Eddie Van Halen Keyboard Tribute 1984/Jump (Cover)

Where were you in 1984?
When Van Halen released their seminal album in January of that year, I was 14 and was already actively saving for my first synthesizer, which I was able to purchase two months later. Though I was very lucky to have it, alas, it was not a mighty Oberheim, like Eddie played. An Oberheim OB-X or OB-Xa in those days cost over $5,000… something on the order of $13,000 in today’s money. I spent all my money on keyboards in high school, was quite lucky, and managed to have an enviable set up, which eventually included an Oberheim Matrix 6, but even that did not get me the sounds I lusted for from Van Halen’s 1984. Nearly every synthesizer to come out since then has had its own attempt at a Jump patch, and yet, to me, they always fall short of the original. Some say that creating a Jump patch is easy (just slightly detune two saw tooth oscillators, add some reverb, etc…). However, I have repeatedly tweaked these sounds over the years, and only recently feel like I have something worthy of the original. All these years later, it’s remarkable how much fun it still is to play.

[@itsfuzzy]

Simply amazing. Jump is such a classic and you did it real justice Eddie would be proud. RIP Eddie

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks so much!

[@gregorysleeth1792]

That sounds great dude. %100 spot on.

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks for your comments!

[@BenMartinBox]

Very nice.

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks!

[@TheGuardOfMagog]

DUDE! That 1984 front intro is SPOT ON! Holy crap! It's like I'm listening to the actual record!!! So talented bro! I'm blown away!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks so much for your comments! It can take forever to get the sounds right, and it's really motivating when people enjoy it.

[@tcc650]

Very good👏👏💯💯 Memory Eddie Van Halen 💯💯💯💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks!

[@SebasAdamo]

Wow, extremely close to the original. And even on a different synth! Very nice.

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks! I find the Prophet Rev2 extremely flexible at imitating other classic synthesizers. A video comparing its predecessor (Prophet '08) to the Oberheim OB-8 helped convince me to buy the '08 and then the Rev2 when it came out.

[@topjimmy72]

nailed it note for note!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks!

[@jonathansampson3270]

Really nailed the sounds through and through. Well done...as always!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks Jon! We should get your drums into one of these videos.

[@redwister2]

Amazing! Eddie would be proud. ❤️

[@TaurusTarkus]

That means a lot! Thank you for your kind words.

[@CreativeSpiral]

Fantastic sound design and playing!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

That means a lot coming from you! I used your template #120 VCM 5V2O (Int, Jit) as the starting point, which I think is my favorite of your templates. To all Rev2 owners, do yourself a favor and make sure you have Jason's VCM Prophet Rev 2 sound bank. It is brilliant; far and away the most valuable Sound Bank you can buy imo.

[@massimogentile9378]

@@TaurusTarkus I agree...VCM technique makes REV2 sound alive! A big thanks to Creative Spiral for making it available. (-;

[@BigPerm2004]

Amazing job, brother!!! Thank you for this amazing cover!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks!!

[@robcasillas4102]

Very good!! Sounds just like the great Eddie Van Halen

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many Thanks!

[@ajawofcopan]

Pretty awesome man! 👍

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks!

[@rogeliogamboa7644]

one of the best versions of this classic - Philippines *

[@TaurusTarkus]

Many thanks! It's a fun one.

[@donaldbaylor3370]

Great! One of my long-time favorites.

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks Don!

[@brianostube]

Excellent work on those patches!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks Brian! So many keyboardists are hoping for a proper OBX or OBXa reissue, and yet I think the tones can be found in the Prophet 08/Rev2 with some work. Of course, they would pop out of a Oberheim faster.

[@brianostube]

@@TaurusTarkus Sounds absolutely like the originals!

[@DuaLeaD]

@@TaurusTarkus Yes, I am one of them as well! I hope they reissue the mighty Oberheim Four/Eight Voice, OB-X, and OB-Xa...That would be a DREAM come true. I'm only 35 but I was born in the wrong time. I envy those who were young to see all these epic bands with the classic lineups at the peak of their careers....

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@DuaLeaD Those early Oberheims were magical! There is a very short clip in my very first music video (Chasing Legends) of some of the lead on Come Sail Away, which I think was originally recorded on an Oberheim Four Voice. Yes, I wish we could go back in time for a night or two to see specific bands on certain tours, especially in cases where there is no go video.

[@brianhardcastle5373]

I just ordered the remastered LP this was on.

