Michael Boddicker told Keyboard magazine in 1980 that he needed three Polymoogs: one that's getting repaired, one that works, and a third one he would play after the working one breaks.
That's what I was told by the concrete guys who laid a new floor for me. There's only two kinds of concrete. Concrete that hasn't cracked yet and concrete that is cracked.
As you know Alex, I was with Mr Numan in the early days - just before replicas was released. I was in a rehearsal studio with him, Chris Payne etc, and he played the snare sound on A mini-moog (I think) through a 2k PA rig. It took all our faces off. He also had the cars riff ready to go. Quite an iconic moment for wee little 19 year old me. And great cars cover :)
@@nomad1517 absolutely that. I also sat in a cafe in Ealing when he told me and Chris about his plans for how the releases would work out. That ‘are friends’ will chart, next single a number 1 etc. pretty much what happened. :)
I saw Gary Numan's "Cars" video on "On TV" which predated MTV as an eleven year old... I was speechless... He was everything my parents were not, which made him the coolest human being on the planet... Fantastic video...
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves the harmonies on this. Every single time I ever hear this, I am waiting for those killer little harmonies. So cool!
Which links to Chris Payne, wh was in the rehearsal room I mentioned above. Chris is resurrecting his old school band for doing folk festivals in 2024 and I’m helping out with guitar/songwriting/arranging etc :)
Amazing stuff!!! So I had the pleasure of playing keys for Gary in 2015 on the classic albums tour/ shows so I got to play all the amazing riffs and sounds night after night and get paid for it!! so for the tech heads out there the way its done now is that we used VIRUS Ti synths for the Vox Humana and Polymoog String sounds. I had a rack VIRUS linked to a midi controller plus sampled versions in MainStage and Gary used a VIRUS keyboard in the USA or another VIRUS rack when traveling. The virus is super solid and much more reliable than the polymoog and it sounded EXACTLY like it but wow the original is still amazing!!!
Gary Numan made the Polymoog relevant. I don't think any other artist captured its capabilities and unique features quite like he did. "The Pleasure Principle" made me simultaneously a Gary Numan, synth, and Moog fan at the same time. And I never lost the love for any of them.
That is THE best cover of Cars ever. Forget people bringing "something new" to a song, Getting so close and not trying to sound like Numan made that really enjoyable. You looked like you were having a great time.
I'm in Michigan... I was 12 and that was the very first cassette I ever bought in 79! Gary Numan is the first in my life to start my musical path. At 57 now... I'm always a true "New Waver" forever!
I'm also from Michigan (the Detroit area). I remember when a friend of mine stumbled on a cassette of Kraftwerk's Man Machine, and we latched onto it immediately. Shortly after, The Pleasure Principle came out. The rockers at our school thought we were insane for loving this music. I love crunchy guitar as much as anyone, but there's more to life. ❤
Ditto: I'm in Connecticut... I was 11 and that was the very first cassette I ever bought in 79 (at TapeWorld)! Gary Numan is the first in my life to start my musical path. At 56 now... I'm always a true "New Waver" forever! ...couldn't have wrote it better myself :)
Wore out two Pleasure Principle albums on my record player. There was a piano organ store where I lived in Dover New Hampshire back in the day, and tucked away in the lower level in a small section was a brand new Poly MOOG, and Micro Moogs, and other MOOG products. Would have never seen these instruments because they weren't advertised at all. This piano organ store also were taking orders for Korg MS-20 synths. This was in the year 1978 as I remember. I ordered a MS-20, and had to wait 3 months for it. That was my first synth, man those were the days!
My mate in the UK imported a 100% renovated 280A from American synth guru, Jareth. Absolute balls of steel doing this. It did have some problems after the shipping but Jareth talked him through them. Needless to say, my mate sold it on after not so long. I think Polymoogs are for the hardest of the hardcore Numan and vintage synth fans only. They're bloody impressive to stand behind though.
@@mikemeengs5720 I have many polymoog videos on my channel demonstrating the Vox Humana mod as preset 7. Here is the video reference Alex referred to in his video: th-cam.com/video/CcwitCSB66c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oDzOHuVDCyb4J97B
I found this to be a fascinating peek into that early Gary Numan sound! It was so informative...and then to see you put it altogether and cover 'Cars'?!? RIGHT ON!!! Great job!!! ALL of thumbs up! :)
Saw him live twice, but the first time was the opening gig of his first tour in 1979 (Glasgow Apollo with OMD supporting), and the second his return the following year. 😺
Replicas is my favorite Numan/Tubeway Army album, but it's hard to argue with that synth melody in Cars, the way it holds that high note for maybe an 8th note longer than you expect, it's just pure magic.
Gary Numan is the reason why i play synths. I love the sound of the Polymoog. If i remember right, Ultravox (the John Foxx version) and Peter Gabriel used the Polymoog. Anyway.... Thanks Alex for the video
Responsible for a lot of people getting into synths, yeah. What a legend. Gabriel definitely played the Polymoog, there's some funny photos of him biting one. Not sure about Foxx, will have to find out.
I am blown away by how good it sounds especially the patches you created and the way you recorded it. This is one of the best sounding videos I've come across
I remember having to cover 'Cars' for my music tech A-level coursework. I played the teacher that second polymoog line by itself and she looked at me like I was an idiot until I played it all together.
@@AlexBallMusic any chance of giving us the chords/notes on the Patreon please? I've tried to work out the two lines by ear and can never quite get it!
I programmed Vox Humana on my Voyager and sampled it into Kontakt to play polyphonic... what a lovely sound. The Moog team did a great job crafting that patch.
