Knight Rider Theme Sound...

Quote:
>>>I think the KR theme had some of the top studio keyboardists and other musicians at the time to play it.<<<

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See, I need musicians like that!!! :)
 
I've noticed that a lot of gear made by the same company tends to have the same "sound" (i.e. Emu's SOUND like Emu's and Roland's sound like Roland). I usually try to find synths made by different companies to give me different sounds and textures.
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That's generally a pretty good idea, especially with newer synths, but trust me, you'll be able to get totally different sounds out of the FM as compared to the analog modeling synth you have. They use an entirely different synthesis type.

But keep in mind here, you don't have to specifically get a DX-7, Yamaha released like 50 different synths exactly like it. I'd say you'd be best off buying an FM module like the TX-7, TX81Z, TQ-5, FB-01, etc. You don't really need the keyboard part as you already have one, you'd just need to find a patch editor for your computer and use that to program the module, it's much easier to do than doing it on that little screen. I'd also suggest getting one of the later FM synths that yamaha made, that way you can get increased polyphony, multitimbrality, bells, whistles, etc. You can probably get a better version of the FM-7 for cheaper simply due to the FM-7's well known status.
 
Does anybody know where exactly I can find an editor for the DX-7 or any FM Synth?
 
Also, I forgot to mention this, but what about a TG-77 Yamaha Synth? I believe its a rack mount version of the SY Series which has FM synthesis.
 
Jlacck said:
I think I'm gonna have to look into one those FM synths Yamaha made since you guys are saying its got the type of sounds I'm looking for. I was just hoping I could get an FM synth made by another company other than Yamaha since I already have an EX5 (even though EX5 does not do FM).
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Yamaha were not the only synth manufacturers to come out with FM as Casio were in there aswell with their VZ1, VZ10m and VZ8m range of synthesizers.

If you want FM but don't want another Yamaha then the Casio VZ1 is worth a look as it uses iPD (Interactive Phase Distortion) which is Casio's answer to the world of Frequency Modulation (FM)


Artmuzz
 
Jlacck said:
The question is, is the Casio VZ1 any good?
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Yes it is. Don't be put off by the Casio name because the VZ1 is an excellent versitile professional synthesizer.

I own both the VZ1 and VZ8m and also a Yamaha DX7 and the Casio VZ synths piss all over the DX7 and to my ears sound so much better to a DX7.

Sometimes you get them on eBay. I bought mine off eBay for only £40 and I well impressed.

I will look up some links to the VZ synths for you and post them on this forum.



Here are some links to give you an idea of what the VZ1 is all about.

http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/_inc/user_comments.cfm?id=507&print=1

http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/htm/casio_vz1.php

http://casio.sallyandsteve.com/


Artmuzz
 
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Artmuzz said:
Yes it is. Don't be put off by the Casio name because the VZ1 is an excellent versitile professional synthesizer.

I own both the VZ1 and VZ8m and also a Yamaha DX7 and the Casio VZ synths piss all over the DX7 and to my ears sound so much better to a DX7.

Sometimes you get them on eBay. I bought mine off eBay for only £40 and I well impressed.

I will look up some links to the VZ synths for you and post them on this forum.



Here are some links to give you an idea of what the VZ1 is all about.

http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/_inc/user_comments.cfm?id=507&print=1

http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/htm/casio_vz1.php

http://casio.sallyandsteve.com/


Artmuzz
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VZ1s are cool, but i do prefer early yamaha's FM sound for some reason. probably due to the effects i use - yamaha FM does its best to slice through them, whereas the VZ1 that i played was _great_ for pads but really didn't provide the timbre that i was looking for.

i'd say the VZ1 is probably an overall better synth, though - and if i wasn't comfortable with the DX series programming i'd probably opt for one of those.
 
Knight Rider theme sure brings back memories.. haha :)
I like the drums..
 
krushing said:
The composer is Stu Phillips. He's written a lot of stuff for TV and cinema (like Battlestar Galactica)...I think the KR theme had some of the top studio keyboardists and other musicians at the time to play it.
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The well-known main-theme to the series was performed "live" in the studio (in September 1982) by four keyboard players. Three of the players on the session were Ralph Grierson, Mike Lang and Ian Underwood.

The Synths...

The 16th note figure that opens the theme was played by Ralph Grierson [on a Roland Jupiter-8] and was not sequenced, but played live! As far as Ralph Grierson could remember (yes, i've been in contact with him too) the other synths featured on the session(s) were a Yamaha CS-80 and quite possibly also the Rhodes Chroma which he'd aquired very early on. Ian Underwood's main synth was an Oberheim OB-X but he also played some Prophet-5 as well as Minimoog on the soundtrack.

As a side note.... according to Stu the synth parts for his earlier TV-score "Buck Rogers" (the music for the pilot movie was recorded in Feb 1979) were mostly done on Ian Underwood's Minimoog and Prophet-5.

(text taken from a post by Micke over at VSE forums)

DS
 
One thing is FM Frequency modulation synthesis and Analog Modeling (Virtual Analog) is another thing. Basically VA is the digital emulation of original analog synths. 2 different stories.
 
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Okay when you watch that You Tube video of the opening theme to Knight Rider, the sound that enters the mix around the 30 second mark is the sound I'm looking for. Is this the type of sound that you guys are saying FM is good for?
 
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DIGITAL SCREAMS said:
The well-known main-theme to the series was performed "live" in the studio (in September 1982) by four keyboard players. Three of the players on the session were Ralph Grierson, Mike Lang and Ian Underwood.

The Synths...

The 16th note figure that opens the theme was played by Ralph Grierson [on a Roland Jupiter-8] and was not sequenced, but played live! As far as Ralph Grierson could remember (yes, i've been in contact with him too) the other synths featured on the session(s) were a Yamaha CS-80 and quite possibly also the Rhodes Chroma which he'd aquired very early on. Ian Underwood's main synth was an Oberheim OB-X but he also played some Prophet-5 as well as Minimoog on the soundtrack.

As a side note.... according to Stu the synth parts for his earlier TV-score "Buck Rogers" (the music for the pilot movie was recorded in Feb 1979) were mostly done on Ian Underwood's Minimoog and Prophet-5.

(text taken from a post by Micke over at VSE forums)

DS
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VERY interesting!
 
cubbyhouse said:
Korg Triton? :p

What about Korg DW-8000?
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Yo dats da shiyt. Trinton does everything :P The original Startrek theme was also done on the Trinton.........that it was done with a theremin is just an urban legend.:angel:
 
Jlacck said:
Hey guys, I was watching Knight Rider on DVD and I'm noticing this synth sound that I like that plays in the theme music. (not its not the main guitar sound). It sounds like a lead or a synth brass or something.

Anyway regardless of what the sound is, I just love the WAY it sounds. I'm just curious to know if anybody knows what synths can recreate sounds like that. I'm pretty sure the vintage style keyboards can do it but what about the newer or non analog keyboards/modules.

If anybody knows please drop me some tips. I would appreciate it. Thanks.
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^ That is so weird because I was thinking the exact same thing a couple of days ago. To me it sounds like a deep bass that might have been tweaked abit.
 
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