Hahaha. Thats the first thing I thought right as he was talking about the beginnings or electronic rock. If you pause it when looking at Mike, its like being at a Kraftwerk concert.
He lectures at Johns Hopkins University now, I believe. Very lucky students to have someone who evidently had a tech research approach to sound creation from the outset.
I remember seeing Thomas Dolby as the support act to Depeche Mode at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in 1982. I had no idea who he was. The moment he played 'Wind Power', i was transfixed. Depeche Mode where fantastic. To this day, my love affair with synthesised music continues. Peaking at classic trance in the late 1990's. Even now i enjoy Progressive House/Trance.
This guy (TD) was my geek hero back in the day. Absolutely loved the golden age of wireless album (still do actually). I remember hearing Wind Power for the first time and had the same feeling I had when I first heard I feel love by Donna Summer. A glimpse into the future feeling. The other kids at school didn’t get it for some reason. He certainly knew his stuff and became one of those important guys in the background in the end. The 70’s-onwards had Eno. The 80’s-onwards had Dolby.
I love how people were so respectful and humble back then pre 90's. No pumped up ego, no bragging, no "look at me, I'm sooo great!!" Just two great guys discussing a new technology and considering the audience that they are presenting it to. I don't care what anyone says, WE were such a better species back then. I miss what we used to be.
When people AREN'T humble, and won't take the time to explain things, then it's usually a sign that they're bullshitting, like a lot of these supposed 'DJ's' who jump around and fiddle with knobs at raves and rave-type concerts, they're usually just faking it all, or most of it, but people in the audience don't seem to know that -- or maybe they just don't care. Back in the 80's, no self-respecting musician would have done that. Well, there were the odd few (like Milli Vanilli), but they were 'caught' and paid the price of public humiliation. Nowadays, I doubt people would even balk at guys like that because people don't seem to know or care if a person is actually playing live and creating. Being a musician from way back when, I find this attitude really lame and pathetic. I think many people nowadays just want to get up in front of people and showoff without taking the time to get good at playing any kind of instrument. It's more like going to watch some kind of Karaoke.
I don't know what alternate universe you were in during the 80's, but I wish I had been there instead of the real one. Racism, Sexism, Bullying, hazing, mullets and meatheads were the norm in the 80's. Nothing but pumped up egos and bragging. These two synth guys were considered 'nerds' and were humble because any ego was beaten out of them by dudes drunk on Pabst Blue Ribbon, wearing porn-staches, smoking Marlboro Reds and driving Trans-Ams.
I had such a crush on Thomas Dolby when he first appeared on the scene around 1981. “Urges” is a fantastic single and his first two LPs are knockouts. I think “Airwaves” is one of the most beautiful songs of the past few decades. He still handsome, but here in his heyday he was a gorgeous hot science nerd.
Not blinded in the slightest, one of the things I adore about Thomas is his ability to communicate at the level of the person he’s speaking with. Having also met him, I noticed it immediately-I’m a musician and singer but I have vascular damage and memory issues, and he communicated in a manner that made everything clear and straightforward. These days it’s rare that I am not forced to ask people to speak slower in an online meeting. Thomas is near perfect as humans go, in pretty much every respect. Seeing him in concert next week, can’t wait.
Thomas Dolby is amazing. I got to see him live a few years ago at a small theater here in Portland OR, and in the early days of the Internet, like late 1990s, he designed a General MIDI sound set that was amazing. And The Golden Age of Wireless is on my list of Top 10 albums. He’s so cool.
Wonderful to see you both in Ramsgate.. surprised I didn’t see you as I’ve been swimming there on Main Sands most days recently with the fine weather..
micromoog as usual is head-crushingly loud when he goes to play a bass riff on it. blows my mind that people think that thing doesn't have fat enough bass and they modify it
Roland MC4 Roland TR808 Casio VL Tone PPG Wave 2 MicroMoog Simmons SDSV Solina String ensemble Roland VP330 Note the strategically placed cameras so as not to reveal the manufacturer's name ... Product placement was a big NO NO at the BBC back then.