The sound of my teen years - so many memories! At age 15 I would have given almost anything to play one of these. You really nailed the song, Alex. Your grin when you were playing the bass part made me happy! Been a keyboardist most of my life, but I plan to buy a bass guitar this year and start learning... I played double bass when I was 18, so it wouldn't be entirely new to me. Multi-instrumentalists like you inspire me.
Ah, thank you for the cover of Cars. I remember when that came on the radio late at night, my first time hearing it. Right up there with the first time I heard Autobahn on the radio.
Another fantastic video about one of my favourite artists. I'm amazed at how well Gary Numan's work has stood the test of time, and how fresh it still sounds. I'm digging your cover. Nish!
Great video, thank you for taking the time to make it. I heard Cars back in 1980 and it blew me away; Gary Numan's sound was so different and "spacey" than anything else at the time. Your rendition was fantastic, by the way! 👍
Ugh, *genuine* chills when those Vox Humana notes are played: I'm surprised you didn't mention that it was entirely by chance that Mr. Gareth Numan was introduced to the instrument in the studio, there's just so many fascinating idiosyncrasies! Fabulous video as always Mr. Ball, thank you 🥰
@@wietzejohanneskrikke1910 I mean still, it was *a* Moog he encountered in a studio after coming in with the Tubeway Army (which was a punk band) at that point!
Yeah, I didn't because that was the Minimoog. I was thinking that could perhaps be part of another video some time. It's a very interesting story. Just imagine if that synth hadn't been there!
@@AlexBallMusic I'm always amazed that Numan can tell that story hundreds of times to different journalists since 1979 and _still_ sound surprised at the sound he got from that MiniMoog.
I remember my local music store Guitar Showcase, had one of these, back in the seventies. I was so in lust with it. Loved those gorgeous beveled square buttons😻 Leds on a keyboard were a new thing, in those days too. Fantastic performance at the end...so fun 🎶🎹🚙🔥
I bought an early 203a in 1990 for £350 (partially-working) and took it for repair at the Synthesizer Service Centre in London the following year. There were an alarming number of Polymoogs in the repair shop (four or five) despite them being (a) not big-sellers in the first place and (b) about fifteen years old at that point. They were unreliable AF -- mine was probably fully-operational for a total of about 18 months of the eleven years I had it. However, just look at it! It looks amazing and the keyboard is, in my opinion, the best-feeling keyboard I've ever played.
Always a pleasure to spend time with you in TH-cam land, Alex. Amazing cover of Cars too, one of my first 7" purchases. When that second Memorymoog comes in during the outro.....still gets me. Goosebump-tastic!
I've been waiting for this one and it certainly does not disappoint! Thank you, Alex. Vox Humana is such a legendary sound. It seems to be forever entwined with Gary Numan, who inspired many of us musicians and led to a lifelong fascination with synthesizers.
Alex you continue to amaze me. Not only are these incredibly interesting studies of classic synths, but your covers/tracks are always fantastic. You can definitely play!
Whenever I get a new synth, the first sound I try to nail is Vox Humana. Such a perfect, evocative sound. And kudos on your fantastic playing and sound. You really did the instrument justice. Cheers!
Cars has a great bass line, nice cover indeed. In the late 90's there are articles about the 'second coming' of Moog. So are we now in the 4th or 5th time of reflection.
great cover ! i can just imagine the nightmare MAINTENANCE on that synth ! "... and when you're done , do you think you could look at what's wrong with my CS-80 ?"
I owned one of Gary Numan's Polymoogs and one of his Arp Odysseys. When I picked up the Odyssey, he was playing it one more time. The Polymoog didn't work and I sent it to London for repair, only for the 'repairer' to do a runner with it. If you own the synth with a blue flight case with Numan incorrectly spelt, that's my synth and I want it back!
Was that the ex gary numans polymoog 280a that was for sale in abc music in Addlestone, surrey? It was the autumn of 1991 and it was going for £250. I regret not buying it
Sorry to hear that happened to you brother. That happened to me in the states too, though not as precious a loss. Some of these synth repair guys are like this. Mine was a classic Model D Minimoog with low serial numbers. Did you have serial numbers? Or maybe Gary might, and would be kind enough to provide them. I'd plaster this all over Muffwigglers and every other synth page you can think of. It may come up.
I had to come back to this video to say thank you reigniting my love of Garys work. And thank you for sharing your masterful work and research with us. Cheers from New Zealand!
I missed out on buying one of Numan's old 280a in the early 90s (ABC Music Addlestone).I still wanted one and I'm lucky enough to now own a Jareth Lackey restored example. Despite it's foibles, the Vox Humana sound is absolutely stunning and the Polymoog still looks a proper job.Great video, Alex.
I was lucky enough to get a 280a from ABC in Bristol probably at the same time. You can see it in my TH-cam image. I wrote a bit of a story about it the other week on (I think) Retrosounds channel when he did a Numan cover. Just checked and my full story is on Synthchasers channel where he starts to fix a Polymoog. Great video as always mr Ball, especially as I’m a lifelong Numanoid.
@@AlexBallMusic - Gary said in an interview I watched a while ago that he's not interested in sounding like 40+ years ago but modern instead, so I do understand to a degree why he sold them. Also, someone on fb had shared a photo a couple of days ago of the bass Numan had bought and on which the very first thing he then played was the 'Cars' bass line: It's a Shergold, in natural finish! Basically the 4-string version of Peter Hook's 6-string Shergold he recorded 'Blue Monday' with 😀 Somehow I'd always suspected Gary's new bass had been a MusicMan Stingray! 😅
@@mightyV444Not quite true. Gary's bass (which he still has) is a Shergold Modulator. It's a 34" scale (normal long scale bass) with interchangeable modules for the switching. Peter Hook's is a Marathon 6 string, which is a 30" scale based on the 4 string Shergold Marathon bass, which was also 34" scale, but had a lot simpler switching. (There was also a 30" scale 6 string Modulator bass, of which Mike Rutherford was the main "name" player. Hooky had one but he didn't like it. I owned it briefly...) Sorry to be geeky, but I am the moderator of the Shergold Forum and owner of the UK's biggest collection! These things are important to us saddoes.
