Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hello everyone,

I was watching to Mike Oldfield's dvd, live in Montreux and I'd like to know which keyboard is used at the beginning of this song :

Just below the Prophet 5, is this something like a Solina String Ensemble?

Thank you for your help

Could be a Solina, absolutely!

I rather believe it's a Roland RS-505 or VP-330, most likely the latter because I can definitely hear choir sounds.
I also spotted a SH-2000, Polymoog and CR-78.

At 1:29 it looks like there are left-panel controls, which I don't think the Solina had. Also, at 5mins or so, theres a sweeping pitchbend. So I'd second Micke's suggestions.

2 for Roland RS-505, 1 for Solina...

Feel free to share your opinion

I don't know the Roland RS505, I have to check it

it is all VP-330 on the intro/first theme. strings and choirs. u can see him change octave and layer settings.


Ommadawn is my favorite Oldifeld album, and one of fav albums of all time. big THANKS for posting this link, wasn't aware Montreaux performance was on youtube



check the 2/3 part too - there's some vocoder action on VP-330, P5 brass, as well as Linn LM-1 beats (standing next to Mike)..

clusterchord wrote: Ommadawn is my favorite Oldifeld album, and one of fav albums of all time. big THANKS for posting this link, wasn't aware Montreaux performance was on youtube

Yeah, you're welcome! Same for me! Fav Oldfield album and one of my fav of all time!! So emotionally powerful!!

These videos comes from a dvd which is great! Well, the atmosphere is totally 80's but Mike's playing is fantastic!!

Ommadawn...........................

I'm a bass player, and wow ! The bass line is terrific.

I do like the guitars and keyboards harmony in it.

My guess is the VP-330. Mike Oldfield went in heavy for it on Five Miles Out, which was released the year after, I believe.

Thanks a lot for the new replies!!

I ordered the new deluxe version of Ommadawn, I can't wait to receive it!!

clusterchord wrote: Ommadawn is my favorite Oldifeld album, and one of fav albums of all time.

Anaon wrote: I ordered the new deluxe version of Ommadawn, I can't wait to receive it!!

I tried to play the part. 1 final on bass :



Not a synth, I know, but it's for (and from) Ommadawn fans.

About vocoder : the live version of Sheba :

This is the VP-330. The strings are typical and you can also hear the VP choir in the middle part.

Oldfield ued the VP330 until at least the Discovery album(1984), as it can be seen in a shot of the keyboard setup in the original liner notes alongside his Fairlight CMI, Oberheim OBXa/DSX, and what appears to be a Rhodes piano.

Mike uses the Polymoog as a Vocoder too :

a nice link to some of his instruments : http://tubular.net/instruments/
as far as I know, his famous keyboards sounds come from : ARP 2600 (bass), SH2000 flute (clarinet preset at double speed), solina strings, VP330 vocoder, CP70 piano, hudge amount of fairlight, farfisa professional, some oberheim. he's supposed to have played on a cs80 (mostly for percussion I guess). Wurlitzer A200, CR78, claptrack, celesta...