Nord Stage 3 Arpeggiator (The Who: Baba O'Riley synth / keyboard beginning) (Part 3)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ย. 2017
- ✅ Main Website for Nord keyboard training/tutorials: www.MyKeysToMusic.com
✅ Price your Nord Keyboard: bit.ly/Sweetwater_Nord_Keyboards
✅ Patreon site for donations and member content: / mykeystomusic
✅ Inspired to leave a tip?: www.buymeacoffee.com/MyKeysTo...
🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR THE LATEST VIDEOS!
bit.ly/MKTM_Sub
This video features the song "Baba O'Riley" and the Nord Stage 3 (amzn.to/2RHBjHQ) along with help from the Boss RC-505MK2 Loop Station: amzn.to/3wu0i9g, to imitate this song created by The Who and the amazing talents of Pete Townshend and his arpeggiator/synths. From the Who's album "Who's Next", this track is simply amazing and I wanted the chance to learn how to play the beginning part of Baba O'Riley for myself. I've included a special PBS segment to give you some background which helped inspire me to create this video. Here is the link for the PBS special featuring early synthesizers and the arpeggiation work done by Pete Townshend. • Video
== Equipment Used in this video (affiliate links) ==
🔗 Boss RC-505MK2 Loop Station): amzn.to/3wu0i9g
Please note that I appreciate the discovery already done by the TH-cam community on this. This is my own take on things and my own way to imitate it. I realize of course that the way it was "actually done" was far different than the way I've presented it here. Some people are saying that it's the ARP 2600, sample and hold, gate trig while others are saying it was done with a Lowrey Organ and the Marimba setting.
Update for 2019: There is a VERSION 2 of this video now available where we use a sample to imitate the synth part. You may like this even better: • Nord Stage 3 Discovery...
Background info:
This video took approx 10 hours to do the following:
• Dissect and reverse engineer the song
• Create a sound a close approximation of the sound on the Nord
• Figure out the exact tempo
• Rehearse playing along with the original song
• Prep for recording
• Record
• Edit video (add in other elements/graphics, PBS special, etc.)
• Upload the video, write description edit tags, etc.
Although the video was done in one take, I did approximately 6 rehearsal run-throughs prior to hitting the record button. I enjoyed every minute of this. I can't think of a better song to immerse oneself in as a way to get more familiar with the A1 synth engine of the Nord Stage 3 and to explore one of the finest creations by the Who.
Using electronic keyboards like the Nord featured here, I sometimes like to learn how to play things from bands like The Who, Yes, Genesis, Rush, and so on. Hope you enjoy it. Please share, comment, subscribe, and all that good stuff. If you like it, I'll create more like it.
Download the link to the program (settings) used for the arpeggiator sound: www.dropbox.com/s/8dd71j4zh56...
👀 Buy your Nord keyboards at Sweetwater and get a 2-year warranty! bit.ly/Sweetwater_Nord_Keyboards (U.S. Customers)
* Some links above are affiliate links providing me a small commission to help support the channel. The price is the same to you even if you use the links for your purchase. Thank you! 🙏🏻 - เพลง
![The Who - Baba O'Reily -- In [High Definition] HD! -1979 - The Kids Are Alright](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kX-bVeojLEA/mqdefault.jpg)
![แขกคนแรกร้านแจ๊ส [ซี - เอมมี่] | iJazzKhunJang](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XP6C9kulFfc/mqdefault.jpg)
Hello Who lovers! For my new and improved version of this video where we take a look at this on the Nord Stage 3 using samples instead of the arpeggiator, check it out here: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Hi, what brand and model recorder you are using on this post? Regards - Kristof
@@rawiczrawa3561 I'm using the Boss RC505 Loop station here to do all the recording. However, there is a newer version called the "Boss RC505 MK2 Loop Station" which can be found here (affiliate link): amzn.to/3wu0i9g
@@MyKeysToMusic thank you kindly for your prompt replay and information.
@@rawiczrawa3561 Happy to help! Best of luck with your music. 🎼
You, my friend, have single-handedly convinced me, an 18 year old college student to buy a stage 3 after watching 90 percent of the videos on your channel. Incredible stuff here, thanks!
