The WASP - A Very British Synthesizer
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- The WASP is an iconic British synthesizer designed by Electronic Dream Plant in 1978.
EDP were Adrian Wagner (yes, he was a relation of Richard), Chris Huggett and Steven Evans. They only traded until around 1982, but that wasn't the end of their synth story. Chris Huggett in particular has had a prolific career in the industry, founding the Oxford Synthesizer Company in 1983 and releasing the (also iconic) OSCar and subsequently (after work with Akai), he joined Novation, who are still trading to this very day.
Back to 1978, the concept of the WASP was to build a powerful, low cost synthesizer. That seemed to have worked as one of the original reviews I found uses the headline "The Synth we can all afford" but still dubs it a professional instrument.
I also found a Moog price list dated June 15th 1978 and it lists the Minimoog as $1,995, the Multimoog as $1,495 and the Micromoog as $895. Assuming they sold for about the same in the UK, the equivalent prices would be approximately £1,090, £820 and £490 respectively. The aforementioned WASP review also states that an Odyssey is still over £1,000 in 1978, so with the WASP priced at £199 this demonstrates what a bargain it was at the time.
In fact, I had a brief conversation with a friend who remembers running out to buy it the moment he heard about it in 1978 and he still has his. It was also the first synth of Dave Stewart and Nick Rhodes among others.
In this video I breakdown its features and use it to make a short track.
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - The WASP
2:07 - The Keyboard
2:59 - The Oscillators
3:40 - Noise
4:03 - The Controller Oscillator
5:06 - The Filter
6:08 - The Envelopes
6:30 - LINK
7:11 - Internal Speaker
7:32 - Demo Track
9:21 - Outro
Gear used:
EDP WASP (1978)
Simmons SDS-3 (1978)
AMS DMX 15~80S (1978)
Roland CR-78 (1978) samples
Some original brochure scans stolen from the wonderful Retro Synth Ads blog:
retrosynthads.blogspot.com
Social:
/ alexballmusic
/ alexballmusic 
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I bought an LP of wasp field recordings once. Took it back to the shop as I thought it didn't really sound right.
Imagine my embarrassment when the shop owner pointed out I'd been listening to the Bee side!
Take a bow.
Very nice
Nice one sir.
Hive a feeling he waz joking, honey
booooooooooo 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅 get off the staaaaaaaaaaaaaage
RIP the creator of this synthesizer Chris Huggett. An absolute synth legend!
I heard it took 24 police officers to take him down.
No, like every synth it's a Behringer. Soon the textbooks will be rewritten and Behringer Cooperation will be the creator of all synth as well the universe at large.
3:45 I was expecting the intro for GTA San Andreas to start playing 😂
He has to cover the theme song, he does, I will give him a golden medal for that.
Me: Mom, I wanna get a Moog synth!
Mom: We have a synth at home.
*Synth at home*
🐝🎹
I'm a gen Z who enjoys synthesizers and in the future might actually become a musician.
I recommend a Yamaha PSR-S970 to you.
@gridsleep Well I plan to be another player against mumble rap.
@@axelfiedel3793 Noble task, you have chosen wisely.
It's like the synthesizer equivalent of a Sinclair ZX81...except it produces something you don't HAVE to own British rose-tinted glasses to enjoy. Unbelievable sound. I want one!!
Many synth users don't know it, and it seems Alex may not, but "Q" (for Quality) is in fact the standard unit of measure for resonance in a filter in the electrical engineering world. --- Wait, there's no special discussion at *all* of the Wasp's famous dirty filter? It's *the thing* that makes this synth famous. The filter has been cloned many times (see for example Doepfer module A-124).
Thanks for the information. "Q" is the standard term on most EQs I've used, so I assumed it meant the equivalent thing on a filter (which is obviously very closely related to EQ).
I demonstrated filter modulation and all three filter modes, I think that speaks for itself but I probably could have made more of it, fair enough.
Doepfer - yep, seen those. Along with the Jasper clone and of course the Behringer. Shows how impressive the filter was on such a cheap instrument.
@@AlexBallMusic Right. EQs are basically banks of bandpass filters, so yes, Q in fact means the same thing there too. As to the filter: it's not normal sounding, as you can hear. It is weird and aggressive and dirty, and this unique sound has made it rather famous.
"Bzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzzz"
Alex Ball, 2020 CEO of synths demo
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Buzz buzz, buzz buzz in the eardrum
We still use these in our band. Thanks Chris Hugget and RIP for EDP, your genius lives on... You can’t beat the original EDP WASPS... We are lucky to own two original WASPS
I applauded at the "used by these artists" joke, well done.
;)
Yes, he sounded like he was holding back the laughter on that one!
Clever, lol
Also used by B-Witched, the Beatles, Beyoncé, the Macabees, the Bee Gees and of course, WASP.
