Nick Parker 3,040 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 12 minutes ago, Alexcremers said: To think that a few years ago Vangelis has drenched all his albums in seas of reverb, which nobody likes except Vangelis and Thor ... Bah! Are you saying he remixed his older albums and dunked their heads into reverb? The only Vangelis album's I own are the original CD pressings of Blade Runner and Masks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,075 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Mythodea is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, Nick Parker said: Are you saying he remixed his older albums and dunked their heads into reverb? The only Vangelis album's I own are the original CD pressings of Blade Runner and Masks. Yes, the 'Remastered' series, that is. Listen to the recordings above! Real synths (not sampled synths and cheap samples), real percussion, real Hohner clavinet, real mic/speaker/Live Room recording setup in a studio (not straight to D.I. box), real sound engineer (at Nemo Studio). Don't you hear the difference? OMG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, Alexcremers said: Yes, the 'Remastered' series, that is. Sounds like he got all up in accepting the "New Age" label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 Well yes, the progressive period was over, so he had to adapt to the times. His new piano album? Buried in wishy washy reverb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Addressed to Vangelis from Alex: I almost never hear mega reverb done well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 55 minutes ago, Alexcremers said: Oh, no, that's when it became bad. Really bad and lazy, right after Blade Runner and Soil Festivities, that is. Absolute nonsense! The gorgeous OCEANIC is one of his very best albums. Unlike you, I dont' think everything needs to be gritty and cutting-edge all the time to be enjoyable, and I've never subscribed to the notion that artists "have it" for a small period of time, and then they "lose it" for good. Sometimes, good music is just good music -- regardless of when it comes in the artist's career. He's done some fine work in the last 20 years too, though. I think his impressionistic piano album last year was absolutely brilliant -- painting in broad strokes in classical fashion. A24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 It's a pity Vangelis didn't accept Villeneuve and Zimmer's invitation for joining the BR 2049 team. A room filled with the most delicious vintage synthesizers was waiting for him. I guess he prefers that hideous digital workstation of his: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 5 minutes ago, Alexcremers said: It's a pity Vangelis didn't accept Villeneuve and Zimmer's invitation for joining the BR 2049 team. Well, on that, we do agree. I like Zimmer and Wallfisch's score, but I'd throw it out in a New York sec if it meant getting Vangelis back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 16 hours ago, Nick Parker said: I almost never hear mega reverb done well. Oh, Vangelis has used it well on several albums (for instance, the film Blade Runner opens with a sampled orchestral bass drum played an octave lower and send through a very long Lexicon hall reverb, something that has been copied ever since), but to send all the original masters through a 7 seconds hall reverb is a faux pas, in my book. It's like adding CGI monsters to the original Star Wars of 1977. Imagine The Beatles remasters were treated this way! The pre-remaster CDs are the way to go. PS: As far as I know, BR is probably the first album where Vangelis stopped using real percussion instruments in favor for sampled ones. It's something I've always regretted. Now he could play percussion while playing the keyboard, usually in a layered fashion together with his synths. KK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,528 Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 4 hours ago, Alexcremers said: Oh, Vangelis has used it well on several albums (for instance, the film Blade Runner opens with a sampled orchestral bass drum played an octave lower and send through a very long Lexicon hall reverb, something that has been copied ever since), but to send all the original masters through a 7 seconds hall reverb is a faux pas, in my book. It's like adding CGI monsters to the original Star Wars of 1977. Imagine The Beatles remasters were treated this way! The pre-remaster CDs are the way to go. PS: As far as I know, BR is probably the first album where Vangelis stopped using real percussion instruments in favor for sampled ones. There's plenty of synthesized percussion on SEE YOU LATER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Richard said: There's plenty of synthesized percussion on SEE YOU LATER. And plenty of real percussion too. Yes, other tracks on that album feature drum machines but Vangelis always used those so that's not what I'm talking about. I'm referring to what you see on the photo. All those instruments are replaced with samples and, more importantly, he no longer uses percussion sounds as a percussionist but rather as accents while playing sampled horns for instance. Most has to do with the fact that Vangelis no longer wants to multitrack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 Over a thousand vintage synths in one room! And here is probably the coolest toy for children ever: SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Been some time now since I kicked the sample library and computer habit but I seem to own a Moog One now. It will either pay for itself or become a lovely piece of divorceware I reckon. Nick Parker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Hahaha. So what's your personal verdict? I've been exploring a forgotten piece of gear called the Roland SH-32. 