The best moments with Roland paraphonic string machines

This is my sort of tribute to one of the best paraphonic string machines: Roland VP-330 and RS-505 and the best artist who used VP-330 at best: Vangelis.

Both VP-330 and RS-505 are using exactly same basic sounds for strings but there's only subtle differences at chorus circuits.

This musical compilation is compiled from some of the best excerpts of Vangelis' VP-330 sounds that are also my favourite... from the dreamy soundscapes of antarctic echoes into dark and dramatic movement of soil festivies. The very first song is just absolutely stunning... who said that there's no place for electronic sounds in classical music? The excerpts are from the songs:

1. Mask - movement 1
2. Mask - movement 2
3. Mask - movement 6
4. Antarctica - Antarctic echoes
5. Soil Festivies - movement 4

Please enjoy! I certainly did!!!

P.S. Sorry that many pics twisted a bit because of the video editing which shrinked the pics into specific size.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roland
• VP-330
• RS-505
• paraphonic
• string
• machine
• vangelis
• tribute
• soil
• festivies
• mask
• antarctica
• new
• age
• ambient
• electronic

[AndroidStroll]

The Lexicon reverb was also an important part of Vangelis' sound, I'm sure it was used liberally on all of these tracks to add more ambience.

The CS80 was mainly used for the famous swelling Vangelis' brass solos, mono leads and the metallic Vangelis ring modulator sound. Most of the strings and the 'mellotron sounding' choirs were the VP330.

Does anyone know what tracks/sounds Vangelis used the Yamaha GX-1 on?

[AnalogyGuy]

@AndroidStroll Yes, the Lexicon 224 was what created the reverb for his sounds and is important part of them all. The sound of CS-80 is very thick and is less suitable as string sound but Vangelis used it for strings at the early albums like Spiral. After then he used VP-330 for all strings. LOL, Vangelis never owned GX-1, but 9 CS-80s!

[rubyconem]

Isn´t that on his CS-80?

[AnalogyGuy]

@rubyconem

No, Vangelis always used separeted string machine from very beginning of his career like Elka Rhapsody and Farfisa Synthorchestra before his VP-330

[zark212]

When you listen to this video you have to ask yourself if we really have progressed in modern keyboards, or are they a photocopy of what was once great. Long live Analog.

[mik300z]

Fabulous choice of Vangelis music!!! I had to think fast at the beginning of the vid to get mask. I think Mask is a difficult album. It can transcend the most beautiful warm feelings inside but if you hit play at the wrong point it can drive you mad...does that make sense? The vp330 505 strings will never be used so well ever again, thankyou thankyou analogy guy and Vangelis and Roland:):):):)

[DigitalStrings]

Very NICE and warm!!!

[Sjobeck7]

Heavenly soaring late 70's analog BLISS!!! I must ask you how you incorporated the angelic choir sounds....? Absolutely stunning through and through!!!

[SatrianiruleZ]

@mik300z wow, nice to see you here man! You're a legend.

[nocturn07]

Having played a CS80 briefly, I do hear a bit of it. But, I'm not here to argue. Fantastic job on this...simply awesome! No, I don't think we've progressed sound-wise on keyboards. They are simpler to use, and offer more arrangement possiblities, but raw sonic potential...no.

[Relaxicity]

@leefuji

And Soil Festivities, if you keep listening to this clip....

[Relaxicity]

@leefuji

This from Maske.