Me playing Depeche Mode "Home" Acoustic

YouTube via DX5
"Played on my own way with a Kurzweil PC1x. There are some mistakes, as it was played almost extemporizing.
Music composed by Martin L. Gore."

Emu EMAX II vs Emax I (1 of 3)

YouTube via DX5

"Technical video (not cover). Just checking the differences between the EMAX II (at 39 Khz, digital filters) and the Emax I (28 Khz, analog filters) sampling the same source.

* The sampled source is Depeche Mode "Stories of Old". It was used for technical purposes only, and its lenght doesn't exceed 8 seconds. The Copyright of this record belongs to EMI Music."

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Me playing Depeche Mode "Strangelove"

YouTube via DX5.

"Strangelove updated version.
Only the intro was sampled from original, the other sounds were sampled /edited by myself, or belong to my library.

Played on a Emu Emax and a Yamaha DX7 II FD (Same setup used in MFTM tour).

Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools and Reason Rewired."

Weird Things in Synth Manuals...

This one came on the AH list via Chris Strellis

"The Emax manual says:
'Bird Run is the function that align's the Emax's internal stabilizers and prevents excessive gyrocosmic relativation.

During this process you need to carefully observe the display for any signs of destabilization (eg. gravitational warps, apparent speeding up or slowing down of time, objects in mirrors appearing closer than they really are). If Emax returns to the Module Identifier after a few seconds, all is well.

Note: Occasionally a small emu will get trapped within the Emax and run across the screen during the stabilization scan process. This does not affect Emax's normal functions.'

Picture of that process here" If you know of others, feel free to share.

Update via Sasa Rasa in the comments: "Also, DX5 posted recently a nice video showing the bird run feature"

Emu Emax curiosities


YouTube via DX5

"Tweaking across some hilarious messages in the Emax.

First, the "Bird Run function"

According to manual:
"This function aligns Emax internal stabilizers and prevents excessive gyrocosmic relativation. (...) Occasionally a small Emu will get trapped within the emax and run across the screen during the stabilizaton scan process. This does not affect the normal Emax fuctions"

Also, the message displayed when you try to play empty sequencies."

Update via Zeroc001:
"Kurzweil k 2000/2500/2600 keyboard Easter Egg - Ping Pong on Your Kurzweil
Press the MASTER button, then the UTIL soft button, then the ( ) empty space soft button and finally, the SETUP button. You will see "Welcome to the K2000 game!" Use your data wheel to move your "paddle" to meet the bouncing ball. When you're done, press the EXIT button several times to quit.

by following the instructions above, you will have the pleasure of seeing your expensive, state-of-the-art music workstation turned into a 1980´s low-tech computergame : ping pong !
the programmers claim this to be the father of all video games.
I tried myself on my own k 2000, as soon as I heard of this. It works."

followed-by:

"oh, and btw: more copy/pasta on Kurtzweil Pong:

If you're stuck with a case of crushing writer's block, Kurzweil Pong actually outputs notes from MIDI channel 16, changing notes depending on the ball's position while you play. Assign any program you want to channel 16 and Pong yourself a new melody. Or try setting Channel #16 as the Drum Channel (on the [MASTER] page) and choose a suitable drum program. This way you can claim to be actually making music!"
See the comments in this post for more.

Me playing Depeche Mode "Everything Counts" 101 version

YouTube via DX5
"New "Everything Counts" update.
There are two sounds sampled from the original: the famous metallic-reverberated sound at the beguinning and the previous one before the chorus.
*There are a few wrong notes on the final solo

Equipment:
Emu Emax, with sampled sounds coming from a JX-8P and DX7 II, and library (including bassdrum and snare).
Yamaha DX7 II FD.
(this setup is the same Martin Gore and Alan Wilder played on MFTM Tour)

Roland JP8000 (midi sequenced)
Kurzweil PC1x

Backtrack running in Pro Tools with Reason re-wired.
Composed by Martin L. Gore."

Emu Emax curiosities

YouTube via DX5
"Tweaking across some hilarious messages in the Emax.

First, the "Bird Run function"

According to manual:
"This function aligns Emax internal stabilizers and prevents excessive gyrocosmic relativation. (...) Occasionally a small Emu will get trapped within the emax and run across the screen during the stabilizaton scan process. This does not affect the normal Emax fuctions"

Also, the message displayed when you try to play"

Emu Emax analog filter demo

"***Low audio level the first 5 secs ***
As a fellow youtuber requested time ago, the Emax filter in action.
The sound is an Oberheim sample from my library."

Me playing Depeche Mode "A Question of Time"

YouTube via DX5
"Backtrack recorded and sequenced in half an hour with Pro Tools.
Played on two E-mu Emax I recently serviced by myself, with new display backlight.
All Emax sounds belong to my own libraries, or were directly sampled from my other keyboards.

Composed by ML Gore."

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Christmas Island"

YouTube via DX5

"Christmas Island played with an Emu Emax only (With new EL foil light on the display).
Emax sequencer is a realtime recording (non quantized) one, then the bass sequence (and therefore my realtime bassdrum and snare playing) can be out of sync sometimes.

