Which synths was he playing?
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
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- 12880 posts since 5 Jun, 2012
I have always loved this ancient track (about 40 years old), there is something magical about it, among my three favorite tracks of all time
Anyway, there is a live video and I was wondering what synths the guy on the left side was playing? I don't recognize neither the upper nor the lower one I guess the lower one was used for the string pad sound (maybe some string machine?), the upper one for the solo towards the end obviously
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYOJX-fuKqM
Anyway, there is a live video and I was wondering what synths the guy on the left side was playing? I don't recognize neither the upper nor the lower one I guess the lower one was used for the string pad sound (maybe some string machine?), the upper one for the solo towards the end obviously
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYOJX-fuKqM
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- KVRAF
- 15517 posts since 13 Oct, 2009
The lower machine is an Arp String Ensemble. See about 1:30 into the video and this image. Of course, that's what's in the video, it's not plugged in so it may not be what's on the record.
The solo synth is stumping me.
The solo synth is stumping me.
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- KVRAF
- 3817 posts since 8 Mar, 2006
cool track.. also thanks for reminding of Soul Train, enjoying the good funky vibes there!
- KVRAF
- 4130 posts since 11 Aug, 2006 from Texas
The top synth looks a whole lot like the keyboard of an Arp 2600. Compare the 2:37 mark with this:
Maybe the 2600 synth modules themselves are under the string ensemble...
Maybe the 2600 synth modules themselves are under the string ensemble...
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- KVRAF
- 15517 posts since 13 Oct, 2009
I think that I know what's going on with the solo keyboard. It's not a solo keyboard. It is the external CV keyboard from an Arp 2600. The video isn't clear, the closest spot is about 2:40 or so. It doesn't look exactly like this in the video, but really close. The sound is quite rich and unlikely to be a simple solo synthesizer. I could be completely wrong, but I'm not aware of any mainstream synth models that looked like that in the early seventies. Given that they're not actually playing the keyboards, there's no reason to put the bulky cabinet of the arp on stage for the video.
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- KVRAF
- 15517 posts since 13 Oct, 2009
Yes, that's the model. It's definitely a 2600. The modules aren't in the picture because they aren't actually playing, there's no cable coming from the string ensemble, jack is in the round hole on the left hand side (looking at the back) of the rear of the cabinet.bmrzycki wrote:The top synth looks a whole lot like the keyboard of an Arp 2600. Compare the 2:37 mark with this:
Maybe the 2600 synth modules themselves are under the string ensemble...
Case closed.
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- KVRAF
- 15517 posts since 13 Oct, 2009
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
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Ah, yes, that is the one, I can see the three knobs on the left sidebmrzycki wrote:The top synth looks a whole lot like the keyboard of an Arp 2600. Compare the 2:37 mark with this:
Maybe the 2600 synth modules themselves are under the string ensemble...
Thanks So I suppose I should look for an ARP emulation if I want to make that sound While it was not live, I assume they really used those instruments in the studio as well. Else they could have put any old Moog there on the stage.
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- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
But didn't Kool and the Gang sample everything from older disco records? Maybe there are just samples on the real record, and only in the video they show some synths...
http://www.whosampled.com/sample/5658/D ... er-Madness
http://www.whosampled.com/sample/5658/D ... er-Madness
Last edited by Tricky-Loops on Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
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The original is longer by the way, and it sounds great for such an old record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfzWj5a_Y4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfzWj5a_Y4
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
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Hehe, no, that was Will Smith who sampled this track Go to bed, dude, your brain is tiredTricky-Loops wrote:But didn't Kool and the Gang sample everything from older disco records? Maybe there are just samples on the real record, and only in the video they show some synths...
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- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
I know the Jazzy Jeff version but I'm sure that they sampled older disco records for the original version, too.fluffy_little_something wrote:Hehe, no, that was Will Smith who sampled this track Go to bed, dude, your brain is tiredTricky-Loops wrote:But didn't Kool and the Gang sample everything from older disco records? Maybe there are just samples on the real record, and only in the video they show some synths...
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
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I seriously doubt it. Were there even samplers back then? And the track was from before the Disco era
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- KVRAF
- 4278 posts since 14 Nov, 2008 from UK
lol, Kool and The Gang sampling in the 1970's!Tricky-Loops wrote:But didn't Kool and the Gang sample everything from older disco records? Maybe there are just samples on the real record, and only in the video they show some synths...
http://www.whosampled.com/sample/5658/D ... er-Madness
That is first class funny...
they where a full live band.
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- KVRAF
- 15517 posts since 13 Oct, 2009
I agree that they probably used the instruments on the recording, in fact, there's discussion on gearslutz that pretty much confirms this, except that they used a mellotron for the strings, and not the solina. So, in fact, they did the equivalent of using an "old moog" for the mellotron sounds. It's mentioned in this thread:fluffy_little_something wrote:Ah, yes, that is the one, I can see the three knobs on the left sidebmrzycki wrote:The top synth looks a whole lot like the keyboard of an Arp 2600. Compare the 2:37 mark with this:
Maybe the 2600 synth modules themselves are under the string ensemble...
Thanks So I suppose I should look for an ARP emulation if I want to make that sound While it was not live, I assume they really used those instruments in the studio as well. Else they could have put any old Moog there on the stage.
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104318
As far as emulation, on the one hand, it's a basic sound, the Arp 2600 is 3XVCO -> LPVCF. The thing is, on a raw patch like this where the lead is slow and deliberate, the character of the components stands out. I don't think that emulating the architecture of the 2600 is as important as using a plugin with high quality components. Moreover, the feel of the playing contributes as much to the success as the sound.
Some arp 2600 emulators:
Arppe2600va: http://glenstegner.com/softsynths.html (it's free!)
ARP2600 V: http://www.arturia.com/en/arp/arp2600v.php
TimewARP 2600: http://www.timewarp2600.com/ (good, but CPU intensive)
This guys using a Pro-53, it doesn't sound exactly right, but it sounds good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKFwD4TZGHw