A local theater group is performing Pink Floyd “The Wall” so I offered my services on keyboards. I always loved this music and looked forward to the rare opportunity to perform the keyboard parts live. It is a challenge.
I am using zero sequences, I perform all the parts in real time including Bring The Boys Back Home and The Trial. To pull it off this was the minimal rig I could get away with. I have to play some parts with my feet on the Taurus pedals which is sometimes used as a MIDI controller. Everything is MIDI controlled, with all my MIDI configurations stored in the Kurzweil MIDIBoard. One press on the MB and I am ready for the next song.
All the board and modules (with exception of Andromeda with onboard FX and Taurus pedals) have independent stereo FX. The FX for the analog synths switch on the fly for each patch.
Racks from top down:
Rack 1:
FX for OBX: Korg SDD-3300 and Lexicon PCM60
Rack 2:
FX for Memorymoog: Korg SDD-3300 and Eventide 2016
Alesis Datadisk for sysex backups
JLCooper MSB+ MIDI matrix
Rans SM82S
Rack3:
Dynacord CLS-222 Leslie Simulator for Hammond
Rack 4:
Kurzweil 1000AX through Lexicon PCM60 (set to plate reverb)
Kurzweil 1000PX through Lexicon PCM60 (set to room reverb)
It is known that PF used the P5 and ARP Quadra on The Wall, but I am convinced that they also used the Oberheim SEM polysynth as my OBX nailed some of those sounds.
Because of the huge bass synth and orchestral parts, I had to haul my Bose PA system to reproduce the sounds.
OBX in action during “One Of My Turns”, then during “Don’t Leave Me Now” I am layering Taurus III pedals with piano via MIDI. DEEP! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3YMQjF09zs
“Is There Anybody Out There?” needed a three VCO bass drone, supplied adequately by the Memorymoog. Triggering from my TIII because I needed both hands for other parts on OBX and Andromeda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ8IgAUOV34
The Wall Live [Is There Anybody Out There?] (1980-81) Hammond C-3 Organ /with Leslie 122 Cabinet
SCI Prophet V Synthesizer
Yamaha CP-70 Electric Piano
Acoustic Grand Piano ARP Quadra Synthesizer Farfisa Accordion
https://youtu.be/Tmn4IUi6Omk This is a Wall Tour documentary from Earls Court. At the 20 min mark they show the keyboard rig. There is even a Solina behind Wright.
Hey @MC, how do you rate/compare/feel about your A6 vs your Moogs et. al.? I’ve never really been ‘excited’ about many of the sounds mine produces compared to say the Sub37, which was entrancing right out of the box, or my Little Phatty/Slim Phatty poly. Poly-wise I have several VA/PM synths that I get excited about more the A6; Virtus C, Super Nova. But, given it’s reputation it would be silly to part with it considering the price I got it for long ago.
In making sound design decisions for the show, I exploited the features of each synth and focused on economy of motion.
The MM excels at clangorous sounds, solos, FX, pads, and anything requiring the 3rd VCO.
The OBX excels at brass, creamy pads, simple bells.
What the A6 loses in a little authenticity in Moog and Oberheim filters, it gains in far more extensive modulation, ribbon controller, aftertouch, velocity sensing, splits, layers, sequencer, arpeggiator, onboard FX, etc. I could get creamy CS-80 pads and strings using filter feedback, which nailed some sounds used in the show.
All can do their flavor of string sounds.
Since there wasn’t a 2nd keyboard player, I had some real busy parts with not much time to switch between boards and both hands busy. There were times I needed to use the ribbon controller while playing the A6 with the same hand, and the other hand was busy with another part.
Even with all the gear I have, the A6 is a pretty flexible beast. You’d be a fool to sell it.
Thx @MC. No, I’ll never sell it. Too crazy expensive to make that mistake and have to rebuy it later. It’s finally been ensconced in a permanent location in my racks; so, I’ll probably learn to love it more now that it’s always accessible. Although, upon a time I might have sold it for a white Voyager XL before I got the Voyager EB. All academic now.
I’ve never sold anything except a FIZMO and an OB-12. Both disappointments.