That one flew over my head as they say!
All I can think about when I hear this synth is Robert Rental and the Normal, and Thomas Leer. Such a classic and groundbreaking board in the post punk world.
I got mine new from a music shop actually in Oxford, still have it now. The keyboard as Alex describes was the issue despite the powerful oscillators. I remember doing a few outdoor gigs where the humidity affected it to the extent where the proximity of your finger sounded a note if it got to within an inch or so of the control surface. Trouble was it wouldn't necessarily be the note you were trying to play. We used to cover 'Hymn' by Ultravox and one particular outdoors night that became rather evident in the big solo section. I still wince. But a remarkable little machine and genuinely innovative. In fact I once played it in a folk club resting on my lap using its batteries and the internal speaker. That ruffled a few feathers. Never saw a Caterpillar but nearly bought a Special. Story of my life. Yet another great review from the genius that is Mr Ball.
>We used to cover 'Hymn' by Ultravox
Great story, and what a fine taste! What else did you use to play?
Владимир Круглов nice cover of Ultravox
One of the first synths I saw in the real world, and wow that thing has a surprisingly good sound!
Guess it's better to look cheap and sound great than the other way around. 😀
Loved the 3rd oscillator comment. Though not fully intentional, I use my garden shed as a sub-bass resonator. Works quite well .. less than 90% THD
My first synthesizer, that and a Jen SX1000. Man do I wish I still had that little beauty.
RIP Chris Huggett... You are a hero to me.
That list of artists who used it... I didn't realize what was going on until The Buzzcocks hahahaha
It was subtle and wonderful.
Ace. That jam is raw and good.
Thanks Jeremy. :)
Hard agree
There is a freeware version of this thing called the hornet which is pretty close to the hardware version if you want to fiddle with that
Plus it's polyphonic. Not quite the same in terms of sound, but ball park. Used it in a couple of tunes.
Stinger VSTi plugin from Krakli/IanWebster is based on the Wasp
www.krakliplugins.co.uk/Plugins.aspx
It's 32bit so depending on your DAW/Host you May need to use a Bridger to Wrap it for 64bit.
I do cos I'm using Presonus Studio One.
ymmv
@@KozmykJ thx .. damn u 32 bit
@@CS-sf1rz JBridge is the app I use to run 32bit plugins in Studio One.
It works very well, almost perfect.
Just rarely a plugin won't work with it.
One or two plugins I found to be unstable.
For the most part I get rock solid stability.
Four or five dogs out of over a thousand isn't bad ...
Gotta say, I'm quite impressed with this little bugger 😃
Looks and feels like a toy but sounds fantastic.
@@AlexBallMusic Have one here, nice wee thing
Trololo Inc ® Bees
Wow. I never expected them to sound this Good. Reminds me of an ARP synth. Loving your vids and humor Rumour has it, Kim Wildes 'Kids in America was written on one. Wish I had bought one when I could. Prices have skyrocketed..
Do yourself a favour, get the Behringer instead.
Bass sequence at beginning of "Kids in America" Kim Wilde was made with WASP.
Got to listen to that now, thx !
No shit? I never would have thought that!
but the music video clearly shows it's a Prophet 5. not sure why the bass is at the top of the keyboard, may be because of the OSC tuning though.
@@tranceemerson8325 I think it's because the prophet looks big and pro
Well, it was written using a Wasp. The actual recording? Maybe it is a Wasp. Not verified to my knowledge.
that is possibly the best filter I have ever heard
I was just thinking it sounded so good
Yeah, pretty tasty.
Legendary synths and cheesy jokes? Subbed 👌🏼
🎹🧀
I remember in '81 the EDP tour bus parked outside my school during the middle of O-levels; I skipped revision to go and play on their synths.
Excellent choice.
Amazed they had a tour bus! How cool is that. I guess there wasn't any internet promotion back then.
“STING, the BEE Gees, the BUZZcocks, the HIVES” - took me a few seconds to realise you weren‘t being serious....
...or WERE you? 😱
Think Buzzta Rhymes used it too.
@@AlexBallMusic oh come on now
I believe the Beestie Boys, Mudhoney and even W.A.S.P. used it as well.
Duran Duran were a famous user too.
@@AlexBallMusic I heard Yellowjackets too.
Oooooooooooh that intro was just an explosion of retro '80s futurism
Mmmm, such a tasty filter! So many of my heroes have played this badboy. It was their first synthesizer for many of them. I remember Alan Wilder saying that he used it for the bassline on Never Let Me Down Again(aggro mix).🔊🎶
"Demo Track" is the best part of the video.