Hello @A To you have been added to the list of people who have been inspired to purchase a Stage 3 (or any Nord keyboard) on behalf of what you've seen here on the channel. That means a lot and it's very interesting considering I do not have any affiliation to the manufacturer whatsoever. However, I've decided to start a list in case I ever need a favor down the road from them haha.
Congrats too on starting with keyboards at a young age. I saw my first synthesizer in the 6th grade when our music teacher brought it out to give us a demo. It was the Korg Poly Six. I remember it like it was yesterday. He played some Styx on it and I just couldn't believe my ears. I felt so connected to the original band just hearing the sound. Once I heard all this, it was from that moment on that I knew I wanted a life surrounded by synths. However, I never really went deep until 2017 when I bought the Stage 3 and decided once and for all to really "learn everything about it from A to Z" as much as possible. I then decided to make free and paid courses on it for others (found on my website) wanting a pro format to learn from. All of this has enhanced my life for the better and this channel is a reflection of that dedication. It fulfills a life-long passion started in the 6th grade. I'm currently 52 so that was a long time ago!
I still have soooo much to learn about music making, but I'm gaining more ground every week. I think the hardest part is the amount of "choice" we musicians have to do a job. It's like going into Home Depot and seeing rows and rows of tools and parts where you could build "anything" - well, it's like that in music too. So many choices, so many options.
Thanks for allowing me to share a story here - enjoy your Stage 3 and you know where we are when the questions start rolling in. 👍🏼 🎶
1: Just a Lowrey TBO-1 using the Marimba Repeat function 2: the lowrey marimba repeat set the rhythm so it did not slow down, what you’re hearing is the band adjusting their speed to stay with the Lowrey
Jeff - awesome. And to your point, I found this on the TBO-1 which seems dead on: th-cam.com/video/6ZwOq0tTEPE/w-d-xo.html - thanks for sharing that!
@@MyKeysToMusic I read somewhere that the likely reason for the band slowing down slightly, just after Keith's drums come in, was probably a drop in the electrical supply in the studio. (Remember, this was 50 years ago (!)...) Organs and synths of the time, were voltage-controlled, pretty unstable, and prone to tuning and timing issues as a result. Some say you're hearing Keith actually noticing the tempo shift from the organ as it happened, and immediately adjusting his tempo to match. Pretty impressive, if true.
@@digitalramyun Thanks for the comment here. That actually makes sense! And yes, impressive for Keith if that's the case. I recently watched a video from the keyboardist from Erasure commenting on how unreliable certain vintage synths are in this regard too so yes, it's a thing for sure.
Pete did record something of an hour of this Marimba Repeat jam in different tempos and then he cut it down to 13 minutes (the first Baba O'Riley demo track), so different parts are at different "BPM". Feel free to check my channel about how to recreate Marimba Repeat.
@@ShotecMusic so it’s kinda like recording to a click i guess
When I was first getting into playing music over two decades ago, I always thought this was played out by hand, and I always feel discouraged because I could never do 1/32 notes. This song, I fell in love with synthesizers, and I’m always over joyed when I hear the song come on
There is something about this song that just rings "magic" when you hear it, and it has lasted through the ages. It's truly one of a kind. Thanks for your comment...
I crave this level of content + production, thanks for this and the archive resources too!
Hi TW33N13. So glad you like that you see here. "Crave" - great word. Thanks for watching - more to come...
WOW thank you for this tutorial.
I never thought of setting an arpeggiator to just repeating the note at 16 and then playing it with my left hand!!
Since I've only got one arpeggiator, I'll split the keyboard and practice playing the 32 notes with my right.
Thanks for the update on how you found a work-around for this @moogy77 Now an interesting challenge for you. Grab another synth or software synth, connect the two and sync them up via MIDI clock output. Then have one synth hold down the main part while you trigger synth #2 to play the 32nd notes part. This of course assumes you have time for all this or the ambition to bother. But it's an interesting concept nonetheless. The Who was WAY ahead of their time - especially Pete. Thanks for stopping by.
When I was younger in the 90s were told to learn the parts from records, but to be aware a lot of recordings pitched sharp or flat... not just guitar bands
Yes, very interesting! I was kind of shocked once I really started digging in and imitating all these sounds just how many are outside the normal 440 range.
