Ep5: The Synth Sounds of Blade Runner

[@santibanks]

One important thing not mentioned here about the CS80 is that it had polyphonic aftertouch which means that every note in a chord could have its own expression. This is what made the CS80 very special and it's one of the key features that Vangelis utilised a lot in his playing and why the sounds are so expressive and organic/human.

[@setvice]

These are not the original sounds, they are clearly replicants.

[@mynewcolour]

🦄

[@iancosgrove]

I get it

[@TheGreatGodPan]

do synthesisers dream of electric pianists?

[@XHALE303]

No no, not replicants, they are clearly lesbians

[@EMackeycreates]

I see what you did there lol

[@PatFlanigan]

Not even 20 seconds in and I'm liking and sharing this, as a simple gesture of gratitude for even making videos like these. Amazing job!

[@Riktenstein]

Summed it up perfectly!!!!

[@b00i00d]

Yup, agreed! :)

[@vladv5126]

"What is a pulse wave?" "You know what a square wave is?" "Of course!" "Same thing."

[@Bartolucci711]

I see what you did thar ;)

[@somebaldviking]

This deserves more upvotes

[@otisobl]

Every square wave is a pulse wave, but not every pulse wave is a square wave.

[@s.gharavi1614]

​@@otisobl😂. Yep

[@analogsynthmuseum784]

Vangelis use the cs80 for brass sound ,Roland Vp 330 for the strings, roland system 100 synth bass sequencer, prophet5 and jupiter 4 for the fx, yamaha piano cp80, roland cr8000 drum machine, Linn Lm1 drum machine.

[@TryptychUK]

At last. Someone that knows their onions! At a guess, was it AMS reverb?

[@serkanl.karaman5706]

No Lexicon 224

[@serkanl.karaman5706]

Check out The CS-80 Runner Blade Synth For Kontakt and Thank me later! This was made with cs80 Lexicon 224 and tape www.gumroad.com/pasttofuturereverbs The sounds are the best so far!

[@mrmike743]

He also used a fairlight cmi to record 2 bums pooping and that's big in the soundtrack

[@goldengab]

What about the chimes for Blade Runner intro? Is an effect or real instrument? Searching for that, thanks.

[@tanner.mackey.mp3]

just the amount of time and effort in this video gets a like and applause from me. great

[@meclazine]

This is first class. I love the Blade Runner sound track. It has some of the most amazing music of it's time.

[@PerezSquadUp]

Why all the negative comments? Did some of you actually expect it to sound exactly like the soundtrack? This guy is just simply showing you how it was put together. The work is appreciated. Had you would’ve nailed these they would say you’re a copy.

[@CabelCabelCabel]

John Beta you did get the replicant joke? Cause it's not a negative comment but a joke refering to the movie. :D

[@MrRamenGuy]

No but that’s the point of the video

[@chenugent]

The thing is it literally does sound just like the music from the film. What people don’t realise is back in the 80s people would have taken years and spent so much money just to build a studio full of the stuff we can get digitally and download in seconds today.

[@OilRacki]

I think some people are expecting a bit much for the video to perfectly recreate the Blade Runner main theme. This was a good video that explains the main concepts behind different parts of the song. I'm not going to re-write the Blade Runner track note for note, but I do plan on trying to make some original 80s vintage sounding songs, and this has some good tips. Really enjoy these videos.

[@emmetkowler]

Every time he says "replicating..." I lol

[@Jaies_]

EMMET!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE.

[@fishesgamehut3686]

The internet is huge but yet somehow we all ended up here.

[@Jaies_]

This is a chance of 1/18900009081

[@fishesgamehut3686]

Good to know.

[@emmetkowler]

Idk I like synths and Blade Runner as much as anybody

[@alanjamesh.zamorano1677]

I've been dreaming of that tone for years. Now that Blade Runner is getting a revival of some sort, I think airy synths will make a come back

[@NickHchaos]

Keep dreaming or settle for a distant imitation.

