PPG Wave 2.2 / 2.3 / EVU Simulator

Together with Paul Maddox, I developed a hardware/software combination to drag the PPG Waveterm into modern times - Waveterm C. I haven't found the time yet to finish it - other projects, like VSTHost, consume too much of my time. Besides, the capabilities of today's average computers have grown to a point where it's relatively easy to simulate a complete synthesizer, with only minute differences, inside the PC. So... that's what I did. A demo version of the standalone variant can be found here, as part of the Waveterm C demo. This demo version has been specially crafted to complement the WTC32 Demo version. It emulates a complete PPG Wave; that means, this simulation consists of a simulated 6809 processor with a simulation of practically all peripheral chips that runs the original PPG software. This way, WaveSimD is nearly 100% compatible to an original PPG Wave. In fact, the simulation is so accurate that I've developed the V8.3 Upgrade completely (except for the final tests) on the full version of WaveSim.

Sonically, it isn't yet absolutely the same as the original, but it comes really close; close enough to allow a really good impression how, for example, a generated wavetable would sound if it had been sent by the full Waveterm C to a real PPG Wave 2.3.

WaveSimD is a demo version. This means that it has some limitations which the full version does not have:

	no MIDI; WaveSimD is intended for the sole purpose of complementing the WTC32 Demo. For that, MIDI is not necessary. The full version includes a complete MIDI interface - and even allows to remotely control each and every knob and external input (Program Switch, for example) via Midi CC messages.
	fixed to Wave 2.3 V6 (full version can be Wave 2.2 V3/V4/V6/V8, 2.3 V6/V8, EVU V2/V3/V4)
	bad long-term memory; it always comes up with the factory settings (full version keeps the RAM contents for each of the possible modes between invocations)
	reduced controls; the full version can be tweaked far beyond the possibilities of a real Wave (for example, the filters can be turned on and off, tuned over a range of 2 octaves, ...)

... but it works perfectly with Waveterm C (demo and full version).

VST Version

As noted above, I'm also creating programs in the VST area (VSTHost and its little brother SAVIHost). In parallel, I also created a VST variant of WaveSim. This one works inside a VST host, be it a big sequencer package or a small "standalonifier" like SAVIHost or Tobybear's Minihost. It doesn't have the full feature set yet (the debugging part is still missing), and some parameters that are easily tweaked in the standalone version can only be reached by parameter automation, but it works quite well already.

Please note that the simulation really is as accurate as possible; that is, while it has a keyboard, this is not velocity-sensitive (notes turned on by MIDI are using the velocity information), but the PPG-style aftertouch can be simulated by dragging the mouse up and down on pressed keys. All the knobs and keys on the UI are implemented as automated parameters, so you can even record and playback knob movements and/or data changes to the current program.

It comes in two flavors: a simple Wave 2.2 V6 simulation and the full-featured package that can simulate a Wave 2.2, Wave 2.3, or EVU in various software version (you can even load custom OS EPROM images into this one).

Wave 2.2 V6 Simulation

The Wave 2.2 V6 simulation is freely available. A donation to my PayPal account using office@hermannseib.com as recipient and WaveSim as title would be nice, but I don't insist on it.

You can download the current version here (.zip file, 336K).
Here's the same thing for host programs that can only deal with VST 2.3 PlugIns (.zip, 330K).
Some additional sound banks (direct conversions of these files) are here (.zip file, 31K).

Features:

	8 voices, monotimbral, Stereo output
	MIDI (wouldn't work as a VSTi otherwise)
	OS: PPG Wave 2.2 V6
	Factory Sound Set (mostly not very impressive :-)
	Program, Sustain, Trigger signals can be sent by parameter automation

You can download an up-to-date (hehe... from 1985 or so :-) German manual for the original Wave 2.2 from here. An English manual is there, too, but it's a very early version. As far as I remember, Paul's PPG CD-ROM should contain a more up-to-date one, if you need it. A converter between V8.3 SysEx files, Waldorf PPG Wave 2.V sound banks, and Wave 2.2 V6 sound banks can be found here.

Wave 2.2, 2.3, EVU Simulation

This one still isn't fully finished yet. The EVU simulation is still a bit incomplete (or rather, it still contains a stupid little bug that's driving me nuts, because its so hard to find). When it's complete, I plan to sell it at a moderate price. It's a piece of art and love, and an attempt to conserve a piece of synthesizer history, not done to compete with current state-of-the-art software synths, so I won't go for the price of these.

Features, in addition to those of the Wave 2.2 V6 simulation:

	Emulation of Wave 2.3 and EVU, thus:
	8 voices, mono-/multitimbral (depending on simulated device)
	Stereo and Single voice outputs
	vast range of included operating systems (Wave 2.2 V3,V4,V4.5,V6,V8; Wave 2.3 V6,V8; EVU V2,V3,V4)
	can load EPROM images for other versions
	can talk to Waveterm C to include the complete range of transient sounds, user-defined Wavetables etc. available through a Waveterm
	Remote Control of all aspects via MIDI
	filters separately (de-)tunable over 2 octaves
	filters and sound generation (OK, that's admittedly not very usable most of the time :-) can be turned on and off

Should be available soon. I'll post an update when it's ready for release (or rather, as ready as necessary to convince me to release it... not easy :-). As it's the case with all my sparetime projects, I can't really give a timeframe.

Last update: 01/16/09