If the envelope is looping, is it a nested loop? ... You know like a wasps🤕🗞🏳
Played one in a shop in Rochdale in about 1980! I was out with my dad…we’d just early been to Oldham and played on an MS20 (which was perched on top of a Fender Rhodes). The WASP is brutal. It kind of scared me back then, so in your face. Makes me think that this should be the sound of Judge Dredd…don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me! 😂 Sounds great.
Very intresting mini beast. I didn't realise it was so small. Seems to have enough functionality to keep you busy.
Nice one Alex, look forward to more vids.
Yes, looks and feels like a toy. Certainly doesn't sound like it though...
Hi Adamski. I have a Jasper ( kit build of wasp ) unmade would you like it as you are a budding electronics synth fellow :-) theres 2 boards and a few hard to get components but the rest of components have to be sourced yourself, I think they are easily available. Theres a list of parts and build instructions with it to complete it. I got it years ago and never found time to start it. yours free just message me through my website markusfuller.com if you want it and I will post it to you.
@@markusfuller all my fav synth diy heads in one spot! Are these boards available anywhere online?
@@markusfuller Hey Markus . I would love it .Thanks so much for your generosity. I have contact you via your website.
Many thanks
Kind regards
They sound great - the combination of great mod sources and a squelchy filter make it sound pretty great.
The 'cheap build, great functionality' business model is echoed in other companies Sinclair and Amstrad. British indeed!!! You made the WASP shine like a fire-fly, like you always do. Great video!!
Yes, those products mirror each other somewhat in that regard.
Better than 'great build, cheap functionality' for sure.
I was hoping there would be a sample pack of this. Your sample packs are amazing.
Absolute genius demo of a fascinating instrument!
Brilliant video - I bought an Electro Harmonix Mini Synthesizer in the 1980s which has a similar membrane keyboard - the keyboard was always a bit of a problem on mine and time definitely hasn't been good to it - got it out recently to shoot a video and spent so much time fighting the bad contacts on the keyboard that I gave up. Love the sounds from the Wasp, that thing is streets ahead of the Electro Harmonix.
Thank you Alex, your demos are the best of all of them (I really mean it !) I love the architecture and design of this synth, didn't knew it sounded so great and unique...plus the english humor surrounding this synth is a very nice touch :p
Thank you.
Yes, a very peculiar and distinctive bit of synth history. Really sounds great.
Once again, fantastic video. Never heard of this synth before. Quirky little thing.
Awesome as always. Thanks for sharing. I remember seeing one in a shop window in the late 70s and dreaming...
Sounds amazing - and with midi - Wowee! Brilliant demo 👍 👍
I'm enjoying my affordable Behringer clone that sounds exactly the same.
I remember there being an Interview with Devo on were Jerry Casale tried to use one live in the 1981 tour, but the stage lights kept overheating the touch pad and making it glitch out so he had to switch to a different keyboard for the rest of the tour
I've heard the same problems described by others, yes. I think the trick is to get midi installed and just not use the original keyboard.
@@AlexBallMusic you'd still have to find a way to keep the actual unit's ribbon touch pad cooled down though right???
Just because its midi'd, dosnt mean the touchpad is still active
@@joshwizinsky1979 when you connect via the original DIN interface, the keyboard is disengaged. Can sometimes disengage permanently if you control externally for an extended period (have experienced this with two different Wasps that were being controlled via a Kenton converter).
I really liked your demo track! It makes me totally want to sing synthpop!
A wonderful combo of history and demo. if all music product videos were like this, the world would be a better place
This channel is pure love, 10x!
This video is brilliant, visuals are excellent but the voice over seems like the equivalent of late night eBay shopping after coming back from the pub ..in the best way possible made me chuckle ....👍
Nice Track ant the end, gave me flashbacks to
LCD Soundsystem's "Dance Yourself Clean" used in that Ski movie, with the dude skiing through a small town.
How can you only have 70K subs??!! OMG you are a treasure.
Wasp related puns are a niche interest. 😉
Another great one Alex!! Really enjoy your vid's; keep them coming :)
Just picked up a Microfreak and I thought the keyboard was space age but now I see it's old news.
Wasn't expecting a little electropop treat this Sunday morning, nice one as always
Great to see a new vid on this pleasant Sunday afternoon! I’m always surprised! Thanks for researching and sharing your knowledge on all these synths and giving some of the best demos! You could’ve been one of the best synth salesman back in the day with your ability to make grooves and music with all this gear! Never disappoints!!
I'd have lost a lot of sales due to weak puns though. 😉
Alex Ball 😂😂
You played the brown note about 46 times in this video and that’s how many times I shat myself, great video!
🐝💩
Great job Alex... Love that synth. Up there with OSCar...
Amazingly well-produced content, Alex! Been following your stuff ever since seeing the EPIC "Land of the Rising Sound" documentary. Looking forward to educating myself further through your content :)
Thank you
What a great video! I liked this synth.
Unbelievable sounds from that thing.
