Deadmau5 - Strobe (Neirbo's live cover)

This is Strobe, the ending track of Deadmau5's "For Lack Of A Better Name".
Annotations are no longer supported on KZbin but I copied them to the subtitle track, you can enable them to find a little more insight about what's happening and how I made it happened.
It's been a long time since I wanted to cover it but I never took the time to think it through ... Until now !
I wanted to do something with the ESX because I really love to play live on this piece of gear so I tried to sync it with Ableton and fortunatly, it worked pretty well ! So the parts are written down on the electribe and routed to Ableton whose playing the sounds (except for the intro, it's written directly on Ableton).
The filming process took me a long time because as you may see, I was pretty stressed out every time I tried to record it ... Playing this 10 minute song without any mistake IS hard !
I really hope you like it !

[@pa1ancas]

After 10 years, this is still one of my favorite all-time videos of KZbin.

[@andregeorges4827]

i think like you. Its fantastic

[@mattevans4438]

One of the best covers ever. I like this better than the original.

[@Foegerle]

THIS!!!

[@acethebunny]

Why'd you have to point out that this video is 10 years old bro. Jesus i'm old.

[@JonasJohansenIngilae]

it's imo incredibly impressive considering how much time must have been invested into getting everything right and that's not even to mention the execution of it all. I can't imagine that it would be easy to play a 10+ minute song...

[@charliesimon7595]

Hello, Deadmau6

[@babieboba]

Lol

[@Timsomenaja]

lelll

[@CamitoHatsune]

Charlie Simon it'll be pronounced dead max

[@alonetorch]

Charlie Simon You mean Dead Maw Five?

[@Personify_]

Dead mouse

[@Snicky-D]

6 years later and I still come back to this video often... this may be my favorite cover of a song ever. The way this man delivers both his buildups and drops while continuously making the music happen as it plays is absolutely mind blowing. For anyone still stuck in the “electronic music isn’t real music and anyone can produce it” argument, please watch this video.

[@blackrun14b]

Same to me! One of my 1st yt-videos i set on favourite!

[@YabaYab]

Same for me, still coming back here over and over again, it’s light for me ,& one of my best 🎩

[@Vegastep]

Just a reminder to hear this masterpiece again!❤

[@n0tbrant]

Words cannot describe how perfect this remix is. How perfect every loop it. How perfect every edit is. How perfect every added synth is. So fucking perfect I could and have cried.

[@edisdoric]

I feel you brother!

[@fepethepenguin8287]

Very nice. Can you review and edit ur post.. to human language Don't be 1 of them... Hope u c wut i did. Much luv

[@tarantulamadness6191]

@@fepethepenguin8287 Fucking cry baby.

[@Dubmayer]

Edit?

[@floflospeed24]

It's impressing how people don't know shit about how difficult this is. Yeah, It's maybe different of pushing keys or touching strings on a conventionnal instrument, but this need a lot of work, research of patterns, sounds, to be able to play this.

[@djamac1664]

floflospeed24 Of course. But we're all flesh and blood aren't we? Everyone's mind is related. Anyone who has the passion can do it.

[@BeminLP]

It was a metaphor for others, he never mentioned that playing classical instruments is a joke. It was for those who think "pushing keys" is edm same as "touching strings" is for playing a classical instrument. Both have their difficulties to master on their own and some may or may not appreciate these skill someone acquired over time through dedication. I used to play drums which someone may say is just hitting them in some way but there are some nuances to it that you can't just know right away...

[@dropassassinofficial]

exactly my point....been playin around with FL Studio......sound engineering in itself is the most hardcore thing to accomplish when producing your own song..........when covering someone else'es song even making it sound better than the original.....................GOTTA HAVE BALLS AND PATIENCE

[@johnboe412]

floflospeed24 i agree the mau5 himslef will spend hours at night creating and editing melodies and then lose all the work cause he lost track of it. And then he reatarts to go make another

[@jamiew7306]

Noiseless Sounds mate what the fuck are you even talking about, your comment makes literally no sense. You have completely misinterpreted the original comment

[@leerlj97]

Just imagine the mindset it takes to produce this

[@angeliquecaste]

Fond of progressive

[@mr.sloth.]

try to watch deadmau5 streams, just random noises, but he can still make a music with that

[@LoliLoveJuice]

theres one in synthesia, its like my fav @-@ strobe in piano

[@tttv687]

weed, lots of it.