The synth was heard in the beginning of the song "Baba O'Riley".
Genius !!!!! why do so complicated (videos) when it's so simple .... :o))))
And I made a "new and improved" video about this sound for the Stage 3 here if you want to check it out at some point: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Extra points for having that live album of Quadrophenia.
Too many haven't heard it, and it's a shame.
I had to listen to this just now. Quadrophenia - good stuff!
You are right about the tempo. I tried to create a backing track for my band using a cowbell sample, and once Moon came in the cowbell was off! Crazy.
Yes, it goes to show that even pro recordings by top groups have their issues from time to time. Thanks for your comment and for watching!
It's what is missing from most music today. That song literally breaths....it's not unlike a living thing. This is an essential aspect of music. It helps make it possible to connect people on an emotional level.
Hello @Ronan Zann - you are SO RIGHT about this. Today computerized music is largely contained in a neat box both with tempo and pitch, which can take the natural "life" out of it at times. But I think there are still a great many artists keeping things "real" where possible or taking a hybrid approach.
Genius
Thanks @johnsmith866
Thanks for the video. With it, I figured out (a different way) to play this Who classic. Keep safe all. Peace
Awesome Paulo - thanks for sharing that. Glad it helped!
You're very generous. Thank you Mark.
Thanks Ronnie - and thanks for watching too!
I always knew they slowed down you can hear it
It’s like 2-3 bpm difference but damn it’s noticeable
Yes indeed!
Brilliant. Nicely done! I never for a moment thought someone was actually playing all those notes over and over perfectly on a keyboard. I mean who would write something like that? It's just a wonderful texture. That's great song writing. Thank you for demonstrating it! I had no idea it was pitched up, but it makes sense. The part really pops out
Glad you like the video here. To this day, I'm in awe of what arpeggiators can do and just how amazing they sound. Pete was ahead of his time. Thanks for watching!
Well done, thanks!
@markmadonna4099 Thank you, Mark!
Cool...and great demo/explanation!
Appreciate the comments ProgGnosis! Great channel name by the way. Thanks for watching!
Thanks. That taught me what I wanted!
Glad it helped Dave! Thanks for watching 😀
Wow, awesome video, man. Subscribed
Thank you Rodrigo! I appreciate it!
Oh and one more thing. You really need to check out my "new and improved" version of this video with a completely different approach to pulling this off with a Nord Stage 3: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Obrigado pela aula!
Você é muito bem-vindo. Obrigado por assistir!
awesome video. Great detail as well
Glad you enjoyed it
Pretty cool!
Thanks Dave!
Fantastic !
Thanks Toni!
simply awesome explanation, thanks! delay rules!
Thanks Dominum Studio! Yes, I love delay too! Comes in handy in a lot of different areas of music making.
For the Baba O’Reilly sound Pete. Townsend used a lowery organ I’m not sure exactly what model of the home organ he used, but a lot of the Lowrey organs had a special feature on them called the Marimba repeat tab that allowed you to turn the organ into a arp on specific models when you played the upper manual, it gave you the 16th Arp and when you played the lower manuals that gave you the 32 arp and if you combine the two together and play them the same way as Baba oRiiley the 32 arp kind of overlaps the 16 arp I guess effecting polyphony kind of like trying to play 2 or more notes on a monophonic synthesizer if that makes sense They actually make a VST plug-in for Daw software that emulates this said Marimba repeat tab that is able to replicate the effect of Baba O’Reilly. Of course you would have to choose a plug-in that has the sound now for the actual sound he used it was said to be the banjo tab on the organ which if you look on TH-cam, there are videos of people demonstrating the banjo tab with the Marimba repeat and you can hear how it sounds very similar or if not exact to the original studio recording to me personally the studio recording sounds a little bit brighter than the Lowery Organ, but that could be due to post effects
Great video
Thanks Ian Craig!
Good job!
Thanks Reco - and thanks for watching!
Sei bravissimo!!!! V.Nice 😀
Thanks Harmonic World!
FINALLY!
Thanks for your comment Edriss. If you want to see take 2 of this video, have a look here: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Great stuff!
Thanks mightlife!
