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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
@@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 ...
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.
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..
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).🔊🎶
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!!
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.
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.
Thanks for the demo Alex, really like the sound of the Wasp as it has its own "gnatty" retro tone I haven't heard from other synths. :) Have never seen one pop up locally in all my years, seems pretty rare these days. If you have a chance to compare it to the Behringer Wasp, would be interested to hear your thoughts!
Think they're quite rare outside of the UK. A curious bit of Brit synth history really. Same with the OSCar that my US friends say they never see. Yep, would definitely be interested to compare with the Behringer clone, particularly the filter.
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!!
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!
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
@@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).
@@AlexBallMusic Now that I'd like to hear. It's a real character synth. A mate of mine lent me his while travelled around Asia for a few months, back in the day. That beast ended up on just about everything I did during that period. Also made hundreds of samples of it just playing sequences.
@@AlexBallMusic Need to mention that mine (OSCar this time) probably is one of the first 50. It has no serial but has a Huggett designed add-on in the form of a waveform multiplier (one for each oscillator) which is accessible via two switches on the back. The accompanying manual also differs from the production run and has Chris' address at the time on the front in biro. :D (EDP fan boy - yezzz... :D )
‘The oscillators are digitally controlled’ while technically correct they are as digitally controlled as the ARP Odyssey’s ring mod (or the MS-20’s, for that matter) are digital. It is all CMOS but there is no code or software.
Yes, it uses NE-555s which have a digital output. My understanding was that was digitally controlled. The description I found said: _The VCOs are analog designed around a pair of 555 timers. The analog VCOs allow voltage controlled modulation. These VCOs are then converted to digital to divide down to note frequencies as controlled by the keyboard. The note frequencies are then run through a phase lock loop so that glide can be added. The output of the phase lock loop is then waveshaped for the final oscillator output. What a lot of work but it kept the circuitry very inexpensive._
@@AlexBallMusic Interesting, the Paia Fatman used 555s as well, but sounded very different. Clearly implementation is everything. There was a simple way to sync them together just by adding a switch wired to the same pin on both chips.
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
I have had one for more than 20 years, it the fattest smallest beast ever!! I have owned a lot of synths but will never part with my wasp! It is so quirky yet huge sounding! Here it is featured heavily in a track of mine at 14:03 ua-cam.com/video/LSIs2qrZ3ck/v-deo.html
@@AlexBallMusic Thanks Alex, yes it has been a while...It is getting fixed right now and I intend to put it to some more use soon. Your channel is awesome! Congratulations!
Robert Calvert used one after he left Hawkwind, I'm pretty sure he did Lord of the Hornets with it... ... Anyway does anyone know if the Behringer clone stands up to this?
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.
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 :)
A friend, who was in the junior army, bought one of this off another guy in his section for £15 in ‘82. He didn’t get on with it so sold it for the same amount to our keyboard player (the great Darren Tansley of Moonhare Studio) for what he paid for it. As Darren already had a Mini Moog and a Roland SH2 the wasp was put on the floor and played barefoot for white noise swooshing sounds. Darren also used a set of wooden salad servers to wedge down chords.
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.
That sounded sooooo good. I want, I want.....Another one to add to my ever growing wishlist. Is the Behringer Wasp a decent option? Thanks for another great video BTW.
That Pulse width sounds a bit cranky. I'm looking at building my own Wasp style oscillator for Eurorack, hopefully it will sound nice. Wish I picked one up when they weren't so cool.
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!
😂🤦🏼♂️ "Handy if you want a third oscillator" *very* nearly got tea coming out my nose, and I'm an American, so, I feel like that should be some sort of win for the English lol/smh [It was chai, tho, 'cause English Breakfast is garbage, let's not get TOO carried away 😉]
If you are a Genesis fan, then you might be interested in the rumour that Tony Banks used a WASP synth on the solo to Dodo/Lurker on the Abacab album in 1981.If anyone can confirm that, that would be great?
@gmarquisuk mentioned the Jen SX1000 below. Which really brought back memories. And also sounds like some kind of NPC / bot these days. I wonder if they are still £100 and I should not mention Jennifer S. x1000, until I get one first. Fight me at Reverb y'all. Oh, someone is asking for 1495 eur for one, _after_ discouting by 7% nvm. Jam was amazing, think it reminded me of some tracks that Eat Static used a Roland SH-5 dripping with resonance on.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
That list of artists who used it... I didn't realize what was going on until The Buzzcocks hahahaha
It was subtle and wonderful.
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
“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.
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
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 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!
If the envelope is looping, is it a nested loop? ... You know like a wasps🤕🗞🏳
Ace. That jam is raw and good.
Thanks Jeremy. :)
Hard agree
Legendary synths and cheesy jokes? Subbed 👌🏼
🎹🧀
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 ...
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. 😀
"Demo Track" is the best part of the video.
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
RIP Chris Huggett... You are a hero to me.
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.
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.
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).🔊🎶
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!!
