Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V Virtual Synthesizer

The Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V is the reincarnation of the legendary PPG Wave Synthesizer. Developed by Wolfgang Palm, this instrument is featured on countless records, and it inspired a whole generation of producers, composers and listeners. While back then it was your choice to spent your money either for a vehicle or the PPG, the new PPG Wave 3.V renders this breathtaking sonic character very affordable, comfortably to use for every VST or AU Host.

The combination of digital waveshapes and analog filters of the PPG was responsible for an unparalleled fat and thrust boosting character. This has been very accurately recreated in the PPG 3.V up to the smallest resolution of detail. With the PPG 3.V, it is actually possible to switch between several version of the original. Besides the PPG Wave 2.2 and PPG Wave 2.3, PPG Wave 2.V and their subtle differences in aliasing and other sources of harshness are adjustable.

The Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V is capable of delivering up to 256 voices of polyphony, depending on the host computer. Each voice offers 2 Wavetable oscillators with optional sample playback with either 8, 12, or 32 bits of resolution. Samples can easily be loaded by Drag & Drop. An 8 part multimode allows multisamples to be used with the same charme and ease of use that the original offered.

Sound is further shaped by a selectable 12 or 24 dB lowpass filter, which is an authentic recreation of the classic PPG Wave 2.2/2.3 filter, followed by an optional overdrive for extra fuzz. Besides the LFO, 3 envelope generators serve as modulation sources, either for the original rude or the contemporary smooth modulation.

Up to 8 parts can be arranged in poly, dual, quad and mono unison modes, with separate semitone adjustments for automatic chords or melodies. Thanks to the multimode with 8 stereo outputs, the instrument is well suited for both studio environment or live on stage.

The Arpeggiator offers up and down modes, besides this an alternate mode and with cascade mode a true PPG specialty. For further refinement, several effects are available simultaneously, among these a 4-band equalizer, several overdrive modes, a phaser with up to 12 stages and a chorus with up to 6 taps. Flanger, stereo delay and reverb are also available.

The original PPG featured a unique user-interface, the analog control panel offered direct access to many parameters, while digital menus were edited with somewhat cryptic acronyms that you had to look up in the manual in your lap.

The PPG Wave 3.V features the very same concept, with the slight enhancement of comprehensible parameter names and values. Almost all parameters can be subjected to host automation and convenient MIDI regulation by assigned control numbers. This makes it very easy to integrate PPG Wave 3.V into any existing production environment.

The Waldorf PlugIn runs on both Windows and Apple computers. On Windows, it requires Windows XP or better, on Mac, OS X version 10.3.9 or higher is needed.