[@miskone1044]

a lot of trial and error in what sounds good and fits. the genuis comes from deciding what sounds good and what doesnt when there is an infinite ways to do something.

[@stephenreynolds9534]

I've been a fan of Deadmau5 since 2007... and I just found this... absolutely brilliant! Can't believe it took me 11 years to find this XD

[@Brazy273]

same lol

[@scytube]

Even 10 years later, I keep coming back to this. Marvelous. Thank you so much.

[@javiersuarez5659]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYakdJ-do81kaJI&ab_channel=Sparkee

[@wilpharma16]

The best cover in the human history. Deadmau5 should see this.

[@randomthoughtsoftheday5397]

#deadmau5

[@Minus_IQ]

He did

[@tauon_]

@@Minus_IQ when

[@Thony764]

@@Minus_IQ :0

[@Minus_IQ]

@@tauon_ came remember where i read it

[@TroubleinZION]

Seems like you're having fun. That's the best part.

[@hwynaut7010]

Why can't everything be like this

[@noirimsi]

best comment i've seen on youtube!!

[@aportman58]

This guy is absolutely incredibly gifted! Spending my entire life in music primarily as a bass player, playing almost every genre of music with some of the best musicians, writing this complexity of music electronically is no simple feat! This level only comes to those that are already gifted in musical abilities! Loved the piece!!!

[@mskatherinekrueger]

This is the best live cover of this song on the internet. It's amazing, I've been coming back to it for years.

[@griefytrolly]

headbang game is strong ^^

[@eybietie]

no shit. @ 6:56 minutes i could not resist anymore and went with it.

[@kurtderpinheimer3539]

nix ix except he's bobbing his head to the off-beat and it's bugging me SO MUCH! who does that??? that's like clapping along with the kick and not the snare, so infuriating! D:

[@TheShadowWolf1]

Jesus Christ the tempo at 6

[@MrZelcat]

I really like how you annotated exactly what you were doing :)

[@insystem7]

Zel Cat I utterly dislike it

[@xCRiPPLESx]

insystem7 Settings>annotations>off

[@insystem7]

Thanks, doesn't work.

[@enthusia492]

Still watching in 2024. This is one of the few videos that inspired me to get into electronic music 11 years ago.

[@jr3474]

This guy really did a good job...

[@syn7hgg]

9:20 is the epitome of euphoria, goddamn that kick+synth duet makes one feel amazing

[@BroAshley]

This is insane. The level of focus, memory, and rhythm is just absolutely CRAZY

[@Cyba_IT]

I'm really impressed how he has all the loops memorised and doesn't need visual cue's on a screen and I'm impressed how the iPad mixes with no latency in 2011! 😁

[@SWAL3SYx]

WOW .. That was amazing .. Love the annotations to let us know what's what .. More videos please!

[@NickB_Yorkshire]

This is fantastic. I can’t believe that this video was posted 12 years ago and it’s never appeared on my video feed along with the other Deadmau5 material 😯👍🏼

[@neirbomusic]

Hey guys, just so you know, the annotations are no longer available on this video but I copied them over to the subtitles. If you want to get some insights about what's happening and how I made it happen, make sure you check it out !

[@KEVQUATRO1]

Bro this is an Epic cover

[@haxxx0rz]

Why did it take 7 long years until I discovered this gem?

[@pumatv5465]

idk why

[@leiocerayt]

Same.

