YAMAHA CE20 FM Combo Ensemble

via this auction

"EXTREMELY RARE VINTAGE 1982 YAMAHA CE20 "COMBO ENSEMBLE" SYNTHESIZER (SERIAL #3642) WITH IT'S ORIGINAL CARRYING CASE, FULLY TESTED, IN GREAT WORKING CONDITION, AND NEARLY FLAWLESS COSMETICALLY! PURCHASED FROM A REPUTABLE TOKYO, JAPAN VINTAGE SYNTHESIZER DEALER AND HAND-CARRIED BACK TO THE U.S.A. (NOT CHECKED AS BAGGAGE).

ONLY PRODUCED FOR ONE YEAR, THIS KEYBOARD HOLDS A HISTORIC PLACE IN SYNTHESIZER HISTORY, AS IT IS THE PIVOTAL STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FM SYNTHESIS BETWEEN YAMAHA'S GS-1 AND THEIR LEGENDARY DX 7.

ONE PARTICULARLY UNUSUAL FEATURE OF THIS SYNTHESIZER IS THE "SLIDE CONTROL" TO THE LEFT OF THE KEYBOARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR EVEN READ ABOUT A CONTROLLER LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER SYNTHESIZER. WHEN PLAYING A MONO SOUND, THE "SLIDE CONTROL" BUTTON FUNCTIONS BOTH AS A "LEGATO" SWITCH (SO ATTACK ENVELOPES DO NOT RE-TRIGGER) AND ALSO ENABLES THE WHEEL, WHICH CONTROLS THE LENGTH OF THE "SLIDE". LIKE A "PORTAMENTO", THE CE20'S "SLIDE CONTROL" FEATURE ALLOWS THE PLAYER TO HOLD DOWN A NOTE AND ADJUST THE RATE OF GLIDE TO SUBSEQUENT NOTES IN "REAL TIME". IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO APPLY A CONSTANTLY CHANGING PORTAMENTO EFFECT, TO ONLY THOSE NOTES YOU CHOOSE, AS YOU PLAY!

ANOTHER GREAT FEATURE OF THIS SYNTHESIZER IS THE "SYMPHONIC" SWITCH WHICH ADDS A BEAUTIFUL EFFECT TO ANY OF THE VOICES THAT IS A CROSS BETWEEN A CHORUS, A PHASE SHIFTER, AND A LESLIE SPEAKER!

THE CE20 HAS TWENTY CLASSIC YAMAHA PRESET VOICES - FOURTEEN OF WHICH ARE MONOPHONIC: PICCOLO, FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET, SAXOPHONE, TRUMPET 1, TRUMPET 2, TROMBONE, VIOLIN, CONTRABASS 1, CONTRABASS 2, ELECTRIC BASS 1 & ELECTRIC BASS 2. THE SIX POLYPHONIC PRESET ARE: BRASS, HORN, ORGAN, ELECTRIC PIANO, HARPSICHORD & STRINGS. ALTHOUGH NOT PROGRAMMABLE, THE CE20 OFFERS SOUND EDITING OF ANY OF IT'S PRESET VOICES WITH A "BRILLIANCE" SLIDER FOR TONE ADJUSTMENT, VIBRATO DEPTH, SPEED & DELAY SLIDERS, AND THREE "SENSITIVITY" SLIDERS - "TONE INITIAL", "TONE AFTER" & "VIBRATO AFTER" FOR INCREASING VELOCITY SENSITIVITY.

THE ORIGINAL VINYL/TOLEX COVERED CASE FASTENS WITH GOLD "GUITAR-CASE-STYLE" LATCHES AND BEARS A GOLD YAMAHA LOGO. THE CASE'S COPPER-COLORED FELT INTERIOR OFFERS TWO SIDE COMPARTMENTS OF IDENTICAL SIZE - ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE KEYBOARD COMPARTMENT. ONE OF THESE SIDE COMPARTMENTS WAS PRESUMABLY DESIGNED FOR A SUSTAIN PEDAL (WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION) AND THE OTHER COULD HOLD CABLES, ETC. WHILE THE CASE IS STURDIER THAN A "SOFT CASE" OR "GIG BAG", IT WOULD BE BEST CHARACTERIZED AS A CARRYING CASE."

Matti recording organ bass on the Yamaha GS 2

YouTube via RothHandle.

"We have always been using the piano-esque sounds from the yamaha GS-2 but now we stumbled onto a great organ sound so we used for this tasty bassline.

www.roth-handle.nu

less entertaining than the teletubbies.
but good MIni Moog snaps."

