SOUND ON SOUND

[nathanscribe]

Ok, my pitch envelope settings are:
Curve -33
Attack: 2.7ms
Hold 17.6ms
Decay: 130.3ms
Sustain: -inf
Release: 1.1K ms

I'll have to compare this to my own settings on the W-30. I'll endeavour to post an audio example too.

[desmond]

I haven't got a jupiter 8 , although having played around with Arturia's JP8 plugin a while back , I was able to get that sound. Used some portamento if i remember correctly.

Over the years I've tried to get the running up that hill lead on all kinds of synths, and I've never been able to get the attack right. Portamento doesn't do it, it's a pitch EG thing, but also it's because of the attack characteristics of the sample used.

The reason I mentioned the JP8 is that , when Thomas Dolby was interviewed in Keyboard magazine back in 1993 (I think) , the reviewer mentioned that a synth sound in I love you goodbye (a Jupiter 8) sounded very similar to the Jupiter 8 sound Kate used on Running up that hill.
the article was a long time ago but I do remember it well - he could have been wrong of course.

Nah. The TD sound (and it is a nice sound on that lead) is much more of a simple analog sound. It shares some characteristics with RUTH in that it has a pitch scooped attack, and it's a bit honky, but that's about it. Different to the RUTH lead, though superficially similar.

TD - I Love You Goodbye riff

Can you even route an envelope to pitch on a JP8..? Not sure offhand... TD probably just used portamento.

RUTH, according to all documented sources, is Fairlight and Linn... the only other synth KB used was a CS80, which she didn't use much once she got her Fairlight and fell in love with it.

[desmond]

Can you even route an envelope to pitch on a JP8..? Not sure offhand...

Answering my own question: yes you can. Just been doing it on the Arturia JP8V.

[Richie Royale]

Not on topic, but KB related

http://www.katebushnews.com/index.php/2011/04/mojo-magazine-cover-feature-and-interview/

[TheChorltonWheelie]

Anyone wanna have a go at the main big synth riff on Go West's "We Close Our Eyes"?

That's layered to heaven and back, I've seen Lyndon Connah play it live and there are 2 Fantoms doing overtime with multi-layered samples.

[desmond]

Anyone wanna have a go at the main big synth riff on Go West's "We Close Our Eyes"?

That's layered to heaven and back, I've seen Lyndon Connah play it live and there are 2 Fantoms doing overtime with multi-layered samples.

Indeed. On the live shows I've seen (eg YouTube etc) they just play the riff with a cheesy synth brass sound (*ugh!*) but the original recording is ace.

I'd guess there's plenty of JP8 in there as a main component, but possibly also layed contributions from anything else of the time (eg DX7, PPG Wave, Matrix/OB8), not to mention compressed and processed to sound huge... I might tackle it as a project if I get some time...

Someone's cover which ain't too bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T0xTiRj-y4

[TheChorltonWheelie]

Indeed. On the live shows I've seen (eg YouTube etc) they just play the riff with a cheesy synth brass sound (*ugh!*) but the original recording is ace.

I'd guess there's plenty of JP8 in there as a main component, but possibly also layed contributions from anything else of the time (eg DX7, PPG Wave, Matrix/OB8), not to mention compressed and processed to sound huge... I might tackle it as a project if I get some time...

Someone's cover which ain't too bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T0xTiRj-y4

That Youtube cover isn't too bad, he's done a good job of picking out the various chords/notes for the respective riffs.

On the original main riff there's an octave below on the brass, but only on certain notes, and even then it's phased in and out too. I think the lower and upper riffs were recorded separately, i.e. rather than just transposing, as there's different modulation on the upper/lower riffs. There's also real brass too, clearly mixed in.

I was told that originally the synth lines were there to guide the real brass on the melody, but I'm not sure how true that is.

[desmond]

There's also chordal stabs on a handful of notes in there, mixed back a little bit to add weight to the first two notes of the riffs...

[TheChorltonWheelie]

There's also chordal stabs on a handful of notes in there, mixed back a little bit to add weight to the first two notes of the riffs...

It's the bass element of the main riff that gives it the real punch, but as you say, it's nicely mixed so that it's not too obvious.

Listen to "Don't look down", they do the same thing too. The main riff is monophonic, then they've added alternate notes in the riff to accentuate certain parts. It's nigh on impossible to play it live that way.

[ken long]

Not on topic, but KB related

http://www.katebushnews.com/index.php/2011/04/mojo-magazine-cover-feature-and-interview/

Kate Bush interviewed by John Wilson at her home for Radio 4. Its on tonight at 7.15.

[Grabs]

I just want to post a HUGE thank you to all the posters on this thread , especially the gifted Raymond.

After fumbling around for ages using standard synths to get this sound and being hugely dissatisfied with the result, I have recently started playing this song using samples taken from the Fairlight iPhone app of the Cello2 sound ( suggested above I think ), postprocessed also as described above. Result ! Yey !!!

My only real contribution is I play the samples from a Nord Electro 3, and find the in built compressor adds a great deal to the sound, including a nice grunge to the tail. I have started tinkering with playing the samples on a Korg Microsampler to good effect, but that's another story.

Please ignore any Youtubes of us playing this - it will be the old shitty sound :)

Graham Sherwood
Keyboard player: Kate Bush tribute band "Never For Ever"
www.katebushtribute.co.uk

[desmond]

I thought Raymond's contributions to this thread were pretty minimal, actually... :blush:

[Grabs]

Huge apologies - I got raymond / desmond mixed up. :headbang:

Yes - "Desmond" - you are the man ! ;)

[desmond]

Glad you found it useful! ;)

[Matt Scales]

Awesome work Desmond, I'm convinced! Just for some added interest, the Arturia CS-80V2 VST instrument has a preset called 'hills' in the 'Pads' menu, the inspiration for this patch is pretty clear, and upon hitting the C/D# you are greeted with THE sound on this synth too!!! Could it have been a CS-80 Kate used afterall?!!! ;) ;)