ultravox monument mkv

Published on Aug 21, 2013 jenner4265·8 videos

"fully remastered sound and picture"

I almost skipped this one as per the site guidelines all posts are supposed to be synth demos only, meaning the focus is on the individual synths themselves. Yes you can see a bit of synth spotting, but let's face it, what spotting there is is somewhat obscure unless you know what's going on here.  What I realized was that three classic bits of gear dominate the entire performance and much of the sound of Ultravox at the time. The Yamaha SS-30, the ARP Odyssey and classic Simmons synthetic drum sounds.  It's as if this thirty minute video is a tribute to them.  Enjoy.

Update: I originally noted Solinas were used. Turns out it was the Yamaha SS30. What threw me off was the custom stands they are using. Take a look at 4:23 in the video. That's the SS30 on top. Now look at these pics. Note the difference.

via Pete in the comments: "The string synths used by Ultravox were not Solinas. They were the much rarer Yamaha SS-30. They sound quite different to the Solina, but are very much 'the sound' of Ultravox, along with the ARP Odyssey, Yamaha CP-80, PPG Wave 2.2"

You can clearly see the SS-30 on top of Billy Currie's setup, and you can see Midge playing the SS-30 at 5:38.

And via Billy Currie on the GForce Software website: "It was amazing to hear the Elka Rhapsody again and the Yamaha SS-30 but it is also good to hear all the other ones that are in there. I always loved the Oberheim sound so I have utilised the Xpander sounds.

The Solina was an instrument I didn't really get on with in the seventies, too silky, but interesting to go back to now!

I do admit though that I did not have a great relationship with the Yamaha SS-30 initially. Yamaha gave the gear to Ultravox in 1979-80 so I didn't say "No thanks". I must admit it does sound flipping brilliant in the VSM though - Nice One!"