MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Synthesizer Appreciation Thread

Synthesizer Appreciation Thread

posted 4 years ago by zephyr_cape (2979)
41 replies | jump to latest

I know a lot of you love classic synth film scores.
Anyone 'round these parts also into collecting, building, making music with, or just admiring synths?

In the past couple of years synthesis has become gradually a bigger and bigger part of my life until now I've crossed every threshold I had in my 20s many times over. I once thought, "Yeah, modular is cool but if I ever cross that threshold I've gone off the deep end. I'm good with just this modest keyboard collection." LOL. Flash forward to today and I'm not only obsessed with modular, but am up to my neck in making my own modules, learning as much as possible, and it's generally all synths all the time over here.

In this, the latest of my niche interest nerd threads destined for forum obscurity, we post pics of gorgeous synthesizers and gaze in reverence, wonder, longing and whatever else.

To get the ball rolling, here is the Buchla Music Easel:
https://bit.ly/2Rl8mof

I mean how cool is that! I have one of these on loan this week. Such a beautiful and unique piece of equipment inside and out.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

I have a Roland D-10 midied to a Kawai K1r.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Sick! My guy. So 80's! I love it. Some really great sounds on the K1.

That seems like a setup someone who knows what they're doing would have. When I think of rack mount synths I don't think of casual players. How did you get into it / what are you up to with that setup?

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

Thanks.

I studied music at university and can play (to varying degrees) pretty well any instrument that you don't have to blow into.

I was a singer in a band and wrote all the songs; depending on the chord structure I compose on either an acoustic guitar or the set up as described above (I like coupling piano and strings and it's run through a Yamaha E1600 rig, which is basically a 16 track, 1 mega watt, PA system).

I stopped playing in bands in my 30s, but still have a mini-studio in my house when I have a desire to noodle.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Very wicked. What were the bands like? Do you have a music related job now?

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

I’m sorry, I forgot to answer your question. This was the mid-eighties, so we were aiming for rock music with a groove to it, so something like INXS or imagine a heavier version of Duran Duran.

I’ve been running a Financial Consultancy for 20 years now; music and numbers are very closely linked, lol.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

🤘 🤘
Hell yeah! That's so cool!

So from now on my mental avatar of you will be that of an 80s rocker with the hair and getup putting together financial plans with clients in the form of heavy rock numbers complete with choreography ok?

Did I read right in some other thread that you're English?

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

Lol.
Yes I’m English with dual US nationality.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

well that seals it, you’re the shit dude

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

best syntheziser song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPudE8nDog0

[–] sslssg (27740) 4 years ago

One of my favourites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbaygmy30Z8

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FBfAQ-NDE

[–] sslssg (27740) 4 years ago

Really anything 80's Depeche Mode makes me happy.

[–] chilidoggg (13053) 4 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B94c6CRcwU

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

A stone cold classic.

You can see they're using the classic Roland SH-2 in this vid:

https://bit.ly/388Rabv

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

nice

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

I see they're using the Jupiter-4 here. The studio recording also features the Sequential Circuits Pro One:

https://bit.ly/2DMvT9I

[–] sslssg (27740) 4 years ago

I really thought that they used a keytar in this one too, but it might have been another Vince Clarke song.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Epic. The production is amazing too.

Here's one of the synths used on this song, the now rare, iconic Roland Jupiter-4:
https://bit.ly/2LrhtA4

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

the blonde backup singer from the human league was my first celebrity crush.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Today's synth is the EMS Synthi AKS!

https://bit.ly/33WnU4m

*Catwhistle* Ain't she a beaut!

A distant cousin of the Buchla Easel, this classic British suitcase synth was innovative for its Battleship style mini peg patching system. This allowed a massively versatile modular system to be miniaturized into a portable arrangement. Features like the assignable joystick controller, integrated spring reverb, ring modulation, trapezoidal envelope generator and dual stereo output amplifiers, as well as inadvertent "features" like crosstalk within the mini peg patch bay give it an element of unpredictability and slight instability, making it unique and organic. And have fun getting it through the airport!

You've heard it in many film scores as well as the work of artists such as Brian Eno, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and perhaps most famously in several Pink Floyd numbers like On The Run.

Anyone want to buy me one? Refurbs start around the low low price of $18,000.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Thursday Bonus Synth:

The "Impossible Box" by Arius Blaze

https://bit.ly/2OTJDFV

WOW. This is a contemporary one of a kind, hand made, totally unique modular synthesizer. It's glorious. Apparently it is available for the low low price of literally "1 million dollars". https://bit.ly/2DQTkP8
Dear Santa...

You can read more about it and hear it here:
http://folktek.com/instruments/electrocoustic/impossible-box

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

I forgot to mention, I also have a Roland D-50, a Jupiter 8, Jono 60 (hey, I like Roland ok?) and a Yamaha DX21.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

LOL woah that's a helluv an omission! That is a certified epic collection my friend. You have good taste. 👌

[–] AndyKing1967 (33837) 4 years ago

I like the classics, lol.

[–] Stratego (29252) 4 years ago

https://youtu.be/aQblIzwkh90

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Yup yup!
I've got the Timecop discog on lockdown. I especially love the instrumental joints.

I am ALL IN on retrowave and all these nostalgia "wave" microgenres that have been cropping up. Vaporwave, synthwave, darkwave, brutalwave, mallwave, seapunk, witch house, dungeon synth...

Definitely interested in recommendations on this stuff. Mostly I'm tending to discover artists through mixtapes on Youtube and Soundcloud. Super especially into the horror-retrowave shit, like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTknFqnioF4

😎

[–] sslssg (27740) 4 years ago

A couple more of my favourites

Axel F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx2gvHjNhQ0 Such fond memories with this. We did a black light pantomime for the 1988 Winter Olympics to this song. I remember it being epic.

I am also a huge fan of Living on Video by Trans X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9xBAtCsCTQ

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

OH yeahhh

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Klaus Schulze Live 1977

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgt-D3tFMaQ

Pretty much the epitome of this thread.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 4 years ago

Today's synth is the Ciat-Lonbarde Plum Butter!

https://bit.ly/2rmmtPA

This is a contemporary boutique antenna controlled percussion and noise synth designed and handbuilt by avant-garde electronics wizard and artist Peter B. His ideas about sound and synth design, and general personality, are fascinating. Here are a couple of cool vids about Peter B and his instruments:

Peter B. demonstrates Plum Butter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1vuzw9Stk8

Gonzo Circuits: The Synths of Peter B / Ciat-Lonbarde
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9oZqTS0-HM

Enjoy!