@@IanFeber - Hi there! 😀 No need to apologise, and please don't put yourself and others down by referring to yourself as a 'saddo'! 😉 I'm a bassist myself (who also plays other instruments) and always grateful for extra information, especially on musical subjects, so thank you very much for yours, too! 😊👍 It's just that when I saw the photo of Numan's bass, it straight away reminded me of seeing Peter Hook with a very similar-looking one many years ago (41, to be exact 😅). Very cool that those instruments still have keen followers! 😀👍 I hope I'll get the chance one day to try a Shergold bass out! 😊 All the best from NZ! 😀👍☀️
I hope Gary will hear this, and re-release it with this arrangement , which is absolutely marvelous. ( with his own voice). You quantized it a little too much, but it sounds amazing. ❤
Looking for that comment. Vox Humana parts carefully replicated including the phaser on the overdub lines, while at more liberty on the sound design of the other instruments. Alex FTW.
Not connected to them at all, but Cherry Audio do the Poly Moog as VST plugin instrument (they call it the Polymode) and it has both the direct and 'filtered' version of the Vox Humana preset in the factory set of presets. For anyone that's interested. Great vid and great version of Cars, cheers.
You never phone it in Alex, & your video was superb. It almost swayed me into thinking the polymoog was a worthwhile instrument 😁 The highlight was undoubtedly your version of cars at the end. The sound, the editing..top notch! P.s. My system 100 is currently set up in full, and I'm doing all manner of treatments with it *cue modulated sequence from bank A..*
Cheers! Glad to finally be able to do this video. System 100 - Nice. I'll get an envelope into the sequencer tempo CV in and make some harp flourishes happen.
You can absolutely get close to the Vox Humana sound with the 203a. It's not exact but it's definitely that kind of sound. I used to completely ignore the presets because they sound pretty terrible on their own. Now, I love using them all, stacked with the other sections, with the individual outs. The Resonators are beautiful, the VCF out is that classic ladder filter that loses all oomph when adding resonance (emph), but the Direct out brings all that oomph back in, and finally you have the Mode out which I think is the filter setting of the preset (?) so you have a whole other sound to mix in depending on what number you selected. Absolutely one of the biggest and most unique sounds I ever heard. I'm on my 2nd 203a and it's never going anywhere. It actually survived shipping and works really well. The Poly Pedal is a must. I hook it up a bit differently than intended and like to use one pedal to control modulation amount. That Poly Pedal is the size of a Rogue. No joke. It's awesome. Personally I think Luce, Zumcheck, Carlos, etc were the people behind all the best "Moog" ideas. It seems like Bob spent more time trying to shut down ideas.
OMG, can we just start with your cover of CARS, outstanding! Your history is alway spot on, informative, entertaining and that sample pack is cool. Last note, love the small scale car with visual informative staging matching the song lyrics, Robert Lepage would approve.
You have best job; playing with old analogue synths, and replicating some of the great sounds of the early pioneers (John Foxx, Ultravox!, Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and f course Mr. Numan). And you clearly enjoy what you're doing too. Thank you for the Cars cover, I agree with @thebreakfastmenu on the harmonized synth outro, still sends shivers!
Great stuff with the cover version Alex! I am now inspired to get my Numan compilation cd out for a play tonight 😃. Moogs aside I have to say the 'On Broadway' live version ARP solo played by Billie Currie is an all time great synth moment for my ears...
For those who don't want to spend the rest of time financially shackled to a repair shop might I recommend the Xils or Cherry Audio VSTs. Both have their pluses and minuses so it's worth auditioning them both to see which you prefer (in my case I went with the Cherry Audio, but your milage will vary).
Absolutely fantastic stuff mate! I love these early Gary Numan records and I'm thankful to have seen him play some of these amazing tracks live. You nailed the sound and feel and Cars at the end was epic!
'That' sound......means one thing. Numan. What an absolute top-class cover of Cars. Oh, wot it must be to be able to just play like that, I'm envious . I'm off to sell all my gear , now ! Well done, Sir !
I’ve been waiting for this one, thankyou so much. My mum was a huge Numan fan and I used to listen to her records when I was a kid. It started a life long love of the Polymoog. I’ll probably never own one sadly but it was good to finally see a clearly explained in depth look at both versions side by side
Great video. Subscribed. I remember when I first saw Gary Numan here in Sydney just after Pleasure Principle was released. He was on the top of the charts. He had a few of these Polymoog's on stage. The sound and stage show was just unbelievable. To this very day I am in awe every time I think of that show, and I was only 12 at the time. Many years later I saw him again and he was using a controller (M-Audio) triggering samples for the Vox Humana sound. It was not the same. Whilst it was a decent simulation, I could tell the difference! There was something about the old Polymoog that software will never replicate. I am a huge advocate of software synthesis, but for certain sounds the hardware rules! That being said, your samples are the best I have heard. Well done! Your rendition of Cars was killer. Congratulations!
That was awesome! Loved the info on the Polymoog, and your rendition of Cars was outstanding. Really enjoyable. And I'll definitely grab the sampled instrument. Thanks!
I've always been fascinated with that sound since hearing that back in 1980. It's got that beautiful "trail" that I love. Awesome job on Cars! So frikin cool! I've also really loved Gary Wright "Dream Weaver" sounds and Kraftwerk as well. Subscribed!
That long held A in the little instrumental sections is probably my favourite synth note ever. I was about 8 when Are Friends Electric came out and I was just transfixed by that early Numan stuff. I quickly moved on to Depeche Mode, Human League and others, but no sound ever had the mental impact that sound had.
