Famous moog sounds-voyager recreations
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goldphinga
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Famous moog sounds-voyager recreations
anyone managed to recreate those great stevie wonder bass sounds on their mini,source or voyager? have searced the net to see if anyone has posted patch diagrams but to no avail.i can get close but wondered if their was anyone on this list with inside knowledge from back in the day. i know that the guys from tontos expanding head band did a lot of the sound design for stevie so maybe someone has interviewed them. any insight much appreciated. thanks in advance.[/b]
Moog Gear: Voyager AE,LP Stage 2+CV outs (Blue LED's/Wheels, MF104SD, MF101 Filter, MF103 Phaser, Source, Memorymoog+, Minitaur.
"Boogie on Reggae Woman" Moog Bass
For a fascinating insight into Stevie's use of the Moog/Tonto system on his classic track "Boogie On Reggae Woman," read page 184 of the book "Analog Days, The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer," by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco (ISBN: 0-674-00889-9).
It describes how Stevie (with the help of the Tonto lads, Malcolm Cecil and Bob Margouleff) laid down one of the greatest, most irresistably percolating bass lines in the history of funky R&B.
Here's a quote from Malcolm Cecil in the book: "One of us would work on the knobs, one of us, Stevie, would play the actual notes, and one of us would work on the keyboard. I would usually work either on the knobs or the keyboard things, switching in the portamento and switiching out, watching his line, knowing what he was going to play. So as a player, you couldn't have done it --- one person could not have played that... It was the three of us together doing it that made the thing happen."
In other words, it isn't just about the SOUND, it's about how you play the GROOVE.
"Analog Days" is a great book. If you're a Moog head, (which I assume most of us here are) buy it.
And if you haven't done so recently, listen to "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and learn how to play synth bass from a master (Stevie) at the absolute the top of his game. In the entire tune, I don't think the guy ever plays the same riff twice. Simply incredible.
-Mark
It describes how Stevie (with the help of the Tonto lads, Malcolm Cecil and Bob Margouleff) laid down one of the greatest, most irresistably percolating bass lines in the history of funky R&B.
Here's a quote from Malcolm Cecil in the book: "One of us would work on the knobs, one of us, Stevie, would play the actual notes, and one of us would work on the keyboard. I would usually work either on the knobs or the keyboard things, switching in the portamento and switiching out, watching his line, knowing what he was going to play. So as a player, you couldn't have done it --- one person could not have played that... It was the three of us together doing it that made the thing happen."
In other words, it isn't just about the SOUND, it's about how you play the GROOVE.
"Analog Days" is a great book. If you're a Moog head, (which I assume most of us here are) buy it.
And if you haven't done so recently, listen to "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and learn how to play synth bass from a master (Stevie) at the absolute the top of his game. In the entire tune, I don't think the guy ever plays the same riff twice. Simply incredible.
-Mark
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goldphinga
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:38 pm
- Location: UK
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Thanks for your help, will get that book for xmas i hope!
Interesting that most of those stevie bass lines were actually done with tonto, not on a minimoog as i first thought(is that correct?).
the intro to superstition is, (as said in a previous post) a hohner clavinet, a model c to be precise which have a less refined sound than the later d6 and e7 clavs. the c only has pickup selctors, not the bright medium soft tone controls of the later models. stevies clav was moded with hot rodded electronics to give the more attacky/bright sound as heard on superstion,higher ground etc. the mod can be found at www.clavinet.com and includes some extensive part replacement in the pre-amp stage.
Interesting that most of those stevie bass lines were actually done with tonto, not on a minimoog as i first thought(is that correct?).
the intro to superstition is, (as said in a previous post) a hohner clavinet, a model c to be precise which have a less refined sound than the later d6 and e7 clavs. the c only has pickup selctors, not the bright medium soft tone controls of the later models. stevies clav was moded with hot rodded electronics to give the more attacky/bright sound as heard on superstion,higher ground etc. the mod can be found at www.clavinet.com and includes some extensive part replacement in the pre-amp stage.
Moog Gear: Voyager AE,LP Stage 2+CV outs (Blue LED's/Wheels, MF104SD, MF101 Filter, MF103 Phaser, Source, Memorymoog+, Minitaur.
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goldphinga
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:38 pm
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Thanks for your help, will get that book for xmas i hope!