@@MyKeysToMusic you're welcome. You really nailed that intro.
Stay safe.
@@monomakes Thanks! You too, stay safe.
Thanks for the incredibly cool lesson Marc! I'll be ordering my first Nord (Stage 3 Compact) this week and will definitely be working on making Baba O'Riley happen. Do you have any instructions on what the Synth settings should be to replicate this sound and/or any downloadable files? - Kirby
Hi Kirby! Congrats on your decision to order a Nord Stage 3 Compact. Great choice! You can download the exact sound I used by using the link in the description. If you haven't already done so, you'll need to learn a thing or two about the Nord Sound Manager. I have a playlist master tutorial here for that: th-cam.com/play/PLvND2qkkWygoQCy9WDSx3w6XBM-9e4Lkz.html . Thanks for your comment and for watching!
Cool video man! Awesome approach to Baba O'Riley synth. Saw also my very old video popping up when you browsed the other TH-cam videos. Glad to be part of your video 😁 Lowrey marimba repeat is something out of this world. I really can't imagine how Pete realised to use it like this. Everything was probably done in one take, so no double tracking here.
I recently did a new video of Baba O'Riley with step sequenced synth from Roland JD-Xi. A bit different approach than yours. Would be awesome if you'd like to check the video out. No pressure though 😉 Thanks for great video!
Spacemartini - Happy to know your video was on the list in the shot here. Oh and I just visited your latest video on Baba (th-cam.com/video/q_xpiadlncA/w-d-xo.html) - wow, lots of work went into that! And I like the add'l real musicians you brought in as well. Stay tuned for another Baba video from me that I'm about to release with yet another take on this song. Thanks for reaching out and here is to continued success on your stuff. 🤙🏽
@@MyKeysToMusic looking forward on your next take on Baba O'Riley!
much better and cleaner than the original! :)
That is one heck of a compliment. I'm not sure I can accept that, but that is very nice to say. Wow! 🙏🏻
nice...
Thanks! There is a newer version here based on a totally different approach if you want to check it out : th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Awesome video! I'm a pianist by trade but got moved to synths for a new band I'm in. I'm using a Lead 4 so sadly I can't download your patches, but I'm getting pretty close to the Baba part. Can I ask how you got the piano sound on your Nord?
Hi Eric, thanks for your question! Congrats on moving towards synths - that's where the fun begins...The piano sound you heard on this video is directly from the Nord Stage 3 as the Stage 3 comes with an organ engine, a synth engine and a piano engine (you probably already know that). There are some really terrific pianos available in the Nord library and if you are a pianist by trade, you may want to check out the Nord Stage line or the Nord Piano line for your next keyboard. Thanks for watching!
Aha, thank you! I didn't realize you were using a Stage and not a Lead. It is on my list.
Hi, thanks for a video. What is the black device from the left side? You make the recording on it
Hello Anton - great question. The device is called a "Loop Station" allowing you to record up to 5 tracks in a loop. This one, in particular, is called the "Boss RC-505 Loop Station" and can be found here on Amazon (affiliate link): amzn.to/2SuHhih (often out of stock). If you want to see a performance with the Loop station, check out my other video here which demonstrations just how powerful the box can be: th-cam.com/video/bu2S8PyIrPQ/w-d-xo.html
was the intro part sped up on the original , hence the tempo change and the tuning variation?
@chriscuthbertson that is an excellent idea and a distinct possibility! I only wish I thought of that. Back then, reel to reel tape recorders where used and tweaking the speed was something that is not only possible, it may have been a common practice? I’m sure someone knows the answer. Thanks for the clever comment!
The synth was heard in the song "Baba O'Riley".
Yes, thanks Adam.
Can someone tell me what that thing is called
with the strip that the guy slides his finger
across to manipulate the sound?
@danielmiddleman8613 Hey Daniel! The slider bar the musician is playing is likely a ribbon controller, commonly used on synthesizers for pitch bending or modulation. Ribbon controllers allow for continuous control over pitch or other parameters by sliding a finger along a touch-sensitive strip. Here we can see it being used today in a modern synth: th-cam.com/video/jYaRSHFsyf4/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
marc anyway you can share this patch on the nord stage 3 forum thanks from jeff NS3!