Two sounds are samples from the original track, the others were created by myself or taken from some of my libraries.

BTW; I forgot the clothes I use for covering my keyboards against dust on the sofa.

Originally Composed by Martin Gore and Alan Wilder."

Me playing DM "Shake the Disease" (full instrument version)

YouTube via DX5
"A new Depeche Mode cover.
Metallic grid FX sampled live by myself hitting with a pipe on an old grid door.
All sounds created by myself on the keyboards. Emax sounds coming from my own library (including drums. No original record sample)
Backtrack made in Pro Tools. .

Keyboards.
Upper: E-mu Emax
Mid: Yamaha DX7 II FD
Lower: Roland JX-8P

Composed by Martin L.Gore"

Me giving thanks to you

YouTube via DX5. synths come in at 3:38 with the Roland JP-8000 followed by the Yamaha DX7, Roland JX-8P and E-Mu Emax.

Me playing Depeche Mode "Wrong"

YouTube via DX5

"Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools with the listed keyboards , plus an E-mu Emax for the guitar sample.

Keyboards played:
Upper: Roland JP8000
Mid: Yamaha DX7
Lower. Roland JX8P (sequenced from Pro Tools)

Composed by Martin L. Gore."

DX5 playing Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy"

YouTube via DX5

"Played on my own way with intro. This is the first take. Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools.
Note some problem when I try to change the voice on the mid DX7 II (It was on edit mode, so I had to exit, then change voice).

Upper: Yamaha DX7 Mk1 (Original Cartridge's Harp preset)
Mid: Yamaha DX7 II FD
Lower: Kurzweil PC1x"

Me playing Depeche Mode "Fools"

YouTube via DX5.

Previous vids here.

"Fools. Backtape, sounds search and assign, and rehearsing in an hour or so. No samples or sounds coming from the original song.

Above: Roland JX-8P
Mid: Yamaha DX7 mk1
Below: E-mu Emax"

Me playing Propaganda "Duel"

YouTube via DX5
"Played a semitone below original.

Above: Roland JX8P
Mid: Yamaha DX7
Below: Kurzweil PC1x

Backtrack Recorded with Pro Tools and Reason Rewired (drums)"

and the original...

Propaganda Duel

Me playing Depeche Mode "But not Tonight"

YouTube via DX5

"As a lot of people requested, 'But not Tonight'.
This is the "movie" (Modern Girls) version.

No sampled sounds. All were programmed by myself (except Emulator II choir sample). Backtrack recorded with Pro Tools helped by Reason.

Keyboards.
Left: Roland JX8P (Above)
Yamaha DX7
Emu Emax

Right: Yamaha DX7 IIFD."

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Nothing"

YouTube via DX5.

"Depeche Mode 'Nothing'. Just sequenced and recorded in half an afternoon. Made to be sung over it, so think in the letter while listening.

Mid: Roland D10 sounding itself and triggering a choir sample.
Below: E-Mu Emax with library and self made samples.

Backtrack running on Pro Tools & Reason 3.0"

Me playing New Order "Blue Monday"

YouTube via DX5.

"My own "Blue Monday" view. Sounds don't come up in the same order than original, I decided to play it in a free way.

I've made it in two hours (including searching sounds, assigning sounds to the Emax, making an easy backtrack, etc).
Recorded at the first take, so there are some mistakes as always.

Above: Roland JP8000 (Lead sequenced on pro tools).
Mid: Roland D10 (drum kit sounds)
Below: E-MU Emax.(Hook's bass and choir)"

Me playing DM "Get the Balance Right"

YouTube via DX5

"Note: There is a distortion at the drums' beguinning. It is a Youtube compression issue and it is not related to the original recording. Hope youtube techs can fix that problem I've been experiencing some weeks ago.

Recorded at the first shot, so there are some mistakes (as always).

Keyboards:
Above. Roland JX8P
Mid: Yamaha DX7
Below: Roland JP8000"

Tour of the studio ! - Yamaha DX-7 Clone

YouTube via evilbandzed. Note the Hohner HS-2, a Yamaha DX-7 clone.
"evilb and zed show you their equipment :P"

Updates:
via Gwenhwyfaer in the comments:
"Er, the Hohner HS-2 is a rebadged Casio VZ1 - whilst iPD is basically FM with a 0 carrier frequency (aka waveshaping), the instrument is in no way close to being a DX7 clone."

via pat:
"Doubtless a brainfart of some kind, but (according to the net) the hohner is a Casio clone; used to work for Yamaha in the days of the DX (I own a dx5), no way they would license that stuff out."

Me playing DM Everything Counts (just a check)

YouTube via DX5

"Checking some Everything Counts sounds played over an easy backtape (almost all played live). It sounds raw, as I didn't add any FX to the keyboards like reverb or delay.

Keyboards:
Top: E-MU Emax
Mid: Yamaha DX7 IIFD
(same setup on Music For The Masses Tour -the DX7II was boxed-)

Below: Yamaha DX7

Backtape running on Pro Tools"