IK Multimedia - Syntronik Instruments Blau

Surf on the blue waves of sound

The Syntronik Blau recreates the powerful wavetable synthesis sounds of the PPG Wave. Manufactured from 1981—1987, the Wave uses a digital sound generation system combined with analog filtering for a unique hybrid sound. Small digital samples are organized into “wavetables” in place of traditional analog oscillators.

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The wavetables can be scanned, meaning that an envelope, LFO or other modulation source can advance through several different sounds on the same note. This results in a distinctive and highly animated tonality that noticeably contrasts with analog sound generation.
Add to this the aliasing of the samples – 8-bit in the Wave 2.2 and 12-bit in the 2.3 – for further personality and identifiable style.

The analog filters bring a warmth to the otherwise fairly glassy and harsh sound of the wavetables, and the result is a classic synthesizer sound that stands on its own in synth history.

The PPG Wave has been used for years by some of the greatest names of the 80's (and beyond!) including a-ha, Alphaville, David Bowie, Go West, Trevor Horn, Propaganda, Jean Michel Jarre, Marillion, Level 42, Art of Noise, Rush, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Robert Palmer, Psychedelic Furs, Tangerine Dream, The Stranglers, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, Steve Winwood, Stevie Nicks, Thomas Dolby, Ultravox, Wang Chung and many others.