What synths were used in Fade To Grey?

Analogue Crazy · Post by **Analogue Crazy** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:07 pm

Its one of my favorite 80's tracks and i have always wondered what synths were used in it.
Anyone know any synths that were used in it?

antilles · Post by **antilles** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:48 pm

I don't know, but I'm sure Billy Currie used his arp odyssey on it.

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:02 am

Bass line & soft solo = Arp Odyssey w/sequencer
Intro (on '12 version) = Fairlight CMI (programmed by R. J. Burgess)
Electronic drums/percussion/drum machine = musicaid claptrap, prototype simmons SDS5 and possibly SDS3s, CR-78.

The strings are either from the CS-80 or SS-30 stringer, not sure which one.

Dave Formula also used a Prophet 5 on Visage's debut album.

quote from dave Formula:
"I went round one afternoon, to his (Richard Burgess) house, & improvised on the Fairlight to provide the links between the songs on the 1st Visage album. And yes, he set up the sounds for me to use. Also I know that he & Rusty Egan worked on some of the electronic drum sounds together."

Micke

Analogue Crazy · Post by **Analogue Crazy** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:46 pm

Thanks very much Mike.

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:09 pm

You're welcome, AC

On a side note, the first album that really used sampling was the Kate Bush Album Never Forever , John Walters and Richard Burgess programmed the Fairlight for that too.

Peter Gabriel had used the Fairlight with a preset sound on his third album a couple of months earlier but John & Richard actually sampled stuff in the studio...
Listen for the the guns cocking in Army dreamers, the plates and glasses breaking in Babooshka, and there were other things as well.

Push-Pull · Post by **Push-Pull** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:31 pm

Bass line & soft solo = Arp Odyssey w/sequencer
prototype simmons SDS5

Happy to know that ! Because I've tried to copy those sounds with a Korg MS10.

For the result, click here to listen my cover of "Fade To Grey".

In fact, all is done with the MS10. Four takes one-by-one for the four-voices PWM pads !
The only other instruments are a TR-606 for the beat and the vocoder of a microkorg.
No sequencer: the bassline is triggered by the "trig out" of the 606.

'Hope you'll enjoy !

clueless · Post by **clueless** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:34 pm

Just had a listen and that was very,very well done sir!

neandrewthal · Post by **neandrewthal** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:00 pm

Excellent. I even like it way more than the original.

Post by **shaft9000** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:21 pm

hey Push -

your F2G has been in my iPod for months now...a truly excellent redux you've done!

Are those extracted vocals?
Or did you reproduce the vox spot-on as well? It's soooo close.

I made a 'louder' version of Fade to Grey (for hard techno dancefloor). It's more Moroder-y w/ burbling Moog bass.
I will post an mp3 of it as soon as i return from holiday for all to hear.

Push-Pull · Post by **Push-Pull** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 11:43 am

Thank's for your comments !

Are those extracted vocals?
Or did you reproduce the vox spot-on as well? It's soooo close.

It's me singing... And my girlfriend for the "frenchy voice" !

It's more Moroder-y w/ burbling Moog bass. I will post an mp3 of it as soon as i return from holiday for all to hear.

Mmmm....

I'm waiting...

sam · Post by **sam** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:20 pm

Congrats...A very nice version..

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 3:32 pm

That's a very nice version indeed, push-pull :)

Re the original version of Fade To Grey; I forgot to mention that Billy Currie additionally played electric violin on it; a Fender solid violin to be exact (which he aquired back in 1977). Billy first used it on U-vox' second album Ha, Ha, Ha.

scoopicman · Post by **scoopicman** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:11 am

Excellent version of the song, Push-pull!!

Push-Pull · Post by **Push-Pull** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:49 am

Thank's !

Hey Shaft9k, still on holiday ??

Post by **shaft9000** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:06 am

Holiday Over!
Next Up: a permanent Vacation!

anyhow.....the track is finished.....I just forgot to put it on my JumpDrive today. (yeah i know i'm a slow bahstud)

will upload it tomorrow i promise.....stay tuned