“Tom Sawyer” Legendary Synth Intro

[@cmstrike]

Would love to see more Rush breakdowns!

[@Tony-yd7rr]

Please, please, please, do Subdivisions breakdown for the entire song on the Oberheim. 😁

[@kerzwhile]

My God that OBX is gorgeous!! 😮❤

[@TeddyLeppard]

Clean and perfectly maintained.

[@SynthfulDuck]

Oberheim synths always sound amazing. I've only used VST emulations but I want to have the real thing some day.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Same, but I've kind of given up on still wanting the real thing. Not unless I'm suddenly rich, or finding myself making all kinds of money with my synths. It was my dream to have an OB-X series instrument since the 80s, but with soft synths today, it isn't really necessary. I nearly bought an OB-8 in the mid 90s. The main thing stopping me was it was too wide with the hard case to fit in my car's trunk. Around that PC soft synths were just starting to hit the market (before VSTs). I played with the OB-8 for hours, and even sampled some sound as wav files into my laptop which had a line-in on the sound card. I've played this song in my past bands, and for the past couple years I've been invited many times to join a Rush tribute band. I'm playing in a Cars tribute with one of the members, and just last night the guy that has been inviting me came by practice who I haven't seen in years. Soft synth recreations of this patch come "ridiculously" close. Maybe not 100%, but 90-95% there and certainly every bit as usable for playing the song in a band situation as I do. Even Rush hasn't used a real Oberheim in many decades. If I were someone like them, I would though. They have the resources to buy expensive gear, to lug it to shows & practices, store it, and maintain it. Most of us don't and it's simply not worth it to most of us when "all factors" are considered to owning a synth like like this, or a collection of them. There is also a pretty high failure rate. Even with the new OB-X8, I've seen people complaining of failures after spending 5 grand on one. Would you risk that at shows? To me, not unless we were making serious money. Next to no one would pick up on the difference between the VST of this patch and the real thing, except a few synth experts that probably wouldn't be attending our shows anyway. The two key people at Oberheim (Tom Oberheim) were both involved in making an Oberheim Eight Voice VST last year and even say it's pretty spot on. I only wish they made an OB-X VST, but another company makes a pretty good one. The "fun factor" of owning a real one however would be the biggest justification. Certainly would be more fun than a VST clone. I sold my vintage 1973 ARP for the same reasons I never bought an OB-X. My ARP VST clone sounds great! No more dragging it to gigs, repairs, worrying it about it get damaged, taking up room, etc. The sounds is really close. Not 100% but probably 90-95% depending on the patch, but in a live band, good luck figuring out which is the original and which is the VST. I A/B tested them side by side before deciding to sell my original. Someone like Anthony might be able to tell, but there wouldn't be many that could, and the sounds serve the songs just as well. If I went back & fourth with the original vs the VST at a show, I highly doubt anyone in the audience or even the band members would pick up on which one was the original. But in a studio situation where your working for people like Micheal Jackson and making million dollar records, the difference of 5-10% would be enough to justify. I doubt too many people reading here are making platinum records. The VST option is also great for band rehearsal. I carry my laptop to band practice/s, have extra MIDI controller keyboards setup with extra stands and wires, bring my MODX in it's back pack, and I'm setup and ready to go in about 5 mins or so. As I'm walking up 3 flights of stairs in one band, it's pretty easy to deal with. Imagine trying to bring an OB-X each time to practice and other synths?

[@anotheryoutubed]

Honestly guys. The ONLY people who care about gear and brand names are musicians in the game. Your audience will never give a shit unless they're also a musician. But they will stop caring about brands instantly if you play the hell out of your instruments and put on a great show or have an amazing recording. 99% of your laymen audience will never be able to tell the difference between the original first 100 serial numbers, a Reissue from today, a VST, a behringer clone. They'll never know. The most important thing is THEY WILL NEVER CARE ABOUT BRANDS LIKE MUSICIANS DO! Play what moves YOU and sounds good to YOU!

