Save a prayer. I have nailed it!

[gcoudert]

Hi! I haven't posted on this forum for a very, very long time (if ever at all) but I thought I would share this with you, considering it has been discussed on many forums round the world, including this one: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... d4850e7cc8

The famous sequence and lead sounds from Duran Duran's "Save a prayer".

1. The sequence:

OSC1: JP8 square wave
OSC2: JP8 square wave +1 octave, slightly detuned
Roll off low frequencies with Jupiter HPF filter
Medium decay and release on Amp envelope, no Filter envelope
Add chorus & reverb
Delay: single repeat at 3/4 beat (dotted quaver)
Optional: single repeat on beat (crotchet)

Play D - E - F - A - C - A - C - A : the 3/4 delay will give the impression that you are playing C-A-A-C-C-A-A-C at the end, as on the record.

2. The lead sound:

This is a simple Jupiter 8 synth strings patch (not a flute or anything else) played in Unison mode with a slowish attack and not too long a release time with added chorus and reverb. My demo below also has delay.

3. The demo (this is a Jupiter 50, by the way, with added Roland R8 drums and Fender Telecaster):

http://www.gillescoudert.com/music_files/SAPDemo.mp3

Please feel free to comment.

Gilles

[Numanoid]

Play D - E - F - A - C - A - C - A

Yup, no doubt this seems to be in d minor

[gcoudert]

Play D - E - F - A - C - A - C - A

Yup, no doubt this seems to be in d minor

The saddest of all keys, according to Nigel Tufnell!!!

[Tricky-Loops]

Play D - E - F - A - C - A - C - A

Yup, no doubt this seems to be in d minor

The saddest of all keys, according to Nigel Tufnell!!!

Tried to listen to your demo but systems says "Cannot find file..."

Can you repair it "before the morning after"?

[gcoudert]

Hmmm... I'll have a look.
Alternatively, try http://soundcloud.com/gcoudert/save-a-prayer

[fluffy_little_something]

Play D - E - F - A - C - A - C - A

Yup, no doubt this seems to be in d minor

The saddest of all keys, according to Nigel Tufnell!!!

I always found that song and melody very uplifting, nothing sad about it in my view...

[Tricky-Loops]

Hmmm... I'll have a look.
Alternatively, try http://soundcloud.com/gcoudert/save-a-prayer

Really sounds like "Save a Prayer"...

Could it be that the original synth lead is a tad brighter?

[gcoudert]

Hmmm... I'll have a look.
Alternatively, try http://soundcloud.com/gcoudert/save-a-prayer

OK, try again. I had stupidly deleted the file's mp3 extension when I renamed it.

[gcoudert]

Hmmm... I'll have a look.
Alternatively, try http://soundcloud.com/gcoudert/save-a-prayer

Really sounds like "Save a Prayer"...

Could it be that the original synth lead is a tad brighter?

You may be right there, thanks. I'll give it a go at the weekend.

[fluffy_little_something]

Sounds very good

[Numanoid]

Hi! I haven't posted on this forum for a very, very long time (if ever at all)

Took a while to nail it though, about 31 years, so it's a break through for the patient reverse engineers

[gcoudert]

I always found that song and melody very uplifting, nothing sad about it in my view...

I agree. There's something about the tune and the sounds used, except for Andy Taylor's guitar tone in the solo, which sounds more like a hair-dryer to my ears. The words don't make much sense either but I have loved that song ever since it came out nevertheless.

[gcoudert]

Hi! I haven't posted on this forum for a very, very long time (if ever at all)

Took a while to nail it though, about 31 years, so it's a break through for the patient reverse engineers

Well, somebody had to do it! You'll all be playing that song without resorting to flute and shakuhachi samples now and it's all thanks to me!!!

[fluffy_little_something]

I always found that song and melody very uplifting, nothing sad about it in my view...

I agree. There's something about the tune and the sounds used, except for Andy Taylor's guitar tone in the solo, which sounds more like a hair-dryer to my ears. The words don't make much sense either but I have loved that song ever since it came out nevertheless.

Yes, there are two or three nice patches and the airy feeling, and the video shot at an exotic location
Interestingly in the video they pretend it is a kind of flute sound ^^
SLB's voice is harsh and annoying as always

[Tricky-Loops]

I always found that song and melody very uplifting, nothing sad about it in my view...

I agree. There's something about the tune and the sounds used, except for Andy Taylor's guitar tone in the solo, which sounds more like a hair-dryer to my ears. The words don't make much sense either but I have loved that song ever since it came out nevertheless.

The lyrics actually do make much sense but it can be interpreted differently (why he has to pray the morning after the one-night-stand?).

That's what I LOVE on these 80ies (and 90ies) songs. You can think hours about the lyrics and what they mean, and every time you hear something different...

Or some enigmatic lyrics like in "Dance in my Sobriety" or "Self Control" - CLASSICS!!