Pink Floyd Synth Sounds

Pink Floyd used the VCS3/Synthi.  If I recall correctly they even gave it credit on the Dark Side of the Moon.

In terms of a VSTi - the closest thing that I know of is:
http://www.emsrehberg.de/SYNTHI__s/SYNTHI_Avs_plugin/synthi_avs_plugin.html


It's pretty pricy, maybe you're better off getting impOSCar?

The Roland Gaia can get some awesome sounds and yes a Floyd one too!

AT


http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS-3.html

Damn link function.  XILS has a good VA for the VCS3  (see above).  There is even a cheap version w/ reduced features. 

The full version needs a dongle. The LE version does not. I used a VCS3 Synthi A breifly back in the 70's and I have the LE version of XLIS I think its pretty much on the money, but of course more stable and easier to get conventional sounds out of.
 
Z3ta 2 has a built in sequencer / arpeggiator and a very comprehensive modulation matrix. If you are looking that "type of sound" rather than a exact emulation it could serve you well. I have only recently been getting into this synth after being put off be the "Dance" presets. Dig deep and its go a lot to offer.
 
On Shine on You Crazy Diamond - the "horns" were MiniMoog - GForce Minimonsta is a cracking minimoog emulation.
 
For what was used in each album check this out. VCS3 Synthi A is shown on page 20.

Hey Glyn that link is very interesting. I knew he used a few synths but not that many!! WOW! Anyway I know one thing you are not going to be able to ever get your hands on most of them again but one does need to now. The virtual equivalents are sounding pretty good these days!

Glyn Barnes

Seems my link to the article on Floyd's keyboards is broken - try this
http://sparebricks.fika.org/sbzine28/WrightGear-rev156.pdf
 
It opens as a PDF -

Thanks Glyn for posting this pdf link.  Reading it was a pleasant journey down memory lane and a nice catalog of gear and pictures.  I had not seen this.  Nice!


Jeff Evans:  Must agree with you--the Floyd keyboard sound is not a single synth, but a collection of classic and (then) state-of-the-art keys, organs, synths and effects creatively utilized by Wright and his team through the years.

My AN1X has got a "Pink Floyd 75" patch which is almost identical to what Rick used on the title track of "Wish You Were Here"

Someone programmed a K2000 patch to play the complete "On The Run" from Dark Side of the Moon. You just held down a key and it ran through the whole thing. No samples (other than the built-in ones), just K2000 programming. Not really relevant to the thread... but I thought it was interesting.

Glyn Barnes


Seems my link to the article on Floyd's keyboards is broken - try this
http://sparebricks.fika.org/sbzine28/WrightGear-rev156.pdf
 
It opens as a PDF -

Thanks Glyn Barnes.  Wow what a collection of instruments.  "Hi I'm Rick Wright.  I can play any keyboard instrument I want so I have all of them."  With all of that gear his genius seemed to be his ability to come up with "the sound" required in each passage or song.  And never too much or too little of it.  All in all, the sound of his Hammond organ fading out at the end of Dark Side still just floors me.  What a musician. 

Thanks Steven.. Ill check that out!

If you want a decent simulation of the pad in the opening of Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part 1-5 do a search for a free VST called "Crazy Diamonds".
It is a one trick pony but it is free.

" Someone programmed a K2000 patch to play the complete "On The Run" from Dark Side of the Moon. You just held down a key and it ran through the whole thing. No samples (other than the built-in ones), just K2000 programming. Not really relevant to the thread... but I thought it was interesting. " I have that patch in my K2000RS. It's a very well done. Daniel Fisher did a very creative job of programming it. It does come very close to the entire piece using a single key press.