Man, these videos are the best. People who were not around to hear these early albums by GN have to realize that when Cars first hit the airwaves many of us were blown away at these sounds. I was about 9 years old when Pleasure Principal came out and was literally obsessed by the synths. No one had ever really heard anything like that before. Like Alex said, the sound was very otherworldly and combined with the rest of the production was very captivating and surreal at the time. The next few years would be the culmination of the polyphonic synthesizer era, and in my opinion the best years of the 80s. Thanks Alex.
As soon as you played the Vox Humana mode, I let out a huge "OH WOW" and was instantly transported back to 1980 when I was 13 and first heard Gary Numan. Great video! Wish I had the budget to buy all the iconic 80s synths...
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
The sample instrument.
bobmoogfoundation.myshopify.com/products/alex-balls-polymoog-soundbank-digital-download
Top work!
Thankyou bro, Bob would be proud
Thanks, Alex. That was £12 well spent. 😊
Hey Alex! I do work for the Bob Moog Foundation (graphics). Very cool of you helping them out! Great demo and Cars cover!
Wow awesome mate! Thanks for this!!
Michael Boddicker told Keyboard magazine in 1980 that he needed three Polymoogs: one that's getting repaired, one that works, and a third one he would play after the working one breaks.
😂
Well those are the two natural states for the Polymoog - About to break, or broken.
That's what I was told by the concrete guys who laid a new floor for me. There's only two kinds of concrete. Concrete that hasn't cracked yet and concrete that is cracked.
@@Garflips: as someone who lives in a house with concrete floors I would wholeheartedly agree.
Too bad Cherry Audio wasn't around then. He could get one for 50.00.
As you know Alex, I was with Mr Numan in the early days - just before replicas was released. I was in a rehearsal studio with him, Chris Payne etc, and he played the snare sound on A mini-moog (I think) through a 2k PA rig. It took all our faces off. He also had the cars riff ready to go. Quite an iconic moment for wee little 19 year old me. And great cars cover :)
Hi Trevor...was that you who played guitar on Gary's OGWT TV debut?
Holy shit. That's amazing. You witnessed something truly historical.
@@nomad1517 absolutely that. I also sat in a cafe in Ealing when he told me and Chris about his plans for how the releases would work out. That ‘are friends’ will chart, next single a number 1 etc. pretty much what happened. :)
I saw Gary Numan's "Cars" video on "On TV" which predated MTV as an eleven year old... I was speechless... He was everything my parents were not, which made him the coolest human being on the planet... Fantastic video...
I'm a simple man. I see a video about The Pleasure Principle, I give an instant like before even watching the video.
The cover of Cars was spine-tingling! Awesome!
Cheers!
@@AlexBallMusic We need a Wav download, please?
Haven't made it that far yet. Thumbs up anyway.
What a sound.
lovely job
The ending of Cars with the harmonized lead synth is what got me into Gary Numan. What a sound.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves the harmonies on this. Every single time I ever hear this, I am waiting for those killer little harmonies. So cool!
That piece of music is addictive and infatuating. From the first listen.
Yes mate. That end sequence is.... The Future. Decades, decades pass for me listen to it...still freaks me out like I've been Alien Abducted. 👽♥️😂
@@michaelpaduch2917 Absolutely!
@johnryder8464 Uhh... yes it is? Alex clearly plays both harmonies in this video.
The PolyMoog is also responsible for the string and the bass sound of visage fade to grey. What an icon.
Which links to Chris Payne, wh was in the rehearsal room I mentioned above. Chris is resurrecting his old school band for doing folk festivals in 2024 and I’m helping out with guitar/songwriting/arranging etc :)
@@DornAndGrant Did drummer Cedric Sharpley also play with Gary and play on Fade To Grey?
Fade to Grey is a fking banger alright
@@bramleydragon I'm sure Ced played the live recorded drums and programmed the drum machine (not sure if a Roland CR78) on Fade to grey.
Amazing stuff!!! So I had the pleasure of playing keys for Gary in 2015 on the classic albums tour/ shows so I got to play all the amazing riffs and sounds night after night and get paid for it!! so for the tech heads out there the way its done now is that we used VIRUS Ti synths for the Vox Humana and Polymoog String sounds. I had a rack VIRUS linked to a midi controller plus sampled versions in MainStage and Gary used a VIRUS keyboard in the USA or another VIRUS rack when traveling. The virus is super solid and much more reliable than the polymoog and it sounded EXACTLY like it but wow the original is still amazing!!!
Fantastic! You are a very lucky man! Thanks for the info on the Virus!
Including the Australian tour? That was such a great show, I saw it in Perth.
Gary Numan made the Polymoog relevant. I don't think any other artist captured its capabilities and unique features quite like he did. "The Pleasure Principle" made me simultaneously a Gary Numan, synth, and Moog fan at the same time. And I never lost the love for any of them.
That is THE best cover of Cars ever. Forget people bringing "something new" to a song, Getting so close and not trying to sound like Numan made that really enjoyable. You looked like you were having a great time.
Nary Guman must be proud of that performance, and spotlight. Well done Blex!
Good old Nary.
Yes! Gary Numan is actually older than Gary Oldman! 😄
I thought that is what I heard.
I'm in Michigan... I was 12 and that was the very first cassette I ever bought in 79! Gary Numan is the first in my life to start my musical path. At 57 now... I'm always a true "New Waver" forever!
I'm also from Michigan (the Detroit area). I remember when a friend of mine stumbled on a cassette of Kraftwerk's Man Machine, and we latched onto it immediately. Shortly after, The Pleasure Principle came out. The rockers at our school thought we were insane for loving this music.
I love crunchy guitar as much as anyone, but there's more to life. ❤
Are you seeing Gary in Grand Rapids on Monday?