The Classic Synth Makers T-Shirt

via Todd Sines on AH:
"so I'm doing a run of these t-shirts

[kinda like the Roots shirt here]

If you think I've missed someone MAJOR let me know but Moog, Arp, Roland, Yamaha, Korg, EMS, Synton, PPG, Sequential / DSI, Oberheim, Roger Linn / Akai, Harald Bode are all represented here.

The ink will be a light ivory or possibly metallic foil [non rainbow, don't worry].. The shirts will be Black American Apparel Organic shirts [so you can use your existing AA shirt as a reference]

If you're interested, let me know and I will start to gather an order..

You can email your SHIRT ORDER TO
shirts at scale.gs

In the subject, write the following:
AH T-SHIRT ORDER

in the body write the following
[SIZE] / [MALE or FEMALE cut] / QUANTITY [x]

like this:
L / M / 2
S / F / 1

would equal
2 large male shirts
1 small female shirt

Prices will be $22 shipped within the 48 continental and approximately another $6 per shirt sent overseas.

Payment will be via Paypal only, and you will receive an invoice after you've submitted your order.

The whole process of placing your order, gathering the final count, sending invoices, receiving payment, sending the artwork, getting the shirts made [having a local t-shirt house do the actual screening], filling the envelopes, applying postage and getting them in the post will probably be 45-60 days. So if you're in a hurry, go solder your own. :)

Thanks,
+odd"

Update: new design

Update via sines in the comments: "okay, everyone who's debating this ...
I am going with the original design, with slightly smaller commas and NO ampersands, despite the original. I tried it that way before and it just looked weird.

That's it.
http://www.scale.gs/ah/AHsynth_tshirt.jpg (below)

You can still place your orders here: shirts@scale.gs

thanks,
+odd"

Matti playing the Yamaha GS 2 with tabla drummachine

YouTube via RothHandle

"Me and Matti Bye have recently emabarked on a new project together...We are working on music for a production of Bröderna lejonhjärta at Stadsteatern in Stockholm. As always it is a pleasure to work with Matti and we have had three incredibly intense days and we have so far recorded five pieces for the show.

This little snippet was recorded with my cellphone at roth händle studios in stockholm.
If you are curious to find out more about the studio please visit www.roth-handle.nu for blogs, news and information."

Matti playing the Walton jami


"This film shows Matti recording a new piece on the finnish organ...the walton Jami. I picked this one up in Helsinki at a fleamarket."

RIP Michael Jackson

As you've all probably heard by now, the King of Pop has passed away. I wasn't expecting to put a post up as all posts have to be about the synths, however it just didn't seem right to not put something up, and I did find a bit of fascinating synth history, when you think about it, below.

I remember growing up listening to bits of the Jackson Five and later Michael Jackson. My sister was in love with his music, and Elvis Presley. The perfect match. I remember when Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll and Michael announced himself as the King of Pop. I wondered if it would stick. I remember when Off the Wall came out followed by Thriller. I remember staying up to watch the Thriller video with my sister, and her telling me how it was the most expensive video ever made. I thought it was crazy how long it would be. I recently remember watching that odd video of inmates somewhere in Asia performing Thriller, a hundred plus inmates in orange, prison garbs, all in sync. All crazy memories in time, all full of life and energy. That is the one thing Michael Jackson was to me - a man filled with wonder and energy. I will always remember him as that somewhat magical character who never lost that bit of childhood wonder. I'm sure he has influenced me in ways I have yet to realize, some bits I'm coming to realize just typing this. Pretty crazy... pretty amazing... I hope he is well wherever he is. He did bring wonder to life.

As for the interesting bit of synth history and the image from Thriller. The following is a list of the synths used and the players (via micke in this VSE thread). It is an interesting look at what synths were used on THE best selling album of all time. RIP Michael. RIP The King of Pop. It definitely stuck.


"Here's a rundown of the all (?) the synths used in the making of Thriller

Yamaha CS-80
Roland Jupiter 8 (x3)
NED Synclavier II
DK Synergy
Roland Jupiter 4
Roland MC-4 microcomposer/sequencer
Yamaha GS-1 FM synth
Oberheim Four-Voice
SCI Prophet 5 (x2)
Yamaha CE20 FM preset synth
Yamaha portasound keyboard
Roland VP-330 vocoder/strings
Bode Vocoder
E-mu Emulator I
plus a couple of Minimoogs

Linn LM-1 (mostly doubled with a TR-808)
Linndrum (LM-2)

And here's a listing of the keyboardists/synthesists performing on the album:

Greg Phillinganes
Michael Boddicker (Mr. Jackson's main synth-programmer)
Steve Porcaro & David Paich
Bill Wolfer
Brian Banks & Anthony Marinelli
David Foster
Greg Smith
Tom Bahler
James Ingram"

On another non music related note, we also lost Farah Fawcett today. Sad day today.

