds like quite a lot of the music in my new age CD collection.

[@retrosound72]

:))

[@RudyAdrian]

nice demonstration - all those sounds that Depeche Mode used :)

[@retrosound72]

Yes 🎹🙌

[@jaytekk9]

0:54 I like the saw wave synth With a touch of vibrato

[@MirageEntsUK]

Sounds very much like most of the sounds the band Japan seemed to use. love it. very haunting

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@Jauly]

Japan used FM/Polymod on Prophet 5 (like on ghosts), there it can get in similar to the PPG in „digital“ areas.

[@usaroman]

@1:16 that is a saw wave with a touch of pitch envelope, is what gives that famous lead line we all know and love. Listen to the 1st part of the Tangerine Dreams live album logos. Very good. Also, the following sound @1:45 is that guitar like pluck used extensively on Patrick O Hearn work.

[@retrosound72]

thank you

[@aCivilServant]

Opening sound reminds me very much of Depeche Mode - Black Celebration album

[@synthscolors]

The Beautiful "Blue Beast" Sounds ! Thumbs up & thanks so much for sharing these very rare moments performed on this incredibly rare keyboard... Definitely love its design, sounds.... Keep sharing these delightful atmospheres ! ;-))

[@retrosound72]

thank you so much :)

[@synthscolors]

My pleasure ... thanks again for sharing these rare moments ! ;-))

[@ozcandurmusoglu]

it sounds pretty unique, the sounds are not available anywhere else

[@retrosound72]

Agree with you 🎹🎹

[@LuciferXFallen290]

This is one of the synthesizers Gary Numan uses

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@andythomas6246]

@@retrosound72 :D "I supplied the WaveTeam!. No really!" :P

[@MA_GE08]

Featured on to me some of his greatest releases. He used it excessively throughout 1984-86

[@d3nnisparisis439]

Merci pour ce voyage

[@retrosound72]

🙌

[@lego5745]

Ah yes, one of the many synths from Tangerine Dream!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@mickeythompson9537]

4:46 I had no idea the Wave could do that!

[@foolproof3091]

Was für ein geiles Teil!! Sensationell!! Dein Video ist wie immer top!!

[@retrosound72]

Vielen Dank :)

[@jeanlot]

Tangerine Dream, early 80's

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@molowytch]

Wonderful sounds!!!

[@retrosound72]

thank you!

[@andythomas6246]

WONDERFUL!

[@retrosound72]

thank you Andy!

[@Kalman11111]

Oniric poems converted in sounds! Exceptional!

[@retrosound72]

thank you

[@neldareed2849]

that first one was amazing

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@brettlarson3504]

amazing, will get one soon

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@westrig180]

Listen to TD's ( Tangerine Dream) Firestarter LP 1984, you will hear the pre-eminate PPG wave on that and other TD lps of that era .

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@edgarbeat275]

The Album Exit T D 1981

[@Helderhugo]

sounds great

[@retrosound72]

:) thanks

[@joshuad.e.johnson6042]

Steve Winwood used this particular synthesizer on much of his solo work, including the 2.3..

[@nielswil]

I love the sound at 0:54.

[@Chookaaaaa08]

Yessss! I melted when I heard it lol 😂

[@KurtFuller]

I think this is my favourite vintage synth.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@resofactor]

Wolfgang Palm is my Bog Moog :)

[@Phillyfast]

Wasn't this one of the synthesizers that Geddy Lee used in the early 80s?

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@chrisdickens4862]

Yes! All over Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows!

[@garrygriffy1866]

I’ve never seen one of these in person but it sounds so incredibly beautiful and rich Curious was the sound at 3:00 used on alphaville forever young

[@retrosound72]

yes. thank you

[@charlesfranklin2112]

Power Windows sent me here.

[@retrosound72]

🎹🚀✨

[@gianlucaderossi7873]

Also used by Rush and Marillion

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@mitay1993]

super, like a midnight stars!!

[@retrosound72]

:) thank you

[@charleslandreth3128]

Excellence!

[@retrosound72]

thank you

[@jaytekk9]

1:17! Is meh favorite!!

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@jackcimino8822]

Nothing can beat the sound of the PPG 2 and 2.2! Something like the Novation Sunmit is not enough; we need more synths with lofi 8 bit waveforms and quality filters just like the upcoming Soulsby products!

[@shprynx2328]

That big vibrato saw type sound at 0:55 is fucking life changing. Anyone know how you’d recreate this/are there samples anywhere?

[@harrymartin684]

You can get the Wave 3.v plugin which is maybe 85% accurate soundwise. It has probably the most analog sounding VST filter I've ever heard.

[@harrymartin684]

You can get the Wave 3.v plugin which is maybe 85% accurate soundwise. It has probably the most analog sounding VST filter I've ever heard.

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

Geddy Lee!

[@retrosound72]

;)

[@cokewar8346]

So klingt nur ein PPG! Wie immer eine tolle Demonstration. War hier bei der Programmierung auch der Waveterm involviert ?

[@retrosound72]

Vielen Dank. :) Diesmal komplett ohne Waveterm.

[@dominikkarkowski]

Nice! What bank did you use?

