As a musician, being able to watch this rather than read about it as history is pure gold. There's nothing like hearing it directly from the artist. Every song, every video captures a moment in time. You could even interview them now but it wouldn't be the same as during the original creative process from their youth.
It's funny how he refers to Moogs as antiquated instruments and little did he know that half a lifetime later, musicians would be trying to rediscover the very epic analog synth landscapes he was creating with those "antiques". Moog, Dave Smith Instruments, Korg have worked with original engineers that created those legendary synths and have modernized them while preserving 100% analog signal paths.
Well, in 1983 onwards it was all about those new digital synths that were more reliable in studio and on the road. Analogues seemed passe, never to return, and within years you could actually buy Moog synths at a fraction of their original price. Ultravox guys themselves said how they were tired of old synths constantly breaking down or going out of tune and how digital ones freed them not to worry about technical side. They had their point, it has to be said.
Billy Currie made the Arp Odyssey sound more throaty and in your face ,which was great playing technique plus fx pedals. A distortion is obviously used, but there's also hint of a pitch shifter in there, for thickness and warmth .Its possibly even all put through a vox or marshal amp a la an actual guitar. In any event, I'll always remember ultravox tracks for his middle.eights and crunchy, rip-through lead parts, which were a perfect blend into the overall sound. 👍
Glad you liked the clip. I've just posted another version at a lower resolution which should load quicker for any low bandwidth or impatient Vox fans (this 1st version is a 250Mb , high res file).
Cool video. The Minimoog he show seems to be somewhat customized. It has digital displays on it. They might have added midi, and maybe some patch storage system. He says it 15 years old, but that can't be right. This video is from 1983 and the first Minimoogs where from 1971. So it's more like 12 years at the most.
Well, almost all of their gear was altered in some way, Midge says this in his autobiography. As for midi, he was on paper in 1985 saying how he disliked it and couldn't get his head around it. So no midi here, I'm sure.
And now they are making minimoogs again, heh. I loved these BBC films when I was at school, even though we were watching them in the mid 90's... one of the up sides of under funding I suppose, those weird sound tracks from the radiophonic workshop had a massive impact on me, i'd look forward to the videos just for intros and sound FX, absolutly captivated me, now I have a very wonderful, unhealthy wallet emptying obsession with vintage synths and eurorack :P
As a musician, being able to watch this rather than read about it as history is pure gold. There's nothing like hearing it directly from the artist. Every song, every video captures a moment in time. You could even interview them now but it wouldn't be the same as during the original creative process from their youth.
Its so fascinating watching the 80ies heroes explaining their gear, many thanks!
Gees, I wish we could of watched a schools program like this when I was at school.Its also Interesting seeing Ultravox recording Lament. Thanks.
It's funny how he refers to Moogs as antiquated instruments and little did he know that half a lifetime later, musicians would be trying to rediscover the very epic analog synth landscapes he was creating with those "antiques". Moog, Dave Smith Instruments, Korg have worked with original engineers that created those legendary synths and have modernized them while preserving 100% analog signal paths.
Well, in 1983 onwards it was all about those new digital synths that were more reliable in studio and on the road. Analogues seemed passe, never to return, and within years you could actually buy Moog synths at a fraction of their original price. Ultravox guys themselves said how they were tired of old synths constantly breaking down or going out of tune and how digital ones freed them not to worry about technical side. They had their point, it has to be said.
I wish they showed us this when I used to go to school, that would be one lesson I wouldn't want to miss :D
Greatest band ever..... really enjoyed this, seeing them at work in the studio is amazing!
Billy Currie made the Arp Odyssey sound more throaty and in your face ,which was great playing technique plus fx pedals. A distortion is obviously used, but there's also hint of a pitch shifter in there, for thickness and warmth .Its possibly even all put through a vox or marshal amp a la an actual guitar.
In any event, I'll always remember ultravox tracks for his middle.eights and crunchy, rip-through lead parts, which were a perfect blend into the overall sound. 👍
Billy said he came across that sound mainly using flanger, adding chorus after that. But distortion and pitch shifting were probably used too.
Imagine the Science Topics theme tune being done by Ultravox.
-I love them, and there music, and huge fan ! Quality music !
I could watch this all day...
thanks for this video. i used to dream about seeing ultravox working on a studio
linndrum also on board...
love the synthwork from ultravox in their
early years..
these are their late years anyway
@@XanAxDdu or maybe middle years...
i remember stuff like "dancing with tears in my eyes" as their later works..
@@lars-fenin before midge ure ultravox made 3 albums so they were very well experienced with electronics. 1st album was produced by brian eno in 1977
4:35 I wonder what synth he's playing there. Under the CS80? Or next to it.
I think it might be either the Yamaha SS30 or SK-30
Fantastic, Thanks so much for putting this on You Tube.
Made my day!
Glad you liked the clip. I've just posted another version at a lower resolution which should load quicker for any low bandwidth or impatient Vox fans (this 1st version is a 250Mb , high res file).
can you upload it on a file hoster ? youtube seems to have had it compressed. when I try to download it, it has 27mb only
Can you pop it on a floppy disk for me?
Brilliant clip, thanks for uploading, its now on my ''favorites''!!
Check out Billys CS80!
Unbelievable. Thank you SO much for sharing.
Super band 😊
when you recognise Lament from two notes
Exactly, hit me immediately 💥
Life Lament 👌
BRILLIANT! Thanks for uploading this! ;)
Awesome! Thanks for posting.
Cool video. The Minimoog he show seems to be somewhat customized. It has digital displays on it. They might have added midi, and maybe some patch storage system. He says it 15 years old, but that can't be right. This video is from 1983 and the first Minimoogs where from 1971. So it's more like 12 years at the most.
Well, almost all of their gear was altered in some way, Midge says this in his autobiography. As for midi, he was on paper in 1985 saying how he disliked it and couldn't get his head around it. So no midi here, I'm sure.
I imagine it was to help with tuning but I'd like to know too.
I've read up on this, seems to be a voltage read out so they could get the right tempo for the LFO's.
Brilliant!
If they showed use this when I was at school I could have been famous!!!
030 I love you...........
Real artists 😊😊😊🖤🖤🖤
Awesome!
Epic
And now they are making minimoogs again, heh. I loved these BBC films when I was at school, even though we were watching them in the mid 90's... one of the up sides of under funding I suppose, those weird sound tracks from the radiophonic workshop had a massive impact on me, i'd look forward to the videos just for intros and sound FX, absolutly captivated me, now I have a very wonderful, unhealthy wallet emptying obsession with vintage synths and eurorack :P
Musician In The 80's Are Better Than Musican Now A Day Or Singer Now A Days You Won't See Them Saying What Drum Machine Or Synthesizer That They Use
Would love to identify what the blue “German synthesizer” actually is ?
PPG Wave, probably hooked up to a Waveterm.
@@timmantle7154 That sounds right. They seem to be very rare these days.
@@symbiat0 I love that PPG sound. There are a few different wavetable synthesisers about these days, but it's not my favourite type of synth.
Great video :) Can you tell me which synth was used on Mr. X? Thanks.
Minimoog, Yamaha CS-40m, CS-50, CS-80, Elka Rhapsody noyzelab.blogspot.com/2014/09/warren-cann-ultravox-interview-e-april.html
MOHG not MEWG 🐄 🐮
It’s funny how far off he is, now the kids just want analog synths and won’t touch a waveform synth
Melodies are way too basic for me