[@brianhardcastle5373]

Sounds awesome. I just ordered the remastered LP

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks. Classic!

[@DuaLeaD]

I am not sure how they got the 'robotic scrambling' at the end of the "1984" intro. It is hard to copy (but I am only an intermediate synth player). That is the only thing missing here, but you absolutely nailed that intro....Possibly the most accurate one I have heard and I've seen so many wannabe "Jump" vids on KZbin. Well done sir! I am also a Dave Smith guy and I'm working on my own patches for this, fun to compare notes and see what people out there are doing. I'm rockin' a Prophet '08 and OB-6. The hardest part for me is nailing the thickness and raw crunch of the main riff. I can get all the sexy oscillations and layering but that EVH tonality is so rich. Only EVH could be one of the all-time greatest guitarists and construct one of the most iconic synth parts of all time....

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks so much! Congratulations on the Prophet '08 and OB-6; two wonderful synthesizers for sure! The Vintage Knob on the OB-6 OS update is a great example of Sequential giving back to the customers. I think the technique that you are referring to is sometimes called Sample and Hold, and the earlier Oberheims like the Two Voice had it as well. I did try to recreate it but after recording this was disappointed to find that it was quieter than what it seemed to be in the room. Try to do a layered sound with a LFO where a Random wave is modulating the Filter. The speed may be around 85-90 with the amount maybe around 35. I then assigned the Modulation Wheel to Amount for that LFO.

[@荒木信太郎-e2r]

素晴らしい。弾ける様になりたいです。

[@TaurusTarkus]

ありがとう。この本はジャンプにとても近いです。Thanks. This book is very close for Jump. smile.amazon.com/Rock-Note-Note-Keyboard-Transcriptions/dp/1423483081/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20H5WO74KXACD&keywords=Rock+Hits+Keyboard+transcriptions&qid=1669670820&sprefix=rock+hits+keyboard+transcriptions%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1

[@leemarkwick7344]

Not bad. A few errors in 1984 and timing problems in synth solo in Jump - but overall probably the best version I have heard from the internet. Well done!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks. 1984 is really free with timing, and so I took some liberties with its timing and adding extra low notes, which are really fun notes!

[@markk.8410]

@@TaurusTarkus People complain about the richness of the DSI filters in the 08/Rev2. You have proven that knowing how to turn the knobs makes all the difference. Bravo!

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@markk.8410 Thanks! The '08/Rev2 is a magnificent instrument.

[@malcolm77]

Excellent playing! Could you please share the chord structure of 1984. Having problems with some of the key changes. Thanks

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks! While I usually take the time to double check the notes slowly and carefully for my covers, I think I pretty much just used the sheet music on this. I think this is the version that I used, except that I brought the right hand down an octave for the last seven measures: musescore.com/user/1275266/scores/5962504

[@chandlerclement1365]

This sounds phenomenal. Just curious, what speakers are those? Do you like playing through big PA style speakers like that more than studio monitors?

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks. For most of my life, I was putting all available money into instruments, but I never had a great sound system until I got these. I may be old fashioned and wrong, but I don't think we get good low frequency response with small speakers. The highs may be great, but the lows are not. Keyboard amps are also usually disappointing. I noticed that the only time I was getting great frequencies across the spectrum was when I was playing live through a PA with good monitors. My last band didn't have a PA, and so I used the opportunity to get something that would be good for rehearsals and great for my own use. I heard about these EV ETX-12P's in an interview with Rick Wakeman during his touring with Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin. He was saying how much he loves them. He uses two for monitors but also uses the big bass bins as well. I had a cheaper pair of powered speakers before these that buzzed at certain frequencies, and I just got sick of it and spent the money to get the best I could. These speaker were a splurge, but I have never been disappointed with them.

[@chandlerclement1365]

@@TaurusTarkus that makes sense, thanks for the response!

[@speedunknown]

Is that a rev 2 you’re playing. I’ve heard that synth comes very close to the Oberheim magick. You 1984 sounds very good my friend. The sample & hold at the tail end is a bit murky however. I love the sample & hold on the Oberheim synths. Overall your sound is super amigo. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Yes, it is a Prophet Rev2. In fact, I'm playing two of them MIDIed together for a better stereo spread; you can see the module version next to the speaker. Yes, you can find videos comparing the predecessor to the Rev2 (the Prophet '08, which has the same architecture) with the Oberheim OB-8, and the two really have a lot in common (even more in common than the OB-8 and the OB-6 in my opinion). The similarities definitely helped to influence me to get the Prophet '08... and some years later, I upgraded to the second version: the Rev2. I agree with you regarding the sample & hold: for some reason, it sounded better to me live and then later when I watched the video, I thought the S&H sounded a little muddy. Many thanks!