[@sunchylde]

​@@anotheryoutubedagreed 💯👍

[@yes0genesis]

@@anotheryoutubed Yeah, but Oberheim though.

[@anotheryoutubed]

@@yes0genesis Play what moves YOU and sounds good to YOU!

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

After watching a dozen of your videos Michael, my heart races watching this because I know I have found my teacher! I'm 61, and a guitarist just getting into synths these past three years. Listening to you reconstruct these legendary sounds of my youth, and how they were created has me wanting to stay up all night learning as much as I can! I'm so thankful for this channel!

[@anthonymarinellimusic]

Wonderful!

[@Zwopper]

This synth sounds so freaking MASSIVE that it's ridiculous! 💪😎👍

[@GloveBunniesVideos]

Great video! That sound, without the resonance, reminds me of the opening riff for "Subdivisions." Thanks so much, Anthony!

[@computron808]

That was awesome ! Thank u so much for taking the time,and showing us your world ! You’re a legend !!!

[@ibanezman04]

YESSS!! MORE RUSH PLEASE!!!

[@billydenkmusic]

Thank you for your excellent breakdowns and explanations, Anthony. You are a terrific teacher!

[@MexxPowers]

Another excellent classic patch explantion for synthesizer by mister Marinelli. This is what I'm looking for so I can recreate it in my studio. (probably my Korg Prologue with 12db filter) Many synth's use this classic patch in their presets, now it's so easy to know how it was made. Thank you, kind sir!

[@Guitarist888]

This was a brilliant video Anthony! Hope to see you do Depeche Mode sounds someday. 😊

[@jayadkisson8934]

Omg, that would be amazing!

[@alexjeanedvard]

Great !!! Beautiful, pro teardown and demonstration. I liked how you explained each change to the sound and then summarized in the end.

[@BillVincent]

Just perfectly described and explained! Thank you Anthony. This is keyboard player 101 stuff, here, and everybody knows that intro. Classic.

[@ridge7524]

Look at all of those amazing synths!Love it😊🌌💓

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Hey Anthony I just stumbled upon your channel and love what you are doing. I’m a lifelong bassist who recently started getting into analog synthesis. Synthesizers have always fascinated me and watching your videos has given me enough encouragement to dive in and try my hand at it. I recently picked up a Moog Grandmother and I will probably get a 2600m in the future. I figure between these two (and maybe a few Eurorack modules) I should be able to recreate or at least get close to some of my favorite patches in music. Hoping to see some more Rush breakdowns in the future. They are one of my favorite bands and there is no shortage of cool and unique synth sounds in their catalog. Especially on their albums from the mid to late 80s.

[@culttelevision]

Love this Anthony . I've gone full circle on synths. Grew up on low budget FM as analog was inaccessible by then to young kids doing music. As a result, didn't know till much later how to create all the sounds of TV and movie soundtracks that were (at that time) still heavily big analog pads and MIDI stacks. Now I have gone full circle , my music predominantly uses OB-X, Polysix and Prophet 5 with a splash of DX7 and Emulator 2. That gives the most versatile sound palette and I can program quickly a specific sound or variation fast. With some vintage reverb correctly applied , it's a wonderful to be able to finally write the music I wanted to write back then with the benefit of experience and more technique.

[@BiohazardEXTREME]

I'm one of the biggest Michael Jackson fans ever, but also being a Prog fan, you're just making me happy in so many fanboy ways. Thank you for doing what you're doing!

[@lospollosdelhuevos6598]

Thank you for the fun and friendly synth videos!

[@ElectroPanPipes]

You are truly a legend, thank you so much for everything you have given us.

[@mwl5]

Please keep making more videos explaining synth sounds in detail like this! It's super helpful with learning sound design on synths for beginners like me.

[@Steve-of8zo]

I love your everyone of your videos but this one is so great and such a surprise. This song is what really turned me into a drummer and musician. I think it's so important today where every sound is at everyone's fingertips to see how they were constructed and no one does it except you.