"Sting, The Wings, The Bee Gees, The Buzzcocks and The Hives"... Ah, I see what you did there...
They sound great - the combination of great mod sources and a squelchy filter make it sound pretty great.
that is possibly the best filter I have ever heard
I was just thinking it sounded so good
Yeah, pretty tasty.
3:44 If you think the GTA San Andreas melody is coming right away
If I’m not mistaken this was also the first since that Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran also had..
Yep, his first synth.
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
My first synthesizer, that and a Jen SX1000. Man do I wish I still had that little beauty.
Yes! I totally forgot the Jen SX1000. I seem to remember that maybe Future Sound of London used them, amongst others.
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
Thanks for the demo Alex, really like the sound of the Wasp as it has its own "gnatty" retro tone I haven't heard from other synths. :) Have never seen one pop up locally in all my years, seems pretty rare these days. If you have a chance to compare it to the Behringer Wasp, would be interested to hear your thoughts!
Think they're quite rare outside of the UK. A curious bit of Brit synth history really. Same with the OSCar that my US friends say they never see.
Yep, would definitely be interested to compare with the Behringer clone, particularly the filter.
Don't forget Duran Duran use it too! I think it was their first synthesizer?🎹
Yes, that's in the video description.
Dave Stewart used it too.
Fun video. I remember the WASP's coarse and raspy sound. Just bought the Behringer WASP.
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
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.
Oooooooooooh that intro was just an explosion of retro '80s futurism
Surprised you didn’t mention The Stranglers, whose keyboard player, the late great Dave Greenfield, used the Wasp extensively on the Meniinblack LP.
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.
Does this have any relation to the wasp VST from FL Studio?
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.
Nice groanworthy puns. I want to see what the 'third oscillator' sounds like haha.
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!
I only know this synth because of Whitehouse. Legendary band.
Nick Rhodes' first synth.
Microfreaks in the 70s:
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).
Just picked up a Microfreak and I thought the keyboard was space age but now I see it's old news.
Wasn't this used by Devo on the Letterman show when they played "Whip It"?
Man I saw that keyboard and thought "this thing's gotta be junk" but it actually sounds pretty mean!
There's a free VST version called Da Hornet and it's a really good emulation.
Please don't do that smearing effect in the beginning of the video during presentation. Rest is good.
The WASP is one thing, but the OSCar is where it's at! Mmmmmm.
Oh yes. I should borrow one again, five of my friends have one. One friend even has serial number 002.
I could do a symphony of OSCars.
@@AlexBallMusic Now that I'd like to hear. It's a real character synth. A mate of mine lent me his while travelled around Asia for a few months, back in the day. That beast ended up on just about everything I did during that period. Also made hundreds of samples of it just playing sequences.
@@AlexBallMusic 5!? Lol. You bunch of Brits, ya'!
Bad teeth, but a lot of OSCars.
@@AlexBallMusic Need to mention that mine (OSCar this time) probably is one of the first 50. It has no serial but has a Huggett designed add-on in the form of a waveform multiplier (one for each oscillator) which is accessible via two switches on the back. The accompanying manual also differs from the production run and has Chris' address at the time on the front in biro. :D
(EDP fan boy - yezzz... :D )
You played the brown note about 46 times in this video and that’s how many times I shat myself, great video!
🐝💩
‘The oscillators are digitally controlled’ while technically correct they are as digitally controlled as the ARP Odyssey’s ring mod (or the MS-20’s, for that matter) are digital. It is all CMOS but there is no code or software.
Yes, it uses NE-555s which have a digital output. My understanding was that was digitally controlled.
The description I found said:
_The VCOs are analog designed around a pair of 555 timers. The analog VCOs allow voltage controlled modulation. These VCOs are then converted to digital to divide down to note frequencies as controlled by the keyboard. The note frequencies are then run through a phase lock loop so that glide can be added. The output of the phase lock loop is then waveshaped for the final oscillator output. What a lot of work but it kept the circuitry very inexpensive._
@@AlexBallMusic Interesting, the Paia Fatman used 555s as well, but sounded very different. Clearly implementation is everything. There was a simple way to sync them together just by adding a switch wired to the same pin on both chips.
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.
Funny, I've just got rid of two wasps in my room!!
You could have sold those on eBay.
@@AlexBallMusic I though it was more rock 'n' roll to throw them out the window
My girlfriend just said, "space fart?"
It’s shares a design aesthetic with the Sinclair ZX80. It definitely embodies electronic gear from that time 👌🇬🇧.... itching to make a Jasper now!
I'm enjoying my affordable Behringer clone that sounds exactly the same.
No way
@@sunnypedaal Way.
Almost sounds like the How It's Made theme at the end 🤣
DM never let me down-agro mix, all Wasp
I have had one for more than 20 years, it the fattest smallest beast ever!! I have owned a lot of synths but will never part with my wasp! It is so quirky yet huge sounding! Here it is featured heavily in a track of mine at 14:03 ua-cam.com/video/LSIs2qrZ3ck/v-deo.html
Ah thanks for the link. Nice grooves there - 18 years old by the looks of it too!