[@amkaxiii]

Lame 🤣🤣🤣

[@benyyyo]

@@amkaxiii 🤓🤓

[@Leddius]

12 years now..and I keep typing this mix in the search bar to listen to it again. I've left Amsterdam behind in '09 to start a new life in Australia. And your mix has been triggering me emotionally. It made/makes me miss my brother, who's also loves festivals and well constructed music, and who I haven't physically seen in 15 years. I'm sitting here in my parked car playing every note with my hands and fingers..stomping my left foot on the beat..and nekminit with goosebumps and tears. .. What I'm trying to say is.. I hope you know how EXCELLENT this piece is for me to come back to it ..every fn time. Thank you. 🙏

[@robertmaroney4373]

I like the way you did this with the Pop up Descriptions, very In formative as to what u r doing. Especially for the Newbies, like me.

[@joshan1217]

i agree! found lots of valuable insight no other video has given me yet so far. keep up the great work Taylorythm!

[@Dragonballer24kb]

videos like this really prove how electronic music can in many ways be so much more complex than regular instrumental musical production. even as a cover the amount of skill and understanding of sound and musical theory that this takes especially to be carried out live is absolutely insane. bravo

[@messythegang4044]

Almost 10 years later I can say that this video has been one of the biggest things that made start producing electronic music. I had no idea what you were doing but I had to learn it. Thank you!

[@anakarada]

One of the best pieces of electronic music ever created, and a fantastic cover! Actually screw it, THE best piece ever made.

[@driverdj2000]

Brilliant. In 2020 it still sounds fresh as fook

[@lukenawrocki5042]

It's sort of interesting that I had absolutely no idea you were stressed while doing this until you mentioned it in the comments. I was thinking you were super badass about it and had like the coolest head! I guess it's sort of a reminder to me that sometimes if you fake confidence it can become real with time. Great job with this :) couldn't imagine it being any more well done

[@santuka18]

I'm a rock/metal/punk guy, but I like electronic music very much aswell. My problem with electronic music is that djs tend to not play live, just press play and let the song go (moving some knobs to make it look cool). But I really have to say that I would pay a ticket to see a guy do something like this video live, playing the keyboards live, really feeling the music and mixing and producing in real time. Cheers mate, this is awesome!

[@elliott7268]

I agree with all you say except its really sad that, that is your impression of djing. Thats fake djing. Real djing is much more difficult and skillfull to pull off. I spent a whole year till i could properly scrach. Its sad and im sorry that your experience of djing is like that. Trust me, there is more.

[@Inflake]

@@elliott7268 worddd

[@sturmpanzeriv7431]

he isn't producing live actually, he's just launching clips, tweaking effects, and playing melody on a keyboard once in a while

[@RonalAdie]

Check out youngr

[@BameronCerry]

santuka18 that’s the difference between an end producer and a real DJ

[@leolor7638]

After 12 years, i still come back to watch this.

[@M1et0]

Cannot stop my head moving like yours!

[@pent0z]

me too! amazing guy

[@Enkii777]

i keep headbutting my monitor.

[@Undeworld667]

Love how much you are into the music. Great job - really enjoyed watching this.

[@JamieHoyle]

Not sure why this came up on my KZbin home screen but my goodness. Amazing work.

[@PYROxFUSION]

I like how the soft, gentle head nodding at the beginning evolves into brutal concussion worthy headbanging with the song.

[@Barnacules]

This is amazingly good, surprised it hasn't been flagged since KZbin has been going really Nazi lately with the music scene. But this is fantastic!

[@joshsjunk365]

Surprised to see you here jerry, good to know you like good music ;)

[@MrPipe007]

Thats so true .. im debating on putting my songs on their

[@plukerpluck]

Barnacules Nerdgasm It has been flagged. This is identified as "Strobe" by deadmau5 (bottom of description). This means that all ad revenue goes towards dedmau5. It's up to the original artist whether to auto takedown or just claim the revenue. It's very much in the legal grey. You're not allowed to just do a cover like this, but you're sort of not allowed to just take his money for the work he did.... So the acts sort of cancel out in this weird grey zone. He gets to show of his cover without paying licensing, deadmau5 gets his money.