[@theDgrader]

so cool, I could listen to that for hours

[@wttw4942]

Great video ! I've always thought that long filter decay got to be done by hand. 🤙😎

[@oberday]

I can tell your OB-X is pretty well calibrated. That wasn't the case with Geddy Lee's OB-X. The filter cutoff, oscillator tuning, and filter EG decay were pretty far out of whack, which is why his unison patch sounds the way it does where the voices are sweeping down from different cutoff points and at different rates. I've replicated this on my OB-X8, and while not exact (nothing can be truly exact) it's extremely close. Also check the voice panning: 1-4 hard left and 5-8 hard right.

[@JohnMoser66]

What a great tutorial of a favorite song of mine! You nailed it! 😄💯

[@larryfinke6133]

I think you forgot to mention the delay which gives the effect of multiple filter sweeps. Thank you for another awesome video!!

[@OmarHashModer]

Thank you thank you thank you. I did what you did on my newly purchased OB-X8. And I went through every parameter (including Page2) to make further adjustments/explorations to my taste/ears. Thank you for opening my mind to the synth possibilities. Best way to learn.

[@Eganweeds]

Awesome new video Anthony, I was just researching this synth sound and it seems like you hit the nail on the head.

[@matthewcassette]

This so cool, looking forward to seeing some Journey breakdown videos in the future! Cheers!

[@attichatchsound-bobkowal5328]

Excellent! I'm now curious how close they came to that full effect live. Geddy triggered the OB-X Hands-off with Taurus pedals fitted with a custom interface.

[@Farewelltokingz]

They sampled it live. Ged actually sometimes did it with his hand instead of the pedals on exit stage left for example.

[@jonhindmarsh]

Wow, thank you for showing. I’m into synthesizers and playing in my mid-life now and loved this record as a kid - had it on vinyl

[@lonophonic117]

What an iconic sound for such an iconic song! Like all these eighties synth classics! 😂 But the Oberhiem’s have very unique and cool sounds , which is what makes them so magnificent and possibly desirable.

[@goatsmashmusic]

great work by anthony again

[@bob-rogers]

Great video! In the Keyboard Player interview, Geddy Lee mentioned that they played all the synths loud through speakers in a live room with microphones some distance away (i.e., they didn't record them direct).

[@ewtam24]

🤯 So much awesome information for a powerful note!

[@hernamf]

Thank you for making this video!

[@VideoNOLA]

Had the pleasure of spending the day with John Chowning, father of the digital FM synth. Told him I gave up years ago trying to create truly convincing sounds on the Yamaha DX-7. Never had the money for a really good analog synth, so always envied guys like Geddy Lee.

[@nickhaswell6011]

Your knowledge on keyboards anthony is incredible Loving your channel i always have loved the roland jupiter 8

[@tomsawyer2113]

Fantastic song!

[@funkadelicchile]

I love this ! Keep up the good work! Thank you!❤😊

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

Here because of Dr. Mix. Loved that video and conversation. New subscriber. Excited to jump into your videos. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@Iceleben]

Amazing! 🙌🏻 Please do more of these famous synth sound explanations

[@jayumble8390]

Thanks man, this is fantastic!

[@billybartcody3591]

Quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Great insights :)

[@ralphmunoz4582]

I’ve always wanted to know!!!!! Thank you sir!!!

[@alphabeets]

Great sound. Thanks Anthony. ❤

[@daze023]

I really thought there was more to it than turning dials and pushing ONE key Thank you for the music lesson Loved The show must go on

[@WoodyBReal]

Another great intro sound!! Thank you!

[@jimlemons9231]

Another great vid, thanks Anthony!!

[@meteorheartofficial]

man i love this channel soo much, i have a 16 voice prophet rev 2, and i like recreating what you do here.

[@josephsacher1048]

Master class is basic synthesis from just the first measure of a classic rock song -- thanks!

[@jts-jc8jk]

This was really amazing! Thank you!