[@Shaker626]

Airy synths have always been used in ambient music. Try some Hydroponic Garden or Loscil.

[@looneyburgmusic]

"I think airy synths will make a come back" - They've never gone anywhere...

[@richsandness5409]

re: " ... I think airy synths will make a come back ... " I like "airy", but when I think of that word, I tend to think more of flutes (just a personal deal, or perhaps I'm wrong, ... although, I like airy sounds also), but for me, I think, "atmospheric", or "ethereal", or "surreal", would seem more like it, but again, in the world of music synthesis, ... so much is subjective anyways, ... ;-) It's "all good", to me. What brought me to this site was that by chance, I was looking at the Omnisphere just now, in thought that it could probably "replicate" pretty competitively. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKrTqJuFZa53r5I Oh, ... go in at around 11 to 16 mins. or so, .... WOW! imho, and we're talking: "Stay Fat; Stay Alive". ;-) er, I mean synth sounds, anyways. (64 LFOs capable?, umm, yeah!)

[@kaamilm8437]

soundcloud.com/kaamilmirza/cached same vibe for sure

[@uno2go]

Im still piking up the pieces of my brain... this was superb - thanks!

[@naomisalama430]

Make a second part with exploring the sounds from "blade runner blues"! My favourite part of the soundtrack and the lead is so cool!

[@paulc8549]

Best Reverb videos. Synthsssssss.

[@TheAnonymousBosch]

Any chance you could do a video like this for the original Terminator's soundtrack?

[@josephwright5921]

TheAnonymousBosch I think someone else already did the Terminator soundtrack

[@sidwho123]

annnnnnd there goes the budget for the year haha

[@sidwho123]

*Reverb's video budget that is

[@CorbCorbin]

It looked awesome didn't it?

[@digitalmalfunction]

Most of the strings you hear in Blade Runner are NOT the CS80 but the Roland VP330. Vangelis layers both a lot using the CS80 to play the melody line. But because the CS80 blends so well with the sound of the VP330 its sometimes hard to tell which is which.

[@Projacked1]

Really like your videos, people can learn about old analog synths. But in my view, the tips you give in between all that, matter most :)

[@EvilOverlord96]

I learned a lot from this video, for example: The chorus effect makes it sound like a chorus.

[@gfgnickname_not_chosen2598]

EvilOverlord96 reverb is always very informative! I also learned that modular synths are synths that are build by modules!

[@fabiovsroque]

Wow, what nice entrance, very funy and very nice, well done!

[@ForSynthsSake]

Am I inspired yes, you have such musical skill and share with the community. Thank you for taking the time to make these, they are great videos.

[@vco8450]

The Timpani was an Emulator 1 stock sample.

[@kz1000ps]

Yup Vangelis put his Emulator 1 to damn good use in the early '80s

[@dmiltenberger]

wow what great info!!! gonna set up a template in my ableton with those sounds and see what I can come up with. thank you very much!!

[@CorbCorbin]

Really cool breakdowns for the sounds. I liked that flange on the, harp?, I believe it was.

[@savi7j]

Great video! Would love to see a video on Hans Zimmer's synth sounds :)

[@ifthebeltiscrackedor]

THX I have always been fascinated by it. Around 2000 I had a really vintage alloy casing VHS unit and I studied film and got it on VHS and at a party I had it was just running without sound in the background. Seen it countless of times. Different versions and formats. Got it on "HDDVD" Which I never have and never will be able to play ;P. So for me the original Bladerunner has become a thing about formats. Different formats. Something that has become an interest in its own. I like to collect and maintain different photographic and Audiovisual formats.

[@jtweito]

Man I was hoping this we dropping today. Solid stuff Phil Flanger

[@tatnallkennedy]

Justin is so excited thank you soo much!

[@tongpan6266]

Justin DELAY at reverb this is perfect

[@himbeertoni08]

I think, also Frank Klepacki did a great job with his reinterpretation of the film music for Westwood studio's video game.