Update via VICMOD: "And Andy huges of The Orb passed away, thats got to be synth related" Indeed.

"Andy Hughes, (born 11th November 1965 - died 12th June 2009), was an English electronic music producer from Harrow, Middlesex [1]. He is most known for his work with The Orb, where he helped mix and produce Orbus Terrarum, Orblivion, and Cydonia, as well as The Orb's singles from this period. Hughes left The Orb during the production of Cydonia, which was reworked after his departure. He also did some additional original production work and performed remixes for The Cranberries and Tangerine Dream.

Hughes died at the Liver Intensive Care Unit at Kings College Hospital in London after a short illness on June 12, 2009." via Wikipedia. And Ed McMahon. And Sky Saxon of The Seeds.

Update: Michael Jackson and the Electronium

via the Raymond Scott blog:
"In August of 1970, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy read an article in Variety magazine about Raymond Scott and his Electronium. Along with The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Motown virtually controlled the 1960s pop charts with stars like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross & The Supremes. And with THE JACKSON 5 as his latest smash supergroup, Gordy was at the height of his influence. ...

Hoby Cook was a technician at Motown’s MoWest facility who tested Scott’s Electronium extensively. 'I wanted some reactions, so as an experiment, I’d open the door and turn the volume up — loud.' Cook’s technique worked. Motown personnel heard the curious sounds and wandered in. “Cal Harris did a lot of recording with it, and MICHAEL JACKSON was fascinated,' Cook recalled. 'He was just this kid sitting there, staring at the flashing lights. He said he wanted THE JACKSON 5 to use the Electronium somehow.'"

Cinematic session 4 recording the Yamaha GS 2 with Murf Noise rhythm

YouTube via RothHandle

"Hey hey,

These are some short films recorded during the sessions for a soundtrack that me and
Matti Bye are working on. The score is for a Norwegian film called Vegas. It is about three young kids in Bergen, Norway and it really is a moving thoughtful and sometimes feverish film. Its a great film to work with and we are turning the Studio inside out trying to find motifs, moods and atmospheres. So far we have recorded 17 pieces and we feel very confident and pleased with how it is turning out.

This film shows Matti recording the studios Yamaha GS-2. A very odd and interesting FM synth.

This film was shot at my studio, Roth Händle studios. The studio is located in Sundbyberg, Sweden 10 min from the center of Stockholm. The studio is based around the collection of odd instruments, effects and sonics. If you are curious to find out more about the studio please visit www.roth-handle.nu If you are curious about the music that is made there search for Molesome on Myspace.

Thank you for watching."

Cinematic session 4 recording the Casio SK 1 flute

Cinematic session 3 Recording the Persephone

YouTube via RothHandle

"I am currently working on a couple of different projects but one of the most interesting and exciting right now is a score for a norwegian film I am working on with the ever so talented Matti Bye. Me and Matti met in the late 90s and we played together in a project called Ingy for a short while. After that we did some music for a silent moviw and then we sorted drifted different and separate ways for a couple of years. Matti is one of swedens most sought after and in demand composers and perormers and he is very active in a wide array of settings, genres and musical styles. He is one of the most talented musicians I have ever had a chance to work with. He is very intuitive, fast and uses his ears more than his fingers a lot of the time which is a wonderful thing for a musician. You start by listening, then you play.

When we met again several years later we had some coffee in the studio and immediately started discussing the idea of playing together again...This resulted in a album called Elephant & Castle which will be released this fall in Sweden. The music on the album is very ,much based around the instruments in the studio. A lot of weird screechy organs, optigans and Mellotrons. It is all sort of dressed in Cirkus clothes... and to top it off we also used the pipe organ a lot. The album was a lot of fun to do so these sessions are sort of an extension of that creativity and energy.

In this film you can see Matti playin a quite odd instrument, the french Persephone which is more or less a ribbon controller with a built in oscillator, fun for the entire family...