[@TerryHaleMizagorn]

Thanks so much! My first synth as a kid was the Moog put out by Radio Shack back in the 80's. While certainly no Oberheim, I still learned all the technical aspects of synthesizing sounds. This video made me really happy because of all that plus being a big Rush fan. ❤ Would love to see some EVH keyboard videos. I'll take a look and see what you have on tap. New subscriber here.

[@LucasTax97]

I've noticed when trying to recreate this sound with VSTs that having that little bit of delay on the sound really helps give it that unison sound from the record. Something about the way the resonant sweep almost harmonizes with itself a little bit

[@TheCollectorCave]

This was awesome!

[@fishcadet]

I left this playing on my phone on a chair just inside of the barn door when I was feeding chickens and came back into the barn right when he hit the note. Scared the frickin shit outa' me.

[@swanofnutella4734]

As always, much appreciated!

[@SavoirRare]

Fascinating…Creepshow soundtrack, Something To Tide You Over segment used this specific sound (decay and VCA adjusted) extensively.

[@TheMilford]

I’m an Oberheim nerd because of Rush.

[@edcollins9377]

Thanks again! I appreciate the fact that you are choosing a variety of different styles of music. Of course, I like MJ, Rush, Prince, VH, etc. so I'm happy whatever you choose! I'm lucky enough to have an OB-Xa, a Prophet-5, a Minimoog, an ARP 2600/Odyssey/Quadra/Solus, and a Buchla 200 modular. Unfortunately, I just sold my Jupiter 8! I'll miss it.:(

[@Ross-kd2fw]

That's pretty cool, but how many people own Oberheims? For instance, can I get this sound out of a Roland Juno D? Or even a Roland Juno Di? Most of the synths shown on KZbin to get a particular sound are "high end" like the Nord or the Kurzweil "class of keyboards" and just like this video, used in the studio. Recently, I've been watching keyboardists comparing Hammond organ sounds and people saying" Nothing beats the sound of a Hammond". OK, that might be true, BUT who wants to haul around a 400 lbs piece of furniture on stage each night? And, you're right, the Oberheim sounds GREAT, no doubt about it, but I also see Geddy Lee on stage with a MiniMoog and wondering how he gets that sound. Anyway, good video, though, for Oberheim guys.

[@jooyoonchung3593]

I can never get enough of some good PWM!

[@FilipMilerX]

The delay effect is also essential for this sound!

[@michaelpierce3264]

synth sounds that rock!

[@Twobarpsi]

Spectacular video!!🤘

[@stanislav182000]

I love this synth

[@kevinkennedy-spaien8163]

Back in the mid-80s, the synth labs at Berklee had, I believe, a bunch of OB Xpanders, and the synth guys always raved about how "fat" Oberheim synth sounded. I never knew what was different about them, but after watching this I totally get it; the resonance doesn't cut the fundamental. Mystery solved! 👍

[@mikulamusic]

Did I just hear the Tom Sawyer Oberheim patch?! 🥳

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

I remember trying to recreate this back when it came out when we played live. Had to use Prophet 5 or Jupiter 8 😜🎹. Thank you again Anthony. Keep them coming. Love to see/ hear all this! 🙏👍George

[@dr.feelicks2051]

With a Juno you had to play the octaves to ballpark it✌️

[@viol8r]

Anthony, you should break down Planes, Trains, Automobiles! Love the soundtrack- love the videos. Thanks for everything you do!

[@qaisbenjamin8238]

😎😎😎,,, that was great, hope u keep it going with what ur doing

[@merlinoner]

Great stuff, thanks !

[@EscutCavaller007]

Yesss!

[@stiptreezy8481]

Anthony is truly the Bob Ross of synths xD

[@demarzbarz5162]

My swapmeet piano is not going to cut. This is amazing!

[@activelow9297]

The OBX filter sweep is only half of the sound... you need to fortify it with a set of Moog Taurus pedals.

[@Farewelltokingz]

That’s not true. You’d hear the high end of the Taurus even when the filter hits the sub low. The Taurus pedals were used to control the oberheim, but it isn’t the sound.

[@sarasmith9450]

That was very interesting!!