[@sclogse1]

A a former Roland Jupiter 8 owner...I'm in. I'm more interested in the opening titles sounds...

[@silverlight2004db]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH_aZJxtnLlpaKs

[@Barry101er]

These vids are great, keep them coming.

[@beinimmusicprod3231]

Incredibly valuable, thanks a lot Reverb!

[@scopex2749]

I have had synths right from the 1980's introduction of the SH101. Up through Korgs Rolands NEW SUBSCRIBER

[@cd78]

I fucking love this channel

[@montlejohnbojangles8937]

That was absolutely brilliant. Cheers!

[@Grecki_Bog_Domestos]

Awesome series. Want MORE!!

[@TryptychUK]

Why would a patch called "VP330 Strings" have anything to do with an RS-09? The Roland VP-330 was their Strings/Choir/Vocoder keyboard. (Much older)

[@starduck2]

I was very much inspired by this video! Thank you!

[@billypilgrim1]

You've done a man's job, sir!

[@WrittenForGuitar]

great job!! i really like how you break down the different sounds!!

[@mrtibbs5543]

This was back in the day when newport job centre was still around!.

[@jasmeerlabeer4591]

OMG! Please do more of these.

[@steeltrust68]

Not through yet, but already thumbs up for the intro ...

[@fratertater6130]

Justin is a badass! Make sure y'all check out his band Replicant.

[@glenc3249]

Love the video! You gave me some idea's having just recently bought a Korg PA600, (to learn music on, while recovering from an op').... this also has a sequencer built in, so I'll give it a try. By the way, you bear a striking resemblance to a much loved and missed British TV comedian/ex DJ Kenny Everett. Anyone else thinks so?

[@sebastianmaharg]

Vangelis is pronounced with a hard "G" as in "get."

[@googleblows4016]

Ah, yes: the hard "G", as in, hahaha, well, you know...

[@skrie]

They're pronouncing it Jellis because they're Vanjelly they don't have a CS80 to make this review.

[@BIG_PASTA]

@@skrie I'm quite Vanjealous myself.

[@sebastianmaharg]

@@RonSwansonIsMyGod Van-ghe-lees. That's how he pronounces it. No "uh" sound in it at all.

[@sebastianmaharg]

@@RonSwansonIsMyGod it's not that complicated: it's the same "eh" sound as in the word "get" which every English speaker can pronounce perfectly well. The "ugh" sound as in "gum" is wholely irrelevant here.

[@NathanStar-vw3dm]

This guy is a great communicator !

[@koitka2037]

Super thankful I am for thisssss !!!

[@redcomn]

I'm now trying to recreate this using boss sy1000 and meris Mercury 7

[@TallicaMan1986]

While the intro song played here is my 3rd favorite Bladerunner song after Memories of Green and Bladerunner Blues. I find it weird it's the end credits song.

[@b00i00d]

Great vid - thanks for posting! Made me subscribe within two minutes of watching! :)

[@batchint]

interesting.. reverb would you do a break-down of the fairlight rift bowie used in lets dance :) and/or is it reproducible today

[@ProckGnosis]

Not to detract from the effort in the video, I would classify this as a good starting point for folks new to synthesis (which IS probably the target audience), but not an in-depth, detailed, spot-on tutorial how to NAIL those Blade Runner-ish tones. But hey, I love anything that brings focus to what is magical about the original Blade Runner soundtrack, the CS-80, and Vangelis. I also think a good programmer can get pretty much all the tones demoed here (as close as the patches demoed in the vid) in one half-way decent ROMpler or VA synth. As somebody in the comments already mentioned, someone has done it with the JD-XA, and I imagined it being fairly doable with the Roland FA-06 (a decent, middle-of-the-road synth for capability and programmability).

