Realizer - virtual digital instrument

The Realizer may well have been the world's first virtual instrument, yet ironicaly some feel the stress of it's development put PPG out of business. It was the last PPG product, and never got beyond the prototype stage. Still, it's features were staggering, even by todays standards. (Check out the photo above to see it emulating a Minimoog.)

From the September 1986 issue of Keyboard Magazine, Dave Frederick wrote an article on the 1986 summer NAMM show stating:

"An impressive exhibit from PPG was the Realizer (about $50,000). This consists of software versions of familiar synthesizer configurations. It allows you to design your own analog, FM digital, and sampled sounds, patch any of the components of one instrument into another instrument, and then sequence or sample the resulting sound. Wolfgang Palm, designer of the Realizer and head of PPG Instruments, earns the the quote-of-the-show award for explaining how he designed it: 'I copied the circuit diagrams into software.' No easy task."

The picture above shows the Realizer control unit only. In addition to it were racks that contained the actual processing hardware. Below is the text from a Realize brochure.

PPG Realizer Info / Hamburg, February 1987

PPG REALIZER

With the development of the PPG REALIZER, the PPG Company has succeeded in bringing a completely new kind of instrument into the market, and soon establish itself in studios. The PPG REALIZER is the first of its kind to bring together in one instrument, digital sound production, sound processing and recording. This is achieved using a hardware concept which, in its flexibility, remains unique in the development of electronic music instruments, because all PPG REALIZER modules are realized exclusively by software.

1. DIGITAL SOUND PRODUCING

The PPG REALIZER has no oscillator, no filters etc. Every sound is produced using eight software controlled signal processors and converts to audio 16bit D/A converters (12) at 44,1 kHz. Every conceivable hardware configuration, from the legendary Moog synthesizer sound right up to FM synthesis can be simulated using the PPG REALIZER. The resulting sound material is high studio quality.

2. DIGITAL REALTIME SOUND MODULATION

The PPG REALIZER, using its software controlled "effect processing", can manipulate any sound with 16bit quality. Echo, Delay, Phasing, Chorus, Flanging, "Harmonizer" effects etc, make up only a small part of the modulation effects possible. The PPG REALIZER can modulate sounds stored on the Hard Disk, or from an external sound source.

3. DIGITAL RECORDING

The integrated 85 Mbyte Hard Disk allows the PPG REALIZER to produce 16bit quality recording in the following lengths:

with a sample rate of 44,1KHz. The recordings can be synchronized with any Midi Sequencer. Up to 4 tracks can be played back simultaneously. In providing the simulation of well-known synthesizers in all three above mentioned areas the PPG REALIZER offers its real innovations:

1. Realization of new instruments through combination of traditional modules: For example, a new kind of synthesizer can be created which has FM sound source, a Moog filter and controlled with multi level envelops. However new methods of sound production and modulation created from mathematics can be applied (for example; harmonic distortion and wave shaping).

2. In most delays, a filter is built into the reflections. With the PPG REALIZER it is possible to replace the filter with a "Harmonizer" so that the echo continually changes in pitch.

3. A resampling function enables a re-loading of complex sounds and their modulation and manipulation, free of generation decay.

The abundant features of the PPG REALIZER are, however, not exhausted with the single points already mentioned. The fact that it is possible to combine all three areas together makes it clear what kind of results can be expected. They can only be briefly sketched here. You could, for example, take 2 Moog voices, 1 FM voice, 2 PPG Wave voices, 2 sampled sounds and a stereo recording from the Hard Disk and, using them all simultaneously, control them all via different MIDI channels. While all this is happening you take an external signal. such as guitar, and have the characteristic distortion simulated as if you were playing over a tube amplifier.

The PPG REALIZER consists in its basic version of a 19" unit, the Sound Module and Control Desk: The first one is the sound processing unit in which the complete sound-processing electronics and the Hard Disk are housed. The second one is the controlling unit. It contains a 14" colour monitor with 64 colours and high resolution graphics. 40 functions can be carried out in a quick and easy way, using knobs, faders and footpedals in an analogue fashion. The Control Desk is able to control up to 8 Sound Modules or PPG HDU's (Hard Disk Unit) to form a big sound producing and recording system (up to 32 tracks with a total recording time of 192 minutes). The front panel and the monitor screen form together one unit so that there is no discrepancy between what you touch, see and hear - it is just one harmonious whole. A 20 button keypad is used to enter numerical commands and other tasks, and a graphic tablet is used for graphics and controlling the cursor. Contrary to the mouse or light pen, this graphic controller provides a precise way of adjusting and modulating every process represented on the monitor. Positioning of the cursor is swift and precise, allowing the full creative process to take over. All these features make the PPG REALIZER a simple to use instrument, with incredible possibilities.

THE UNITS OF THE NEW PPG REALIZER MUSIC SYSTEM

The PPG REALIZER Control Desk is the main controller for PPG RSM and HDU modules. It can supervise 8 modules simultaneously. Any combination can be configured according to the needs of the user. With its new ergonomic outfit, integral top desk and its alignments abilities, travel along Z-axis, swivelling in Y-axis, the Control Desk is adjustable to different habits of operation. The high resolution colour screen offers 64 different colours. 6 Penny & Giles faders, 31 pots, a graphic tablet and an "alpha dial" give an easy access to all complex control parameters. The PPG REALIZER Sound Module contains 8 TMS 32010 signal processors, 1 Motorola 68020 host processor, 12 D/A converters, (16 bit linear), 2 A/D converters (16 bit linear), 1 Winchester Drive 85 MByte, 4 MByte RAM for sampling (ca. 45 sec). Interfaces: 2 MIDI in, MIDI thru, MIDI out, SCSI for fast data transfer, Digital Audio interface (AES/EBU) optional.