25 minutes ago, Dixon Hill said: Been some time now since I kicked the sample library and computer habit Also how do you feel about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 I'm glad to be rid of that world. The Moog is a powerful weapon in the right hands, but how many of us have the right hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 2 hours ago, Dixon Hill said: I'm glad to be rid of that world. The Moog is a powerful weapon in the right hands, but how many of us have the right hands. There's two people right there! Happy it's been workin' out for you, I've been in a similar place the past couple months. It's so liberating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted June 28, 2019 Author Share Posted June 28, 2019 Fascinating how an instrument that was once described as 'cold and lifeless' could suddenly sound 'majestic and lyrical' (Vangelis) and 'alive and funky' (Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, etc). Nick Parker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 1 hour ago, Alexcremers said: Fascinating how an instrument that was once described as 'cold and lifeless' could suddenly sound 'majestic and lyrical' (Vangelis) and 'alive and funky' (Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, etc). Absolutely. How often is it that we're relatively around to see a totally new avenue of sonic creation opened up, and see this novel instrument--and I use that word in the broadest sense-- come alive in the hands of these incredible pioneers, Vangelis, Bernie Worrell, Wendy Carlos, Tomita, Ryuichi Sakamoto, etc., creating new standards of approaching music? So different in their many ways, but all from the same, singular origin. It's really something. A24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 Junkie analyzes Blade Runner Blues ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 I think I corrected Junkie on a few things too ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 He really needs to re-watch the thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 Even his thumbnail has a mistake ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Embarasing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 Embarrassing ... SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,528 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 No, sir, not embarrassing, cos no-one's gonna find out he's a composer, cos you're gonna spot him, and you're gonna air him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted July 27, 2019 Share Posted July 27, 2019 For the first time ever I'm gonna be purchasing a new synth! The latest I've ever gone is 2011, so far. I was initially offput by the four note polyphony, but I've realized in a live setting that I generally don't use that much with a subtractive synth like this (I relegate the chordier stuff to FM etc.). The design looks super ergonomic, and it seems like it's a great analog synth with modern conveniences such as a auto-tuning process and USB connectivity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Isn't it funny that after a few decades of +/- buttons and an LCD display, people want knobs and dials again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,528 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 I love 3:11. I'm thinking Gary Numan, especially AIRLANE/METAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted July 28, 2019 Author Share Posted July 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 14 hours ago, Alexcremers said: Isn't it funny that after a few decades of +/- buttons and an LCD display, people want knobs and dials again? I think people went through a kind of revolution, or rotation maybe, where synths tried to cram as many features as possible to be more marketable and competitive with burgeoning software (talking about 2000's on that last front), at the expense of being intuitive . For example, what was considered the apex of Yamaha's FM synths (don't know how it stacks up after the Montage), the FS1R, you couldn't even access a bunch of parameters on the unit itself! Certainly for myself, and I would imagine others, there becomes a point where you say "Wow, this thing can do do much, but I never want to touch it 'cause it's so tedious to use." And now of course with synths arguably becoming more affordable than ever, that means more people would be compelled to use a hardware machine in a setup, especially as a means of reducing or axing a software based setup, and for that, you _need_ to have those easy to use real-time knobs. I didn't understand subtractive synthesis until I got a synth with knobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Nick Parker and publicist 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 In a recent interview legend Roger Linn lamented how seldom he hears full-on synth performances in the current day, as he always believed in the potential of electronics as an expressive, real-time instrument in the same vein as say a violin or an oboe. Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share Posted August 17, 2019 Synth scores are back in vogue though .