Ditto: I'm in Connecticut... I was 11 and that was the very first cassette I ever bought in 79 (at TapeWorld)! Gary Numan is the first in my life to start my musical path. At 56 now... I'm always a true "New Waver" forever! ...couldn't have wrote it better myself :)
Mine's broke down, and now I've no-one to love.
😢
Mine too! 😭
That’s sad to hear, really. You know I hate to ask, but Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
@@reznorambrose712 hahaha😂 i laughed out loud
Wore out two Pleasure Principle albums on my record player. There was a piano organ store where I lived in Dover New Hampshire back in the day, and tucked away in the lower level in a small section was a brand new Poly MOOG, and Micro Moogs, and other MOOG products. Would have never seen these instruments because they weren't advertised at all. This piano organ store also were taking orders for Korg MS-20 synths. This was in the year 1978 as I remember. I ordered a MS-20, and had to wait 3 months for it. That was my first synth, man those were the days!
Polymoog Vox Humana, the most incredible synth preset of all time! Has to be one of the most famous synth presets ever!
I don't think that there's really any arguing with that . . . oh, wait; I've just remembered the "hoover" patch on the Roland Alpha Juno!
Amazing how a simple sound on a keyboard can make you time travel 40 years! Brilliant video!
...and it made Gary a zillionaire too!
It put me back to exactly where I was standing and who I was talking to, when I first heard it back in 1980.
How can anyone not love this synth.. or this lovely guy unveiling its charms? So atmospheric and nostalgic I'm transported. Utterly. Brilliant!
You could own one. Not so hard to learn to not love it if you have to keep it running.
My mate in the UK imported a 100% renovated 280A from American synth guru, Jareth. Absolute balls of steel doing this. It did have some problems after the shipping but Jareth talked him through them. Needless to say, my mate sold it on after not so long.
I think Polymoogs are for the hardest of the hardcore Numan and vintage synth fans only.
They're bloody impressive to stand behind though.
Hey Alex, very much appreciate the shout out on the Vox Humana mod for the 203a. Many thanks and awesome video.
I wish I could have heard it though!
@@mikemeengs5720 I have many polymoog videos on my channel demonstrating the Vox Humana mod as preset 7. Here is the video reference Alex referred to in his video: th-cam.com/video/CcwitCSB66c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oDzOHuVDCyb4J97B
Do you make the thing to make Mk 1 get the Vox Humana?
I found this to be a fascinating peek into that early Gary Numan sound! It was so informative...and then to see you put it altogether and cover 'Cars'?!? RIGHT ON!!! Great job!!! ALL of thumbs up! :)
Just saw him live last weekend in Portland with Ministry and Front Line Assembly. Such a fantastic performer!!
Saw him live twice, but the first time was the opening gig of his first tour in 1979 (Glasgow Apollo with OMD supporting), and the second his return the following year. 😺
Replicas is my favorite Numan/Tubeway Army album, but it's hard to argue with that synth melody in Cars, the way it holds that high note for maybe an 8th note longer than you expect, it's just pure magic.
Replicas is such a stellar album. His drummer made the first 4 albums special for me.
Gary Numan is the reason why i play synths. I love the sound of the Polymoog. If i remember right, Ultravox (the John Foxx version) and Peter Gabriel used the Polymoog. Anyway.... Thanks Alex for the video
Responsible for a lot of people getting into synths, yeah. What a legend.
Gabriel definitely played the Polymoog, there's some funny photos of him biting one. Not sure about Foxx, will have to find out.
@@AlexBallMusic Foxx is/was more of an Odyssey man.
Hey! It's Enrico Pallazzo!
I think John Foxx used Korgs, certainly for his early solo stuff (Metamatic).
@@marquonuk ARP Odyssey, CR-78, and some kind of string machine.
Nary Guman and his wonderful MolyPoog Sizersynths...beautiful! :)
Fantastic cover version! 👊👊👊
Cheers!
An absolutely amazingly jaw droppingly polymoogly brilliant rendition of Cars. You are a star.
Thank you!
“Polymoogly” [chef’s kiss]
dare i say... great googly moogly
I am blown away by how good it sounds especially the patches you created and the way you recorded it. This is one of the best sounding videos I've come across
Cheers! I really wanted to understand what on earth it did and how it worked. Glad you enjoyed it.
I agree with you and Devo. Cymbals need to be played live.
The sound of the two voices overlaying at the crescendo in "cars" is what got me into synth music, still amazing, you got it spot on.
It's magic!
Absolutely! Along with Jarres' "Oxygene 4" and Simple minds "Promised you a miracle", one of the seminal tracks in my synth grooming programming.
Superb! That Vox Humana is equal parts ethereal and mournful. Timeless.
Did you mean to say equal parts euphoric and mournful? That's how I hear it.
That second string part that comes in at the end of cars always tickles. Great job overall!
Yeah. Just works as an arrangement.
It's still the Vox Humana preset with an MXR Phase-100.
I remember having to cover 'Cars' for my music tech A-level coursework. I played the teacher that second polymoog line by itself and she looked at me like I was an idiot until I played it all together.
@@polycompurhythm-7853 Bang-on, and why I have an MXR Phase-100 for my synths. Just need the PolyMoog...
@@AlexBallMusic any chance of giving us the chords/notes on the Patreon please? I've tried to work out the two lines by ear and can never quite get it!
I programmed Vox Humana on my Voyager and sampled it into Kontakt to play polyphonic... what a lovely sound. The Moog team did a great job crafting that patch.
The sound of my teen years - so many memories! At age 15 I would have given almost anything to play one of these. You really nailed the song, Alex. Your grin when you were playing the bass part made me happy! Been a keyboardist most of my life, but I plan to buy a bass guitar this year and start learning... I played double bass when I was 18, so it wouldn't be entirely new to me. Multi-instrumentalists like you inspire me.
