EDP
EDP
Also known as: Electronic Dream Plant
UnclaimedElectronic Dream Plant, commonly known as EDP, is a British synthesizer manufacturer founded in 1977 by musician Adrian Wagner and electronics designer Chris Huggett. Based in Oxford, England, the company operated out of Wagner's Red Gables home and recording studio, with initial financing from Argent's Keyboards in London. EDP set out to make electronic instruments affordable and portable at a...
Electronic Dream Plant, commonly known as EDP, is a British synthesizer manufacturer founded in 1977 by musician Adrian Wagner and electronics designer Chris Huggett. Based in Oxford, England, the company operated out of Wagner's Red Gables home and recording studio, with initial financing from Argent's Keyboards in London. EDP set out to make electronic instruments affordable and portable at a time when synthesizers were prohibitively expensive for most musicians.
The company's flagship product, the Wasp, launched in 1978 at a price of just £199. The Wasp features a distinctive black-and-yellow plastic enclosure with a touch-sensitive capacitive keyboard instead of conventional mechanical keys, two digital oscillators paired with analog filters, and a built-in speaker — making it one of the first truly portable synthesizers. Its raw, characterful sound made it a favorite among post-punk and electronic artists, with notable users including Vince Clarke, Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, Kim Wilde (who used it on "Kids in America"), 808 State, and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. EDP expanded the Wasp ecosystem with the Wasp Deluxe (a 37-key variant with a proper mechanical keyboard), the Spider digital sequencer, the Caterpillar master keyboard controller, and the Gnat, a budget single-oscillator version. The company also developed a proprietary system for linking multiple Wasps together, predating MIDI by several years.
EDP ceased operations in 1982 due to mounting debts to component suppliers. Huggett went on to co-found the Oxford Synthesiser Company, designing the acclaimed OSCar synthesizer, and later collaborated with Novation on instruments like the Bass Station. The Wasp's legacy endures as a cult classic among vintage synth enthusiasts, with modern clones produced by manufacturers like Behringer keeping its distinctive sound accessible to new generations of musicians.
EDP has 3 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Synthesizers, Audio Sequencers, and MIDI Keyboard Controllers. Their gear is featured by 36 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Pop. Notable users include David A. Stewart, Rodney Orpheus, and Kevin Parker.
Artists Who Use EDP
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