TheMightyTonewheel Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Hi folks, An engineer friend of mine and I were sitting in his studio last week, waiting for his (late) client. He was playing some songs from his CD collection to ask me if I had samples or sounds of the synths we were listening to. At one point, he put on Steve Winwood's "The Finer Things", which has a lead-in synth line and synth solo. But, as familiar as the sound was (I'd even played it a few times), I couldn't identify it! I must have heard it a million times. My best guess was a Fairlight, but I can't be certain. Anyone know it? It's more blessed to give than it is to receive; Except when it comes to free advice, I believe. -Bruce Cockburn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oiled Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Nord Lead 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Twarn't no Nord 3... that didn't exist back then. I remember that pentatonic solo well... it sounds like the sort of sound the Minimoog was famous for. I had a Top-40 band in college, back in the dim and distant 80's, and programmed a patch which came damn close to that on, of all things, a Yamaha DX-7. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oiled Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Originally posted by SteveFortner: that didn't exist back then.Yet, I still have a strong feeling that it's a Nord 3. But I suppose anything is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Bastard Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 I agree, I think there's a strong probability that it's a Nord. Maybe not necessarily a 3, it could be a 2. Sorry Steve but it doesn't sound like a DX-7 to me. I'd be willing to bet it was a Nord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny, Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 It clearly looks like all fingers are pointing towards the Nord 3. SILLY WABBIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucktunes Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Nord?!? The song was recorded in 1986, fer cryinoutloud! The D50 didn't even exist yet then, much less Nord! You guys are goofin', right? RIGHT? On the liner notes, someone is credited with PPG Waveterm programming on that song, but I don't think it was used for the lead. There are other synth parts in that tune that sound more PPG-ish. FWIW, the video shows him playing the solo on a DX7. There are other DX7 parts in the tune, and that lead sound is actually pretty easy to get on the DX, so that may well be what he used. Either that or the Multimoog, which is what he used for the lead on "While You See A Chance". Peace all, Steve ><> Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 I recall this song was transcribed in an old Keyboard magazine. I can dig it up in my collection. If I'm not mistaken, there was a mini-interview with Winwood and he said that it was a Minimoog. This was a mid-80's song, recorded nearly a decade before the first Nord Lead was on the market. So it just isn't possible that it was a Nord Lead. I will post again after I find the magazine. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 You're close on the Minimoog. It's actually a Voyager. You know... the one that Dano is thinking of selling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oiled Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Originally posted by eric: This was a mid-80's song, recorded nearly a decade before the first Nord Lead was on the market.Nevertheless, I think we're being a little hasty in ruling out the Nord just yet, am I wrong? I would also be willing to bet it's a Nord. Constantin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 I just listened to it, and I'm POSITIVE it's a Nord. Sorry Steve and Eric, but it looks like you're wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundWrangler Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 So basically, your contention is that Steve Winwood traveled into the future, so that he could record this solo with a synthesizer that hadn't been invented yet? I always knew Steve was a multi-talented guy, but to transcend the physical laws of the universe? I gotta find out what teacher this guy studied with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Bastard Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 I've just listened to it through headphones and my monitors, and upon closer inspection, I'd have a hard time believing it's anything BUT a Nord 3. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I agree with the others that it's a Nord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundWrangler Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 If anyone saves their old Keyboard magazines, in the 5/89 issue there's a Winwood interview & transcription of this song (which I do not have). I specifically recall him describing how his "distinctive" synth sound had much more to do with pitch-bend technique than any peculiar sound source (& I think he did actually mention the keyboard he used, which as I recall was nothing exotic for the time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Ditto on the Nord 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundWrangler Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 You guys are crackin' me up! The album in question was released in 1986 (presumably recorded 1985?), & as seen in clavia\'s history page the very first Nord Lead (not even the Nord 3 ) was introduced in 1995. Do the math! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearded yeti Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Frankly I have to agree with the others. I've listened to that intro several times, and I don't see how it could NOT Be a Nord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick K. Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Whew. Lots of faces for avatars....Hmmm??? Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calumet Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 NORD??? You guys....you are all HIGH!!!!! Read again...THE NORD DID NOT EXIST 1986!!! I don't care what it sounds like...IT IS NOT A NORD!!! Geez...what part of "didn't exist" don't you understand??? It's like saying that DiVinci did the Mona Lisa with PrintShop!! It's NOT POSSIBLE!! Ok...whew. I feel better now. My band Thousand Houses: www.thousandhouses.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b3keys Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 When Steve toured in the 90s he used a Yamaha DX7 as a controller for 2 minimoogs. So live, it was the minimoog. These Nord references are cracking me up. You must be drinking Robotussin or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod S Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Well, let~s see if I can figure this out DM = Ashley Judd = White Chocolate = Salma Hayek = Charlize Theron = Constantin Kroyolev = Junior III = Capone = Strapping Young lad = not as funny as s/he thinks he is. Did I miss anyone? 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...
eric Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 This topic is pretty surreal. I do recall reading that Clavia asked Steve Winwood to be their chief beta tester. Maybe that's how that cliched Nord Lead 3 sound snuck into that song. The Nord Lead 3 was supposedly their very first product and I have heard that the prototype was released back in 1985 when Steve was putting the finishing touches on "Back in the High Life." Similar to George Lucas and Star Wars, Clavia started their Lead series on #3 and then went back to the first two at a later date. Winwood identified some show stopper bugs in the Nord 3, so it did not make it to prime time until 2000, some 5 years after the Nord Lead 1 was released. If you watch those MTV videos closely, there is a red keyboard in his rig. Back in the 80's I never knew what it was, but now I suspect it was the prototype Nord Lead 3. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Bastard Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Told ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calumet Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 No way. My band Thousand Houses: www.thousandhouses.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Methinks someone is allowing their brain to be fucked with by other forum members. It's a Mini, in case anyone was actually wondering. Steve has always been great with a pitch wheel. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burningbusch Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Originally posted by Calumet: NORD??? You guys....you are all HIGH!!!!! Read again...THE NORD DID NOT EXIST 1986!!! I don't care what it sounds like...IT IS NOT A NORD!!! Geez...what part of "didn't exist" don't you understand??? It's like saying that DiVinci did the Mona Lisa with PrintShop!! It's NOT POSSIBLE!! Ok...whew. I feel better now.Hey, it could have been a used Nord. It didn't have to be a new one. Did you ever consider that? Open your mind buddy. Busch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundWrangler Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 Originally posted by burningbusch: Hey, it could have been a used Nord. It didn't have to be a new one. Did you ever consider that? Open your mind buddy.Well, given that time apparently flows backwards in your neck of the woods, if you happen to come across a "second-hand" digital recorder from the year 2022 (with 128-bit resolution, a 1 gHz sample rate, & like all other professional audio/video systems of the time, using the NIST-F1 cesium fountain atomic clock at the National Institute of Standards & Technology as its master clock source), I might be interested! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyTonewheel Posted December 16, 2002 Author Share Posted December 16, 2002 I wouldn't argue that a Nord could replicate the sound, but I doubt it's actually a Nord. I've heard this sound before on several recordings prior to the Nord. Note the sound's distinctive attack. It's more blessed to give than it is to receive; Except when it comes to free advice, I believe. -Bruce Cockburn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 I still think it's a Nord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexy Bastard Posted December 16, 2002 Share Posted December 16, 2002 So do I! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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