Brainworx acquiring PPG Synths!

[pdxindy]

WaveMapper was a direct continuation of the WG engine but with adjustable filter drive, independent wavetable oscillators, and ring modulation (which was also added to the desktop version of WaveGenerator). Its gimmick was letting you modulate samples, play them back, and convert them into wavetables. It also let you use a preset map that would let you create new sounds by adding traits from other patches.

Wavemapper also had a unique morphing that worked well in practice.

[pdxindy]

Phonem was the only synth I never understood. It was a cool European version of Vocaloid with an alias-free wavetable/sample-based oscillator and an extensive mdoulation matrix. That was it.

I didn't use Phonem to make lyrics or something. It was great for vocal sounds, choirs, and just lots of unique evolving tonalities.

[ChamomileShark]

I had 3 of them, still have the installers for 2 plus the serials ..I'm now on a new PC, I'm assuming they can't be installed now?

[EvilDragon]

They can be, IIRC it's just a serial that is checked in the installer, there's no phone home.

[ChamomileShark]

They can be, IIRC it's just a serial that is checked in the installer, there's no phone home.

oh ok, thanks!

[c_voltage]

They can be, IIRC it's just a serial that is checked in the installer, there's no phone home.

I'm afraid that it's not just serial number, but occurs some interacting with external server, for checking computer ID. So, if server will down.. alas.
But if anyone knows for sure that this is not so, correct me.

What regards topic question, i already shared my concerns:
viewtopic.php?p=8611157#p8611157

[dlandis]

Forgive me for asking, but if WaveMapper 2 can be installed on a new computer (and there is no way to get the installation file any other way,) would someone be kind enough to PM me the file? I have a new computer and had assumed the installation was a lost cause. I still have the serial number and receipt email, but the installation file was lost when a backup drive of mine crashed.

Thanks in advance!

[dlandis]

They can be, IIRC it's just a serial that is checked in the installer, there's no phone home.

I'm afraid that it's not just serial number, but occurs some interacting with external server, for checking computer ID. So, if server will down.. alas.
But if anyone knows for sure that this is not so, correct me.

What regards topic question, i already shared my concerns:
viewtopic.php?p=8611157#p8611157

This does seem to be the case. I managed to find my old installer file. It contained this ReadMe file (in its entirety):


(BOQ)

Thank you for purchasing the PPG WaveMapper 2 Synthesizer. Below you find additional important information.

You need to have administrator rights to install and authorize PPG WaveMapper 2. If your current user account doesn't have administrator rights, please quit the installer, log in as administrator and start the installer again.

PPG WaveMapper 2 is copy-protected. You need a working internet connection when asked for the activation code. After checking the validity of your code, PPG WaveMapper 2 is authorized to run on this particular computer.

Location of the Factory Sounds
On Mac OS X, VST and Audio Unit presets are always installed into the default folder recommended by Apple. This is:

/Library/Audio/Presets/PPG/WaveMapper2/

On Windows, VST presets are installed into the current user's Documents folder. This is:

%USERPROFILE%\Documents\PPG\WaveMapper2Sounds

Location of the Documentation
On Mac OS X, the documentation is always installed into the default folder recommended by Apple. This is:

/Library/Documentation/PPG/WaveMapper2/

On Windows, a link to the documentation is put into the start menu. If you don't allow start menu generation in the installer, the documentation can be found at the following location:

%ProgramFiles%\PPG\WaveMapper2

Have fun!

More info and support on http://wolfgangpalm.com/

© 2014 Wolfgang Palm. All rights reserved.

(EOQ)

So, it would appear that when buying a new machine, there is no way to reinstall (?), since the server is very obviously down. I'm not sure why Wolfgang Palm left us no permanent way to authorize the software, except that he presumably was genuinely convinced that Brainworx was going to continue his legacy (and was going to pick-up the customer service for pre-existing customers.) This, of course, didn't happen.

[Ploki]

Brainworx is now a sub-brand of Native Instruments who have such an outstanding reputation for upgrading their old synths that we can expect new versions of Wolfgang's synths in just a few epochs.

it's not like BX/PA had a good reputation on updates and bug fixes in the first place

[mi-os]

This is a good reminder why one shouldn't buy c/r 'protected' software, especially by small companies. I even think twice buying licences by larger companies who use activation servers. If a new company pops up the first thing i do is to look how they 'protect' their stuff. If it's not a simple serial number, i'm out.

[T-CM11]

... I still have the serial number and receipt email, but the installation file was lost when a backup drive of mine crashed.

If you only had it on 1 drive, then it wasn't a backup. Backup means duplication.

Anyway - what the people above me said: forget about it (or sail the high seas - why not, you paid for your software).

[Introspective]

If it's not a simple serial number, i'm out.

"A girl's gotta have her standards."

-- Real Genius

[drsyncenstein]

This is a good reminder why one shouldn't buy c/r 'protected' software, especially by small companies. I even think twice buying licences by larger companies who use activation servers. If a new company pops up the first thing i do is to look how they 'protect' their stuff. If it's not a simple serial number, i'm out.

The nice people from Team R2R have a reliable workaround for that.

[dlandis]

... I still have the serial number and receipt email, but the installation file was lost when a backup drive of mine crashed.

If you only had it on 1 drive, then it wasn't a backup. Backup means duplication.

Anyway - what the people above me said: forget about it (or sail the high seas - why not, you paid for your software).

Not exactly: it was a back-up when it was saved there originally as it duplicated the installation file which was on my original computer (which was replaced.) Hence, it wasn't on only one drive and was (by anyone's definition) a back-up. Offered in the spirit of FWIW.

While I appreciate your comment about moving on, re: WaveMapper 2, I think that you've misunderstood why I posted the note in the first place. I actually submitted the quotation of the ReadMe file to help those who had a question about the possibility of installing the synth on a new computer. This does not seem an option at all given the complication of needing a handshake with Palm's server to complete the authorization process. Back-up or not, installation on a new machine seems impossible.

I've already determined what course I'm taking. Some of the SoundBytes softsynths sound reasonably close sonically to much of what WaveMapper 2 produced, so I will probably pick up Aparillo. Between that and Factory, should be able to get sonically in the ballpark. While WaveMapper 2 had a strong timbral signature, it was not in the realm of something like Enzyme in terms of being unique. Even Nettle (which also utilizes scanned synthesis) sounds very different than Enzyme. Sometimes Waverazor, Raw, and Generate can get tonally close to Enzyme's output, but they are really each very different from Enzyme as well.

Thanks for your comment.

[pdxindy]

So, it would appear that when buying a new machine, there is no way to reinstall (?), since the server is very obviously down. I'm not sure why Wolfgang Palm left us no permanent way to authorize the software, except that he presumably was genuinely convinced that Brainworx was going to continue his legacy (and was going to pick-up the customer service for pre-existing customers.) This, of course, didn't happen.

Also, why buy it? I would assume Brainworx had some plan for the software besides sticking it in a vault where nobody could use it.