[@speedunknown]

Thank you for your reply. I’ve recently purchased the OB-6 from sequential. I was told before to consider the REV2. I’m truly fascinated with the S&H the OB-6 does possess. I am considering adding the REV2 to my set up. I play just for fun mind you. Since covid, music stores don’t carry these type of high end synths for users. I was wondering, if the sample & hold sound on the REV2 is comparable to the Oberheim OB-8, or 6? If it is, I might purchase one just for fun. I was very disappointed that the OB-6 had no split or layer function like my old OBXa had! Tisk Tisk lol. Your input wud help greatly. If not, I might just add another OB-6 next year. What do you think my friend? Thank you so much!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Congratulations on the OB-6; it's an amazing synthesizer! There is a wonderful online community on the Sequential Forum. I find it to be one of the most pleasant and civil places on the internet to discuss musical equipment. There are definitely players there who own both the OB-6 and Rev2 who can give you informed opinions. I only played an OB-6 once, at the Guitar Center in Manhattan, which permanently closed this past year. :( One of the best things about the OB-6 is that it's new OS added a vintage knob, using VCO technology that Sequential learned when designing the new Prophet 5/10. In contrast, the slop knob on the Rev2 is not one of its better features. I would really love to have a vintage knob on the Rev2, but its OS is pretty tapped out and so unfortunately it's not going to happen. Fortunately, a very clever sound designer, Jason Cooper, designed a way to do something similar on the Rev2 using the gated sequencer. I love his VCM sound set and now use his templates to make most of my own sounds, including this Jump patch. One S&H patch that I really enjoy and have used in the Rev2 is the patch for the opening of Karn Evil 9 1st Impression, part 2 by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, which was originally in the Prophet '08. Hope to see you on the forum! forum.sequential.com

[@kierenmoore3236]

Very cool!! 😎👌🏼 So, you’re just using the lower keyboard as a controller for the second desktop Rev2? Are they each 8 voice or 16 voice? You’re using one to play bass notes, and the other for pads/lead? Could you please tell me more? 🤔🙂🙏🏼

[@TaurusTarkus]

These Rev2 units are both 16 voice, but I think this video probably could have been done the way I did it with two 8 voice units. I also could have play the whole thing on just the Rev2 keyboard, but at some point I came to think that the lower and upper parts of Jump were recorded separately. At the moment, I can't remember the details of why, but it had something to do with a certain separation. To me, the lower notes of Jump are pretty easy to get, and many instruments will get you there. I used a Jump patch in the Yamaha Montage for the low notes, but could have used something else. The upper notes are a different story, and as I said in the description, they are quite challenging to get right. The upper notes are a blend of the Rev2 units, which are panned at the mixer and are slightly tuned differerntly. I usually hard pan the oscillators left and right, but for Jump, I think I had them alternate between the left and right. As is the case in most of my videos, the Prophet Rev2 keyboard is controlling itself and also the Rev2 module in order to get a deep stereo field. I talk about this more in my "Making Of" videos. You may want to watch my End Titles video and then watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHfCqqijg812hLM

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@TaurusTarkus Thank you so much for this! 🙂🙏🏼 Ah, I see … You must really love the Rev2, huh?! 😉 Those 2 16-voice units are both yours? What was the synth that belongs to your drummer friend (I started with the video link you included in your response; and now I’ll have to watch your White Wine in the Sun cover that popped up at the end of that, too … lol. I dig Tim Minchin a lot) I’m on the verge of buying a Rev2 … a lot of people seem to criticise it as harsh, lacking warmth etc … but perhaps they just don’t know how to program it? Sounds I’ve heard you and Luke Neptune pull from it make me think it’s a bit of a beast (JimDaneker seems to think so, too).

