KVR Audio

kvr@barder.net · Post by **kvr@barder.net** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:54 pm

Hi all,

I briefly demoed both of the above and found that the 3.V was simpler to program (fewer options) than the Largo and seemed to have more of the wavetable sounds that I was after.

However, looking at the Largo spec and list of its wavetables it seems like it should be able to do everything that the 3.V does sonically and a whole lot more. Is Largo just a victim of having too many paramters for its own good (albeit within a pretty GUI) and some less than fab presets, or are there other differences (filters etc.).

I would much appreciate any user comments and recommendations. Many thanks in advance.

petervh · Post by **petervh** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:05 am

I own both, but if I had to pick one, Largo would be the winner. It's a much more modern sound, but a far more capable synthesizer. The modulation matrix is _extensive_. It has more LFO's, more envelopes, and more filters. I find the Largo UI to be faster to work with than the PPG. If you have programmed other subtractive synthesizers before, you will pick it up quickly.

The PPG3.V however has a grit and growl that the Largo can't quite pull off. But it can come _really_ close. Seeing as it has less features, it would be easier to wrap your head around. I can't comment on presets, as I never use them.

You can't really go wrong either way. Though they can both be at times a little unstable (especially on windows, osx seems to handle them better).

If you happen to use Renoise, Largo still won't save your presets when you save your song. However the PPG will. Several people have contacted the Waldorf team over the years about this, including Renoise developers, but still nothing has changed. Also the dongle is a real pain.

Despite their flaws, I think it is worth owning both, but be sure to test your system plenty before you try taking either on stage!

kvr@barder.net · Post by **kvr@barder.net** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:51 am

Peter,

Many thanks for this informative response and I will put in some more time on both demo versions this weekend to see if Largo grows on me.

In the meantime any other user comments?

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:00 am

Hi,

this really depends on what you want to do with it. If you want a full features VA synth with wavetables and tons of features you could go with Largo.

If you are interested in wavetablee syntheis and the sound of the classic PPG Wave the you should go for PPg wave 3.V. BTW PPG Wave 3.V could import samples which Largo could not do. My own commercial bank for it (see my signature) makes lots of use of that.

Anyway you could also consider a Blofeld hardware synth which contains most features from Largo (without e.g. the Sub-Oscs) but it contains the PPG filter model, sample import (sample expansion needed for the desktop which is just an unlock code...) and you got user wavetables.
Free wavetable editor here: http://lady.rdsor.ro/~kotro/index.php?m=soft

The desktop Blofeld is quite cheap and the keyboard is also not very expensive.

My perrsonal favorite combination is a Blofled dekstop and PPG Wave 3.V currently.

Ingo

kvr@barder.net · Post by **kvr@barder.net** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:03 pm

Hi Ingo and many thanks. Do you know if Largo and PPG 3.V use the same filter - are my ears deceiving me or does the PPG 3.V's sound more analogue?

electro · Post by **electro** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:06 pm

kvr@barder.net wrote:Hi Ingo and many thanks. Do you know if Largo and PPG 3.V use the same filter - are my ears deceiving me or does the PPG 3.V's sound more analogue?

3.V filter is modelled on a PPG 2.2 and 2.3. Don't know if Largo is the same thing.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:23 pm

kvr@barder.net wrote:Hi Ingo and many thanks. Do you know if Largo and PPG 3.V use the same filter - are my ears deceiving me or does the PPG 3.V's sound more analogue?

No, the filter is totally different. Largo uses a LPF with Waldorf design and the PPG 3.V a model of the SSM2044 analog filter of the real PPG Wave 2.2/2.3 hardware synth.

Anyway the Blofeld (and older hardware synths like Q and MicroQ) contain a PPG filter mode with a model of the PPG filter (but the one in PPG 3.V should be closer to the real thing).

Ingo

penguinfromdeep · Post by **penguinfromdeep** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:30 pm

I prefer the sound of PPG Wave v3 but I like warm oldschool sounds ... Little bit wooly, not so in your face

kvr@barder.net · Post by **kvr@barder.net** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:19 pm

Ingo,

Many thanks and I'm pleased that my ears are OK! I think I will be going for the PPG 3.V. Less versatile than Largo but sounds better to me and quicker to programme.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:23 pm

I would choose the PPG 3

Vectorman · Post by **Vectorman** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:42 pm

I preferred the sound of PPG 3.V as well (though I find the PPG voice architecture rather constricting and more often go to Zebra and Massive for wavetable sounds).

Igro · Post by **Igro** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:15 pm

PPG is not as versatile as Largo, it's harder to use it with all those small texts and many tabs within the synthesis engine. Largo is more intuitive in this area.

naveman00 · Post by **naveman00** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 2:44 pm

Hi Everyone,

I saw this thread and although it is a "tad" old, I thought that I would check-in with everyone who is using or has used both the Waldorf Largo and PPG 3.V and see which product people were leaning towards NOW (I.e. If their perspective has changed over the last couple of years).

This thread might be a great way to see how people feel TODAY vice back in the 2005 - 2008 time frame.

Ultimately, I am attempting to determine which Synth I should purchase... both would probably be ideal but is not possible right now!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this matter!

Cheers,

Naveman00
----
PC: HP ENVY Phoenix 810-135qe
DAW: Cubase 8 Pro (v8.0.10 Build 427) (x64)
OS: Windows 7 (64bit) SP1
CPU: Intel i7-4770K
Base Frequency: 3.5GHz
Turbo Frequency: 3.9GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR3-1600MHz
GPU: 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 645
Monitors: Yamaha HS80M Studio Monitors
USB: Virus TI2 Darkstar, Novation Bass Station II
----

Apostate · Post by **Apostate** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:06 pm

naveman00 wrote:Hi Everyone,

I saw this thread and although it is a "tad" old, I thought that I would check-in with everyone who is using or has used both the Waldorf Largo and PPG 3.V and see which product people were leaning towards NOW (I.e. If their perspective has changed over the last couple of years).

This thread might be a great way to see how people feel TODAY vice back in the 2005 - 2008 time frame.

Ultimately, I am attempting to determine which Synth I should purchase... both would probably be ideal but is not possible right now!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this matter!

Cheers,

Naveman00
----
PC: HP ENVY Phoenix 810-135qe
DAW: Cubase 8 Pro (v8.0.10 Build 427) (x64)
OS: Windows 7 (64bit) SP1
CPU: Intel i7-4770K
Base Frequency: 3.5GHz
Turbo Frequency: 3.9GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR3-1600MHz
GPU: 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 645
Monitors: Yamaha HS80M Studio Monitors
USB: Virus TI2 Darkstar, Novation Bass Station II
----

Get Largo and Nave first, they are very complementary to each other and the two will yield you terrific, albeit quintessentially "Waldorfian" sounds. PPG Wave is an excellent sounding synth, but for me it just doesn't give you anywhere near as many options as Largo.

And it's a fantastic time to buy Largo now, as the Waldorf site knocked eighty US dollars off the price last month.

naveman00 · Post by **naveman00** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:11 pm

Apostate,

Thanks for the info on the Largo/Nave Combo... I wasn't thinking in those terms but it is logical based on the material online with regard to Nave especially.

Thanks again and have a great weekend!

Waldorf PPG 3.V or Largo