[@retrosound72]

Wenns um Geld geht: Sparkasse

[@trevor4835]

mmmm 1:29 is too nice

[@Rhythmattica]

Great MultiFX... What U using?

[@nielswil]

I have the PPG 2V, also have the free version of Hermann Seib and just bought the 3V. And of course have the package from UVI. Thinking about building a DIY vst player but not sure if it will look like the Korg Oasys or has some PPG Wave 2/2.2/2.3 looks. First need to learn the basics of the Wavetables. Any ideas which gives me the over all knowledge?

[@andrewgenner2613]

Can I be cheeky and ask which of the wavetables was used for the sound around the 1 minute point please? (I suppose I've already been cheeky and asked it!)

[@devicefactor2290]

maybe, someday, saved by zero

[@retrosound72]

maybe, someday... ;)

[@devicefactor2290]

RetroSound lol. good job. love the vid

[@retrosound72]

thank you :)

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

Can anyone confirm this please? PPG works by replaying the sampled waveform with a different sample rate to create each pitch. Later sample based synths create their pitches by dropping or doubling individual points in a sample to get lower or higher notes. PPG used a different and presumably now obsolete kind of DAC to those used today, (??one not tied to one sampling rate??)

[@JTWilkinsonProductions]

Hi, I'm trying to recreate the patch at 1.17, do you know which program it is? I'm using an emulator although I don't know how accurate it is to the real thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

[@craigramseur2377]

Sounds like software.... This sounds Great!

[@retrosound72]

:))

[@bytex666]

I can't begin to describe how much I want one of those...and how completely impossible it is to find one at a decent price anymore. I guess i'll have to do with my Waldorf Blofeld. Technically the same sounds should be available on the Blofeld since it contains all the PPG's wavetables, right? 7:00 is pure synth porn

[@retrosound72]

yes the PPG wavetables but the sound and the sound character is very different.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

RetroSound the funny thing is the PPG should be easy to reissue using proper components

[@executionsquad3926]

Mysterious.

[@retrosound72]

:)

[@andredziemba9048]

Erinnert mich viel an Tangerine Dream auch viel an Edgar Froese

[@retrosound72]

Ja das ist wahr.

[@jaggass]

Is the opening music to your video's a PPG Wave?

[@retrosound72]

Michael Langley no. 😎 Taurus bass VP330 choir DX7 stack.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

So what _kind of_ synthesis does this one use? Subtractive? Sample-based? Is that what "wavetable" means?

[@retrosound72]

wavetable means 1 million different waveforms organisated in wavetable lines. no samples. but analog VCF and VCA

[@totalrobot]

Does anyone remember how much these cost when they first came out?

[@retrosound72]

15.000 $

[@resofactor]

@@retrosound72 Guess they never were "affordable" then? lol

[@ubik_3786]

How would I recreate that first patch? It sounds like a triangle/square combo

[@joelowery999]

Obviously it's making use of the wavetables...sounds like an env is modding the wavetable position...these patches definitely have effects on them...they sound great!

[@joelowery999]

Great video! What effects do you have on these patches?

[@retrosound72]

Thank you Delay.

[@joelowery999]

@@retrosound72 Thanks! That’s it? The first patch sounds like there’s a chorus or something. How did you get the patch to sound so wide? Any ideas on the settings you had? Thanks! Love your content

[@raymatthews4319]

Did Tangerine Dream use the PPG for the lead on White Eagle?

[@retrosound72]

yes

[@neper2112]

RetroSound could help identify which synths were used in RUSH's The Body Electric song on the album grace under pressure ??

[@lancelathrop2255]

I'm fairly certain that the PPG and the Jupiter 8 are the only keyboards used on that song. Hope that helps!

[@lancelathrop2255]

To add some clarity, Geddy used a Minimoog, OBXa, JP8, PPG, Taurus Pedals, DSX and TR808 on stage for the Grace Under Pressure tour. There might have been some Emulator's (I or II's) offstage triggering some samples. I'm positive that they used Emulators for the Power WIndows tour for things like the choir at the end of Marathon.

[@neper2112]

Lance Lathrop TKS!!

[@shaveboy]

Currently, with the exception of a Moog "Little Phatty" all of Rush's synth sounds are samples. They are on 2X Macbooks running Main Stage. The Roland Phantom is only used as a controller.

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

Did these have midi or was it a little bit early for that?

[@retrosound72]

retrofit MIDI

[@sidneymays]

Is this not the synth on everybody wants to rule the world?

[@retrosound72]

Yes .together with Jupiter 8 and Linndrum

[@brettminkin1620]

I thought that was a Yamaha DX-1 on that song.

[@sidneymays]

@@brettminkin1620 Prophet 5 I think

[@cupded]

Blade Runner be like:

[@retrosound72]

🎹🙌

[@stripedhyenuh]

Can you get these fat sounds out of any of the PPG Wave VSTs?

[@retrosound72]

unfortunately not

[@ionpulse7100]

I think yes with the 2.3V

[@fritagogo1]

;-)

[@retrosound72]

;)

[@fritagogo1]

Good Feeling with Complexe Synth