Gear used by Heaven 17?

[VCO8]

I'm sure someone here has a a complete list. I do know that they had lots of Linn LM-1 on The Luxury Gap and some Jupiter 8. The Jupiter 4 was used quite a bit on their first album (the drum machine on Geisha Boys and Temple Girls sounds really familiar, kinda DR-55ish). Other than that, I'm clueless.

[stich]

This is a cool interview with Martin Ware discussing how they recreated those sounds for live performances.



As I recall they used Fairlight synths.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

Roland System 700 and 100m with MC-4 and MC-8 Micro Composers, and ARP Quadra, not to forget.

Stephen

[VCO8]

and ARP Quadra, not to forget.

What did they use the Quadra on???

[Jabberwalky]

Minikorg all over Penthouse and Pavement. 303 for the "Let me Go" bassline.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

and ARP Quadra, not to forget.

What did they use the Quadra on???

"Temptation"? Anyway, that's what many sources claim.

Stephen

[Micke]

Stephen, I have the feeling you're thinking of New Order's song "Temptation" rather than Heaven 17's song by the same name, or?
New Order did use a Quadra (among other synths) on their single "Temptation" but I've never heard that H 17 used one..

In any case, there's no mention of the Quadra on the 48 track/cue sheet for H17's "Temptation".

As for the gear setups used on H 17's first three albums, here's what I've managed to come up with so far:

Penthouse & Pavement (1981):
Roland system 100
mini-korg 700S
Roland jupiter 4
Linn LM-1
Boss doctor-rhythm
Roland guitar synth (probably the GR-300)
early Simmons SDS-V used on Fascist groove thang)
Casiotone (mainly used for the writing phase)

Luxury gap (1983):
system 100 & 100M + Roland MC4 microcomposer
Jupiter 8
Roland guitar synth
TB-303 bassline
LM-1 (or possibly Linndrum?)

How men are (1984):
System 100 & 100M + Roland MC4 microcomposer
Jupiter 8 (?)
LM-1 (or possibly Linndrum?)
and lots of Fairlight CMI

They also used a hired Synclavier II for Hot Gossip's album "Geisha Boys and Temple Girls" (1981)
and B.E.F.'s "Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One" (1982).

[VCO8]

As for the gear setups used on H 17's first three albums, here's what I've managed to come up with so far:

Penthouse & Pavement (1981):
Roland system 100
mini-korg 700S
Roland jupiter 4
Linn LM-1
Boss doctor-rhythm
Roland guitar synth (probably the GR-300)
early Simmons SDS-V used on Fascist groove thang)
Casiotone (mainly used for the writing phase)

Luxury gap (1983):
system 100 & 100M + Roland MC4 microcomposer
Jupiter 8
Roland guitar synth
TB-303 bassline
LM-1 (or possibly Linndrum?)

How men are (1984):
System 100 & 100M + Roland MC4 microcomposer
Jupiter 8 (?)
LM-1 (or possibly Linndrum?)
and lots of Fairlight CMI

They also used a hired Synclavier II for Hot Gossip's album "Geisha Boys and Temple Girls" (1981)
and B.E.F.'s "Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One" (1982).

You rule.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

Stephen, I have the feeling you're thinking of New Order's song "Temptation" rather than Heaven 17's song by the same name, or?
New Order did use a Quadra (among other synths) on their single "Temptation" but I've never heard that H 17 used one..
[...]

Ugh, well.. I was thinking of that pseudo Soul track, with female (backing) singers, sounding like a 1960s Motown mock-up... I used to think it was Heaven 17. For, well, about thirty years or so.

I'll creep back to where I came from...

Stephen

[rodgre]

Penthouse and Pavement has one of my favorite examples of Roland GR-300 guitar synth playing the lead. Killer electric bass on that tune as well.

[gcoudert]

I was thinking of that pseudo Soul track, with female (backing) singers, sounding like a 1960s Motown mock-up...

That'll be The Temptations!

[philip_teare]

Having owned one, I have always been convinced that they used the rare Firstman SQ01 on the opening of 'Geisha Boys and Temple Girls'. Apparently they only produced 200 of this synth/sequencer. Someone, has also attributed a Roland Bassline but this wasn't on the market at the time of the release of this album. I also bought one of these, but it came to market in UK Spring/Summer 82. The first of this Roland series was the 606 Drumatix, followed by 303 Bassline, and then SH101, synth with built in sequencer. These were all released in the UK after the Firstman. I bought the Firstman in Chace Synths in Drummond Street, Euston in Autumn 1981. Pretty certain it is that beautiful sound at the opening of Geisha Boys and have always felt this.