Eurythmics - sweet dreams are made of this
 

sweet dreams are made of this!

- Who am I to disagree???? -

Yes!!!, we all know that classic 80's Vintage rocking masterpiece by the Eurythmics, which is now a legend for generations to remember!. Nothing can beat the awesome classic analog feel / sound of that tune and 80's in general!. I've heard Prophets and JP's of today come close!, but the big question is, can our virus do it?, I should think so!. Put Trance & Dance music / Rap & Urban to rest for a while!. Let's focus on the best Music we have had so far, I'm talking alot of 80's!. Digital Screams will love this! ;). The purpose of this topic is to talk about the sounds used in that song, and similar songs. Let's make this the 80's topic. Post demo's and samples of sounds!!. I am working on the lead sounds used in Sweet Dreams. At the moment only a quick attempt ;-). The virus can emulate this very well!. What do you think about Gary Numan / Ultravox?

Regards

Gary

if i remember correctly that lead sound was a unisoned 2 oscilator saw.
if one virus part doesnt sound fat enough use another part and another.
the whole magic of the virus lays in its layering capabilities i belive.

Yes it does!. That sound should be very, very easy to make on the virus. I have already programmed a Gary Numan style lead which sound's like the original one!!. This is where the virus really shines. I am getting a new soundcard soon, expect alot of 80's stuff from me, with a modern twist!!. Gary Numan / Jean michel Jarre / Midge Ure / Ultravox = my idols :-). To me the 80's sound second to none. "Distinct" is the word you are looking for. Today, people take sounds for granted. Back then, everything was "Fresh" and "New" and unique. Don't get me wrong, Music of today is good, some of it Excellent, but this last two months, I have seen myself getting more involved with producing 80's Music, It is more fun to do, and sounds better aswell!.

The virus is all you need, in any case.

Gary

Sweet Dreams intro saw chords are great. Simple but effective.

I created a patch very similar to the one used at the very start of Chariots Of Fire. (Not the sequenced arp bass, but the other sound that sounds similarly like an overdriven fugelhorn but is much smoother and which kicks off the song at the very start). Actually I didn't mean to recreate it, but that sound in CoF is what it sounds like. The soft Virus reverb really helps, too.

It's one of my fav virus patches that I've made to date. Smooth as a baby's bum.

I couldnt agree more m8 :-)

Just scribbled any old notes down:-

http://www.gobo.dsl.pipex.com/audio/Svelt.mp3

I should've maybe played harder on the lower notes (as opposed to the higher ones), as the louder you hit em the more overdriven tape-like distortion you get. The patch still sounds kinda dry and dead on its own, so I guess external processing should be applied afterwards.

Back to the 80's, the greatest film soundtrack ever (apart from Blade Runner) in my own mind was the theme to Das Boot.

(brief warning: this small excerpt is louder than the previous clip:-)

http://www.gobo.dsl.pipex.com/audio/DasBoot.mp3

I would LOVE to recreate the powerful sound played at 6 secs and again at 19 secs.

PS > If you haven't already, listen to the rest of Das Boot if you can, it's an awesome track in its entirety. Very atmospheric. I have the full clip if you wished.

Accualy most of the 80s groups which performed their clasics originaly used vintage analog synths like the pro5 and pro1,cs80 and such.
Duran duran used the A6 for example for their famouse pulse lead.
Pink floyd too used a kurzvil workstation insted of the original anlog synths,but i belive that was just for key sounds.

Garym: Do not worry as long as you don't sell it ;)

Excellent sounds Timo

very nicely done!

Nice effort guys - sound great sounds there!

Garym - I wish I could play the keys live like that - how did you learn?


Drammy

Now you are talkin' my style! I've been working on a remake of Yazoo's Don't Go which is 100% Access Virus b so far. I only need to add drums and the bridge and I'll have the whole song. I've been debating on whether or not to use sampled drums or program them on the Virus. I also am remaking OMD's Electricity but I'm using Sonik Synth 2 for that. 20+ years later, I'm listening to my favorite songs of the 80's in a new light -- now that I know (somewhat) how to program the sounds. I want to get to the point where I can listen to a synth in a song and program the patch on my own. Don't Go is my first attempt. I'll post the link when I'm finished. :D

Nice work, Gary! I especially like that carpetlead patch. I haven't been able to d/l the Eurythmics patches yet. Is the link broken? I almost remade Gary Numan's Cars instead of Don't Go. I'll probably start on it after I finish Don't Go. I wouldn't know the first thing about designing a patch like your carpetlead. Where do I start?

Peace \/
Dan

Wow! You did a great job with Sweet Dreams. I should have Don't Go completed soon. I just ran into a snag with a weird sounding kick drum that I posted in another thread. It would probably be easier to use samples for drums, but I want to do the whole song with the Virus. Meanwhile, you can listen to my other songs (not just Virus) at www.soundclick.com/chisel316. I'll warn you now, there's some hip-hop in there :D

I'm quite honored :D Thanks for the kind words. I never thought of covering a Stranglers tune. I've been listening to a lot of Devo lately, so who knows.

Wow, really impressive clips!
Well done, the sound design is spot on and so is the production!

That's great stuff!! Duran Duran would be quite proud of your work :D I need to find a site that will let me hotlink my mp3 files so I can post them here. I'm afraid to submit them to soundclick because they are not original.

