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The PPG Wave 2 was the first PPG synthesizer featuring Wolfgang Palms magnificent wavetable technology that became really popular among the professional musicians.

Having listened to the public when musicians asked for filters and more 'common' editing (read: knobs) when they saw the PPG 360 Wavecomputer Wolfgang Palm went back to the drawing board and came up with the PPG Wave 2.

I am not sure how many were produced from 1981 until 1982 when the PPG Wave 2.2 came out.

The PPG Wave 2 is in many ways the same machine as the PPG 360 Wavecomputer, but featured a non-backlit LC display, knobs for instant editing of sounds - and maybe most importantly at this time; it had real analog filter.
Not to mention the introduction of the very nice blue color that we all associate with PPG synthesizers these days.

Believe me when I say the PPG Wave 2 to my ears have the best sounding analog filters of any PPG synth. The sound of the CEM3320 filters are just fantastic. If you want to hear what it sounds like make sure to click the A button on the top left - it will take you to the PPG Wave 2 Audio Section.

The CEM3320 filters were also used in the Fairlight CMI II (earlier models), in the CRUMAR Trilogy, the Elka Synthex, in the LinnDrum, in the Oberheim OB8, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and many other high-end synths from that period - so this is not a filter to frown upon :-)

As I already mentioned the basic technology inside the PPG Wave 2 is very similar to the PPG 360 Wavecomputer, but the layout of the machine was a lot more appealing to the professional musician of that time who wanted knobs to turn.

When the PPG Wave 2 first came out it sounded like nothing else on the market - try to imagine that - listening to a synthesizer that sounded like nothing else out there. But it could sound like an analog synth as it had the basic sine, square and saw waves, but if that's what you wanted you'd be better of with a real analog synth in my opinion.

You can hear the PPG Wave 2 in action via some of the videos at the end of this section - or you can listen to it by clicking the A(udio) button on the top right.

If you have any questions about the PPG Wave 2 feel free to send me an email.

This is a picture of my PPG Wave 2 taking a day off in the snow :-).

It is quiet amazing that almost all PPG Wave 2's I've seen on the internet have had the same problems with the blue paint job; around the Master Volume, the Cutoff and between the Digit Buttons and the Menu buttons the blue paint has typically been worn off.

This is the first shot of the front panel. This is the section furthest to the left; the Envelope 1 and Envelope 2 section.
Also the Volume and Master Tune knob is found here.
As you can see each knob has up to three different functions depending on the Panel state you're in.

The second shot of the front panel of the PPG Wave 2. Here you can see the LFO, Modifiers and Modifiers Control sections.
Also you can see the Panel Function LEDs that indicate what your knobs are controlling.

There you go. The LC Display and the surrounding text telling you about the different Keyboard Modes, Sequencer Modes, Digital Parameter List and Data Transfer Modes.
Notice the famous spelling error in Velocity (it says "V = Velosity Sensor").

And the section furthest to the right of the PPG Wave 2 showing you the 12 buttons for selecting programs and the 10 buttons for selecting menus.