This little snippet was filmed using my cell phone. It was shot at Roth Händle studios in Stockholm. If you are curious to know more about the studio, please visit www.roth-handle.nu"

Cinematic Session 3 Recording the Yamaha GS 2 through the MOTM 420 filter


"IN this film you can see Matti playing the elusive and very heavy Yamaha GS-2. This was treated through my spanking new Modular system. In this film the Yamaha is going through the Motm-420 filter and a synthesizers.com reverb"

Cinematic session 3 recording the Mellotron Boys Choir through the MOTM 420 filter


"In this film you can see Matti playing Mellotron 400 #563 with Boys Choir tapes in it. This is going through my Modular set up."

Cinematic Session Yamaha GS 2 vs the MOTM 420

YouTube via RothHandle

"This is a short sippet of Matti Bye recording the elusive Yamaha GS-2, a very early FM synth. The Yamaha GS-2 is being treated through a MOTM-420 filter (a MS-20 filter) which is being modulated by a Synthesizer.com q960 sequencer. This music was recorded for a film we are working on.

This little snippet was shot at my studio in Stockholm. It is called Roth Händle studios and it has been up and running for just about ten years now. Starting out as a small bedroom studio and then evolving into what it is today. If you are curious anout the studio please visit www.roth-handle.nu If you want to hear some music from the studio please go to Myspace and search for Molesome."

Cinematic session Yamaha GS 2


"A short little snippet of Matti Bye recording the Yamaha GS-2. This sound is when no sound is actually loaded into the synth so it is odd and unpredictavble...The background sound is a Roland VP-330+ through the MOTM-410 filter."

Vince Clarke Studio For Sale

LINK via Alex.
"Due to Relocation... Vince Clarke from Erasure is Auctioning over 160 items of Audio Equipment from his UK Studio. All have been regularily serviced. Most have documentation. Five items a day will be Auctioned starting from Wednesday 24th October.

Items that will be sold:
Gentle Electric Model 101 ---------Ear 822Q --------Drawmer DS201 Gate -------Drawmer DS201 Gate-------- DBX 166A Comp------- DBX 166A Comp----- Yamaha SPX90-------- Roland SDE3000A --------Eventide H3000-D/SE------ Bel Electronics BD-80-------- Lexicon PCM70-------- Bel Electronics BA40-------- Korg Stage Echo----- DeltaLab Effectron ADM1024------ Orban/Parasound 106CX------ Korg Signal Delay----- Roland Space Echo----Lexicon Primetime-------- Peavey Reverb -----Ear 823MQ------- Drawmer DL221---- Roland GS 6 --------Otari DTR-7-------- Aiwa XK007 Excelia------ Denon DCD 595----- Furman Sound RV-1------- Astorias Classical Accoustic GTR JM155------- Martin&co Steel String Accoustic---------- Yamaha NS-10 Pair--------- Yamaha NS-10 Pair------ Ear 509mkII Amplifier-------- Ear 509mkII Amplifier ----------Ear 549 Amplifier------ Ear 549 Amplifier------- Ear 549 Amplifier-------- Ear 549 Amplifier-------- Un-named Studio Control Speakers-------- SAE P50 Amplifier----- SAE P50 Amplifier------- NAD 3020A Amplifier------- Akai S1000------ Roland A110 Midi Display-------- Alesis DATA DISK-------- Dual 505-2 Turntable------- Revox 1/4 inch 2 Track Recorder --------David 9000 Speakers ---------Studer C37 Type828 2 Track Recorder----- Studer A80 24 Track Recorder ---------EMT 140 Plate Reverb ------UMI Computers x 8 with drive and memory cards-------- Optikenetics Solar 250 Light --------Speaker Stands 45cm High --------AS Filter Bank FB3----- EMO RackLight RK1-------- Sycologic AMI------- Sycologic M16x ---------Sycologic PSP------- FriendChip SRC-------- FriendChip SRC/AT ----------Ensoniq KMX-16 ---------DAC High Capacity Storage System------- Amek Mixing Console -------Groove Electronics MC-Lites Midi Box---------- JBL M553 Crossover --------Tascam DA-P1 DAT-------- Arun Oxley Pin Patch--------- Otari Radar 24 Track Hrd Drv Recorder Plus SCSCI Drive--------- Otari RE-8E Controller--------- Amek Mice Controller----- Studer A80 VU Remote Control----- Studer AutoLocator-------- Bantam Jack Patch 6 1U units of 96 inputs--------- A/DA GTR Flanger ----------ProCo GTR FX RAT------ DaneElectro Tuner---- Signex CPM22 MIDI Patch--------- Symetrix Headphone Amplifier SX204-------- Fairlight C.M.I--------- Erasure MIDI/Gate System --------Beckmann9020 Oscilloscope------ Roland PMA-5----------- Roland PMA-5------ Roland MC-4 Micro Composer---------- Roland MC-4 Micro Composer------- Roland MC-4 Micro Composer------- Roland MC-4 Micro Composer --------Roland MC-4 Micro Composer---- Roland MC-4 Micro Composer--------- Roland CV Interface 0P-8M ----Roland CV Interface 0P-8M -----Roland CV Interface 0P-8M---- Roland CV Interface 0P-8M ------Roland CV Interface 0P-8M-------- Roland Digital Cassette Recorder MTR100------- Roland Digital Cassette Recorder MTR100 --------Roland Digital Cassette Recorder MTR100 ------Roland SBX-80 Midi Sync Box ------Roland MC-300 Micro composer-------- Roland MC-500 MKII Micro Composer---Behringer Ultra X crossover---- BSS DPR522 Gate----AB 215 EQ--- Behringer ULtra Q Pro--- BSS FCS 926 Varicurve--- BSS FCS 926 Varicurve--- BSS FCS 920 Varicurve--- Klark Teknik DN514 Auto Gate--- Behringer Multicom 4ch Compresser--- Behringer Composer Pro 2ch Compresser---- Roland SDE 3000--- AB 215 EQ--- Roland SDE 3000---Yamaha SPX90---Yamaha R1000 Reverb--- DBX 120-DS--- BSS Soundweb 9088i Signal Processer--- BSS FCS 920 Varicurve---- Yamaha SPX90MkII---- Behringer Composer Pro 2ch Compresser--- Behringer Virtualizer Pro--- Behringer Multicom 4ch Compresser---- BSS DPR502 Midi Noise Gate---- DBX 500 SubHarmonizer---- DBX 160 2ch Compresser VU Meter Version---- AB 215LT EQ---- Yamaha PM180 Rack Mixer---- Behringer Tube Ultra Q---- Behringer Tube Ultra Q---- Behringer Tube Ultra Q---- AB 231 EQ---- Roland Dimension SDD-320---- Citronic V-4.5 Conquest 2ch Amplifier---- White Parametric EQ---- White Parametric EQ--- Crest Century 24ch Mixing Console---- Crest 32ch Mxing Console---- Duke Box----"