[@ewokproductions3307]

+Sammy Gillespie I've always wondered that because my music video on the walking dead got flagged but not taken down. I guess it falls into that weird zone

[@chrisroy2415]

it was banned a long time ago maybe 4 years but seems to be back up

[@alexprice1126]

Hey man I am a huge Deadmau5 fan and you did an incredible job here. I am one who knows the difficulty of playing both conventional instruments as well as electronic hardware. This by no means easy. If it looks that way, that means the artist is indeed doing his job. Every great artist knows that you have definitely developed your craft when you can do it with ease. Great job my friend.

[@Cristroxx]

Hands down the best cover i listened, like damn dude

[@studiosnch]

This accompanied me in all those early-day and late-night thesis writing sessions. Until today I consider this as "the" version of "Strobe" that I only listen to.

[@xkoolx]

9 years later . Still an amazing video

[@Inflake]

Who in the world wakes up one day and says “I’m going to recreate Strobe by Deadmau5”?

[@Inflake]

it’s a joke. i love this remake

[@rabmccudden683]

I’ve thought about trying it 🤓

[@djadammm]

Me

[@amkaxiii]

That’s bcuz it’s already classic music in our times, somewhat inspirational…

[@TheDennys21]

@@amkaxiii somewhat?

[@D82234]

The whole cover is absolutely flawless. Just beautiful. But, 5:40-6:20 is just mesmerising. Stunning. So well done

[@phoenixwasted]

I remember playing around with the Electribes 17yrs ag, you make it look easy. Nice man ✌

[@MadebyMighty]

I usually don't swear but this is fucking fantastic!

[@boglot]

Reported

[@TheDennys21]

How dare you sir, how dare you use such foul language! Jk 😂

[@twiglet2214]

I usually do swear but this is fantastic !

[@sant1to]

Best cover ever. I enjoyed watching this come to life.

[@GavinHawk-z4b]

This is what KZbin is for.

[@RoLLUpAFat1]

8 years later I am very pleased and happy to have discovered this in my suggestion list. Shout out to the egg shaker! I used to own the KORG electribe esx pro and I loved it! Good work on this live cover man cheers!!

[@leestanford2452]

He did this with a Korg electribe?? Outstanding.

[@mikekalos1]

Lee Stanford lol I’m thinking the same shit

[@Itsnej]

2022 and still never gets old 🙌

[@SamirBelHajAmmar]

Dude you are AMAZING! every time i see this video, it makes me goosebumps! :)

[@Thorocious]

Hats off to you sir, that was amazing. Cant believe it took KZbin 10 years to suggest it

[@AGCshortss]

Still a banger after 10yrs

[@PanteraSAWT]

Классно, молодец. Cool, well done.Hello from Russia)))

[@officiallynmotion7100]

I don't recall the original song, but listening to this through my KRK G2 6's I have so many chills because the vibes are right. I am certain he killed it. Listening and discovered in the year 2020, #CoronaSeason #StaySafe #LoveFromPortland

[@joshlavers7959]

Definitely sounds great through some nice studio monitors

[@ITSFISHIMITSUBISHI]

Simply amazing!! I always am blown away when artists/DJs play the melody to their track live on a keyboard!

[@Znorux]

That was.. Holly fuck dude...

[@MatiFagott]

Señor que hace aqui ud, vaya a jugar cs uwu

[@h0welss]

which dude did holly fuck?

[@JohnnyWunderboy2]

4:04, 4:33 Never knew someone pressing buttons could get me so amped

[@kristopherdetar4346]

10x The King Mufasa Was it is more about the sound and beats created with these devices. I’d say he did a fantastic job.

[@Hermit393]

years and i still come back to this.

[@hasanyurdakul6548]

Same here

[@TeleBonelaTV]

this cover never ever failed to put a smile on my face

[@bco0t6]

Homie chose the perfect kick and snare 😂🤦🏾‍♂️ fire !!

[@Syko026]

was bobbing my head with you all the way through man! That was sick!

[@pent0z]

Genius! Can't stop watching !

