Wrightish
Roland Super JX-10 synthesizer (Wrightish)
Posted on 03/04/2014 by ozzy in Wrightish
Richard Wright used the Roland Super JX-10 synthesizer at the beginning of the "second comming" of Pink Floyd in the late 1980s. Between 1986 and 1989, band recorded Momentary Lapse of Reason, a very 80s sounding album that featured then modern Roland Super JX-10 synthesizer, and of course a reverbed drums that were more than typical for this period. As can be seen on the Venice footage, on the tour that followed the album, Richard Wright's rig consisted of the JX-10, Hammond organ and Kurzweil K2000 synthesizer. He used the JX-10 for Run Like Hell solo, which he originaly played on a Prophet-5.
The Roland JX-10 (also known as the Roland Super JX) was a 12-voice digitaly controled analog synthesizer produced from 1986 to 1989. It was essentially two Roland JX-8P synthesizers put together, along with a 76-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. It also had features not found on the JX-8P, including a simple 1-track sequencer and a delay effect. Also, the chorus used in JX10 was not identical to JX8P, and the JX-10 also had a slightly different amplifier section as well as different electronic components.
Source: Wikipedia
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SCI Prophet-5 synthesizer (Wrightish)
Posted on 16/03/2014 by ozzy in Wrightish
Richard Wright used a Prophet-5 synthesizer on The Wall sessions and during the tour that followed in 1980/81. This classic and then extremely popular synthesizer can be heard in almost every song on the album - most notably in Run like Hell, where Rick played his solo.
The Prophet-5 was an analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Sequential Circuits company between 1978 and 1984. If not the first, it was one of the first programmable polyphonic synthesizers with a maximum polyphony of 5 voices. It featured two types of synthesis (subtractive and FM) and had patch memory storage, which memorized every control setting of your sounds (a unique feature at the time). Musicians valued this instrument mostly for its string sounds, analog effects, and analog basses.
How to get the sound:
If you are after the sound of a SCI Prophet-5, you may want to try a free VST plug-in Prophanity by Roberson Audio.
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Moog Minimoog (Wrightish)
Posted on 01/01/2014 by ozzy in Wrightish
Richard Wright used the Minimoog between 1973 and 1977, mainly as a solo lead instrument. The Minimoog was part of Wright's rig on the Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and Animals albums/tours. He played this instrument for the first time in Any Colour You Like. Later a Minimoog was also used for the ‘horn’ sound in Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and for the lead parts in Raving and Drooling (live version of Sheep), as well as for the melodies in Dogs and Have a Cigar.
The original Minimoog was a monophonic analog synthesizer released in 1970 by Moog Music, designed for rock and pop. In contrary to the large, expensive and cumbersome modular synthesizers, the Minimoog included all important parts in a compact package, without the need for patch cords. It stayed in production until 1981, but it was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.
How to get the sound:
You can find the free VST plug-in called Model Mini on the Elektrostudio website. But if you want a real Minimoog emulation, and you are ready to pay for it, try the Arturia Mini V instead.
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ARP Solina String-Ensemble (Wrightish)
Posted on 10/11/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
The ARP String-Ensemble was a fully polyphonic synthesizer produced by Dutch company Eminent (known with Solina brand, popularized by Jean Michel Jarre), and distributed by ARP from 1974 to 1981. The sounds it included were violin, viola, trumpet, horn, cello and contrabass. The built-in chorus effect helped to give the instrument its distinctive sound.
Richard Wright used the ARP String-Ensemble synthesizer for a "string" layer on Wish You Were Here album, as well as on Animals. The "glassy" part of intro to Shine on you Crazy Diamond is a good example of employing this instrument.
How to get the sound:
To achieve the sound of a ARP String-Ensemble, go to the Elektrostudio website and download their free Esline String VST plug-in.
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Hohner Clavinet D6 (Wrightish)
Posted on 01/10/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
The Clavinet was an electric musical instrument produced by German manufacturer Hohner from 1964 to early 1980s. The Clavinet is known for its distinctive punchy staccato bass-sound, well suited particulary for funk (Stevie Wonder Superstition) or reggae. Richard Wright used the Hohner Clavinet D6 model on Wish You Were Here album, notably in Have a Cigar for the rhythm bass line. The Clavinet can also be heard in Shine on You Crazy Diamond, part 8 (20:20) on top of the Wurlitzer electric piano. And the last but not least, Wright played it on his first solo album Wet Dream (Funky Deux).
How to get the sound:
To achieve the sound of a Clavinet, go to the BigTick website and download their free TickyClav VST plug-in.