Jeff - sorry for the delay on this response! It would be great if you can download the patch from the link in the description above and then post it to Nord Forums on my behalf. You can feel free to point them back to this video for the tutorial part. Thanks!
Nice video. Just got my stage 3 and am trying to do Baba without a looper. I am running the two arpeggiators, one at 1/16 and one at 1/32, in separate banks, but the synth seems to be glitching a bit and resets the first arpeggiator which throws off the timing. Is there a better way to do this without a looper? Thanks
Hi Austin! Congrats on your Stage 3! Did you try splitting the keyboard in half with one arpeggiator in Panel A on the left and then the other in Panel B on the right yet? That way one won't step on the other. The latest video here shows how to split keyboard in half pretty easily: th-cam.com/video/E18TnMOVifo/w-d-xo.html You may also have to adjust the octaves a bit one way or the other to get them to play in the same range. (Haven't tried this directly myself, but it's just an idea I came up with just now). Good luck!
Austin. I just tried this and it seems to work. I ended up splitting the keyboard into 3 parts: Low part is the continuous arp playing on the open F chord. Then the middle part playing the fast arp. Then the high part of the keyboard set for piano when that comes in. Let me know if you need help. Note that because this song is in "F", it's going to require rather wide split zones to pull it off.
thank you! I was able to set panel A as the repeating arp and had panel B with the 1/32 fast arp in the upper section and the piano in the lower section split. It seems to work, but I have to hold down a piano note on panel b while playing the fast arp in the upper section in order for everything to stay in sync. Otherwise, if a note isn't held down, the repeating arp in panel A for some reason resets whenever a new Panel B note is hit. So I should try splitting all of the sounds on one panel? Thanks!
Austin, when the piano park kicks in, I assume you are then only playing the 1/16 part right? In my experiment (not on video), to pull this off without a looper, I ended up playing the entire sequence without having the Nord "hold" anything for me. I was using my hands the entire time. So, on the intro (before the piano part starts), my left hand is playing the 1/16 part (the same way I recorded it into the looper in fact), and the right hand plays the 1/32 part. Then when the piano kicks in, I just keep playing the 1/16 part in the left hand and I drop the 1/32 part. Is this how you are doing it?
My Keys To Music that’s actually a neat way to do it! I will try that.
I had been using Panel A as my 1/16 arp and using a keyboard hold. I then switch to Panel B which has piano in the left hand and a 1/32 arp in the right hand so I can continue using the faster arp while also playing the piano parts. It works pretty nicely, but for some reason will glitch and reset the 1/16 arp if I don’t have either a piano note or 1/32 arp note held down continuously.
You said you have this sound available for download?
Hi Mike! Yes, the download link is in the description below the video and I have it here as well: (www.dropbox.com/s/8dd71j4zh56...) In order to use this file, be sure to check out the Nord sound manager videos I made (if you don't already know how to work with these files). Thanks for watching!
My Keys To Music cool thanks! I didn’t buy the Nord yet but I like the sound you created. Once I get the Nord, how do I download the link you sent? Does it have to be hooked up to my comp first?
Mike, yes you have to download the files and put them on our computer. Then you use the Nord Sound Manager (free software from Nordkeyboards.com) to move them to the keyboard directly. I have comprehensive videos on this entire process called "Nord Sound Manager" part 1, 2, and 3 on this channel. (This download is compatible with Stage3 only). Thanks for your question...
My Keys To Music thank you again! I assume a MAC computer will do for the download and transfer?
Hi Mike - yes no problem. Macintosh or Windows computer with USB port is all that's needed to run the Nord Sound Manager (and your keyboard of course).
Barbara Reilly and Anne won't get fooled again. 😀
Funny! - @SSJIndy good sense of humor you have.
A lot of Rush +30
Super tramp song nord stage 3
Wendy, I really like Supertramp and started listening to them again in Spotify as a result of your comment here. Not sure I'm ready to make a video on them yet, but Supertramp is in fact a prime example of a great use of electro mechanical keyboards!
Very good. Except that's not at all how it was done originally.
Thanks for your comment Matt. Actually, I would love to know how it was done originally if you have a resource on that. They certainly didn't have a Nord keyboard doing it - of that i'm certain. 😀 Thanks for watching!