[@NighthowlsMusic]

This was so great. I loved how you explained everything, it actually made it even more interesting to watch cause you kinda gave your audience an idea of what the heck is going on behind all those buttons lol

[@SahirTheMagician]

Very good choice of Synths , Love the cover .Peace from India .

[@FOWBOWZ]

BOY!! THIS IS AMAZING !! Oh my goodness, and you put on a show at the same time. This is freaking Rad ! I know deadmau5 is proud of yah xD

[@hosdrummer6735]

There is no other video on YT I've rewatched as much as this masterpiece. Thanks to the genius of Joel Zimmerman in composing this in the first place and then to Neirbo for his masterful performance. I'm a metalhead and a rock musician all my life but damn this blows me away. Much respect.

[@edwardfeast]

As a cover i can't believe how accurate the synth's you used are, unless you managed to get them as a sample from the original, otherwise please tell me how you did that, what a great job you did mate it's incredible!

[@snowishjacobrbuyakyeby9789]

His bass is a little too plucky and open compared to the original but the main synth is soo accurate

[@twinklesprinkle1318]

most of deadmau5's sound design is basic. Supersaws, distorsion, a bunch of filters and you can already make most of his synths

[@BameronCerry]

The lead is a basic saw with a constant cutoff automation

[@PeteHudo]

Like if you wanted him to keep going!!

[@julianbkr]

The drop at 6:55 is absolutely _awesome_

[@PrincipessaFromIbiza]

this is the most... beautiful, melancholic and best melody on earth...greets from the moon.

[@ElQualy]

Insane headbang

[@ciaranbyrne]

You made this song more uplifiting then the original! love it!

[@ds4815]

Excited to see someone else use the ESX with ableton! Gave me some ideas. Great work!

[@fikekhaya]

I dont think there a words in the English vocabulary that can describe the magic , intelligence , precision you are demonstrating here. This is is amazing !!!!!!!!!!

[@albertoanguitacastilla6546]

Amazing cover :D personally, the best cover of all youtube...

[@diguidiyeillamgolfo2622]

Mira a metalrr5,y me cuentas sería una genial colaboración

[@diguidiyeillamgolfo2622]

Y David 504 al bajo 🤗me emociona solo pensarlo.

[@Djay_B]

I've only heard one that is better!

[@widi6060]

5:45 here is where the best part of the song is produced the change...

[@Barnacules]

How is the iPad connected to the sound system? Or are you just recording locally and adding it in post?

[@Robnmusic]

Barnacules Nerdgasm You can use the iPad as a midi controller via wifi. :)

[@joshsjunk365]

Hey Jerry! Good to see you here!

[@dontfeedthecode]

Barnacules Nerdgasm He's using this www.touch-able.com, let's you control Ableton by running a local server type setup.

[@yourseasonsgaribaldi1756]

wifi to ableton

[@dizzyyy_]

eight years later this still rocks! can't imagine how much work you put into this! amazing!

[@matthewglauber2704]

And they say this kind of music doesn't take skill..

[@BananaSlug911]

It's not live, just a record. It's obvious. But ofcourse it takes talent, few times more than instrumental only music.

[@ImranLatheefs]

The song itself is a masterpiece.

[@djamac1664]

Matthew Glauber Its all about passion. If anyone has that passion where they feel the music inside their soul, that's what makes them talented. Anyone can do it if they have the mindset.

[@MythicSuns]

Honestly anyone who thinks that would eat their words if they watched a video of deadmau5 explaining what he does when he performs

[@user-po5bi6jb9g]

I thought it involved playing something, but everything seems just prerecorded. Add reverb, bits of delay now and again. Overall I'm pretty underwhelmed as to how cool I thought it would be.

[@grimeyx]

I feel like this is a much more dance-y version of the song, not as hypnotic as the original but it's definitely more uplifting.

[@KeeganGA]

lol puffy vulva....epic username

[@jd3455]

Yeah coz of the freaking bassline

[@dcthegreatest24]

Like meowingtons hax toronto 2011 DVD version, my fave. I like this at least as much

[@CrottinDeChevre]

*when the kick drop* : woooohouuuuooouuuuuu

[@lukec3679]

I'm so glad I stumbled across this, holy shit. The nostalgia, the precision.. just amazing!

