Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[battema]

Interesting, I remember reading an article on Jeff Lorber in the August 84 issue of Keyboard magazine, where he talked about how he had modified one of his sequencers, I think, so that it could use a floppy drive to load sequences, instead of the stock cassette interface. Apparently, it would take about 2 minutes to load sounds via the cassette interface, whereas the the floppy would take only about 9 seconds (but there was a typo in the article as printed, apparently whoever was inputting the written piece into the word processor hit the "0" key instead of the "-" key, so instead of "1-9 seconds", it read "109 seconds" which I think upset the guy who designed and rigged the mod, as he soon afterwards wrote in to correct them).

But I imagine samples and such would take longer to load than sequences, which I imagine is a simpler form of data (and therefore takes less memory).

I wonder how Tony Banks managed the Emulator II on the Invisible Touch tour, in that regard. Maybe that's why Phil had to launch into some of those monologues to introduce the songs: to give Tony time to load stuff on the Emulator.

I recall reading an article about someone, I think it was Vince Clarke, when he was still in Yaz(oo), where he said when they played live he used two Fairlights: one that he was using at any given time, and the other was loading the next song in the set. I remember Gregg Hawkes saying that he took four Roland sequencers on the Cars Heartbeat City tour, because each only could only hold about two or three songs at a time (and he had two of everything else, including the Synclavier, for backup purposes).

I don't know for certain but along the way the Emulator II was upgraded to include expanded memory and an internal hard drive, which allowed for more samples to be readily available. So, it's possible Banks was using one of these (also possible Chris Franke was using one, but that they still went mostly the backing track route ;-) ).

Thanks for the details on Klaus Schulze's standing/sitting habits too...I had assumed he mostly sat so that's interesting to know

[GuitarGeek]

a roadie had accidentally cut the power to the keyboard rig after soundcheck so the keyboard player had to reload the samples while the audience entered the venue and yet a good 20 minutes more... He reverted to his Emax after that show

Sounds like the story I Heard Rick Wakeman tell about the first Sequential Circuits sequencer, which he had back in the very early 80's, I guess. He said it had no memory, so every afternoon, at soundcheck, he'd have to play the part into the sequencer, and then he'd make a sign to place on the sequencer that read, "DO NOT SWITCH THIS OFF!!!!". Of course, someone would turn it of anyway, and when the part of the show where he needed the sequencer, he'd hit the "play" button, and you'd hear nothing, except him yelling "SHIT!!!!".

I recall reading an article about the Butthole Surfers, I forget what the name of their big hit in the mid 90's was, but they ended up appearing on the Letterman show to play it. And according to one article I read, there was some concern whether the commercial break was long enough to load the song's backing track into the sequencer (or laptop, or whatever they were using). I never understood that one, the commercial break has to be the same length as it is on air, even if the show is pretaped hours before broadcast? Anyway, Paul Leary said usually the first thing he did when the band went onstage at the start of a show, was to load the sequencer for that song, so that it would be ready when the song came up in the setlist. He said he didn't like doing it during soundcheck because "weird things" tended to happen between soundcheck time and the show.

Another funny story about sequencers and the Emulator II was about Invisible Touch itself. I read where Tony Banks said the "percolating" synth part during the bridge was done with the sequencer. But the thing was, to play the song live, they had to transpose it down (even in 1986, it was too high for Phil to sing night after night, in it's original key), so he had to reprogram the sequencer part, but apparently he didn't do as good a job the second time around, so he felt it didn't sound as good live as it did on the record.

[Zeuhlmate]

Behringer Model D Demo/Comparison (by Synthpro)

[battema]

The new Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack, while not quite the classic that the original Vangelis score was, is quite a lovely little tribute to the sound of the CS-80 (I'm assuming Zimmer used one, or something very similar). All those delicious buzzy sawtooth pads and lagged-out sweeps...oooooh yeah. It's made me even more excited to get my hands on the Deckards Dream synth in the coming months (first kits are starting to ship, so prebuilt can't be too far behind!!).

[dropforge]

The sound mix in that film is incredible. (LOUD as eff!) Loved the score. Loved the movie.

[battema]

Preach, brotha!

I am super excited to get the Deckards Dream, set myself up at home for endless days, creating nothing new but just endlessly recreating the theme from Blade Runner

[Gizmotron]

Preach, brotha!

I am super excited to get the Deckards Dream, set myself up at home for endless days, creating nothing new but just endlessly recreating the theme from Blade Runner

Sounds like a good time!
I am off to see the movie tonight.

On a non-related theme, what say you about the Roland System 8? Anyone mess with one yet? It came out without me really noticing...and now that I am paying attention, I like what I hear. The Plug Out abilities are quite intriguing.

[battema]

I looked at the System 8 when it first came around...but decided that it was mostly reduntant for me.

That said...it DOES look cool and the Plug Out gives interesting options for expansion. If I *didn't* already have some of the gadgets I have, I'd have gone for it in a heartbeat.