The gear list is pretty mouth watering too. :)
@@AlexBallMusic Thanks Alex, yes it has been a while...It is getting fixed right now and I intend to put it to some more use soon. Your channel is awesome! Congratulations!
Can you reccomend how I can get into vintage synths given the fact I am broke and mentally ill and cannot play music whatsoever?
VCVRack or a similar freeware modular clone. Sunvox doesn't try to emulate traditional synths but it has a tracker so you can produce within it.
Robert Calvert used one after he left Hawkwind, I'm pretty sure he did Lord of the Hornets with it...
... Anyway does anyone know if the Behringer clone stands up to this?
Calvert also used to work with Adrian Wagner, one of the guys behind the Wasp.
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.
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
4:42 I was rocking like Kramer eating Kenny Rogers Roaster's Chicken
A friend, who was in the junior army, bought one of this off another guy in his section for £15 in ‘82.
He didn’t get on with it so sold it for the same amount to our keyboard player (the great Darren Tansley of Moonhare Studio) for what he paid for it. As Darren already had a Mini Moog and a Roland SH2 the wasp was put on the floor and played barefoot for white noise swooshing sounds.
Darren also used a set of wooden salad servers to wedge down chords.
Haha. That's a great story, thanks for sharing. Could imagine that scenario.
Might have to try that. Now, where did I leave my salad servers?
This must be where Air's 'Sexy Boy' came from :)
How can you only have 70K subs??!! OMG you are a treasure.
Wasp related puns are a niche interest. 😉
I really liked your demo track! It makes me totally want to sing synthpop!
awesome. got any idea is the "B"asp is any good? (Behringer Wasp)
I have a Bwasp. Sounds really good but lacks the charm and easy glissandos (glissandi?) of the original's keyboard.
I usually run mine through Izotope Nectar!
😂
mr. huggett - a real mastermind in my opinion. i like the wasp since 1983 and the punk played by the buzzcocks too!
Sting, The Bee Gees, Wings, The Buzzcocks, the Hives... other notorious users include The Yellowjackets, Venom... Great music for enjoying honeymoons.
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.
I notische the modulaschionsch schwing both waysch. 😏
That sounded sooooo good. I want, I want.....Another one to add to my ever growing wishlist. Is the Behringer Wasp a decent option? Thanks for another great video BTW.
Wicked ! It’s totally kool to see where Arturia micro brut stole it’s design from. 🎹🤟BTW the brit accent is charming as heck
That Pulse width sounds a bit cranky. I'm looking at building my own Wasp style oscillator for Eurorack, hopefully it will sound nice. Wish I picked one up when they weren't so cool.
EDP (Electronic Dream Plant) was the epitome of a cottage industry - it was literally based in a cottage
Was it? Haha!
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!
😂🤦🏼♂️ "Handy if you want a third oscillator" *very* nearly got tea coming out my nose, and I'm an American, so, I feel like that should be some sort of win for the English lol/smh
[It was chai, tho, 'cause English Breakfast is garbage, let's not get TOO carried away 😉]
Depeche Mode used it on Music for the Masses.
Does anyone remember the Gnat. It followed a couple of years later and was single oscillator. Superb for the era.
Yes, there was the Gnat and Gnat Special. Cutdown features but still has a meaty sound, absolutely.
What about the lord God it was never popular......
I just remember from Merv Griffin Show!
The Was Devo (Band) Played, Whip It and Mark Mothersbaugh that Same Wasp synthesiser.
I Think The Whip Sound…
Used by Depeche Mode with a spider on never let me down
what's your favourite mode?
Beast mode.
If you are a Genesis fan, then you might be interested in the rumour that Tony Banks used a WASP synth on the solo to Dodo/Lurker on the Abacab album in 1981.If anyone can confirm that, that would be great?
@gmarquisuk mentioned the Jen SX1000 below. Which really brought back memories. And also sounds like some kind of NPC / bot these days. I wonder if they are still £100 and I should not mention Jennifer S. x1000, until I get one first. Fight me at Reverb y'all. Oh, someone is asking for 1495 eur for one, _after_ discouting by 7% nvm. Jam was amazing, think it reminded me of some tracks that Eat Static used a Roland SH-5 dripping with resonance on.
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!
Now, if someone out there had the original circuit schematics.... and actually MADE a new version....
Hmmm.
They were a nasty PoS in their day, and little has changed.
I actually wanted to order the kit to built it yourself but then Bheringer came out..What is worth? I wanted to complete it with my Poly D Behringer
I love the way you started just controlling your giggling just after "sting ..." 😂😂🤣👌 ROFLMAO - nice one ... I'm still GLMAO as I type ... 👍👍
😉
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "The WASP is plastic and stickery, but it's got guts, and guts is enough!"
I hear " The Hitchhikers guide" in all those sample sounds. Obviously, the British production, not that crappy bastardized hollywood version.