really helps as a useful visual aid regarding what the PPG’s sounds are capable of. Comparing this 21st century software
recreation with the original was difficult without having an original and elderly unit for direct comparison but from memory it did sound very much how I remember and certainly evoked similar feelings and sounds. After only a little experimentation I was playing all the little synth parts of old Depeche Mode and Talk Talk records of my formative years. Still, the Waldorf PPG 3.V shouldn’t just be thought of as a synthesizer photograph album or a sentimental trip down memory lane; it is very capable of musically relevant sounds today!
The GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI) is a good balance between the original PPG Wave 2 and modern ease of use.
of a hit. The general specs are certainly up to modern standards and feature up to 256 voice polyphony, 8 part multi-timbre with 8 stereo outputs, with most parameters also being automatable through a suitable host/ controller. It is also great to see that in addition to the original set of Wavetables there are now an additional 100 from PPG
design; this is a sensible balance that should satisfy everyone.
In Use A decent range of effects is also included starting with a great 12 stage phaser, as well as chorus, flanger, delay, reverb and EQ. In use, the presets are a good place to start to
The complex waveforms available are certainly capable of the atmospheric sounds one would expect from an evolving digital synth but the addition of the original analogue style filters also means that the PPG 3.V can also do fat and squelchy when required. The virtual analogue/digital blend also seems to offer an extra twist compared to it 100% ‘analogue’ counterparts. The overriding impression is that the PPG specialises in big, strange or evolving pad sounds. The ability to change the bit rate, and playback options between old and new voices was a boon although to my surprise I preferred the more modern approaches almost
Despite looking like an old analogue synthesiser, the original PPG Wave 2 used digital samples of wavetables and featured analog VCA envelope and VCF filter sections for a classic warm sound.
creator Wolfgang Palm besides a full gamut of the original Wave and Waveterm B factory presets. Unfortunately, these presets are named in a rather functional 1, 2, 3 type way which makes it very difficult to second guess what the preset may sound like. Give me presets named ‘Novon B Atomic Ant Farm’ any day!
Each voice within the PPG 3.V can feature 2
Wavetable oscillators feeding through apparently accurate PPG filters that are switchable 12/24db per octave Low Pass filters. Another great addition is the facility to change the bit rate of the sample playback from 8bit, 12 bit or 32 bit making it great to replicate those grainy and gritty digital sounds from 30 years ago! All the standard LFO and envelope generation tools are fully covered as one would expect. And an additional overdrive circuit helps rough things up. Where possible it would seem that Waldorf have taken the canny step of offering a choice between the limitations of 1980’s technology and the clean and bold presentation of modern digital
38 3pickup
Should I buy one? The Waldorf PPG 3.V is a great emulation of a classic digital synthesizer that originated during a particularly dynamic period in music production when technology was evolving at an incredible rate of knots. This plug-in may not end up being your most used virtual synth but when things need spicing up it could well become your ‘go to’ synth plug-in! Waldorf are currently offering a free evaluation download so there is absolutely no excuse to not at least try this venerable old synth. We think that you will appreciate its enormous creative potential.
The PPG 3.V feels like worthy successor to the PPG Wave 2/2.2/2.3 by virtue that it is an accurate tribute to the original synth whilst also feeling progressive enough to justify its version 3 name. Now all I need is Waldorf to bring out a software emulation of their own 1990’s behemoth Wave Synthesizer and I’ll be a very happy chappy!
give you a good idea of what it can do, even with the boring naming structure! The top portion of the GUI can be devoted to various waveform displays and it feels very immediate when editing the displays using a mouse rather than twiddling virtual knobs, plus it also
The original PPG Wave 2 was used by everybody from Bowie to Depeche Mode to Frankie Goes To Hollywood…
every time as I felt this big sounding synth enjoyed the bigger sounding delivery. Apart from the (not always so) obvious aliasing artefacts, I just felt that the modern settings produced a more dynamic playback with - dare I say it - more High Definition. PM
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