Ah, thank you for the cover of Cars. I remember when that came on the radio late at night, my first time hearing it. Right up there with the first time I heard Autobahn on the radio.
Another fantastic video about one of my favourite artists.
I'm amazed at how well Gary Numan's work has stood the test of time, and how fresh it still sounds.
I'm digging your cover. Nish!
Great video, thank you for taking the time to make it. I heard Cars back in 1980 and it blew me away; Gary Numan's sound was so different and "spacey" than anything else at the time. Your rendition was fantastic, by the way! 👍
Ugh, *genuine* chills when those Vox Humana notes are played: I'm surprised you didn't mention that it was entirely by chance that Mr. Gareth Numan was introduced to the instrument in the studio, there's just so many fascinating idiosyncrasies! Fabulous video as always Mr. Ball, thank you 🥰
Not true. Numan encountered a minimoog in that studio.
@@wietzejohanneskrikke1910 I mean still, it was *a* Moog he encountered in a studio after coming in with the Tubeway Army (which was a punk band) at that point!
Yeah, I didn't because that was the Minimoog. I was thinking that could perhaps be part of another video some time. It's a very interesting story. Just imagine if that synth hadn't been there!
@@AlexBallMusic yes, more Numan videos please!!
@@AlexBallMusic I'm always amazed that Numan can tell that story hundreds of times to different journalists since 1979 and _still_ sound surprised at the sound he got from that MiniMoog.
Brilliant ! Gary Numan and the old Human league (Being Boiled) started me with a Transcendent 2000 kit !
I remember my local music store Guitar Showcase, had one of these, back in the seventies.
I was so in lust with it. Loved those gorgeous beveled square buttons😻
Leds on a keyboard were a new thing, in those days too.
Fantastic performance at the end...so fun 🎶🎹🚙🔥
I bought an early 203a in 1990 for £350 (partially-working) and took it for repair at the Synthesizer Service Centre in London the following year. There were an alarming number of Polymoogs in the repair shop (four or five) despite them being (a) not big-sellers in the first place and (b) about fifteen years old at that point. They were unreliable AF -- mine was probably fully-operational for a total of about 18 months of the eleven years I had it.
However, just look at it! It looks amazing and the keyboard is, in my opinion, the best-feeling keyboard I've ever played.
And it’s an absolutely horrible feeling, when a Moog instrument starts to crap out. I have a Micromoog and it has died several times.
Always a pleasure to spend time with you in TH-cam land, Alex. Amazing cover of Cars too, one of my first 7" purchases. When that second Memorymoog comes in during the outro.....still gets me. Goosebump-tastic!
That was brilliant Alex. Gary Numan was and remains a legend and the sounds he used are just as legendary. Your version of Cars was amazing too. 👍👍
I've been waiting for this one and it certainly does not disappoint! Thank you, Alex. Vox Humana is such a legendary sound. It seems to be forever entwined with Gary Numan, who inspired many of us musicians and led to a lifelong fascination with synthesizers.
Alex you continue to amaze me. Not only are these incredibly interesting studies of classic synths, but your covers/tracks are always fantastic. You can definitely play!
Thank you!
Whenever I get a new synth, the first sound I try to nail is Vox Humana. Such a perfect, evocative sound. And kudos on your fantastic playing and sound. You really did the instrument justice. Cheers!
Nary Guman is great!
Lol
He actually said that 😂
He and his molypoog
Broundgreaking artist!
@@drgruber57 Who exactly is Molly Pogue? Anything to do with Mane ShGowan?
Thank you so much! I have loved, worshipped and studied this album my whole life. So rad Gary is still out rocking!
That was a bloody awesome version of CARS!! The reverse drum hits were a nice little touch. 😉
You brought me great joy with this video and a kick ass cover of Cars. Hell ya!
Cars has a great bass line, nice cover indeed. In the late 90's there are articles about the 'second coming' of Moog. So are we now in the 4th or 5th time of reflection.
Dude I used to watch your videos years ago as a kid! Now I’m 20 and seeing your comment haha. Think I saw you on a Beatles comment section too
Thanks, I have always loves Cars, but never fully appreciated how complex it is until now.
great cover !
i can just imagine the nightmare MAINTENANCE on that synth !
"... and when you're done , do you think you could look at what's wrong with my CS-80 ?"
I've worked on many CS80s and Polymoogs. The Yamahas were built like tanks. The Moogs were built like they were run over by a tank!
@@unfrostedpoptart CS80s still demand a ton of respect to keep them in tune, though...
I owned one of Gary Numan's Polymoogs and one of his Arp Odysseys. When I picked up the Odyssey, he was playing it one more time. The Polymoog didn't work and I sent it to London for repair, only for the 'repairer' to do a runner with it. If you own the synth with a blue flight case with Numan incorrectly spelt, that's my synth and I want it back!
Oooph! Really sorry to hear that.
Hopefully there will be a resurfacing like Paul McCartney's bass recently.
Was that the ex gary numans polymoog 280a that was for sale in abc music in Addlestone, surrey?
It was the autumn of 1991 and it was going for £250. I regret not buying it
Sorry to hear that happened to you brother. That happened to me in the states too, though not as precious a loss. Some of these synth repair guys are like this. Mine was a classic Model D Minimoog with low serial numbers. Did you have serial numbers? Or maybe Gary might, and would be kind enough to provide them.
I'd plaster this all over Muffwigglers and every other synth page you can think of. It may come up.
@@mark..A That sounds like it. I bought it for £150 and sent it to be repaired . I kept phoning only to be told that the 'repairer' was in the States.
@@ronsunsinger483 It was many years ago. It could be anywhere. I've put it down to experience.