Peace \/
Dan

Thanks, Gary. I may take you up on that offer :D

You should check out the Yahoo Forum new_wave_music_now. It's a small group of 70's/80's synth-pop composers. That's where we're having the Yazoo Don't Go cover song contest. Anybody here that composes in that style should drop by. It's kinda quiet over there. We sure could use some enthusiastic musicians to liven things up.

Peace \/
Dan

Cool. In fact, it would be really interesting if you joined our little contest since we both have the same synth :D

Peace \/
Dan

Im very into 80's music and 80's synth sound design. I like Yazoo.....I know that Vince Clarke used the Pro-One exclsively on the 'Upstairs at Eric's' album. Dont Go and Only You are all time classic Pro-0ne songs.

Here's an attempt at Dont Go on a Pro-One.

And Im assuming all you guys hav seen this >> http://hem.passagen.se/sequence/t_1981.html

Well anyways, I'll be spending alot of time on a Prophet 5, Pro-One and Jupiter 8 this summer....so throw us some Midi songs and Id love to have a bash at it.

DS

Hey DS,

You should definitely check out the Yahoo group I mentioned in the above post. I know about the SCI Pro One. I'm not sure what Vince used for drums on Don't Go. I decided to make it all on the Virus since it will be my first 100% Virus song (and since I don't have a SCI Pro One). I'm using an MPC 1000 to sequence it so it's also 100% hardware created (except for when I record it to my PC and save as MP3) :D

As for MIDIs.. they're all over the net. I downloaded a ton of Devo MIDIs last night. But I don't use them for what you might think. I always sequence my songs from scratch. I open the MIDI files in MIDINotate so I can view the 'sheet music' it creates. That's all I use them for -- a reference to the music. I think after I finish Don't Go, I'm gonna have a go at Whip It.

Peace \/
Dan

Hey Gary,

I have a good patch for you to try and create on your Virus -- the lead synth from Berlin's Metro! I heard it on the way to work this morning and was thinking how close we can get on our Virus.

Peace \/
Dan

One of my favourites, looking forward to this one m8y :-)

Here it is...

http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2I...B1NGRR5PJ8S8FG

It's the lead synth solo from Berlin's Metro -- most excellent song.

Peace \/
Dan

Glad to hear from you Gary! Send us some tunes when you're done! I'm putting the finishing touches on Don't Go and then I'll post it. I was heavliy into trance before I took a detour through synth-pop land :D

Peace \/
Dan

since a few month i am into 80s electronics and like to listen to a lot of tunes from this era. and have a lot ideas about transforming the 80s formulars into 2005 dancemusic which is realy realy connected imo.
and know a see a forum and many people share the opinion! nice too see. its a way to go..
well, i believe that the advance of classic analogsounds of the 80s is less the sound itself, it comes more with with the lines (1/8 arppegio for example) in combination with the open and honesty played drumsets and the less of overused effects. its all naturally and a little bit rough, thats why i like it very much. and thats why it works good on people imo.

Oh no I dont believe it....someone here apart from me has realised the secret formula of where to take progressive dance music for the next 10 years.

I agree on 80's song composition....but I place GREAT emphasis on the synth sounds used when trying to describe 80's music. Here, check these two 80's videos out 1) Howard Jones 'What is Love' and 2) Howard Jones 'New Song'

Alternatively, listen to some 80's Genesis, Madonna, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins etc etc for some great synth sounds. Also, listen to some early 80's breakdance or hip hop and it sounds very fresh.

DS

Music to my ears sounds 'better' or more 'interesting' when its become slightly dated....Id say that music from around 1997-8 is only now starting to sound quite cool. Maybe its like this for most people?

DS

All of those had some great sounds and ideas, I loved any Duran Duran stuff (I was only about 6-9 at the time :) I think 'View to a kill' was great, very original and awesome sounds, even the song structure sounded very different from most things at that time.

ten

Interestingly, View to a Kill was written and recorded in 3 weeks. Features Jupiter 8.

Even more interestingly....and i dont expect any of you to believe this (but i might be able to get a photograph) but Nick Rhodes has just bought my m8's mint Jupiter 8 off Ebay for alot of money.

DS

I shudder to think what you would pay for a mint condition Jupiter 8!

If I had the cash, I wouldn't hesitate for a second though. Jupiters mock all that stand before them :lol:

Well i think its alot.... ?2,500

It includes flightcase and a very rare Roland midi filter control box...specifically for the Juno and Jupiter range.

DS

Check the music forum here for a link to my rendition of Yazoo's Don't Go -- programmed entirely on my Virus b.

Peace \/
Dan

on the AMA's they used a Moog for the lead in Sweet Dreams, just can't remember which one.

hello all ! I'm new on this forum and just like you I'm
fascinated by the sound of the 80S...
I'd like so much to hear the sounds you posted
but all the links are dead !
could you post them again please ?

Aahhhh............

Lets talk 80's man. I am the 80's.

DS

hello mr 80s ! I just heard your recreation of "don't go"...
It really amazing ! I tried very hard to do that with
soft synths... and it's was so crappy ! I guess having
the same synth that Vince used helps a lot...
Maybe you can help me to recreate other 80s synth stuff ?
I'll post a link soon !

BWNHAJHWAUHAHHWHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

i made a sound very very close to it and it alot of phater than the original

I would love to hear this patch, but I'm still struggling to get the groove of playing it live. I know the keys according to midi but just doesn't sound correct?