I only know this synth because of Whitehouse. Legendary band.
Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran mentioned this in an interview... seems it was the starter synth for everyone back then. Not too shabby either.
Yep, was his first synth. Dave Stewart too I believe.
Nick Bates
If I’m not mistaken this was also the first since that Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran also had..
Yep, his first synth.
Sounds absolutely stunning!
Now THIS is what I've been looking for to hear from the Wasp! Thank you!
That song was so dope dude! Also great video. Subscribed
Very very funny and informative at the same time...
You've got the perfect formula and, of course, the mojo to produce the perfect synth review videos...
Thanx for sharing your talent...!!
Thanks :)
Like your shirt! I live in Portland, Oregon. Love your videos too!
Very cool video, playing and humor! It amazes me that even now Behringer continues to produce excellent products at much lower costs then other manufacturers both in keyboards and Eurorack modules.
Great sounding synth! Osc/Filters sound so gritty!
This is great. Thanks for sharing it!
On the fly swat!! Brilliant love your vids
I remember this little/big dude!!!Was very agressive!!!Good for the ELECTRONIC-WAVE about the Beginning of the 80's!KRISMA were playing that in CATHODE MAMA album!The real analogic power about those great good-times!Those were the days!
Wow that sounds amazing my friend. Have a good day.
best WASP video, ever
best synth video, ever
best video ever, in fact
what a good job you've done here, THANKS !
My God, have you seen his other videos? If you liked this, boy you're in for a treat!
Nice video. I remember reading about Dave Edmund's owing a Wasp before he broke with the Eurythmics. The new Stylophone Gen R 8 reminds me very much of wasp. A real beastie and yes I owe one.
It’s shares a design aesthetic with the Sinclair ZX80. It definitely embodies electronic gear from that time 👌🇬🇧.... itching to make a Jasper now!
This sounds very Claudio Simonetti, at least for me, for some reason. I can totally imagine Italian horror movie with the sound of this synthesizer.
Absolutely love the sound of this!
What a catchy demo tune - thanks! 😃
Great video, thanks man 👊
Haha, you just made my day 😆 - and as always that track is pure fire! That bassline is just awesome 🤘
Wow, what a monophonic beast, or beest. A+ demonstration and cool track as well. Thank you Alex.
"beest" - stealing that.
Loved the WASP. The negative and positive modulation depth to the filter are another unique aspect of the voice. Has a sound all it's own. Unfortunately, no PWM. You can manually change the pulse width, but it isn't a destination for the control oscillator or envelope. Well done!
Alex Killah Bees Ball in tha house. Sick color profile on this. I've always love the design of the WASP. I so badly want to animate those bees flying around you playing.
I didn't realise wasps could roar! Great video man, keep them coming! 🙂
That was a dope track you made with it
Another cracking video Alex!
Thank you sir.
Had the original. What a great synth. Thanks for this.
Love that demo.
FUN FACT: Did you know that in 2019, Behringer released a remake of the WASP synth called the WASP DELUXE! This has created quite a "BUZZ" in the synthesizer scene and a re-discovery and interest in the synth. Hence people making documentaries about it like this one! WOWEEE YAY BEHRINGER!
That "Rule Britannia" sting at the start was so fun it might leave a welt.
Nice one about the using the case as a third oscillator!!!
This is the best wasp demo👍🙏❤️
Great video, Gary Numan also used one I believe, great saw wave! I didn't know it had plates not keys.
Demo track totally amazing.. incredible.
A very Anglo-Saxon synth. Possibly even White-Protestant
They had money.... THEY HAD CULTURE!!
😂😂
Filfy britz
Certainly not a filthy Scottish synth as none exist. My mate went to uni up their and all he heard was bagpipes or the occasional pisshead busking with a banjo. Yuck ! No culture.
SASANACH AMACH lol
Really sounds amazing.
One of the best synths ever built! Great demo and neat to see another cameo of my Deluxe there too. (@9:23) :D
Is that your Deluxe? The only decent photo I could find of one. Very rare.
Do you still have it?
@@AlexBallMusic Yes, it's mine and it's still here. :) I recognized it because of the modifications (speaker kill switch) and factory installed joystick (with kill switch). I bought it from a former employee of EDP.
Great sound !
Tangerine Dream had 6 of these which they sampled and then sold. I can remember the EDP launch at Rose Morris in Shaftsbury Avenue in London
This is awesome. I have an ancient Wasp Special (from Wasp Synthesisers, the company Wagner founded after parting ways with Huggett) and a Spider sequencer. The Special looks particularly dull in its wooden case. Unfortunately neither are working anymore but I remember the synth sounded awesome, and I used to just multitrack it on my old four track to make chords. As the circuitry isn't devilishly complex it should be an easy repair when I eventually get around to it.
Sounds really good!!