Interesting that most of those stevie bass lines were actually done with tonto, not on a minimoog as i first thought(is that correct?).
the intro to superstition is, (as said in a previous post) a hohner clavinet, a model c to be precise which have a less refined sound than the later d6 and e7 clavs. the c only has pickup selctors, not the bright medium soft tone controls of the later models. stevies clav was moded with hot rodded electronics to give the more attacky/bright sound as heard on superstion,higher ground etc. the mod can be found at www.clavinet.com and includes some extensive part replacement in the pre-amp stage.
Interesting that most of those stevie bass lines were actually done with tonto, not on a minimoog as i first thought(is that correct?).
the intro to superstition is, (as said in a previous post) a hohner clavinet, a model c to be precise which have a less refined sound than the later d6 and e7 clavs. the c only has pickup selctors, not the bright medium soft tone controls of the later models. stevies clav was moded with hot rodded electronics to give the more attacky/bright sound as heard on superstion,higher ground etc. the mod can be found at www.clavinet.com and includes some extensive part replacement in the pre-amp stage.
Moog Gear: Voyager AE,LP Stage 2+CV outs (Blue LED's/Wheels, MF104SD, MF101 Filter, MF103 Phaser, Source, Memorymoog+, Minitaur.
MW is correct - "Analog Days" is a facinating read for anyone interested in the recent history of synthesizers. It chronicals not only the history of Moog, but also Buchla, ARP and other notable manufacturers, as well as well-known musicians like Keith Emerson, Stevie Wonder, Wendy Carlos and Suzanne Ciani.
A trip down memory lane for those of us who lived during these times! Oh, and the book jacket has part of the Minimoog schematic on the back - a nice touch. Highly recommended for 'Moog heads' and anyone else interested in synthesizers.
Learn more about the book at:
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/features/pinana/index.html
Greg
A trip down memory lane for those of us who lived during these times! Oh, and the book jacket has part of the Minimoog schematic on the back - a nice touch. Highly recommended for 'Moog heads' and anyone else interested in synthesizers.
Learn more about the book at:
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/features/pinana/index.html
Greg
Post Subject
Hello,
The Analog Days book looks interesting, I will pick it up. The liner notes on the four classics are not clear on what synthesizer is used for what in regard to all the bass lines. Liner notes on Music of My Mind, Talking Book, and Innervisions simply state, "Stevie Wonder uses the Arp and Moog synthesizers". with credit being given to Margouleff/Cecil for Moog programming. There are no detailed liner note credits on Fulfillingness First Finale (at least not on the cd version).
TONTO is a hybrid system with elements from Moog, Arp, Oberheim, Serge,
and one-off custom modules.
Although the the hook to Superstition is done on a Hohner clavinet (sounds like two tracks after intro), the bass is still synth. The only two tracks on all four albums that explicitly list an actual bass player are "Visions", where Malcom Cecil plays acoustic bass, and the track "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", with bass played by Scott Edwards. All the other tracks on all four releases seem to use Moog for bass. The fact that its so barely noticeable that a synth is used for so much of the bass would seem to be an art in itself.
I agree that the bass part on "Boogie on Raggae Woman" (and in general)is rooted in playing the vibe as much as the sound.
The sounds themselves are not that difficult and can be cobbled up on a Mini with little trouble, and finessed from a Voyager or Source just the same.
Regards,
LWG
The Analog Days book looks interesting, I will pick it up. The liner notes on the four classics are not clear on what synthesizer is used for what in regard to all the bass lines. Liner notes on Music of My Mind, Talking Book, and Innervisions simply state, "Stevie Wonder uses the Arp and Moog synthesizers". with credit being given to Margouleff/Cecil for Moog programming. There are no detailed liner note credits on Fulfillingness First Finale (at least not on the cd version).
TONTO is a hybrid system with elements from Moog, Arp, Oberheim, Serge,
and one-off custom modules.
Although the the hook to Superstition is done on a Hohner clavinet (sounds like two tracks after intro), the bass is still synth. The only two tracks on all four albums that explicitly list an actual bass player are "Visions", where Malcom Cecil plays acoustic bass, and the track "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", with bass played by Scott Edwards. All the other tracks on all four releases seem to use Moog for bass. The fact that its so barely noticeable that a synth is used for so much of the bass would seem to be an art in itself.
I agree that the bass part on "Boogie on Raggae Woman" (and in general)is rooted in playing the vibe as much as the sound.
The sounds themselves are not that difficult and can be cobbled up on a Mini with little trouble, and finessed from a Voyager or Source just the same.
Regards,
LWG