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@kierenmoore3236 Yes, I really love the Rev2. I bought a Prophet '08 several years ago when I was playing with a cover band. (My first two videos are of that group.) I was immediately disappointed with it... I only really loved a few of the presets. But as I continued to program it and buy patches, I started to discover more and more how amazing it is. The "warmest" and most impressive sounds that I heard online were by Sacred Synthesis, who I have now chatted with many times over the years. He gave me a lot of pointers about programming it and showed me the enormous difference that a proper stereo field makes with analog synthesizers. Although I went kicking and screaming and experimenting with chorus effects, etc... I came to agree that the only way to really get the best sound was by using two instruments, with slight differences, panned Left and Right at the mixer. Obviously, I did not want to believe this, because it is expensive! I was using two Prophet '08's MIDIed together when the Rev2 was released and quickly upgraded to the Rev2. The Rev2 makes it far easier to get the stereo spread with one instrument because you can send one layer to the Left and the other layer to the right. I sometimes think that I could get by with one Rev2, but I do use splits a lot. (You would not be able to get true stereo with splits with one unit.) The Jump patch is an example of the difference that two instruments make; I could not get it to sound that good with only one Rev2. The Rev2 is more powerful than most of Sequential's synthesizers, especially when it comes to true stereo. The Evolver was wired in true stereo but most are not. I love Luke Neptune's patches and have purchased several. But even more important is to purchase Creative Spiral's VCM patches. As you heard me say in the Making Of video, VCM gives us something like a vintage knob. Without it, and without some skill at programming... or without purchasing sound sets, I can see why some people lose patience with the Rev2. Sequential's other instruments give you instant gratification; they sound great very quickly. But I would rather have my two Rev2's than one Prophet-5 or Prophet-10. My friend's (you can see him play on Hoedown and Kashmir) keyboard is a King Korg. It's good for the money... But it would sound so much better in stereo! I love Tim Minchin! That video isn't doing very well, so please give a thumbs up and comment if you like it.

[@adrianh63]

Bravo 👏🏽 you have all the cool synths. May I ask what key or chord progressions for jump?

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks; I've been slowly upgrading the synths for 35 years. I've had some classics in the past, including a MiniMoog (which sadly died.) I would bet money that you can find a keyboard lesson on how to play it here on KZbin. It's also in a few books, including this one, which is really well done: smile.amazon.com/Rock-Note-Note-Keyboard-Transcriptions/dp/1423483081/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Keyboard+transcription&qid=1604877810&sr=8-2

[@adrianh63]

@@TaurusTarkus thank you for your kindness

[@adrianh63]

Can you give us a video tour describing your synths?

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@adrianh63 You have me thinking. Perhaps I'll do a video for keyboard players.

[@dipp4367]

nice!! Got the Rev2 bank from Creative Spiral as well! By any chance do you have the patch for 1984 available? Thanks and nice playing!!!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Not yet; I do hope to one day make my patches available. I have about the right number for one bank but want to first do some cleaning up, etc. If you go down to my comments with AndyNyle below, you will see some details about my Jump patch. I also have a video talking about my setup and how I program, which can be found at the end of my Blade Runner End Titles video, which is mostly the cover that it is about. The strings that I use for 1984 are pretty close to what I describe there. Thanks!

[@jaredmccormick1309]

Any way we could get a short tutorial or explain how you adjusted the setting to get the 1984 intro part on the rev2?

[@TaurusTarkus]

I'll try to makes some notes that I can share.

[@jaredmccormick1309]

Yeah I just bought the rev 2 just because of this video so I definitely need help because this sounds amazing lol

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@jaredmccormick1309 In the meantime, you may want to watch a video I did talking about my rig and the sounds of my "Blade Runner End Titles" cover. The string sound I describe in the video is very, very similar to what I use here on 1984. I discuss the importance of true stereo vs. just using the L and R output jacks and how I alter the duplicated patches a bit for a wider, thicker sound: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHfCqqijg812hLM

[@DuaLeaD]

I heard a rumor that EVH in fact recorded the famous synth track(s) on a Sequential Prophet V back in the day but toured with the Oberheim OB-Xa (and rocked one in the music video) and that's why everyone thinks it was done on an Oberheim....Do you think there is any truth to this??

[@TaurusTarkus]

I think I read that he wrote it on a Prophet (maybe a Prophet 10?), which was having reliability issues. The 10 had the same internal architecture as the 5, but had a lot of issues with overheating. Someone then suggested that he use an Oberheim, and he recorded with an OBX-a… and then he toured with the newer OB-8. But I can’t remember where I read that or if I am remembering correctly.

[@bcozz]

Hello, Jump sounds very good. Do you use a factory preset on the Rev2 or did you create tour own patch ?

[@TaurusTarkus]

The Jump patch is mine. I liked the "Yump" patch from the original Prophet '08 more than the one/s on the Rev2. There's a Jump patch in most of the patch sets that I've purchased for the Rev2, as well as in most of the synthesizers that I've purchased over the years, but what I have now is my favorite. Keep in mind that it uses VCM and hard panning, and that I'm also using two Rev2's. I also think it helps to play the bass notes (which are far easier to program) on a separate keyboard for more definition. I give several of my settings to AndyNyle in this comments section.