[@nebuladus7850]

Fantastic 😊🙏🎶

[@budgetkeyboardist]

Great job!

[@soaribb32]

First time I heard this one, I was hooked. It sounds like badass aliens landing on Earth.

[@IIIElijah]

I love the use off skill and knowledge. I have a mo x8 by Yamaha. It's a monster.

[@richardcelaya7361]

Brilliance

[@Miicrowahvei]

OP-X PRO-II ,the best VST emulation of this beast synth.

[@entropybentwhistle]

It was my studio go-to for OB sounds, at least until the OB-X8 was released.

[@RenatoPernett]

Juicy!

[@stanislav182000]

It sounds cool

[@piperfox74]

I've gotten pretty close to an approximation on my ASM Hydrasynth, but maybe there's a bit of stereo delay on the sound too? You can hear it on the album mix, the way the resonant filter sweep seems to chase itself. My version on the Hydrasynth certainly sounds a bit truer to the original with a little stereo delay. Thanks so much for this tutorial!

[@mmrva]

The best INRTO ever.

[@reallife7235]

That was fantastic. I would also like to the authentic Banarama synth. There's a certain fatness to that in the extended version where it can be heard alone. (Cruel Summer)

[@MarcoPolux]

A master doing his kraft 👍

[@thebod1]

Anthony, I love your videos! I have a request. I'm a big fan of the Yamaha CP-70, especially the Phil Collins sound used on Groovy Kind of Love and Colours. I believe he is using an AMS delay with pitch shift and chorus on the unit with compression. Do you mind taking a crack at this? And, what was common place effects (chorus/compression) used on this piano in the studio, and which manufacturers? Thanks!

[@adam872]

Yeah that's a great sound

[@ADVENT_MarkPtak]

I believe a Roland Dimension-D was a common studio effect for the CP-70 back in the day. But considering Phil may have had his CP-70 because Genesis bandmate Tony Banks regularly used one (and frequently with a Boss CE-1 chorus stomp box), I wonder if Phil used the Boss as well? It sounds great on my CP...

[@uhill74]

Would love to hear the rest of the song breakdown

[@ppgf]

Genius

[@olofmengede]

Anthony is it possible maybe to do a video once about Kraftwerk one day? Love your work. It’s so great to c your love and passion still after so many years ❤

[@rdubb77]

They were secretive and did everything in house at Klingklang. Karl Bartos’ book has some good tidbits, like for example Spacelab on Man Machine was 100% Moog for synths: PolyMoog and Minimoog. They also used the ARP Odyssey, Vako Orchestron, and earlier on the Farfisa.

[@wttw4942]

I've playing with my prophet 5 trying to crack the synth solo patch on the Sergio Mendez version of "Il never gonna let you go". And I'm breaking my forehead with the freaking sharp corners of the filter Envelope VS the filter cutoff Vs Envelope amount settings. I haven't been able to nail it since a week ago! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I got to blame Boddiker for this atrocity! I believe he used a Prophet 5 also to make it. Cheers!

[@MuzixMaker]

One of the great synth solos, could have used pedestrian guitar but would have diminished the tune in my opinion.

[@wttw4942]

@@MuzixMaker I agree 100%! The number have what it needs where it needs it and when it needs it, besides the tons of modulations they used, which also worked flawlessly! Is a massive charge of expression! Cheers!

[@mattwallis1893]

I don’t know too much about synths so I’m really digging this channel. What would be a good plug-in to replicate these synth sounds? I don’t have physical space for such cool hardware!

[@RyanHarris77]

Back in the day I debated between buying the Oberheim OB-X and the Jupiter 8. I ended up with the Jupiter 8, but I’ve always wanted to play an OB-X.

[@TedBrownMedia]

@anthony are the nuances in the machines something that comes in time, experience or just understanding just what the limitation of the synth and what parts make them up? ❤

[@mass-1128]

Amazing video! Question. What's that synth above the OBX? 😊

[@ventdore]

Hi! I think Is a Yamaha CS30

[@marshallodom1388]

Wow!!