1:07 Ah, yes, the Casio PT-1 -- ADSR - Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release! -- Thomas Dolby Hyperactive and Flat Earth came 2 years later in 1984? Who is the guy looking like Mensch Machine?
Anyone familiar with propeller heads Reason? Its a program that has anything u will ever need to write electro music.. I am not a fan of Abbelton nor the midi sounds it has they sound cheap..thats more of a DJ program...Rebirth was the first program i used when it came out.. Reason 1.0 was when everything changed....
I think every first year electronic music student should watch this to see how utterly confused pioneer Thomas Dolby was in talking about his own instruments. Just think if he had tried to explain MIDI (in fairness, standardized evidently around the time of this recording). Not nearly as intuitive as other instruments, electronics has always been a lot to wrap your head around, even for the pros. Thomas was struggling explaining… everything. His befuddlement reflected the agonizing learning curve he must have gone through organizing this 1982 stage show.
Before Thomas got a record deal and didn't have much money he was building his own gear. He knew who's trash to look for cast offs and parts.He talks about it in his book "The Speed of Sound...." I found it at the library it was really entertaining. MIDI had been standardized and implemented for a couple years at this point. And polyphonic synths were around but very expensive.
ok, you show us how you try to explain your extensive synth rig in mere layman's terms *while* casually inventing a musical backdrop which is a) easy enough to follow, b) not boring and c) has some delicate ear candy for synth nerds tastefully sprinkled across, all without missing a beat. Take your time, I'll wait. 😂
I think you’re misunderstanding the situation. The term MIDI was just about to be standardized. At one point he says “tape” when referring to the computer system. He was likely accurate. At that time he was probably using a magnetic tape storage for the data. Flash memory, RAM, floppy and even disk drives were painfully small and even more painful in price. Also, as others have mention if he would have started blurting out words like MIDI or sequencers, etc. and everything else related it would have sounded even more foreign to a lay person. I’m not sure there was even a standardized way of sequencing yet. Steinberg and Pro 16 was still a few years away. Cubase for Atari was released in the 1989. Basically, Dolby was probably one of the few experts in the field at this time. The last 40 years has had such rapid growth in music computer tech that people separated by short periods of time (5 to 8 years) from when they were born have a striking difference in their perception and understanding of its history.
At your age you should know better than to make such an uncharitable comment. His main "struggle" was figuring out how to dumb it down enough for the usual interviewer ill-equipped to do the interview. I bet he set up the interviewer's highly technical demo of pressing some on and off buttons.
Mike Anderson looks like he's from Kraftwerk lol!
…and maybe he doesn’t know what ironic means!
Hahaha. Thats the first thing I thought right as he was talking about the beginnings or electronic rock. If you pause it when looking at Mike, its like being at a Kraftwerk concert.
We are the robots
I don't think it was an accident
Mike Androidson? 😁
He lectures at Johns Hopkins University now, I believe. Very lucky students to have someone who evidently had a tech research approach to sound creation from the outset.
I love how Thomas looks in this video. His outfit really makes him look like some sort of mad scientist showing off all of his futuristic gadgets.
Here he’s wearing half of Niles Crane’s wardrobe. Lol
That's what he basically was lol
yea his style is still fresh today
He looks like he commandeers a steam punk zeppelin.
maybe he should have made a song about a mad scientist
Dolby’s got such a cool mad scientist vibe that has aged well. The fact that he’s technologically engaged makes a huge difference.
I dont dig his new toupee.
I remember seeing Thomas Dolby as the support act to Depeche Mode at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in 1982. I had no idea who he was. The moment he played 'Wind Power', i was transfixed. Depeche Mode where fantastic. To this day, my love affair with synthesised music continues. Peaking at classic trance in the late 1990's. Even now i enjoy Progressive House/Trance.
