Alan Wilder Depeche Mode Sound Design and Musical Arrangements

[Gadget Fiend]

I am big fan of Depeche Mode's earlier work starting with their first two "Synth Pop" records, Speak & Spell and A Broken Frame, through their Alan Wilder albums Construction Time Again, Some Great Reward, Black Celebration, Music for the Masses, Violator, and Songs of Faith and Devotion.

On Construction Time Again and Some Great Reward, Alan Wilder apparently used a Synclavier and E-mu Sampler (not sure which) to create his unique sampled instruments.

All the melodic bell-like timbres on these albums seem to have been created by recording band members hitting metal pipes and other "industrial" objects. I just don't know how else you would create such clangorous, yet musical sounds.

I'm curious to learn if anyone else has more information about Alan Wilder's production techniques. I'm thinking of taking my laptop, a mic stand, and my Neumann TLM 103 mic into a local warehouse and recording me banging the crap out of the machinery in the warehouse.

[gaggle of hermits]

"There are only so many ways you can hit a pipe with a hammer" - Alan Wilder http://www.recoil.co.uk/evidence/qa-vau ... lebration/

also, the Synclavier has 2-op fm, which is perfectly good for making bell and metallic sounds, like the phased gong preset (with some additions) used on MJ's beat it.

[Gadget Fiend]

"There are only so many ways you can hit a pipe with a hammer" - Alan Wilder http://www.recoil.co.uk/evidence/qa-vau ... lebration/

also, the Synclavier has 2-op fm, which is perfectly good for making bell and metallic sounds, like the phased gong preset (with some additions) used on MJ's beat it.

Thanks for the link! It's interesting to read Alan's remarks regarding Depeche Mode's production techniques. It basically became Alan in the studio alone doing his amazing work while the other band members were out getting wasted.

[vurt]

try rolling a small pebble, in the runners of some aluminium doors.

there was a uk documentary, i remember him specifically doing this.

[Aloysius]

Make sure you're stoned first.

[vurt]

Make sure you're stoned first.

that's usually as far as i get
then start imagining, all that this 'ere pebble has seen

[Aloysius]

[vurt]

btw, it was a bbc4 uk synth documentary, not specifically dm or wilder.
sure it will be on pootube.

also contains mcclusky from omd, claiming to be more punk than the punks...

[Goony]

Think that was the Synth Britannia documentary.

[vurt]

Think that was the Synth Britannia documentary.

thats the one.

[vurt]

its a decent documentary, but doesnt really cover much "techniques".
cant remember what the footage was from though? could be more on whatever that was from.

[Goony]

I believe it briefly touched upon the recording & sampling for Construction Time Again at The Garden studio.

[Gadget Fiend]

I believe it briefly touched upon the recording & sampling for Construction Time Again at The Garden studio.

I remember that show. It was funny to see Martin Gore rolling the pebble down the drainpipe and then listening again to Construction Time Again and being able to spot the sound.

Good times.

[whyterabbyt]

try rolling a small pebble, in the runners of some aluminium doors.

there was a uk documentary, i remember him specifically doing this.

I remember that myself. Synth Britannia maybe?

edit : already said in the intermediate replies. oh well.

[Shabdahbriah]

[...] I'm thinking of taking my laptop, a mic stand, and my Neumann TLM 103 mic into a local warehouse and recording me banging the crap out of the machinery in the warehouse.

Tim Prebble (HISSandaROAR) is a master sample library creator... watch and learn.