Source: Klaus Hilscher (photo)
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Wurlitzer electric piano (Wrightish)
Posted on 08/09/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
Rick Wright used two main types of electric piano - Fender Rhodes Mark I Stage Piano and Wurlitzer EP-200(A). On the Fender Rhodes he usually played melodies, while on the Wurlitzer he typically did rhythmic parts. The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here both offers a perfect example of usage of the Wurlitzer EP-200 electric piano as an important part of the characteristic Pink Floyd sound. Wright played this instrument e.g. in Have a Cigar, Shine on, Part 8, Breathe, Time, and Money, where he also used it in conjunction with wah-wah.
The Wurlitzer electric piano was manufactured by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company in the US. The first model was made in 1954 and the last one was produced in 1984. The EP-200 model was introduced in 1968. It had plastic body with two loudspeakers facing the player, and it was much lighter than its predecessors. This model was upgraded to EP-200A in 1972 and produced until 1980. Richard Wright played the EP-200 (beige) in the studio (see DSotM recording sessions on Live in Pompei DVD), and the EP-200A model (black) on stage.
How to get the sound:
To achieve the sound of a Wurlitzer electric piano, go to the GSi website and download their free MrTramp VST plug-in.
Source: Klaus Hiltscher (photo)
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Fender Rhodes electric piano (Wrightish)
Posted on 04/08/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
Electric piano was another keyboard instrument that contributed greatly to a Pink Floyd sound. Through the years, Richard Wright used two different makes of electric pianos - Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer. On the Rhodes he played mainly his jazzy, bell-like melodic lines, while he rather did a funky, rhythmic parts on the Wurlitzer.
Perhaps the most notable Pink Floyd album featuring a Fender Rhodes electric piano was Animals, where Wright used it beautifully on the intro to Sheep. Hey You from The Wall is another good example of his piano playing style - he always knew exactly which note to play and which to leave out. Amazing.
On stage, he could be seen playing the Fender Rhodes Mark I Stage Piano, a model that Fender introduced in 1970. The Stage Piano was pretty much based on the Fender Rhodes Suitcase Piano from 1969, but it was modified for use with an external guitar or bass amplifier. It also had a simplified front panel with only volume and bass EQ controls, a sustain pedal, and detachable legs. The inside of Stage Piano was nearly identical to the Suitcase model.
How to get the sound: To acquire the sound of a Rhodes electric piano, go to the GSi website and download their free MrRay73 VST plug-in.
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Hammond organ (Wrightish)
Posted on 30/06/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. Richard Wright started using a Hammond organ late in 1960, along with his trustworthy Farfisa Compact Duo, and it had remained in his rig until his death in 2007. Basicaly, every Pink Floyd album since A Saucerful of Secrets has some Hammond organ on it. Wright used several different kinds of Hammond. The first one, featured on the early albums up until Obscured by Clouds, was the Hammond M-102, played through the Leslie 145 cabinet. The next one, Hammond RT-3, was used during the Dark Side of the Moon recording sessions and is also featured in Live at Pompei (below). That said, from the mid 1970s to his last performance, the Hammond B-3/C-3 with the Leslie 122 cabinet had become an important part of Rick Wright's rig.
How to get the sound: To achieve the sound of a Hammond organ, install the ORGANized Trio VST plug-in. It's based on the Hammonf B-3 model and it's absolutely free. It also has a preset called "Pink Echoes". Download it from GSi.
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Farfisa Combo Compact & Compact Duo (Wrightish)
Posted on 15/06/2013 by ozzy in Wrightish
The Farfisa brand name is usualy associated with the series of compact electronic organs manufactured in Italy. Richard Wright acquired his first Farfisa - a single manual model Combo Compact - in 1964, later, around 1966, he switched to a two manual model Farfisa Compact Duo. The Farfisa, fed into the Binson Echorec device, had become an important part of early Pink Floyd (I particulary love what Wright did with it on Careful with that Axe, Eugene.) In the late 60s, he began using a Hammonds alongside the Farfisa, as well as a various models of synthesisers and electric pianos. The final chapter for the Farfisa was the Dark Side of the Moon period. The instrument can be heard on the studio recording of Time, and also on stage during the band's live performance at the Knebworth festival in 1975. In 2006, Richard Wright's rig for David Gilmour's On an Island tour incorporated - along with the Hammond organ and Kurzweil synth - the Farfisa with Echorec also.
How to get the sound: If you want to achieve Rick Wright's sound of the Farfisa combo organ, it's more than convenient to download a virtual instrument instead of buying the real thing. Combo Model F is a free VST plug-in, based on the Farfisa Mini Deluxe Compact, that will do the trick very well. You can download it from Martinic.
