Tangible Waves WAEVE82, an 8-voice polyphonic wavetable Synthesizer for the AE Modular, inspired by the PPG Wave 2.
Hardware modular synthesis can quickly become expensive. One or two oscillators, a filter, envelopes, case usage—it’s easy to assemble a $1000/€1000+ Eurorack synth.
The AE Modular System from the German company Tangible Waves offers a more affordable alternative for those who are fine with tiny cables and patch sockets. The latest creation from Robbie Langer of Tangible Waves is a complete polysynth called the WAEVE82, based on a legendary hybrid synth.
Tangible Waves WAEVE82
The WAEVE82 is a new 8-voice polyphonic wavetable Synthesizer module inspired by Wolfgang Palm’s legendary PPG Wave 2 Synthesizer from the 80s.
Yes, Tangible Waves WAEVE82 is not just an 8-voice polyphonic wavetable oscillator but an entire polysynth for your AE Modular rack.
According to the developers, it’s not a faithful clone of the PPG Wave 2, but it draws inspiration from that lineage and follows its own unique engine.
The WAEVE82 core features two independent wavetable oscillators, each with 64 internal wavetables plus support for external tables loaded from a front-panel micro-SD card. There is also a noise generator that you can mix into the signal path.
The parameters that can be adjusted are not yet known, but I expect they are classic controls such as pitch, wavetable select, and more. Also unknown are the details of the filter engine. For the price, it’s unlikely to be an analog filter, but I’d guess an emulation of the PPG filter.
Deep Sound Design & Playability
Then it houses three ADSR envelopes: one for the oscillator, one for the filter, and one for the amplitude (AMP). Additionally, it includes four LFOs with free-running and tempo-sync modes.
The faceplate says the LFOs have routings to the oscillators, wavetable, and filter. Both the envelopes and the LFOs have defined primary and secondary roles. It
Faster sound design is possible with the built-in randomization and mutation system, which lets you generate entirely new sounds or gently transform existing ones.
Neat, they always have a restorable history, so you can always go back to the original sound. Sounds can be saved to and loaded from a microSD card.
Tangible Waves has made sure the WAEVE82 is playable live. They embedded two distinct operation modes. The edit mode provides deep sound design options, while the perform mode offers live playability with direct access to eight favorite parameters.
Further, it includes a complete iMIDI/MIDI and CV/gate interface that includes an eight-voice MIDI engine with chord generation from CV, and additional CV/gate connectivity. The IMDI and CV control can run in parallel.
First Impression
A very exciting module for the AE Modular System. Even though the modules in the AE system are small, the WAEVE82 82 looks easy to use. I’m already looking forward to the first sound demos.
Tangible Waves WAEVE82 is now available for pre-order at 184€ + VAT. You can choose between a black and blue faceplate. Shipping starts in the second half of January 2026.
More information here: Tangible Waves
This seems so counter-intuitive when you think about what a Nord Modular G2 could do.
but the Nord Modular G2 is a keyboard with a software 😉 so two different things
Just wanted to recap that in the past, the maker stated that he wanted to make small & affordable modules so that everyone can enjoy the modular experience. Does not seem quite like it now. This is 182 euros. He even hinted that an Eurorack equivalent of this would be made, which will likely cost more.
He has made 100+ super affordable modules. He’s now working on a module that is more expensive! The world is ending now 😉
And still that “more expensive” module is cheap compared to other 8-voice polysynth module available on the market. That would cost on the Eurorack market 500€+
thats Not much 😀
j Had the volcamixer from His company.
was great
The point is, that this is a complete another level of module functionality than the previous AE modules; it’s actually a complete 8-voice polysyth. I think, the price is still very moderate for what you get. And the eurorack version will not be that much more expensive.