Pictured above: Roland Space Echo RE-201 and Korg Stage Echo.
Vince Clark's hobbit / mushroom looking studio.

Vintage Synth Scans

Click here for pdf scans of various synth brochures and articles. I tried to list all models below. Apologies for the long list but if you are searching for this stuff via your favorite search engine, this is the only way it'll come up, and finding that oddball rare scan can be absolute gold.


Roland
JX-8P and PG-800, JX-3P and PG-200, Jupiter-6, Juno-106, Synth Plus-60 (HS-60), SH-101 and MGS-1, EP-50, MPU-101, MPU-103, TR-707. TR-909, TR-606, TB-303, CR-8000, CR-5000, SBX-80, MSQ-100, MSQ-700, JSQ-60, BOSS Dr. Rhythm DR220A and DR-220E, Alpha-DRUM DDR-30/PD-10/PD-20, Alpha Juno-1 and Alpha Juno-2, DEP-5, DG CMU-810 Compu Synth, Juno-106, Juno-6, Super JX JX-10, MKS-100, MKS-50, MKS-7, MKS-70, SBX-80, SDE-3000/1000/2000, TR-505, Octapad PAD-8, TR-727, Jupiter-8, MC-8, System 700, CPE-800, VCA-800, System 100M, System 100, Jupiter-4, Promars, SH-2, SH-09, CSQ-600, CSQ-100, SH-1, SH-5, SH-2000, SH-7, SH-3A, SH-1000, VP-330, RS-09, RS-505, SA-09, SIP-300, SIP-301, SPA-240, SPA-120, SPV-355, SVC-350, SBF-325, SDD-320, SPH-323, SMX-880, SRE-555, RE-502, DC-30, DC-20, CR-78, CR-68, TR-66, MKB-1000, MKS-30, MKB-300, MKS-10, MKS-80, MPG-80, JX-3P, MC-4, MM-4, MC-202, MIDI-DCB, MTR-100, CV Interface, Piano Plus-400 HP-400, Piano Plus-300 HP-300, RE-150, RE-501, RT-1L, MPU-104, MPU-105, Cube-100 (CK-100), Cube-60 (CK-60), Cube-40 (CK-40), KS-2, KS05, KS-6, KS-11, KS-1000, TB Series Carrying cases, PSA AC Adapters, KS-1100, SC series soft cases, AB series resin-molded cases, MR-1, RH-10, DP-2/6, FS-1/2/3, M-16C/64C, BR-2/3, RD-1000, MKS-20, MKB-200