[Gizmotron]

I looked at the System 8 when it first came around...but decided that it was mostly reduntant for me.

That said...it DOES look cool and the Plug Out gives interesting options for expansion. If I *didn't* already have some of the gadgets I have, I'd have gone for it in a heartbeat.

Thank you! What synths that you already have cover that ground? I too probably don't "need" one but when did that every stop folks like us?
And yes, the plug outs (basically having a Jupiter 8, 106, etc. that can do a few new tricks) are a big draw. Being able to layer sounds from different engines has me intrigued.

Perhaps more so than other instruments, synths are extremely different from each other, they have personalities, and each one encourages different paths and experiments. They pique our interest and lead us into new areas. I think that is why folks like us are drawn to something new.

Blade Runner 2049: Holy mole! What a film. It really is a masterpiece. The soundtrack was very cool and very Vangelis-like, especially in the synth textures and timbres.

[dropforge]

Preach, brotha!

I am super excited to get the Deckards Dream, set myself up at home for endless days, creating nothing new but just endlessly recreating the theme from Blade Runner

"Memories of Green," too!

[dropforge]

I am off to see the movie tonight.

Glad I didn't say anything spoiler-iffic!

[battema]

Thank you! What synths that you already have cover that ground? I too probably don't "need" one but when did that every stop folks like us?
And yes, the plug outs (basically having a Jupiter 8, 106, etc. that can do a few new tricks) are a big draw. Being able to layer sounds from different engines has me intrigued.

Perhaps more so than other instruments, synths are extremely different from each other, they have personalities, and each one encourages different paths and experiments. They pique our interest and lead us into new areas. I think that is why folks like us are drawn to something new.

Blade Runner 2049: Holy mole! What a film. It really is a masterpiece. The soundtrack was very cool and very Vangelis-like, especially in the synth textures and timbres.

Well, thanks to the Arturia set I've got the Jupiter soft synth...and I have the MKS-50 so that's the Juno sound. Plus, my Fantom and XP-30 both have expansion boards with analog sound sets...so, there wasn't much that the System 8 offered that was totally new for me. But you aren't wrong...that isn't exactly a showstopper Part of it was also the decision to spring for the Deckards Dream, so the $$ that a System 8 would've cost will go towards that in due time.

[dropforge]

Battman, did you buy the ltd. $50 Blade Runner 2049 2CD?

[battema]

No, but I did buy the 2nd edition 2 CD $24 version

[dropforge]

No, but I did buy the 2nd edition 2 CD $24 version

I tried to order that bitch and it was sold out when I got there!

I hope the 3rd edition 2CD is $16.

[battema]

You can also get it digitally from Amazon and other joints. Which you probably totally knew already

But: if you haven't yet, check out Necro Deathmort's "The Capsule." Amazing album by best band name EVAR Synth awesomeness.

[dropforge]

DIGITALLY?

This boy don't do digitally-squat!

Hard copy all the way!

[dropforge]

"Necro Deathmort"? That's pretty durned phunny!

[Gizmotron]

Well, thanks to the Arturia set I've got the Jupiter soft synth...and I have the MKS-50 so that's the Juno sound. Plus, my Fantom and XP-30 both have expansion boards with analog sound sets...so, there wasn't much that the System 8 offered that was totally new for me. But you aren't wrong...that isn't exactly a showstopper Part of it was also the decision to spring for the Deckards Dream, so the $$ that a System 8 would've cost will go towards that in due time.

Yes, you do have lots of that turf covered with your current gear. Thanks for your reply!
We'll all be looking forward to hearing samples from your DD when you get it.

[dropforge]

I tried to order that bitch and it was sold out when I got there!

I hope the 3rd edition 2CD is $16.

Looks like the forthcoming standard 2CD is $14.

[hFx]

Battman, did you buy the ltd. $50 Blade Runner 2049 2CD?

How about the following years' edition..?

[battema]

Late reply, but that's a lovely little demo of the CS-80

[battema]

My weekend tweakfest, between other things:

IMG_20171028_121337.jpg

The sound engine is my Roland MKS-50 in the rack. The DT-300 is a new clone version of the wonderful old PG-300 programmer, which allows slider access to most of the synth parameters in the MKS. And of course, the Linnstrument is what it is

The MKS has a Mono mode that is technically meant for MIDI guitars but might allow me to get some MPE-type gestures going (polyphonic pitch bends and aftertouch mostly), since it takes the six voices and splits them to six different MIDI channels. I think by default the Linnstrument does 8 channels but that may be adjustable. Still...as a poor man's MPE setup it might be a fun starting point!

Only minor bummer...while playing around I noticed some definite noise in the MKS outputs. It also shows at the headphone out, so...probably going to need a trip to the synth doctor sometime soon.

[smcfee]

uxp8lhbov0vz.jpg

[hippypants]

Whoa, smcfee!

Can you tell what type synth he's playing the Roland gizmo thru?