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!

Me: Mom, I wanna get a Moog synth! Mom: We have a synth at home. *Synth at home*

RIP the creator of this synthesizer Chris Huggett. An absolute synth legend!

3:45 I was expecting the intro for GTA San Andreas to start playing 😂

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

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!!

"Bzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzzz" Alex Ball, 2020 CEO of synths demo

I applauded at the "used by these artists" joke, well done.

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).

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.

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

One of the first synths I saw in the real world, and wow that thing has a surprisingly good sound!

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.

Ace. That jam is raw and good.

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

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

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

My first synthesizer, that and a Jen SX1000. Man do I wish I still had that little beauty.

They sound great - the combination of great mod sources and a squelchy filter make it sound pretty great.

Another great one Alex!! Really enjoy your vid's; keep them coming :)

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.

Bass sequence at beginning of "Kids in America" Kim Wilde was made with WASP.

I was hoping there would be a sample pack of this. Your sample packs are amazing.

Wasn't expecting a little electropop treat this Sunday morning, nice one as always

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.

"Demo Track" is the best part of the video.

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 :)

This channel is pure love, 10x!

Oooooooooooh that intro was just an explosion of retro '80s futurism

That song was so dope dude! Also great video. Subscribed

How can you only have 70K subs??!! OMG you are a treasure.

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..

best WASP video, ever best synth video, ever best video ever, in fact what a good job you've done here, THANKS !

A wonderful combo of history and demo. if all music product videos were like this, the world would be a better place

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!!

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...!!

Haha, you just made my day 😆 - and as always that track is pure fire! That bassline is just awesome 🤘

Now THIS is what I've been looking for to hear from the Wasp! Thank you!

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!!

Legendary synths and cheesy jokes? Subbed 👌🏼

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 👍 👍

You played the brown note about 46 times in this video and that’s how many times I shat myself, great video!

Absolute genius demo of a fascinating instrument!

I really liked your demo track! It makes me totally want to sing synthpop!

Once again, fantastic video. Never heard of this synth before. Quirky little thing.

“STING, the BEE Gees, the BUZZcocks, the HIVES” - took me a few seconds to realise you weren‘t being serious.... ...or WERE you? 😱

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.

Gotta say, I'm quite impressed with this little bugger 😃

I didn't realise wasps could roar! Great video man, keep them coming! 🙂

If the envelope is looping, is it a nested loop? ... You know like a wasps🤕🗞🏳

On the fly swat!! Brilliant love your vids

What a great video! I liked this synth.

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).🔊🎶

that is possibly the best filter I have ever heard

Wow that sounds amazing my friend. Have a good day.

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.

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.

This is great. Thanks for sharing it!

Great video, thanks man 👊

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!

Another cracking video Alex!

Wow, what a monophonic beast, or beest. A+ demonstration and cool track as well. Thank you Alex.

One of the best synths ever built! Great demo and neat to see another cameo of my Deluxe there too. (@9:23) :D

Great job Alex... Love that synth. Up there with OSCar...

Sounds absolutely stunning!

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!

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.

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.

What a catchy demo tune - thanks! 😃

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!

Great sounding synth! Osc/Filters sound so gritty!

Fab sound - I remember these looked so space age and futuristic to a young teen me and I wished after one....Still never even had my hands on one. Maybe one day :) How super appropriate that you include the SDS3 on the track too. Love it!

Nice work sir! I loved my Wasp, while it lasted.. it died.. I did later pick up a Gnat Special by Wasp Synthesizer Ltd - the company Adrian had set up after EDP went bankrupt and Huggett had left... My second-ever video for the KZfaq. Great synths! ❤👌

That was a dope track you made with it

Had the original. What a great synth. Thanks for this.

Absolutely love the sound of this!

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 ....👍

Just picked up a Microfreak and I thought the keyboard was space age but now I see it's old news.

Great video, and demo song! :) I recall Gary Numan sitting on the stage (on the actual stage, cross-legged) in 1979 playing one of these during one of his songs. However, someone else online told me this is a false memory and he actually used an ARP Odyssey. I'm not sure which of us is right...!

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.

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.

Wow, such a cool synth! I wish I had one right now :3

This is the best wasp demo👍🙏❤️

Reminds me of how much fun was to be a teen discovering synthesisers in the late 80's :)

Every piece of gear becomes even more interesting after you demo it

It’s shares a design aesthetic with the Sinclair ZX80. It definitely embodies electronic gear from that time 👌🇬🇧.... itching to make a Jasper now!

Love that demo.

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.

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

What a fab bit of kit

Fun video. I remember the WASP's coarse and raspy sound. Just bought the Behringer WASP.

Sounds really good!!

My WASP was not that clean when it was new. Thanks for the great video.

Wasp VST in fruity loops gave me my first real delve into how a synth works. It's simple layout was a big help with that, just had to contextually put together what all the symbols meant. I feel like my generations simultaneous discovery with this DAW and VST in particular is the only reason dubstep exists, as that version had defaulted to 140bpm. Change my mind!

They had a bunch of these at my old school in the music block. My first introduction to synthesis. Never looked back. Love these weird little freaks.

Really sounds amazing.

Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran mentioned this in an interview... seems it was the starter synth for everyone back then. Not too shabby either.