Synth spotting: Alicia Keys interview

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 3:02 pm

Turned on my tv this morning and I was greeted by a Yamaha CS-X0 (also a Rhodes) but I can't tell what cs it is. looks like the 80, I think I can see the little hidden programmer panel.

Alicia Keys interview

Post by **knolan** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:19 pm

URL for computers: (one above if for mobile devices)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162- ... k-in-film/

Yes it's a CS80.

Don't 'get' Alicia Keys. I love all sorts of music, but find her incredibly boring. 14 Grammys never the less - clearly massively liked!! Still feel a CS80 in her studio is a bit of a waste!

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:27 pm

I'm pretty sure it's a CS-80.

ppg_wavecomputer · Post by **ppg_wavecomputer** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:57 pm

Of course it´s one.

I´d sure let her play mine.

Stephen

plikestechno · Post by **plikestechno** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 12:15 am

Yep, I was already in love with Alicia Keys but a CS-80 never hurts when wooing a fella.

My wife could come too.

KevBKeys · Post by **KevBKeys** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 1:08 am

Nice little interview. She explains how I got my name!

I saw her live at one of her London gigs in the summer which was good, but sadly she didn't bring out her Jupiter 8 to play 'No One' on this tour.

I do like her songs, and especially 'The Element of Freedom' album which has quite a bit of synth on it.

There is an article here from a while back which talks about some of her vintage synths and influences if anyone is interested.

http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/Alic ... eedom/2107

I'd already spotted the Genesis influence a mile off. The intro to 'Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart' is very similar to how Genesis played 'I know what I Like' live, except the drums are a programmed beat instead of purely acoustic and the portamento sweep is presumably Voyager instead of Pro Soloist.

recordbot · Post by **recordbot** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:13 am

I have some footage of her in 1st grade doing a school play of the Wizard of Oz, she was Dorothy my sister was toto, I'll have to dig that up and post it.

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:51 am

recordbot wrote:I have some footage of her in 1st grade doing a school play of the Wizard of Oz, she was Dorothy my sister was toto, I'll have to dig that up and post it.

thats awesome! you could be youtube famous if you got that out there

im not a huge Alicia Keys fans, im quite sick of girl on fire as i hear it a couple times everyday at work, but i do like some bits shes done here and there. And of course the fact that shes an attractive young woman with a nice synth collection makes her a little more appealing (...Thats probably the most sexist thing ive ever written on a public forum)

but yes, thank you everyone who verified that it was indeed a cs80

tekkentool · Post by **tekkentool** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:41 am

knolan wrote: Still feel a CS80 in her studio is a bit of a waste!

Haha what a shame it's in the hands of a talented recording artist who might use it on popular records and widely appreciated music instead of sitting in a dungeon having covers of the blade runner soundtrack played on it endlessly.

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:24 pm

Haha I can imagine a CS-80 ending up in some synth nerd's basement and he screams FINALLY! I can make that VANGELIS sound!!! *two hours later*

FFFFUUUUUUUU** how did he do it?! *goes to youtube to copy panel settings for Blade Runner*

ppg_wavecomputer · Post by **ppg_wavecomputer** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:28 pm

Bitexion wrote:[...] FFFFUUUUUUUU** how did he do it?! [...]

Brass 1 and 2, Lexicon 224 reverb, and Dimension D.

No Youtube. Ask Unca Steve.

Stephen

Post by **Cybercardinal** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:41 pm

ppg_wavecomputer wrote:
Bitexion wrote:[...] FFFFUUUUUUUU** how did he do it?! [...]
Brass 1 and 2, Lexicon 224 reverb, and Dimension D.

No Youtube. Ask Unca Steve.

Stephen

Cool

What's the settings for the VP-330?

recordbot · Post by **recordbot** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:56 pm

Bitexion wrote:Haha I can imagine a CS-80 ending up in some synth nerd's basement and he screams FINALLY! I can make that VANGELIS sound!!! *two hours later*

FFFFUUUUUUUU** how did he do it?! *goes to youtube to copy panel settings for Blade Runner*

well yeah except even if that guy was among the most talented synthesists in the world...

Vangelis had built 3 working CS 80s from 10 brand new models right off the line at Yamaha,

he had souped up hot rod CS 80s made from combined component sections from a large group of units, the rest of the leftovers because parts machines.

Bitexion · Post by **Bitexion** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:54 pm

Indeed, he had some wizard keyboard tech who'd fix up everything for him.
I have a concert recording from 1980 where he used two CS-80's in a rack setup. Imagine the support needed for that.
Bet his roadies hated him at that period.

It sounds awesome, though. Think there is a picture of that setup around somewhere.
The "blade runner" sound is used plenty, but he also switches the sounds around on one synth while playing the other. He really knew his way around those.
Like he'll play something nice and sweet and brassy, then crank up the ringmod with a long decay to get a wild "WUUIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" effect and morph into another section with a different mood and sound.

Dr. Phibes · Post by **Dr. Phibes** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:26 pm

tekkentool wrote:
knolan wrote: Still feel a CS80 in her studio is a bit of a waste!
Haha what a shame it's in the hands of a talented recording artist who might use it on popular records and widely appreciated music instead of sitting in a dungeon having covers of the blade runner soundtrack played on it endlessly.

Yes, that is a shame.

Synth spotting: Alicia Keys interview

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