This guy (TD) was my geek hero back in the day. Absolutely loved the golden age of wireless album (still do actually). I remember hearing Wind Power for the first time and had the same feeling I had when I first heard I feel love by Donna Summer. A glimpse into the future feeling. The other kids at school didn’t get it for some reason.
He certainly knew his stuff and became one of those important guys in the background in the end. The 70’s-onwards had Eno. The 80’s-onwards had Dolby.
In 1982, this was very very modern 😮
"this is an analog sequencer" turns to the most digital thing there, PPG wave 2.2 with it's microprocessor driven 8 bit wavetables.
and the usability of the sequencer was straight from hell
I love how people were so respectful and humble back then pre 90's. No pumped up ego, no bragging, no "look at me, I'm sooo great!!" Just two great guys discussing a new technology and considering the audience that they are presenting it to. I don't care what anyone says, WE were such a better species back then. I miss what we used to be.
There were these guys around all along. Only Thomas Dolby wasn't one of them. ;)
You're so ignorant it's almost funny
When people AREN'T humble, and won't take the time to explain things, then it's usually a sign that they're bullshitting, like a lot of these supposed 'DJ's' who jump around and fiddle with knobs at raves and rave-type concerts, they're usually just faking it all, or most of it, but people in the audience don't seem to know that -- or maybe they just don't care. Back in the 80's, no self-respecting musician would have done that. Well, there were the odd few (like Milli Vanilli), but they were 'caught' and paid the price of public humiliation. Nowadays, I doubt people would even balk at guys like that because people don't seem to know or care if a person is actually playing live and creating. Being a musician from way back when, I find this attitude really lame and pathetic. I think many people nowadays just want to get up in front of people and showoff without taking the time to get good at playing any kind of instrument. It's more like going to watch some kind of Karaoke.
I don't know what alternate universe you were in during the 80's, but I wish I had been there instead of the real one. Racism, Sexism, Bullying, hazing, mullets and meatheads were the norm in the 80's. Nothing but pumped up egos and bragging. These two synth guys were considered 'nerds' and were humble because any ego was beaten out of them by dudes drunk on Pabst Blue Ribbon, wearing porn-staches, smoking Marlboro Reds and driving Trans-Ams.
@@LAZ-org The world consisted of more than that. :)
I love how his sequencer demonstration continues in the background until the end of the clip
only nerds are not bothered with this
I had such a crush on Thomas Dolby when he first appeared on the scene around 1981. “Urges” is a fantastic single and his first two LPs are knockouts. I think “Airwaves” is one of the most beautiful songs of the past few decades. He still handsome, but here in his heyday he was a gorgeous hot science nerd.
Ha ha yes he has a something about him. Glad I wasn't the only one albeit more on the straight side of the spectrum 😊
Aaaaaayyy rolitranco e m4 r& c0
Golden Age of Wireless had some many great tracks. Influential album!
It's a beautiful album.
Not blinded in the slightest, one of the things I adore about Thomas is his ability to communicate at the level of the person he’s speaking with. Having also met him, I noticed it immediately-I’m a musician and singer but I have vascular damage and memory issues, and he communicated in a manner that made everything clear and straightforward. These days it’s rare that I am not forced to ask people to speak slower in an online meeting. Thomas is near perfect as humans go, in pretty much every respect. Seeing him in concert next week, can’t wait.
1:17 Da Da Da (The other German 'fook' tune)
Was gonna say same. As soon as I heard that preset…
Heard that exact keyboard, it would come with a cassette that would go in the black slot. Most of the cassettes were folk songs
Aha!
And my first electronic instrument even a kid could afford one. 😃
Wow ! love that sequence Thomas is playing sounds lovely
‘ these things are very expensive’ …they are now that’s for sure 😂
That was awesome! Thank you for posting it.
Thomas dolby has the same PDNA as a mad professor 🙏
thomas dolby, man that guy knows his stuff.
