Most expensive cover? Analogue Solutions presents The Pet Shop Boys Whistle Test

Published on May 18, 2018 Analogue Solutions

"Presented http://analoguesolutions.com

I remember watching The Pet Shop Boys performing Opportunities back in the 1980s live on the BBC. It was entirely live despite what some people might think. In recent years I always thought it would be great to get those original synths back together again in one room. I never thought it would happen since DX1s are extremely rare, and as it happens so is the PX1. And Fairlights don’t exactly grow on trees. After much hunting I finally completed the set, including the Friendchip SRC synchroniser.

So this video isn’t really intended as a cover, but more of a synth reunion in honour of The Pet Shop Boys and that iconic performance.

The two Fairlights are synced together and playing their sequences live. All sounds are original. One Fairlight is playing the original sequence, the other I had to reprogram myself.

All other synth parts are played live (no MIDI sequencing). All audio was recorded into 3 Zoom R8 digital audio multitracks (you can glimpse one on the floor). The audio files where then dragged into Logic Pro X and mixed. As great as these synths are, in this day and age the whole thing doesn’t sound too great mixed dry.

With only one camera and no film crew the performance had to be done several times to get some different angles. Each time we played live and had a lot of fun. So forgive me if there are any video sync problems.

I made a video wall using 9” CRT monitors with two DVD players providing the video feed.

I will post a ‘behind the scenes’ tech tour also where you will hear some sounds in isolation.

I will not be selling or offering copies of the samples or sequence discs due to the many favours, hard time and cash I had to put in to get hold of them.

Gear:
Yamaha DX1
Yamaha DX7
Emu Emulator II
Technics PX1
Friendchip SRC
Fairlight CMI II
Fairlight CMI I (upgraded)
3x Zoom R8
16 9" CRT monitors

Special thanks to those that helped out. You know who you are! Big thanks."

Update:

Behind The Scenes gear overview for Opportunities 'cover' video

Published on May 19, 2018 Analogue Solutions

Friendchip SRC Synchroniser

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Interesting bit of gear history. Only one other has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH. Friendchip, or rather FRIEND-CHIP, also made a modular synth and rhythm system.

From the listing: "Pretty mean looking 80's machine from the Berlin company still in existence today. Arguably one of the best out there this Clock generator synchronises sequencers and dum machines that rely on analog clocks. Anything from Fairlight, Oberheim, Roland, Linn etc. Purchased on a whim to intergrate into my set up, never got round to it and as such whilst sitting there looking mean it's one of the 'excesses' I'm culling from my set up."

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Friendchip SRC Synchroniser

via this auction

"This classic unit from the 80s synchs various sequencers and drummachines that rely on analog clocks. Anything from Fairlight to Roland or Oberheim can be synchronized with no hassle. The unit also translates SMPTE to Midi. Lost the manual but the company is still alive in Berlin."