[@bcozz]

@@TaurusTarkus Thanks / Bruno

[@KaylaKent-d1r]

You should do the terminator original theme

[@TaurusTarkus]

Thanks for the suggestion; I'm always curious what people would like to hear. I've always liked that theme too, in fact, I programmed a great lead horn sound for it, which I've had fun playing with. I should probably add it to the list.

[@AndyNyle]

I am attempting to dial this bright and focused sound on my Prophet08 and it just isn’t there. Using sawtooth, two osc filter open very little envelope. I even doubled it a bit in second layer. But the sound is still quite wide and not narrow enough. Any suggestions?

[@TaurusTarkus]

Hi Andy: I liked the '08 Yump patch better than any others until this patch (and there seems to be one in every patch set I get). I have tried 24db and 12db filter, and this is 24. I'm detuning the saws -6 & +6, Slop 2 (but you probably want more without the Rev2 VCM. You might want to do everything else first and set slop last.), Cutoff 164, Res 63, Env Amt 23, Attack 0, Decay 0, Sus 59, Rel 25. (I'm not exactly sure that my filter E.G. adds anything, but I was going for something on the attack.) The Amp E.G.: Attack 3, Decay 0, Sustain 107, Release 7. Adding some outboard Reverb and Chorus will help. Chorus for me is Mix 60, Rate 14, Depth 64. Glide is 2/Time. I know a lot of Jump patches have more Glide; I hear more during the guitar solo but very little the rest of the time. This isn't a complex sound on vintage gear, but it's not an easy sound with most modern gear. On that front, the Rev2 has some real advantages with VCM and hard panning, and I'm also using two, which seems like cheating. I also used two '08's (before the Rev2) hard panned at the mixer, which is a significant improvement. Regards.

[@AndyNyle]

@@TaurusTarkus ahh good idea on VCM which I don’t have but can try with the exaggerated Slop. My filter and EG settings are pretty much the same and I found that adding a bit of Noise didn’t really do much (read it somewhere). Still shuffling between 12 and 24 filter settings although with filter open so far it doesn’t make a screaming difference. I don’t have chorus or any effects on the ‘08 as you already know. Will keep on tinkering. By the way, I also play it through cheapo monitors. I actually found ‘08 sounding best going through a solid state guitar amp with gain just boosted slightly on the amp (peavey bandit). I sold the poor thing but maybe should have kept it for the synth sounds

[@TaurusTarkus]

@@AndyNyle Running the '08 into some outboard effects can really make a huge difference. Reverb is especially beneficial, and I had a stereo chorus pedal for the '08 at one point. I like using PA speakers, although I couldn't justify the cost until relatively recently. Some like to bring up the low end with some eq.

[@MrPilot9198]

How did you get the patch on the rev 2? I could also download it onto mine :)

[@TaurusTarkus]

I hope to make a set of my Rev2 patches available in the next year. (I'm probably not alone in liking my own sounds more than most other people's.) In the meantime, the main Jump patch: I have tried 24db and 12db filter, and this is 24. I'm detuning the saws -6 & +6, Slop 2 (but you probably want more without the Rev2 VCM. You might want to do everything else first and set slop last.), Cutoff 164, Res 63, Env Amt 23, Attack 0, Decay 0, Sus 59, Rel 25. (I'm not exactly sure that my filter E.G. adds anything, but I was going for something on the attack.) The Amp E.G.: Attack 3, Decay 0, Sustain 107, Release 7. Adding some outboard Reverb and Chorus will help. Chorus for me is Mix 60, Rate 14, Depth 64. Glide is 2/Time. I know a lot of Jump patches have more Glide; I hear more during the guitar solo but very little the rest of the time. This isn't a complex sound on vintage gear, but it's not an easy sound with most modern gear. On that front, the Rev2 has some real advantages with VCM and hard panning, and I'm also using two, which seems like cheating. I also used two '08's (before the Rev2) hard panned at the mixer, which is a significant improvement. I discuss this in some of my "Making of" videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHfCqqijg812hLM

[@MrPilot9198]

@@TaurusTarkus Hey that's cool thanks for that! I will be playing around with that in my Rev 2. Looking forward to your patches!

[@TaurusTarkus]

Enjoy. It's an amazing synthesizer.