[@dayglo98]

Good point ! Without being 100% correct, I can do wonders with an Korg MS2000, Korg DW8000, Akai AX73 and Roland JV-880 with the vintage synths card

[@silverlight2004db]

prockgnosis agree...with care and attention almost any synth can be used to create these sounds, though some better than others...i have recreated many Vangelis pieces with the roland xv5080, novation nova eg m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ6Vp62Oe9qtsLM and yamaha an1x. the an1x in my experience comes closest to nailing those iconic Vangelis lead sounds originally made with cs80 though eg m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYuzh3SYismKnpI

[@RenePeraza]

Where are the Obberheims? Some those deep rumbling basses were Obberheim I thought.

[@bunnymaid]

My friend repairs CS80's. Surely the granddaddy is the GX-1 ^^?

[@moribnd]

Thanks for posting this.

[@bvdv3310]

Please do the synth sounds of a Clockwork Orange!

[@thomasdonnelly7302]

Great session.

[@RAVS_73]

7:12 In life as in art, most everything is improved with a bit of flange.

[@MigHound]

Would love to see parameters for that thunderous 'boom' sound, st the very beginning of the soundtrack.

[@richardthayer5907]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ehandj]

Thanks very much, great tutorial, please tell me what scale the CS-80 notes are?

[@ghoststalkermusic]

Recommendation: Synth Sounds of the Reading Rainbow theme song.

[@ClintVWMusic]

Wow. Very Cool!

[@EverettDudgeon138]

You could easily replicate the sound using Pioneer/DSI-AS1 or Moog Sub 37 for the bass. Behringer-VC340 for the strings DSI Tempest Drum Machine for the Linn Drum samples DSI Prophet REV2 or Black Corporation's Dekkard's Dream for the brass. and of course any sampling synth like Nord Wave, Waldorf Blofeld, or Korg Microsampler for the timpani and harp samples.

[@JKC40]

Oddly enough, several of the sounds in this set need more..... reverb.

[@pointsofhonesty]

great vid! I got great inspiration from this

[@absinha6209]

That was so cool!

[@ekirasche6284]

What a great movie.

[@Norrbottning]

Are these sounds included in any VST:s?

[@selCIKO84]

Great job! Thank u! Could u write/tell chords as well??

[@cosmokramer4703]

Love this soundtrack

[@Esaelectronics]

i enjoyed this, cheers!

[@AtticTapes14]

Good sound

[@motormusic1]

I so wish you could do the Synth sounds of Jan Hammers Miami Vice Theme! An awesome bass synth sound which i've never heard since

[@avace917]

I read an interview he did for Keyboard Magazine in the 80s. I believe most of it was the Fairlight while the lead was a Minimoog through a distortion pedal

[@matiasmoulin2126]

Justin Delay ist the Slavoj Žižek of Synths

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

I came here hoping you'd give a step by step demo for some of the patches. No. Nothing here but 'look what I did'. Thanks for the peacock show. For the record, I have the Arturia CS-80 and my patch is way better than the one you 'showcased'. Needs more tweaking on the Filter Cut-Off and you need some vibrato from the LFO. Anyway...

[@meagain9987]

I don´t mean to be a hater as this is my first visit to this channel - But to me this sounds more like The New American Orchestra version than it sounds like Vangelis.

[@olafwagner]

So what role does the Juno 105 play? Just as a MIDI controller?

[@robertsteinberger5667]

What other synth could you use instead of the casio?

[@budandbean1]

This was great...

[@DJRAPID247]

Thanks for this

[@steveg1700]

Thank you Justin another great break down of the original Score and reproduction of the layers of instruments (synths) and iconic sounds of Vangelis! Big fan of the original ,hope Bladerunner 2049 pays some homage ...

[@PAST-TO-FUTURE-REVERBS]

Check out our Runner Blade Reverb IR's made with Lexicon 224 and recorded on Studer A80 Tape Recorder. The Magic of this Soundtrack lays also in The Lexicon 224 Reverb. We replicated all the Featured reverb Sounds and more. www.gumroad.com/pasttofuturereverbs

[@peterkanasz5920]

This is awesome. I have already bought it.

