Magpel Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 A day or two ago, I would have been asking this question with a purpose. Today it's just out of curiosity, and to have the pleasure of hearing the synth experts respond. I'm thinking of a synth sound that I, at least, associate with Lyle Mays from the Pat Metheny Group. It's that round, soft, voice-oooh-like tone that he used to play monophonic melodies with, circa American Garage, which is to say late 70s. It's also an ubiquitous synth tone in nature documentaries (as is so much of Metheny's music, come to think of it). Two days ago, I thought I wanted just such a sound in some music I'm doing for a promotional video, but the direction has changed and Mr. Mays' services are no longer required. Any way, I always thought the sound was a perfect complement to Metheny's own ultra-soft tone, but, taken together like sugar coating on a sugar pill, one can understand why many people think Metheny's music is a bit namby-pamby, "effeminate" maybe, or at least pillow soft. Of course those people have probably never heard "Zero Tolerance for Silence" or any of Metheny's edgier stuff, or even his really great jazz trio records. Babble babble. What's that synth? John Check out the Sweet Clementines CD at bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsmusic Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 When I saw them in concert a number of years ago, he was using a Synclavier. Rob R. Guilford Butts www.mp3.com/robsmusic "Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God"......Leo Buscaglia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbrock1san.rr.com Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 I think it's an Oberheim 4-voice using a pulse wave. He may be using a voltage control pedal to open and close the filter. It's a distinctive sound and I can get a similar sound with my Matrix-6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 It's definitely the Oberheim 4 voice. The Synclavier came later and possible had a sample of that signature synth patch. I know there was a 1U Roland module in which there was a sample of that Oberheim sound. Maybe it's also in the JV1010/1080/2080 or VX series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Originally posted by mzeger: The Synclavier came later and possible had a sample of that signature synth patch. I thought it was Metheny that was the one using the Synclavier...I suppose if it was there that Lyle'd have used it too though, huh... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Martin Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 On the Secret Story tour, Lyle used a Synclavier, Kurzweil K2000, his Oberheim and a Yamaha Grand Piano. The last tour I saw (We Live Here), I only saw a K2500 and the Grand Piano. -Mike Martin Casio Mike Martin Photography Instagram Facebook The Big Picture Photography Forum on Music Player Network The opinions I post here are my own and do not represent the company I work for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 I'm pretty sure it's an Oberheim Four- or Eigh-Voice, a square wave with a slight pulse offset, or maybe two detuned squares. An important component of the sound is its softly blowed attack, with a bit of pitch modulation from the envelope. I also believe he used a slight delay on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Whatever Lyle's using these days, it's a far cry from when I saw the PMG for the first time in early '80s. Lyle's rig included a Yamaha YC-45 organ for tunes from American Garage, a mic'd autoharp for "San Lorenzo", and his Hamburg Steinway. He's a brilliant musician deserving far great credit and recognition. His relationship to Metheny reminds me of Strayhorn to Ellington. Ellington's name was on the group, played the "front" man, good looking, held the body of composition credits. Without Strayhorn, however, we don't get "Lush Life" and "Take the A Train". Metheny's music would be far different without in the contribution of Lyle Mays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 Its definitely a Oberheim 4 or 8, I saw a gig from 82 where he had a Synclavier but the sound you're referring to had him playing the old SEM Oberheims.. The other weird thing is that many people think Pat Mentheny gets his trademark solo sound from the Synclavier, but its actually an old Roland GR-300 guitar synth. peace Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llarion Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 I was gonna say Synclavier, but everyone beat me... Any relation to the spectacular Moe Loughran, Neil? ------------------ Cheers! Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor www.mp3.com/llarion Smooth Jazz Cheers! Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor www.llarion.com Smooth Jazz - QUESTION AUTHORITY. Go ahead, ask me anything. http://www.llarion.com/images/dichotomybanner.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 hi phil, Who is Moe Loughran? I'll do a search for that one... peace neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llarion Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 No need to search, RUN, don't walk: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/89/moeloughran.html She is just flat AMAZING.... ------------------ Cheers! Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor www.mp3.com/llarion Smooth Jazz Cheers! Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor www.llarion.com Smooth Jazz - QUESTION AUTHORITY. Go ahead, ask me anything. http://www.llarion.com/images/dichotomybanner.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 oh you mean moe.. yeah shes my sister.. forgot all about her.. Just kiddin' nice sound and songs I think. peace Neil (UK) not really moes brother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod S Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 Originally posted by Llarion: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/89/moeloughran.html She is just flat AMAZING.... Dowloaded 'tulip tree'.. very cool. I like it. I'll check some of the other stuff when I get a chance. Korg Kronos X73 / ARP Odyssey / Motif ES Rack / Roland D-05 / JP-08 / SE-05 / Jupiter Xm / Novation Mininova / NL2X / Waldorf Pulse II MBP-LOGIC American Deluxe P-Bass, Yamaha RBX760 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Azzarello Posted August 12, 2001 Share Posted August 12, 2001 My vote is the Oberheim 4/8 voice. You can get a close approximation using a preset from one of many synths. The Alesis QS series "Maze Lead" or the ESQ-1 "Lyle" patches come to mind. Pat http://www.patazzarello.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Azzarello Posted August 12, 2001 Share Posted August 12, 2001 My vote is the Oberheim 4/8 voice. You can get a close approximation using a preset from one of many synths. The Alesis QS series "Maze Lead" or the ESQ-1 "Lyle" patches come to mind. Pat http://www.patazzarello.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdt0763 Posted August 13, 2001 Share Posted August 13, 2001 I saw Lyle in Baltimore back in '88? I'm pretty sure that it was a Roland JX-10. I got to chat with him the next morning at the hotel. What a cool cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2001 Share Posted August 13, 2001 Hi yeah there was a patch on the JX called Mays Wind, but the original was *definitely* an Oberheim 4/8 voice. ;-) Peace neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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