Not sure if you've found this info yet, but you can play this song easily in real-time if you have the same Lowrey organ model Pete had (TBO Berkshire Deluxe). I've got the same model here, it has a 'marimba repeat' feature that repeats groups of notes on two different sides of a clock. When you play notes from a single group (like the F - C - F in the beginning) they repeat together. If you add in notes from the other group, you get the mixture of both groups repeating .. so it has that double-time chaotic sound. There is also a repeat rate knob, so you can turn it down to get the slower rate at the end of the song. It's pretty interesting how easy it is to play this song with the Lowrey organ - you can literally play it in real-time with just a few fingers!
It was done using an Arp sequencer. Townshend programmed the arpeggio into the synths voltage controlled sequencer. It has to be a monophonic synth. The sequencer loops the root arpeggio, and he plays the incidental notes manually. Each time a note other than the 1-5-1 root arpeggio is played, the monophonic synth has to cut voltage to the arpeggiated notes to accommodate the played notes. Hence the incidental notes sounding like 32nd notes. I reproduced this with a Moog Sub Phatty and an external voltage controlled sequencer/arpeggiator. It’s actually much easier with vintage equipment.
I lucked out big time a couple of days ago when a friend of mine found this grotty looking old organ in the trash outside his apartment and texted me some photos of it. Wouldnt you just know it, it was a Lowrey TBO (basically the same as Pete's but with a couple of minor detail differences), and needless to say, I rushed right over and hauled it back to my house without delay. Long story short: it took a whole can of contact cleaner to the innards, but by the end of the day this dumpster find was sufficiently functional again, and I'd replicated "Baba O'Riley" pretty closely. I can conclusively say that there is no external synthesizer or sequencer involved with this track, it's all done with the marimba repeat function, the "upper to lower" coupler tab, the "staccato" tab, and the 8' and 4' pstring tabs turned on. It's tricky to get the playing timed correctly because the pseudo-arpeggiio effect doesn't kick in unless at least three notes are pressed. To get the effect, you're playing the F C F' C ostinato on the lower manual, and hitting block chords on the upper manual as desired (triggers the arpeggio). Its a very unusual technique that takes getting used to if you like me haven't played a TBO before.
@gravl1 Incorrect. Pete used the Lowrey TBO Organ. That is all you need! That organ has a feature called Marimba Repeat. In the Marimba Repeat certain notes are repeated on different beats, creating a much more complicated repeat pattern. For example the following group of notes when played repeat on a certain beat, I think a 16th: F, F#, G, B, C, C#, while these other notes G#, A, A#, D, D#, E when played repeat on I think a 32nd note. I’m not exactly sure of the 16th and 32nd part, but I know that some notes as indicated above repeat on one beat while the other group of notes repeat on a different beat. And that is what creates the complex pattern. Pete used a Lowrey TBO but a few other Lowerys had the Marimba Repeat: TLO, DSO, TLS, TSO 25 and HR and GAK. Check out this example of the organ: th-cam.com/video/BgPtksNqbCk/w-d-xo.html @@gravl1
16ths. AND 32nds…..smdh. Sure does make it hard to replicate on a guitar without a looper. Back to looper
@absinha6209 The looper is a good thing to master. Also, I have a new and improved version of this that I wanted to bring to your attention: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
Not how Townshend did it but ok
A Henricks. True enough! Since making the video, I learned a lot more about how they actually did it and I learned to read Wikipedia a bit more before hitting the record button :) Of course, celebrating the tune and exploring it here and now is the important thing I think. Thanks
Dang I wish i could seen your fingers better
@No Cover Charge here is the new and improved video for this song: th-cam.com/video/pYelOuB-G3w/w-d-xo.html
I've always hated songs that are recorded a few cents higher or lower...it's ridiculously annoying to play along to
Yes, and why they go about this was always confusing to me. I can understand if you have a solo bagpipe or something and it's tuned the way it's tuned. But in a group setting, I see no good reason to have anything other than 440. I suppose if you were playing with a piano or harpsichord that was already "tuned lower" where the whole group has to follow that - I can understand that too. Easier to tune a guitar than a piano I suppose! 😜