[@bigron8896]

Awesome vid thx

[@whistler8]

Its curious how he pronounces Vangelis three different ways at the beginning of the video.

[@hang-sangitch]

This is great. Thankee

[@jonryman]

you will never even get close. pre amps, a million dollar desk, FM synthesis, CR5000 running live, live synth parts, bespoke EQs, the linn, etc etc...and massive record company £$£$. All long gone....

[@MrVrob8]

Brilliant!

[@daleweber2579]

Would these reverb download plugins work with Reaper?

[@RaymondCastile]

A video about the sounds of Blade Runner that features mostly plugins...and does not mention the VP330 (did I miss that?) or the Prophet 10. The VP330 provided the string sound. The brass was CS80 and bass was P10. You don't need the original instruments to get in the ballpark of the Blade Runner sound. There are several analog synths under $1,000 or so that can approximate it. You'll get a lot closer using analog instruments instead of virtual. But even on the computer, you can get closer to the sound than what you hear on this video. There is a really authentic-sounding VP330 plugin. I don't know if there is a P10 plugin, but there is certainly a good Prophet 5 VST. Using Linn drum samples would be better. And the ME80 is a more faithful CS80 VST than the Arturia version. I'm not an expert, but all this is pretty common knowledge among Blade Runner and Vangelis fans.

[@h-voltage]

He uses a sampled VP330, you can see it in the video.

[@deloreanized]

Well said! Hey, Raycastile. Wich are, in your opinion, the best modern analog synthesizers in the 1000/1500$ range?

[@xp50player]

CS-80V can sound a lot better than this, but minimal effort made to replicate the brass sound.

[@mano123456]

deloreanized I love my Prophet 6

[@silverlight2004db]

i've covered a lot of Vangelis' music on my channel including much of the blade runner soundtrack. i have used the roland xv5080 and the novation nova synthesizers among others, to recreate the Vangelis sound but i got closest to the iconic cs80 sound with the yamaha an1x. i think if you take the time though, you can get good results from many if not most synths. one of the keys to the Vangelis sound imo is using all modulation sources available to play expressively and bring the sounds alive.

[@garyknight8616]

Superb

[@garretttamez7656]

The way I see it, this Roland is either a benefit or a hazard. If it's a benefit it's not my problem.

[@VBplays01]

I love you dude

[@coitusinfernalis]

hymn of the replicants

[@SterProductions]

Do blade runner blues. That's one of the hardest things in the ost to recreate.

[@silverlight2004db]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYuzh3SYismKnpI

[@SterProductions]

thanks for your reply. I already saw your video actually! very impressive stuff. I also saw one other cover. Truly a masterpiece. I just wonder how it was made.

[@silverlight2004db]

my cover of blade runner blues with the an1x was done with help from roland mc80 sequencer (as are many of my live performance vids) it has a great function called phrase sequence. basically it allows you to make sub sequences within the given project which can be anything from simple one off hits or chords to full blown sequences in their own right. then the genius part - you can assign each sequence to be triggered by a midi note number and furthermore you can choose whether it will play once or loop. there are other parameters available to choose from which i cant remember right now. but the bottom line is it is an amazing feature. similar concept to how a sampler operates but the samples being triggered are midi sequences. so in this particular piece i made each of the different chords i wanted the strings to play into a phrase seq and set up all these at the bottom of the keyboard to loop, that way i could then trigger each chord when needed with my left hand and once triggered would simply sustain that chord until the next chord was triggered. Many of my videos use this feature of the mc80 in different ways to aid with live performance.

[@carlosvera2142]

Buen video! Pero has usado unos acordes distintos en los pads :) Good video! But you have used different chords on the pads :)

[@robinwindsrygg9568]

Not even halfway in getting the brass patch right, and then they just move on...

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah...had the same thought.

[@auggysimcity]

where is kirk?