Nitzer Ebb Synths?

[~TECHPO12]

Good old school true EBM not like most of the crap made these days passing as EBM. Anyways does anyone have any idea what synths these guys used for their bass lines? The same question for old Front 242 music. I've got to know. Any help would be great.

Techpo12

[~simulator]

Hello Techpo12,

Nitzer Ebb - I believe they used Oberheim synthesizers for their early recordings. That is not to say they didn't use other machines, like Moog, Roland or even Sequential Circuits, but I do recall Bon Harris mentioning about using Oberheim, (likely, the Xpander) for bass lines, (I asked him this same question when I had the chance to meet him). I also managed to find a link that gives additional information as to gear he has used more recently.

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/aug98/articles/bonharris.html

There is most likely additional websites and such, but I am not familiar with those just yet.

Front 242 - Patrick Codneys depended heavily on his E-MU Emulator II. I have an issue of Keyboard Magazine, and there is an interview with Patrick, and he mentions that much of their sound sources were sampled bits he had nicked from here and there, (including a tone sound that a machine made for blind people to know when it was safe to cross the street). Most likely, the bass line's sounds were made with analog synthesizers, (probably even the same as Nitzer Ebb used), but also, possibly some of the bass sounds were sounds stacked with other sounds that were originally sampled, (which is a lot like what Alan Wilder had done for DM recordings, and after having read that interview with Patrick, it was clear they respected Depeche Mode and the sounds they used). I don't have a website to offer, but maybe someone else will?

I agree, Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 were definitely some of the greatest EBM bands from yester-year, but do you also enjoy earlier Front Line Assembly albums, and earlier Skinny Puppy albums as well? How about the hybrid project of the two of them - Cyberaktif?

Take care,
Ross

[~arronc]

I dont have any inside information, but from listening to the records, the front 242 basslines from front by front definatly sound like FM synth to me, as do a lot of the tracks on the first ebb album.

"beleif" does sound like an expander though.

[~Sean X]

There's a full list of Front 242's set-up at their site - www.front242.com ... their fave synth is their Waldorf Microwave

[~mannikin]

Thanks for the great article on Bon Harris. :)
I've always wondered what happened to him, and just the other day, I was listening to some NE, and saying to myself "man, that guy could program such killer sequences!"
Great to know that he's been busy and creating.

Sorry I didn't have anything to contribute to the original question. :)

John


Originally posted by simulator
Hello Techpo12,

Nitzer Ebb - I believe they used Oberheim synthesizers for their early recordings. That is not to say they didn't use other machines, like Moog, Roland or even Sequential Circuits, but I do recall Bon Harris mentioning about using Oberheim, (likely, the Xpander) for bass lines, (I asked him this same question when I had the chance to meet him). I also managed to find a link that gives additional information as to gear he has used more recently.

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/aug98/articles/bonharris.html

There is most likely additional websites and such, but I am not familiar with those just yet.

Front 242 - Patrick Codneys depended heavily on his E-MU Emulator II. I have an issue of Keyboard Magazine, and there is an interview with Patrick, and he mentions that much of their sound sources were sampled bits he had nicked from here and there, (including a tone sound that a machine made for blind people to know when it was safe to cross the street). Most likely, the bass line's sounds were made with analog synthesizers, (probably even the same as Nitzer Ebb used), but also, possibly some of the bass sounds were sounds stacked with other sounds that were originally sampled, (which is a lot like what Alan Wilder had done for DM recordings, and after having read that interview with Patrick, it was clear they respected Depeche Mode and the sounds they used). I don't have a website to offer, but maybe someone else will?

I agree, Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 were definitely some of the greatest EBM bands from yester-year, but do you also enjoy earlier Front Line Assembly albums, and earlier Skinny Puppy albums as well? How about the hybrid project of the two of them - Cyberaktif?

Take care,
Ross