This is pure gold
Thomas Dolby, The Godfather of Electronic Western Pop!
Thomas Dolby is amazing. I got to see him live a few years ago at a small theater here in Portland OR, and in the early days of the Internet, like late 1990s, he designed a General MIDI sound set that was amazing. And The Golden Age of Wireless is on my list of Top 10 albums. He’s so cool.
SCIENCE!
Well he blinded me with science towards the end 🤔🤣
He's blinding me with science
I saw Thomas Dolby, presenting some internet tunes at NAB in Vegas in 1999. It was quite memorable.
Super sick Waldorf PPG Wave riff!
Great history. I started with synths back in 1978 with Yamaha CS10. Anyway thank's for the video😊
Consider buying a Yamaha Reface CS - you'll love it. ;)
Well I had it already, but then I purchased Yamaha CK60.
@@friedrichExplorer - I don't find that instrument anywhere, just CK61, which is a stage piano. Sure about the name?
Wonderful to see you both in Ramsgate.. surprised I didn’t see you as I’ve been swimming there on Main Sands most days recently with the fine weather..
1:20 don't tease us with the intro of a Trio song
Casio yoyo
if i watched this in the 80s id think this was pure sci fi, its remarkable what was existing back then, the complexity
Going to see Dolby on 02 Ritz Manchester in August.. Flat earth is still a stunning album
Head hair makes all the difference. If only hair tech could revive lost hairs, only makes me think we've come very short.
If only we could get past worrying about such things. As it is, Dolby just got a wig. He posted a video about it.
He's blinded me with science 😂😂😂
Tom's still the dude!
thanks for uploading this, really interesting
What song is he playing at 3:00?
I recognize the beat at 1:19. It's the da da da song by Trio......
A relic from 1982
Thank you so much! That was brilliant.
Thomas Dolby, legend.
Please make the synthesiser a song that was being played a song
Love that music he makes - arrr its too short
0:54 That´s such an unusual 808 beat 😵💫😋🫣 I just love that wonderful machine ❤️🧡💛🤍 #RolandTR808 🎉
Now I see where Tony Law got his look from
The vocoder at the end of the video sounds like the Borg. 😂
With all that stuff, the ARP String Ensemble (Solina) still finds its way into the group to do all that it does, which is strings, but the best !!
1:19 - As heard on 'Da Da Da' by Trio 😀
Brilliant upload
He blinded me with Science 😮
Science!!!
Yes but where’s Miss Sakamoto?
Oh really? I found it pretty well accessable.
Almost like anything Mr. Dolby does.
2:10 does anyone know if there is an actual track of this?
If it isn’t that’s a shame. It amazingly haunting.
Hope someone could tell us 🙏
They could have made that 808 drum machine SING, missed opportunity haha
Missed opportunity yes. 808 is legendary.
A shame they cropped the video.
I was born in 1982❤ 🎹🎼 Thomas Dolby is my father 😂
That's the brief case of Saga 🙂
Great video.
an innovator and amazing musician
micromoog as usual is head-crushingly loud when he goes to play a bass riff on it. blows my mind that people think that thing doesn't have fat enough bass and they modify it
I got hooked what synths could do back in 1980, but the damn things cost more than most cars.
The poster child for entropy.
Correction. Its demo tune is the Spanish national anthem. (I think)
Do you have a list of the devices presented here ?
Roland MC4
Roland TR808
Casio VL Tone
PPG Wave 2
MicroMoog
Simmons SDSV
Solina String ensemble
Roland VP330
Note the strategically placed cameras so as not to reveal the manufacturer's name ... Product placement was a big NO NO at the BBC back then.
I want to know how to program that 808 loop at 0:53
I used to have the 808 back then. It’s the shuffle preset which speeds up the tempo and then a slower 808 tempo beat.
Love it!
never heard an 808 called a drum computer before.
1:18 - that drum loops been sampled for a fairly well known song, anyone know what it was?
Dadada by Trio
fantastic....!!!!!!
