New Hardware Synths...Where is the Music?

[Tusker]

10 hours ago, CrossRhodes said:

 

You just reminded me of when the Moog Voyager came out and all the old school synth heads were complaining about how it didn’t sound like the Model D and didn’t have the Moog sound. 20 + years later it’s become a staple in a lot of pop and hip hop studios and is now part of what the younger generations consider the Moog sound to encompass.

 

👍 There's a bit of "classic rock" bias to the perspective of the Minimoog as a "machine that can cut through a wall of guitars." The saturation tone in the oscillator mixer was key to that. But the Voyager plays nice in a lot of contexts which may not have that wall of guitars, while classic and prog rock fans like me are becoming .... vintage. Just ask my knees.

[AUSSIEKEYS]

9 hours ago, Tusker said:

 

No worries mate.

 

It's never too late. 😅 

 

Hee hee. Yes I shall explore Swalyor Tift further.

 

In regards marketing guru failures im not sure if you guys get that Temu advert thrown at you constantly where they sing the name over and over about shopping like a billionaire. 

 

Well it took weeks for me to realise it was about Temu. I found the singing of the words Temu to be unrecognisable. For the life of me it was unrecognsable fluff being sung.

[Anderton]

As usual, I'm 180 degrees out of phase with fashion   I'm playing more and more synths in what I do, and using guitars more sparingly. Hard sync synth + oscillator mod wheel gyrations is great for a sound traditionally done as a lead guitar solo.

 

Regarding the general topic, consider that synths have been around for over half a century (!). They're no longer novel, which means you don't need to choose them because they're shiny/new and attention-getting, but because they fit with the music. 

[JoJoB3]

On 8/4/2024 at 10:23 AM, CyberGene said:

Here’s a thought for you. Imagine Rhodes piano never existed until now. Suddenly a guy comes up with it. Will it make an impact. Will we start hearing it everywhere? How about Hammond, Minimoog, etc?

 

Sounds are about a context. Right time, right people, right cultural context. It’s not about the actual sound at all. IMO. 

However, the Hammond/Leslie (and wurly and rhodes) DID change the landscape of music across multiple genres.  There have been many coffee table books on the very subject as well.
Just because they're 'too heavy' today will not change this.  Iow, none of the latest (vsts, clones, etc) will be changing anything in similar form (in fact, it's very possible an OS could turn some of them off one day down the road unless developers remain on top of it).

[CyberGene]

1 hour ago, JoJoB3 said:

However, the Hammond/Leslie (and wurly and rhodes) DID change the landscape of music across multiple genres.

I understand you like these instruments. I do, too. But that was not my question. 

[JoJoB3]

2 hours ago, CyberGene said:

I understand you like these instruments. I do, too. But that was not my question. 

"Imagine Rhodes piano never existed until now. Suddenly a guy comes up with it. Will it make an impact. Will we start hearing it everywhere? How about Hammond, Minimoog, etc?"

Yes

[CrossRhodes]

I know we’ve gone off the topic of synths on stage at pop concerts at this point but one comment that doesn’t ring true for me at all is that the reissue/old school inspired synth market is for non-musicians and nostalgia “nerds”. I guess we only see the world through our own particular lens but most of the younger artists I listen to these days are still heavily inspired by classic synth sounds from Moog, Prophet, Juno’s etc. There is also a very healthy analog modular scene that embraces the old along with the new.

I don’t think every musician has to or is going to reinvent the wheel and I don’t need them to. I just dig good players and good music even if they’re just carrying the torch from previous generations. A few bands/players that come to mind rocking vintage synth tones…they sure sound like musicians to me.
 

 

 

 

 

[J.F.N.]

Here we go, Teenage Engineering just released a Bard Core sampler!

 

 

https://teenage.engineering/products/ep-1320

 

[ProfD]

Props to Elijah Fox holding down the keys chair with the Yussef Dayes Experience. 

 

Fox is putting hardware synths to work in a live band context. 😎

[Jim Alfredson]

One of my favorite 'modern' bands (I use quotes because they've been around almost 30 years now but are still relevant and creating new music) is Little Dragon. The keyboardist, Håkan Wirenstrand, utilizes synths in a very cool and novel way. Check out their COVID Tiny Desk concert. He's playing a Prophet X to great effect.
 

 

[JoJoB3]

10 hours ago, Jim Alfredson said:

One of my favorite 'modern' bands (I use quotes because they've been around almost 30 years now but are still relevant and creating new music) is Little Dragon. The keyboardist, Håkan Wirenstrand, utilizes synths in a very cool and novel way. Check out their COVID Tiny Desk concert. He's playing a Prophet X to great effect.
 

 

 

Dig!!