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Yes, I don't know what ol' Roger is on about. Synth music is alive and well, in film and otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Note the word "performance". He doesn't like seeing musicians with some kind of computer rig that press play. He wants to see the musician truly perform the synthesizer, and see/listen to them treat the electronics as a true live instrument. His ideal vision for synths is a greatly intuitive instrument that rivals a string instrument in its ability to create many nuances in realtime. I don't have time to link anything right now, but check out his Linnstrument as his attempt to push electronic musicians further in that direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share Posted August 17, 2019 Truly operating synths on stage was mainly a thing of the '70s, was it not? Later they were mainly treated as preset keyboards. And now that knobs and sliders back available, I suppose somebody is using them like they did in the '70s, only I don't know who. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Nick Parker said: Note the word "performance". He doesn't like seeing musicians with some kind of computer rig that press play. He wants to see the musician truly perform the synthesizer, and see/listen to them treat the electronics as a true live instrument. His ideal vision for synths is a greatly intuitive instrument that rivals a string instrument in its ability to create many nuances in realtime. I don't have time to link anything right now, but check out his Linnstrument as his attempt to push electronic musicians further in that direction. Yes, I know. But using analogue synths that way is more popular than ever. Swedish synth/retrowave star Waveshaper (a personal favourite and aquaintance of mine) recently published a video on his social media where he had just acquired a LinnDrum, and his demonstration of it became extremely popular. We're pretty good at this in Scandinavia, and even across Europe. In addition to Waveshaper, also check out artists like Daniel Deluxe, Robert Parker, HitNrun, ZombieZombie, Douglas Holmquist etc. Old-school synths are more popular than ever, including its organic, tangible, physical use -- not just computer samples. Roger is way off in his estimation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 5 hours ago, Thor said: We're pretty good at this in Scandinavia, and even across Europe. In addition to Waveshaper, also check out artists like Daniel Deluxe, Robert Parker, HitNrun, ZombieZombie, Douglas Holmquist etc. Old-school synths are more popular than ever, including its organic, tangible, physical use -- not just computer samples. Roger is way off in his estimation. Europe is definitely much more hip to that than America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellosh 3,418 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Tycho - Burning Man Sunrise Set 2019 Really good for anyone who's a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,348 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 What is the synth used in the opening of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: What is the synth used in the opening of this? Kinda hard to tell but I think that might be the Prophet 5 from Sequential Circuits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 9 hours ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: What is the synth used in the opening of this? It's an Emulator II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Parker 3,040 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 2 hours ago, Alexcremers said: It's an Emulator II. Oh damn, I never realized they were that compact! It barely sounds like a sampler in that video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Anne Dudley's 2017 electro-acoustic arrangement of "Paranoimia," one of the best Art of Noise songs, is just everything. I'm in love! So spare, so cold, so oddly funky. Listening on repeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 21 hours ago, Nick Parker said: It barely sounds like a sampler in that video. An excerpt from Vintage Synth Explorer: "The Emulator II is an affordable classic early eighties sampler/workstation synthesizer. It's a sampler that sounds like an analog synth because it has analog filters! It samples at a low 8-bits (up to 17.6 seconds) so it's got that lo-fi sound which is great for some types of electronic music. Especially nice is its ability to create warm analog-ish pads and sounds." http://www.vintagesynth.com/emu/emulator2.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,348 Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 And this one? (No footage, as a different sound is used in live version) Emulator? Synclavier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,333 Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 I need to see the synth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,528 Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Synth! Synth! Show us the synth! 12 hours ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: And this one? (No footage, as a different sound is used in live version) Emulator? Synclavier? Ooh! Extended version. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,348 Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Well, here it is live from the tour, but like I said, Banks seemed to use the Voices (also used for Mama) preset from the synclavier for the live performances: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YkwzodrMWgw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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