Waldorf PPG Wave 2V - Categorized/Enhanced Bank + D-Pole UI

[grymmjack]

http://www.kvraudio.com/banks.php?s=dl&id=809

Contains zip with FXPs and FXB.

This is a more thorough categorization of the defaults then the other one in this database. This bank contains all of the factory patches categorized with a 3 character code:

BAS = Bass
BEL = Bell
FX = Effect
KEY = Poly/key sound
LED = Lead
ORG = Organ
PAD = Pad
STR = String
SYN = Synth
VOX = Vocal
WND = Wind

There is an existing effort similar to this one but I found that it was disorganized and incomplete. This one is much more complete and 100 percent organized.

The names were picked out of the blue, but I tried to think of good ones.

enjoy.

[Sequent]

hey grymmjack, that's very cool of you. thanks very much!!!

[bluedad]

thanks grymmjack, this will be put to use.

[grymmjack]

NP.

I just created a variation on this bank: PPG Factory Factory Categorized Enhanced:

http://www.kvraudio.com/banks.php?s=dl&id=810

This is an enhanced version of my factory categorized bank. Each patch has been "enhanced" by changing mode from simple poly to dual, quad, or mono, and basis has been adjusted. Where applicable the semitones of the neighboring root tone has been adjusted to attempt to keep the timbre the same as the original. Think of this as a "stereo/phat" version of the factory defaults.

I was stunned when I discovered how flat and mono this sounded until I tweaked it.

This synth sounds enormous now. Granted, it's not always good to have huge synth sounds, but the PPG sounds so much more alive in the enhanced bank than the default, IMO.

[grymmjack]

Oh note also, put a limiter after this. I clipped a few times and though I adjusted the volume to my best ability, make sure you put a limiter after it if you use the enhanced patches.

[grymmjack]

Oh I also created a touchup version of the D-Pole UI but not sure how to share it. I used a resource hacker program to do it, so while I could not supply the file directly I could supply instructions and bitmaps if anyone was interested. The default UI of D-Pole was almost illegible.

shots:



original (note the text quality):

[Sequent]

ooh, thanks for the enhanced version. can't wait to check it out!

on the d-pole, nice job! what's involved in doing that? and does it matter whether it's the old steiny version or the new waldorf version?

[Compyfox]

Think of this as a "stereo/phat" version of the factory defaults.

Do I need to switch something in PPG to trigger that? Haven't used the PPG in a while, gj. Oh, and I'm also among the "classic Steiny" users.

But thanks nonetheless - would love to hack my D-Pole for a better screen. It sure had some weird filter possibilties. So a how-to guide would definitely be appreciated.

[grymmjack]

Here is a zip file containing the reshacker program and the bitmaps I used:

Download

Basically it's simple (not sure if it is steinberg or what but it shouldn't matter). You open the DLL with reshacker program, then replace the bitmaps by expanding/finding and right clicking on the bitmap ID's and choosing replace.

Here is a matrix for replacement:

Code: Select all

Bitmap ID#  Filename
----------  ----------------------
128 (0)     background_fix.bmp
129 (0)     help_fix.bmp (optional - you may prefer to keep the online help)
132 (0)     led_fix.bmp

After you replace the bitmaps with the ones listed, simply save as new file (D-Pole_DM.dll for instance) and load it up and test it. If it works, replace the old with the new by deleting your D-Pole.dll and copying the new one in it's place giving it the same name.

[grymmjack]

Think of this as a "stereo/phat" version of the factory defaults.

Do I need to switch something in PPG to trigger that? Haven't used the PPG in a while, gj. Oh, and I'm also among the "classic Steiny" users.

But thanks nonetheless - would love to hack my D-Pole for a better screen. It sure had some weird filter possibilties. So a how-to guide would definitely be appreciated.

Hi Compyfox

Well if you use the enhanced patches you dont have to, but to do this same kind of thing for existing patches you like/own/whatever it's simple.

On the "analog UI" (as waldorf calls it (cute) but to us the plug interface without any pages open) the knob of importance is "Basis".

The digital readout areas where you program the other settings are accessible from the Digi, Tune, Mod, and Graph buttons.