[@adamsubotin9708]

Anyone coming back to this in 2019 and thinking the intro with that synth sounds like an alternate composition to Interstellar?

[@ramonvenegas3370]

Adam Subotin cool glasses

[@TheMatii25]

No hay un mix de 5 horas? Esto me fascina jaja

[@xanderneal6856]

No one: Absolutely no one: KZbin’s recommended 7 years later:

[@laundromast]

Who gives a crap? This is good

[@xanderneal6856]

JayJay Memelord i agree but I thought I’d hop on this recycled shit train haha.

[@axym405]

Sup mate!

[@xanderneal6856]

@@axym405 nothing much, wbu? cool seeing you here man

[@heynow9398]

Incredibly complex song to cover as well as you did!! Unreal!!

[@osvaldo554]

good shit mate. bloody good work lad.

[@shakaama]

I know this is a very minor critique, but as a classical musician, what attracted me to the original piece, was that it had a fugue to it. In your cover, the first part misses this completely, because you have the counterpoint turned down so low, that it seems like you're playing a melody and not a fugue. Otherwise it's great.

[@goldenboi24k]

You can only give your critical two cents if you can produce yourself, so lets see yours

[@Guitarpl4y3rrr]

***** There's nothing I hate as much as fans like this guy. Are all the people turning into Justin Bieber fans? Also, this is a song by Deadmau5, not Taylorythm. So it has nothing to do with producing. Therefore, your argument is invalid. Don't make yourself look stupid.

[@DaDrumerBoi]

Renzol Mr Incredibly

[@Skamux]

***** That's like me saying i can't say that food tastes like shit because i didn't make the shit it tasted like.

[@Bistofly]

***** By your logic, you have to love all music, because you can't make better yourself.

[@goldenboi24k]

WOW, 2.5 MILLION!!!!!

[@giorgiodallaglio3261]

+Keenan A All deserved

[@luccardinaels1763]

Live performance (even sequenced) beats studio composed every single time! Many thanks! I can watch this four hours!

[@orangehighlighter4236]

7:10 he was so enjoying it

[@zer0snyper199]

Wow, as an audiophile who loves Strobe, this is amazing. I've got chills listening to this amazingness. On a side note, does anyone have any tips for starting to learn how to make this kind of music? I would like to be able to make my own music for a rave at a convention I help put on.

[@ciarancervantes]

Someone 2019?? 😃

[@gabrieleswire8950]

2024 here 🤟

[@thestarseeker178]

There is nothing that I love more than seeing someone else get a lost in the music, it’s beautiful.

[@Joelmillerlasofus]

It boggles my fucking mind that people disliked this.

[@mikekalos1]

Bruh I’m proud of you. And I don’t even know you. Lol 😂😂😂

[@justcama]

Alot of Annotation work was put into this XD

[@clampy]

EnderBoy898 That sounds like quite a creature. The Alot of Annotation.

[@justcama]

***** Oh hey it does, *Read in creepy trailer voice* In the dark depths of youtube, there live one thing bad, The Alot Of Annotation

[@themandownstairs4765]

I think this is it. Almost every great EDM producer has had some experience with live EDM performances that changed their perception of music as a whole and just the raw scale of it all and I think for somebody somewhere, this will be it. You're an inspiration, man

[@ИванИванов-у1г6р]

это пожалуй в офигительности поспорит с оригиналом!

[@АлександрЧерник-у5о]

Согласен :)

[@andreykorobko]

Ес!

[@ReMattch]

Nice launchpad, what's the red piece of equipment?

[@IBrokeIt2011]

I'm pretty sure its a Synth

[@sweaterface7930]

Its a Korg electribe esx-1.

[@AmyLovesRice]

^ it's basically a loop machine

[@beerandtacos4747]

Korg esx sampler.

[@AmyLovesRice]

thanks!