hmm, i wonder if they compose on a Commodore 64?

[jbuonacc]

obviously they use other gear , but listen to these:

http://qotile.net/audio/cynth2.mp3
http://qotile.net/audio/cynth3.mp3

those are two demo clips for 'Cynthcart' which is a program for the c64's SID chip. i couldn't believe how 'boc' it sounded, i'm almost certain that they use some sort of SID synthesizer in their setup (whether it be a real c64, SIDstation, HardSID, QuadraSID, etc). never really thought of that before, even with the mod-tracker association in that one Old Tunes track...

[domco77]

Cool sample. Reminiscent of the Poppy Seed remix sound.

[BunnyRabbit]

Hmmm, I'm not totaly convinced, but, there's definitelya quality to those chords. Nice find.

[boardsofdublin]

yeah i would say they use the c64 a little bit, but i can also here other artist using the c64 aswell.

nice samples

[jbuonacc]

Hmmm, I'm not totaly convinced, but...

haha. i understand how skeptical we all are, i have almost no doubt. not to say they use it in every song, but i wouldn't be surprised if it's in there quite a bit. dead on.

[domco77]

The detuning effect on the Cynth3 sample is pretty BOC

[Lawrence]

I think the resemblance lies mostly in the detuning rather then it being a SID chip. Here are some SID tunes which don't really sound like BoC. In fact those are the only two which I've heard that do.

[jbuonacc]

exactly - i've heard tons of sidtunes and never thought about this before today. i'd say just about all those are purely sequenced which is the norm, but the Cynthcart treats the c64 as just a synthesizer that's playable from the keys. all you can do with it is play notes like a usual synth, so they couldn't (or at least didn't) do anything too complicated for the demos. i'm not sure i've ever heard it used like that before, although it's easy enough to do in lots of ways. most everyone just makes happy chiptunes with it.

it's definitely not just the detuning or the graininess to it. i've been listening to c64 tunes, sounds clips, and stuff over the past few days but when i heard this i immediately thought 'holy shit - that's it!' that sound is just too distinct, and it's easy to get detuned sounds like that on the c64. i've got one hooked up right here, but haven't tried to match their example.

i'll try to come up with a track that uses it, i want to say the opening of something off TCH actually. [oops, check out 'Skyliner'... almost no doubt. could be one of a number of SID emulations though.]

[edit: just noticed the extreme detuning in the second example. that's not quite what i was pointing out, but the sound of the synth itself. the first example is pretty much a dead giveaway though. listen to that fizz! ]

[thegr8brian]

possible secret weapon?

[polar sky]

I've used some c64 drums patches for my typea project. You can get them on ebay or at flea markets. Ebay sells a lot of used c64s.

Some screen caps of the programs c64 can use:

[polar sky]

obviously they use other gear , but listen to these:

http://qotile.net/audio/cynth2.mp3
http://qotile.net/audio/cynth3.mp3

those are two demo clips for 'Cynthcart' which is a program for the c64's SID chip. i couldn't believe how 'boc' it sounded, i'm almost certain that they use some sort of SID synthesizer in their setup (whether it be a real c64, SIDstation, HardSID, QuadraSID, etc). never really thought of that before, even with the mod-tracker association in that one Old Tunes track...

A little too 8-bit for boc. imo.

[mechanismj]

Yeah, BOC is more Lo-fi as opposed to straight up 8-bit, I for one see them making patches like the ones linked above using old analog equipment. However, thanks to the old tunes tapes and tracks like Apparatus, their possible involvement in the old mod tracker scene is definately debatable.

[domco77]

Looks like you could get some pretty cool stuff for the C64. Gutted I had a ZX Spectrum as a kid - not quite the same (although there was a rumour that Radiohead used a ZX Spectrum to make the blippy outro to "Let Down" but that could be BS!)

[domco77]

Yeah, BOC is more Lo-fi as opposed to straight up 8-bit, I for one see them making patches like the ones linked above using old analog equipment. However, thanks to the old tunes tapes and tracks like Apparatus, their possible involvement in the old mod tracker scene is definately debatable.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's "mod tracker" all about??