The ones you want to tweak are Digi and Tune (tweak others too but these are the ones I messed with to get the enhanced sounds):

On Digi page, the setting that is of most influence is "KEYB MODE" - on the factory bank this is 90% of the time set for "POLY" which sounds great, but very thin, and adjusting Basis when this mode is engaged simply makes the pan go from one speaker to the other with every successive note by the amount of the basis knob - it's like fake spread sorta. However, switching this up to "DUAL" or "QUAD" or even "MONO" mode will make Basis really give the patch some life as Basis now acts as a really cool unison detune/pan in one knob. In "DUAL" mode the semitones in use are the first 2. In "QUAD" the semitones are first 4, and so on. In MONO I think it uses all the semitones but not sure. It appears that each has a sort of harmonic impact - I'm not a PPG guru at all and the PPG plug came with my novation nio so I'm just getting to grips with it.

Ok now when you adjust the "KEYB MODE" from anything but "POLY" two things happen; first, the sound gets thicker/deeper/richer, second it gets louder (most times). This means you might want to adjust the volume down a bit when playing many poly notes. It's a misnomer that "KEYB MODE" not "POLY" would not let us play polyphonically, but it does. It seems every mode does except "MONO" - kind of threw me there.

Anyway when you do this the sound becomes fatter because it's using additional semitones now. The catch is that each sound may or may not have to be adjusted further on the "TUNE" page.

So if the sound changes drastically by introducing dissonant or octave offset tones, go to the "TUNE" page and verify that your semitones are relational; by this I mean that if you adjust a sound that has Semitone 1 set to 12 (this is +1 octave), but find that Semitone 2 is set to 13, you will need to bump it down 1 step to 12 to produce the similar relationship as the sound designer intended.

So that's basically it

One more tip I have found that if you are playing a sound after doing this "enhancement" on it and it still sound low in volume, check the MOD page and make sure that TOUCH->FILTER and TOUCH->AMP and so forth is not ON if it is you will need to send aftertouch message to gain the volume/open the filter.

Hope that helps

[grymmjack]

Oh also consider that the new voice structure in DUAL and QUAD mode eat reserved voices - it's one reason I upgrade my PPG to the full suite (and what a bargain!). Allocate more voices to accommodate the fatter sound. QUAD rarely gives a huge impact unless you set TUNE DETUNE parameter to something beyond 6 CENT and crank the BASIS to about 50%.

[dan_s]

thanks grymm, this is something that always bothered me and I never got around to doing it myself. I will definately put the ppg to use now.

[grymmjack]

dan; NP. glad to help. it's odd but it seems to be the case with novation v-station too - the factory presets just aren't named well. atleast with novation they took the time to apply really rough categories Dance 1 - Dance 99 isn't very helpful for me though

I'm interested in learning more about the PPG now. It seems to have been a legendary synth. I dont quite understand the wavetable parts of it though.

I understand the basic idea, it seems that there are stacks of waveforms in it, and you can make them heard across the keyboard, as oscs, as modulations and so forth but I dont quite understand how to use them yet.

Most of the waveforms sound very very harsh and aliased to me. I dunno if I'm just a sucker for more traditional sounding waveforms like the standard ones found in VA's or what though.

Anyway enjoy

[dan_s]

I am probably wrong, butt, I think the wavetables are from the original hw.

I don't really understand it much either, I've had it for a while but rarely use it, the controls are kinda hard to understand at first.

I never really used it because the preset management sucks and since its a different type of synthesis to me, it was hard to find a sound I like to then deconstruct it to understand what the hell was going on.

What I do know, is the wavetables are basically several waveforms all strung together, like a chain. You can scan through them and use the modulation to get some morphing evolving sounds or you can just feel around and find a static wave that you like and use it pretty much like a va.

[Sequent]

Well, I think those waveforms were all 8-bit and the digital grittiness was part of the charm of the ppg. Somewhere I have a pdf of a user guide put together by Dominic Milano (of Keyboard) back in the day. Or at least back around 1987 or so I believe. I'll see if I can dig it up or perhaps it might still be findable online via a google search.

Thanks again for the D-Pole fix and especially for the PPG enhanced sounds and explanation thereof. Very cool!