Tangerine Dream digital synths, circa 1978-83

[cornutt]

There doesn't seem to be much written about this, at least that I've been able to find. I have a quote from Edgar talking about using a Fairlight on Exit, and a claim that they had something that was digital (what could it have been?) as early as 1975. To me, there's nothing on anything prior to Force Majure that sounds digital.

[commodorejohn]

The only digital synthesizer I'm aware of from that early (not counting software synthesis on a variety of mainframes and minicomputers from the mid-'50s through the early '80s) was the RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, which was actually a hybrid (digital additive oscillators plus analog filters.) No idea if they used that though.

[Z]

I never seen anything written about them using a Fairlight CMI or seen photos of them with one. I know they used Synclavier and PPG Wave.

[madtheory]

Check the history of PPG synths, TD used them heavily. 1003 Sonic Carrier is around 1975 ? Stephen will know

[knolan]

I know he used the following:

PPG 340 / 380

PPG 2.0, 2.2, 2.3 and waveterm

Crumar GDS

I remember reading an article in the 80s where it was indicated that TD put most of their earnings back into equipment. Froese part funded the development of the PPG series. I also read somewhere that he had a lot of contact with Roland regarding the development of the Jupiter 8; but cannot remember the source.

TD also had numerous custom made digital sequencers around 1980 - 1982

[ppg_wavecomputer]

There doesn't seem to be much written about this, at least that I've been able to find. I have a quote from Edgar talking about using a Fairlight on Exit, and a claim that they had something that was digital (what could it have been?) as early as 1975. To me, there's nothing on anything prior to Force Majure that sounds digital.

Not sure about the Fairlight (this apparently was used in the mid-1980s for some soundtrack work).

Around Exit, Froese used the PPG 360 Wave Computer with PPG 350 Computer Sequencer as well as its successor, the Wave 2.0 (in fact I do believe that this album probably was among the first to feature the Wave 2). He also had his PPG 340/380/390 rig which was used to drive analogue synthesisers as well (e. g. for sequences). There is also some Synclavier 2 stuff audible (for Kiev Mission they used the same factory patch that kicked off Beat It by Michael Jackson)

Chris Franke is reported to have used the Crumar GDS on Thief although it doesn't really stand out timbrally.

As for the rest, there is plenty of bread-and-butter sounds from the Oberheim OB-X as well as Prophet 5 Rev. 2 and 3.

Stephen

[intercorni]

In 1977, that meant instruments like Oberheim polyphonic synths, ARP 2600s and string machines, PPG synthesizers, digital sequencers, and a host of custom-designed devices. The LP notes to Encore list 25 instruments.

[Bitexion]

Gah, I still remember that cringe-worthy scene from Fame (The Movie) where the obviously dope-smoking cool dude drags $50,000 worth of synthesizers (how would seriously any musics student afford synths like those?) into the music room just to prove technology can beat "real instruments", plays a few sequences and a couple of chords, then "short circuits" the entire class room by inserting a patch chord into his ARP2600.

"Oh you rascally kids, you"

[ppg_wavecomputer]

Gah, I still remember that cringe-worthy scene from Fame (The Movie) where the obviously dope-smoking cool dude drags $50,000 worth of synthesizers (how would seriously any musics student afford synths like those?) into the music room just to prove technology can beat "real instruments", plays a few sequences and a couple of chords, then "short circuits" the entire class room by inserting a patch chord into his ARP2600.

"Oh you rascally kids, you"

"Does this fella want to become an astronaut, or a musician?"

In the TV series, Lee Curreri also had a CS80, CS40m, Linn LM-1 and lots of other stuff in his dorm room.

Stephen

[Bitexion]

Never watched the tv series..but that sounds about as surreal as all the crying scenes in the movie.