Thanks! 🎻✌️🙂😎
Thomas & Ralf.
That bah bah bah beat from the £30 synth
Daa Daa Daa 😅
Europa and the pirate twins..
He’s blinding us with science
1:07 Ah, yes, the Casio PT-1 -- ADSR - Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release! -- Thomas Dolby Hyperactive and Flat Earth came 2 years later in 1984? Who is the guy looking like Mensch Machine?
Hi Thomas! I love you!
2:23 What a beast
Analog synths gave the 80s sound.
The Multimoog fatness is still amazing
whats that preset
which one?
Ultravox 77 era 👍😎🫖
Look man, you can just dump it on to TAPE!
Radio Cristal tune at 7am 😅
The end bit: Pink Floyd - Sheep
"He converteth me to lamb cutlets"
Sorry but has Hawkwind been totally ignored ?
The more futuristic it appears at the time, the more hoplessly dated it seems year later
Anyone else think that was Niles Crane in the thumbnail?
life after Foreigners 4 album
The Casio is from Trios DaDaDa…
Genau!
"The Flat Earth" Album is a masterpiece for me. I imagine it was written whilst surrounded by gadgets like these.
Anyone familiar with propeller heads Reason? Its a program that has anything u will ever need to write electro music.. I am not a fan of Abbelton nor the midi sounds it has they sound cheap..thats more of a DJ program...Rebirth was the first program i used when it came out.. Reason 1.0 was when everything changed....
A German ‘what’ tune?
Blimey a Casio VL Tone. Da da da
1:29 I think you've angered him...
👍👍🎶✌️🙏☯️
lol. 1:11 man in 1982 you could buy a Yamaha cs-01.
Does it have a burglar alarm though?
Pre-MIDI MIDI
Da Daa Da Da
i cant see it catching on
2:24 invents trap
yamaha power bottom!
Who's Down, With Y.P.B.?
I think every first year electronic music student should watch this to see how utterly confused pioneer Thomas Dolby was in talking about his own instruments. Just think if he had tried to explain MIDI (in fairness, standardized evidently around the time of this recording). Not nearly as intuitive as other instruments, electronics has always been a lot to wrap your head around, even for the pros. Thomas was struggling explaining… everything. His befuddlement reflected the agonizing learning curve he must have gone through organizing this 1982 stage show.
Before Thomas got a record deal and didn't have much money he was building his own gear. He knew who's trash to look for cast offs and parts.He talks about it in his book "The Speed of Sound...." I found it at the library it was really entertaining. MIDI had been standardized and implemented for a couple years at this point. And polyphonic synths were around but very expensive.
ok, you show us how you try to explain your extensive synth rig in mere layman's terms *while* casually inventing a musical backdrop which is a) easy enough to follow, b) not boring and c) has some delicate ear candy for synth nerds tastefully sprinkled across, all without missing a beat. Take your time, I'll wait. 😂
I think you’re misunderstanding the situation. The term MIDI was just about to be standardized. At one point he says “tape” when referring to the computer system. He was likely accurate. At that time he was probably using a magnetic tape storage for the data. Flash memory, RAM, floppy and even disk drives were painfully small and even more painful in price. Also, as others have mention if he would have started blurting out words like MIDI or sequencers, etc. and everything else related it would have sounded even more foreign to a lay person.
I’m not sure there was even a standardized way of sequencing yet. Steinberg and Pro 16 was still a few years away. Cubase for Atari was released in the 1989. Basically, Dolby was probably one of the few experts in the field at this time. The last 40 years has had such rapid growth in music computer tech that people separated by short periods of time (5 to 8 years) from when they were born have a striking difference in their perception and understanding of its history.
At your age you should know better than to make such an uncharitable comment.
His main "struggle" was figuring out how to dumb it down enough for the usual interviewer ill-equipped to do the interview. I bet he set up the interviewer's highly technical demo of pressing some on and off buttons.
And now he has hair again!