I had to come back to this video to say thank you reigniting my love of Garys work. And thank you for sharing your masterful work and research with us. Cheers from New Zealand!
Best video ever, Alex!
I've loved that Vox Humana sound for over four decades, and now I know the story. Top notch!
Thank you, sir.
Thanks Mike!
Cars introduced me to Gary Numan and new wave in 1979...and I never looked back. Still love both to this day.
I missed out on buying one of Numan's old 280a in the early 90s (ABC Music Addlestone).I still wanted one and I'm lucky enough to now own a Jareth Lackey restored example. Despite it's foibles, the Vox Humana sound is absolutely stunning and the Polymoog still looks a proper job.Great video, Alex.
I was lucky enough to get a 280a from ABC in Bristol probably at the same time. You can see it in my TH-cam image.
I wrote a bit of a story about it the other week on (I think) Retrosounds channel when he did a Numan cover. Just checked and my full story is on Synthchasers channel where he starts to fix a Polymoog.
Great video as always mr Ball, especially as I’m a lifelong Numanoid.
Oh really? Interesting that he sold them.
@@AlexBallMusic - Gary said in an interview I watched a while ago that he's not interested in sounding like 40+ years ago but modern instead, so I do understand to a degree why he sold them.
Also, someone on fb had shared a photo a couple of days ago of the bass Numan had bought and on which the very first thing he then played was the 'Cars' bass line: It's a Shergold, in natural finish! Basically the 4-string version of Peter Hook's 6-string Shergold he recorded 'Blue Monday' with 😀 Somehow I'd always suspected Gary's new bass had been a MusicMan Stingray! 😅
@@mightyV444Not quite true. Gary's bass (which he still has) is a Shergold Modulator. It's a 34" scale (normal long scale bass) with interchangeable modules for the switching. Peter Hook's is a Marathon 6 string, which is a 30" scale based on the 4 string Shergold Marathon bass, which was also 34" scale, but had a lot simpler switching.
(There was also a 30" scale 6 string Modulator bass, of which Mike Rutherford was the main "name" player. Hooky had one but he didn't like it. I owned it briefly...)
Sorry to be geeky, but I am the moderator of the Shergold Forum and owner of the UK's biggest collection! These things are important to us saddoes.
@@IanFeber - Hi there! 😀 No need to apologise, and please don't put yourself and others down by referring to yourself as a 'saddo'! 😉
I'm a bassist myself (who also plays other instruments) and always grateful for extra information, especially on musical subjects, so thank you very much for yours, too!
😊👍
It's just that when I saw the photo of Numan's bass, it straight away reminded me of seeing Peter Hook with a very similar-looking one many years ago (41, to be exact 😅).
Very cool that those instruments still have keen followers! 😀👍 I hope I'll get the chance one day to try a Shergold bass out! 😊
All the best from NZ!
😀👍☀️
I hope Gary will hear this, and re-release it with this arrangement , which is absolutely marvelous. ( with his own voice). You quantized it a little too much, but it sounds amazing. ❤
Your covers are great because you nail the finer points of the original while still adding your own special sauce. Thanks for another great vid.
Looking for that comment. Vox Humana parts carefully replicated including the phaser on the overdub lines, while at more liberty on the sound design of the other instruments. Alex FTW.
Not connected to them at all, but Cherry Audio do the Poly Moog as VST plugin instrument (they call it the Polymode) and it has both the direct and 'filtered' version of the Vox Humana preset in the factory set of presets. For anyone that's interested.
Great vid and great version of Cars, cheers.
You never phone it in Alex, & your video was superb. It almost swayed me into thinking the polymoog was a worthwhile instrument 😁
The highlight was undoubtedly your version of cars at the end. The sound, the editing..top notch!
P.s. My system 100 is currently set up in full, and I'm doing all manner of treatments with it *cue modulated sequence from bank A..*
Cheers! Glad to finally be able to do this video.
System 100 - Nice. I'll get an envelope into the sequencer tempo CV in and make some harp flourishes happen.
You, sir, are a legend.
I've programed synths for decades and your videos are top notch. Thankyou
Thank you!
Good to see the casing only fades to grey. I know I know I’m just an old romantic
It gives the synth a nice visage.
@@DoctorNemmo ...While carrying it on a night train. If you have the mind of a toy, you'll likely drop it on The Steps.
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xxbut it's okay because we're living in the Visa age and you can always buy more!
How Strange......I've only seen one of these on a back shop poster
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx All the more reason to befriend a horseman!
You can absolutely get close to the Vox Humana sound with the 203a. It's not exact but it's definitely that kind of sound. I used to completely ignore the presets because they sound pretty terrible on their own. Now, I love using them all, stacked with the other sections, with the individual outs. The Resonators are beautiful, the VCF out is that classic ladder filter that loses all oomph when adding resonance (emph), but the Direct out brings all that oomph back in, and finally you have the Mode out which I think is the filter setting of the preset (?) so you have a whole other sound to mix in depending on what number you selected. Absolutely one of the biggest and most unique sounds I ever heard. I'm on my 2nd 203a and it's never going anywhere. It actually survived shipping and works really well. The Poly Pedal is a must. I hook it up a bit differently than intended and like to use one pedal to control modulation amount. That Poly Pedal is the size of a Rogue. No joke. It's awesome. Personally I think Luce, Zumcheck, Carlos, etc were the people behind all the best "Moog" ideas. It seems like Bob spent more time trying to shut down ideas.
The organ sound after the strings at 2:26 is outstanding. 💥💢
you NAILED the living HECK out of the arrangement at the end wow... great video best I've ever seen!
OMG, can we just start with your cover of CARS, outstanding! Your history is alway spot on, informative, entertaining and that sample pack is cool. Last note, love the small scale car with visual informative staging matching the song lyrics, Robert Lepage would approve.