Yamaha (note the documentation adds the - in the descriptions. So you CS70M in the title, but CS-70M in the body). I thought that was interesting.
CP-30, CP-20, GS-1, CP-10, CP-11, CS-70M, CS-40M, CS-20M, MQ802, CP-80, SK-50D, SK-15, CS-15D, CE-20, CS-01, CS-15, CS-5, SK-30, SK-20, SK-15, SK-10, GS-2, CE-20, MA-10, MM-10, MH-10, KS-50, KS-100, E1005, E1010, MQ802, CP-80, CP-70B, CP-35, CP-25.

Korg
PS-3300, PS-3200, PS-3100, PS-3010, PS-3040, PS-3050, PS-3001, VC-10, MS-10, MS-20, MS-50, SQ-10, MS-03, MS-02, MS-01, 800DV, 700S, 900PS, M-500SP, PE-2000, PE-1000, KA-180, FK-3, FK-1, V-C-F, Mr. Multi, SE-500, SE-300, EM-570, SP-2035, SM-20, Mini Pops 120W 120P, Mini Pops 7, Mini Pops 45, Mini Pops 35, Mini Pops Junior, Korg Quartz, WT-10A, GT-6, RT-10,

Vintage Synth Story - magazine scans
Crumar DS2, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, RSF Kobol, Roland TB-303 and TR-606, TR-808, PPG Wave Computer, PPG Wave 2, Oxford Synthesizer Company OSCar, EMS Polyvoks, Oberheim OB-X, Octave-Plateau Voyetra Eight, EMS Polysynthi, Moog Minimoog, LinnDrum, Korg PS-3100, Korg MS20, EMS Synthi AKS, ELKA Synthex, ARP Sequencer, ARP Quadra, Korg Polysix, Korg PS-3200, Moog System 3P, Korg Trident mkII, Moog Liberation, Memormoog, Mutron Bi-phase, Oberheim 2 Voix, Oberheim Xpander, PPG Wave 2.3, Roland CR-78, Roland VP-330, RSF PolyKobol, Moog 960 and 961, Sequential Circuits Prophet 10, Vox Super Continental, Yamaha CS-15, ARP, Chroma, Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, EMS Vocoder 5000, E-MU Drumulator, Korg Story, Yamaha CS70M, Korg, Synton Syrinx, Roland MC-4, Oberheim 6 voix, Simmons SDS V, Simmons SDS.3, PolyKobol RSF, Keyboards Synthe Story Part 1 and Part 2.

Ultravox Synths Take 2

Title link takes you to a previous post I put up on Ultravox Synths. Micke just posted the following on this VSE thread.

Did you know:

1) that the fat bass line on Ultravox' song "Slow Motion" (off of Systems of romance, 1978) was actually played by Chris Cross on his EMS-Synthi?

2) that the EMS synthi, Arp Odyssey (and Elka Rhapsody) were the only synths used for U-Vox' 2nd album "Ha, Ha, Ha" (1977)?

3) that the Elka Rhapsody 610 was used for the string sounds on U-vox' first three albums?

4) that Brian Eno programmed the Minimoog (his own synth) on the early U-vox songs "My way" and "Slip Away"?

5) that the kick drum, snare and hi-hat on U'vox' cues "Dislocation" were done on Billy Currie's Arp Odyssey with lots of fx added?

6) that the Minimoog is responsible for the bassline on "Quite Man"

7) that the Oberheim OB-X was used mainly for solos on U-vox album "Rage in Eden"?

8) that Billy Currie bought a Yamaha CS-80 in late 1979 and used it on songs like "Mr.X" (Vienna), "Western promise" (Vienna") "I Remember" (Rage In Eden), "Hymn" (Quartet)?

9) that U-vox' main string-machine between 1980-1984 was the Yamaha SS-30?

10) that the Yamaha GS-1 FM synthesizer was used for the solo in "Mine for life"?

11) that the EMS-Synthi was U-vox's very first synth back in early '77 or thereabouts?
-----------

Also see Midge Ure on the Minimoog used for the bassline in Viena.