[mechanismj]

Back in the late 80's and early 90's, there was a music scene bubbling up known as the Mod or Demoscene. It often consisted of groups or teams who designed, coded, drew art, and made music for products like games or music demos, as well as participating in cracking software. The music was usually performed and programmed using computers and software known as trackers. Some programs of note include Amiga Pro Tracker, Scream Tracker 3, Impulse Tracker, and Fast Tracker 2.

There's a lot of really good music out there from the demoscene.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demoscene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracker

[polar sky]

Like BoC have said in interviews, most of the synths you think are synths in fact the very opposite! Guitars, Flutes, Organic Recordings and much more hands on instruments... I am still sticking with my idea that they use this:

YAMAHA CS-70M


Audio Track: Very BoC!
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?a ... c28621aeb5
The CS70M is a great big powerful polyphonic analog synthesizer which belongs to Yamaha's excellent line of CS series synthesizers. Fat sounds, cutting leads and bubbly basses, the CS70M has 6 voices of polyphony each supported by 2 oscillators for a total of 12 analog VCO's! It's got very flexible LFO, envelope and filter controls all of which sound really nice and smooth. The VCF filter has its own independent envelope control as well.

Truly a lush sounding instrument that would please anyone looking for that J.M Jarre or Tangerine Dream sound. Other features include a 4 track polyphonic sequencer, a 5 octave keyboard with aftertouch sensitivity and external magnetic data card memory storage. With only a slim 30 preset sounds that are mediocre, this is the kind of synthesizer that begs you to grab its knobs and start editing (that could possibly explain its big flashy knobs and buttons).

[mechanismj]

Yeah, that thing is truely a beast. Anything's possible. They haven't really counted anything out except modern computer hardware when asked about equipment and techniques they use.

I love the vintage synth explorer website!

[jbuonacc]

ok, after playing around a bit... i have come to the conclusion that not only do they definitely use the SID, but that most of those meandering interludes we all love were done on the c64 as well!! no doubt in my mind at least. i'm running 'Instant Music' right now by Electronic Arts ('86) which features a simple interface that allows you to simply drag notes across the screen for eight bars or whatever you'd like. i just did this using two of the three 'instruments' just dragging almost randomly for eight bars, and the result was interesting to say the least. instant BoC - genuine sound included. the problem with this program is that there's so few available parameters for the instruments, not sure why they had to dumb it down so much. even still, this was close enough, the C64 is warbling along like it's being fed through whatever secret sound techniques they supposedly use. it's all right here, i really can't believe nobody found this before.

and no, i'm not joking and i'm not shit out of my mind. i have no way to record the audio at the moment (though maybe i could try mic'ing it?), but i am not bullshitting about this.

if anyone is able to, try it out.

[polar sky]

I love the vintage synth explorer website!

Me too!

[polar sky]

ok, after playing around a bit... i have come to the conclusion that not only do they definitely use the SID, but that most of those meandering interludes we all love were done on the c64 as well!! no doubt in my mind at least. i'm running 'Instant Music' right now by Electronic Arts ('86) which features a simple interface that allows you to simply drag notes across the screen for eight bars or whatever you'd like. i just did this using two of the three 'instruments' just dragging almost randomly for eight bars, and the result was interesting to say the least. instant BoC - genuine sound included. the problem with this program is that there's so few available parameters for the instruments, not sure why they had to dumb it down so much. even still, this was close enough, the C64 is warbling along like it's being fed through whatever secret sound techniques they supposedly use. it's all right here, i really can't believe nobody found this before.

and no, i'm not joking and i'm not shit out of my mind. i have no way to record the audio at the moment (though maybe i could try mic'ing it?), but i am not bullshitting about this.

if anyone is able to, try it out.

Im sorry, but I doubt they use a SID. That just seems really dumb that they would use one, not saying it isn't possible but I think that they are much more organic. What makes you think this? Their a few/old tunes volumes? I think the SID sounds tooo 8-bit.

Aaaak anything is possible huh?