Thank you! I've got three kids, so toy cars are plentiful. 😀
You have best job; playing with old analogue synths, and replicating some of the great sounds of the early pioneers (John Foxx, Ultravox!, Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and f course Mr. Numan). And you clearly enjoy what you're doing too. Thank you for the Cars cover, I agree with @thebreakfastmenu on the harmonized synth outro, still sends shivers!
Great stuff with the cover version Alex! I am now inspired to get my Numan compilation cd out for a play tonight 😃. Moogs aside I have to say the 'On Broadway' live version ARP solo played by Billie Currie is an all time great synth moment for my ears...
Get it on the hi-fi forthwith.
this song, and all these sounds is where it began for me in 79.
great in depth info, and you absolutely did the song justice.
Thanks!
For those who don't want to spend the rest of time financially shackled to a repair shop might I recommend the Xils or Cherry Audio VSTs. Both have their pluses and minuses so it's worth auditioning them both to see which you prefer (in my case I went with the Cherry Audio, but your milage will vary).
Cherry are great, yep.
When I saw the title of this vid, I was hoping you'd play my fave by Numan and you did...the best for last, CARS, just subbed.😲🎹🎼🎵🎶🎶🎶😃👍🙌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Every key?! Great video, informative and fun as always. Props to Gary & the Tubeways
Yep! Was pretty amazing for the time.
Yeah, with that modulating sound, you have to capture a patch like that, every key, for it to translate to a sample patch.
Nice to hear all the background knowledge of the synths, the run through, and WOW !! love your version of CARS, fantastic job
Awesome video!! I love the early sounds of Numan the Human and the Numanoids.
Thank you for this! The Pleasure Principle is a perfect album. Every track is fantastic.
TH-cam needs an Alex Ball / Anthony Marinelli collab! Great cover too man!!!
It's well underway. Can't wait to reveal as it's epic.
Nice!!!!@@AlexBallMusic
Alex I think this might be my favourite video you've done - that version of Cars is just an absolute BELTER! What a track.
Never clicked on a video so fast
15:24 - that simple hanging "A", it still brings out the chills !
spectacular video & demos of this gorgeous polymoog! pure quality
Absolutely fantastic stuff mate! I love these early Gary Numan records and I'm thankful to have seen him play some of these amazing tracks live. You nailed the sound and feel and Cars at the end was epic!
*CHILLS OF JOY! WHAT AN INTENSELY BEAUTIFUL SURPRISE! SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS GORGEOUS DEMONSTRATION AND YOUR MASTERFUL RENDITION OF GARY'S WORK!!*
Your cover at the end was so good it brought tears to my eyes. Literally. Fantastic job!
'That' sound......means one thing. Numan. What an absolute top-class cover of Cars. Oh, wot it must be to be able to just play like that, I'm envious . I'm off to sell all my gear , now ! Well done, Sir !
The synth harmony at the end takes me all they way back to my 1st love. As soon as I hear it I realise how much I loved that girl.
Absolutely brilliant! Loved everything about this!!
I’ve been waiting for this one, thankyou so much. My mum was a huge Numan fan and I used to listen to her records when I was a kid. It started a life long love of the Polymoog. I’ll probably never own one sadly but it was good to finally see a clearly explained in depth look at both versions side by side
What an extraordinary instrument, and those selector keys look straight off a computer terminal! Awesome cover of a classic 👍
Great video. Subscribed. I remember when I first saw Gary Numan here in Sydney just after Pleasure Principle was released. He was on the top of the charts. He had a few of these Polymoog's on stage. The sound and stage show was just unbelievable. To this very day I am in awe every time I think of that show, and I was only 12 at the time. Many years later I saw him again and he was using a controller (M-Audio) triggering samples for the Vox Humana sound. It was not the same. Whilst it was a decent simulation, I could tell the difference! There was something about the old Polymoog that software will never replicate. I am a huge advocate of software synthesis, but for certain sounds the hardware rules! That being said, your samples are the best I have heard. Well done! Your rendition of Cars was killer. Congratulations!
That was awesome! Loved the info on the Polymoog, and your rendition of Cars was outstanding. Really enjoyable. And I'll definitely grab the sampled instrument. Thanks!
Dude, that cover version's sick!! 👋👌👍
Excellent format, great talent worthy of your (featured) amazing gear and just a wonderful attitude and sense of humour, Alex.
I've always been fascinated with that sound since hearing that back in 1980. It's got that beautiful "trail" that I love. Awesome job on Cars! So frikin cool! I've also really loved Gary Wright "Dream Weaver" sounds and Kraftwerk as well. Subscribed!
That long held A in the little instrumental sections is probably my favourite synth note ever. I was about 8 when Are Friends Electric came out and I was just transfixed by that early Numan stuff. I quickly moved on to Depeche Mode, Human League and others, but no sound ever had the mental impact that sound had.
Man, these videos are the best. People who were not around to hear these early albums by GN have to realize that when Cars first hit the airwaves many of us were blown away at these sounds. I was about 9 years old when Pleasure Principal came out and was literally obsessed by the synths. No one had ever really heard anything like that before. Like Alex said, the sound was very otherworldly and combined with the rest of the production was very captivating and surreal at the time. The next few years would be the culmination of the polyphonic synthesizer era, and in my opinion the best years of the 80s. Thanks Alex.
Great video - the Polymoog provides a "wall of sound" in Pleasure Principle that still sounds awesome!
As soon as you played the Vox Humana mode, I let out a huge "OH WOW" and was instantly transported back to 1980 when I was 13 and first heard Gary Numan. Great video! Wish I had the budget to buy all the iconic 80s synths...
Very well executed once again Mr. Ball! Nailed it!
Really good version of Cars, well done!