What synths were used in Fade To Grey?

steveman · Post by **steveman** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 2:07 am

Anybody see the BBC's 'Ashes to Ashes' last Thursday? They recreated Strange's infamous Blitz Club c/w with Visage playing 'Fade to Grey'. Looked like the keyboard player had a Polymoog. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Strange Steve Strange played himself.

Post by **Jack Spider** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:05 pm

It was indeed Steve Strange playing himself in 'Ashes To Ashes'. Sandrine Gouriou was also playing herself.

Post by **shaft9000** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:14 am

okay here's my Fade to Grey rendition:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music

bassline, kickdrum, zaps and claps: Moog LP
other drums and sequencing: Korg ESX
all other synths are Supernova 2
vox is no one that I know

Post by **WDW** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:32 am

That was good, Shaft. Thanks for sharing.

WD

P.S. And, Push-Pull, although I said so in an old thread, when you first posted your version of FTG, I'll say it again... Nice job.

Push-Pull · Post by **Push-Pull** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:23 am

Shaft:

I'm not in love with the beat, but very good job ! That's the SuperNova for the strings pad sound ? Mmmm.... I've gote a Nova for sale, maybe I'll keep it...

The low vocoder "fade to grey" appeared obvious, no ?

And the over-processed vocal ? Not in french, hey hey ??

And how can I archive your song ?

WD> Thank's ! 8)

TAV · Post by **TAV** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:09 am

Check this Youtube version:

8)

Post by **shaft9000** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:17 am

Push-Pull wrote:That's the SuperNova for the strings pad sound ?
The low vocoder "fade to grey" appeared obvious, no ?
And the over-processed vocal ? Not in french, hey hey ??

And how can I archive your song ?

Glad you like it P-P!!

It's a bit rough around the edges and only v1.0 at this time.
...but i make no excuse:
Your rendition sounds light and effortless.... while mine is heavy and labourious; i made it more for the "3AM dancefloor grind" vibe, i guess.
No doubt you did influenced my rendition, though!

I'd only heard the Visage original a few times in passing over the years and never gave it much attention (it was not a big hit in California + i was only like 8 yrs old when it was released) until I heard your version...which I've listened to yours about 20 times vs. maybe 5 times to the Visage original,

When I hear F2G in my head now it's usually your version.

Yeah my French is terrible, and not being a good singer I guess I need all the processing I can muster.

I will upload the mp3 in a couple of weeks (i have to change ISP) and send you a PM link or post a new thread if i do any more work on it.

And yes the Nova can be programmed to do wonderful string machine stuff - keep it one osc(square w/ pwm), and explore the various chorus settings. Activate and adjust Unison for a nice 'Mr Crowley' vibe

-

WDW wrote:That was good, Shaft. Thanks for sharing.

And thanks go out to WDW, our mighty moderator.... :salute:

-

Post by **Logan 5** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:33 pm

Cool version Shaft!
I would love to hear someone do a version of "Frequency 7"-an earlier Visage track,b-side of their first single "Tar".It is one of my all-time faves from that period.

Post by **WDW** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:00 am

You're welcome, guys. [And Shaft, you crack me up.

]

FTG is one of the songs that got me into electronic music. In fact, it was the first song that I learned to play on a synth--well, almost a synth; it was a Casio VL-1, which I got around the same time that I first heard FTG. Yes, that was back in 1980. I'm one of the older guys in these parts.

Years later--2003 to be precise--I recorded an instrumental cover. But, for the life of me, I cannot find the MP3. However, I did run across my MIDI file. I may have to rerecord it and torture you guys with my lack of talent.

WD

Post by **Blue Monster 65** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:56 am

Great versions, guys! I really like both of them - would be nice to download them and run 'em back to back on a CD - would you mind?

I had the 12" ages ago and can remember playing it when I DJ'd at a basement club - people LOVED that song! I've got really good memories of those days.

Woof! - Scott

Post by **WDW** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:12 pm

Okay, I warned you that I would do it. Here's a cover of Fade to Grey that I recorded this morning...

www.myspace.com/w2studiosofficial

WD

P.S. My MIDI file from my previous recording was garbled; thus, I had to start from scratch and decided to just play the whole thing. Sorry about the sloppy playing. All ten tracks on the Access Virus TI. No vocals; I spared you from that torture. Also, the MySpace conversion did something weird to the mix--the AIFF sounds very different in my DAW and MP3 in iTunes. I'll get around to cleaning it up, when I have spare time. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy it.

Post by **shaft9000** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:06 am

that was quite cool, WD. mellow and very BASSY

I couldn't get it to play all the way through, though... myspace and i don't get along very well

we should have threads like this all the time, where everyone contributes their take on an old or new classic!!!

Post by **WDW** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:38 am

Thanks, Shaft.

Yeah, MySpace and I clashed on this one too. The first mix that I put up ended up converting and becoming all trebly. So, I remixed it to boost the bass. the MySpace conversion then went all bassy (or less trebly). Odd. Never behaved that way before. Funnily enough, this second mix sounded fine when played through my tiny laptop speakers.

Periodic cover threads sounds like a cool idea. [Just be sure that we start them in LISTENING LOUNGE.

]

WD

Post by **Mixolydian** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:48 pm

Congratulations PushPull and shaft9000! Portions of both of your versions of Fade to Grey were played on SonicState's weekly podcast. (TALK077, it starts around 24:45.) They also posted a link to this thread.
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=6194
Unfortunately, they didn't get to yours WDW, dkw.

Nick Batt, the host of SonicState's podcasts, has referred to this site several times, sometimes using thread topics as topics on the show.

Post by **WDW** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:55 pm

Mixolydian wrote:Congratulations PushPull and shaft9000! Portions of both of your versions of Fade to Grey were played on SonicState's weekly podcast. (TALK077, it starts around 24:45.) They also posted a link to this thread.
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=6194

Nick Batt, the host of SonicState's podcasts, has referred to this site several times, sometimes using thread topics as topics on the show.

That's fantastic!

Mixolydian wrote:Unfortunately, they didn't get to yours WDW, dkw.

Because my version stunk compared to theirs.

WD