Synths in TV and Film
1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Synths: ARP 2500 played by Phillip Dodds, head of ARP Engineering, Yamaha CS-?.
2. Fame
Synths: ARP 2600, MOOG Minimoog
3. Brainstorm
Synths: Triadex Muse
4. High Fidelity '82 (more info on this one here).
Synths: Yamaha ?
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Synths: Emulator II
Image via idiotsavant
6. Beat Street
Synths: Prophet 5, Synclavier, ARP 2600, MOOG Memorymoog
7. Krush Groove
Synths: DX-7 and Linn Drum
8. Better Off Dead
Synths: Juno-106
9. Tango & Cash
Synths: EMS Synthi.
10. Sneakers
Synths: JX3p and SCI Prophet (2002?), Akai DD1000?
11. Lipstick
Synths: EMS VCS3 (wall of ~6 of them)
12. Running Man
Synths: Yamaha GX-1
13. Phantom of Paradise
Synths: Tonto
image via commeaucinema
15. La Boum II
Synths: Drum synth - most likely ROLAND CR-8000 CompuRhythm
16. Contact
Synths: Eventide (H3000?).
17. American Anthem
Synths: room full of various synths
18. Flight of the Conchords
Synths: Minimoog and a few others at around 2:00 on the video.
19. Mighty Boosh Season 2 Episode 2 Priest and the Beast 1 of 3
Synths: misc
20. Big Train Keith Emerson Sketch (previously posted)
Synths: misc including SCI Prophet 5, Roland Alpha Juno, Korg Z1
21. Big Train does Roxy Music (previously posted)
Synths: MOOG Minimoog
22. The Shout (1981)
Synths: EMS gear, probably just about everything EMS made at the time
23. Stealth
Synths: Korg KP2s in the command center
24: Masters of the Universe live action movie
Synths: Casio MT-210
25. One Perfect Day (2004)
Synths: Yamaha RS7000, Motif
26. "The Conversation" with Gene Hackman
Synths: EMS VCS3 or a synthi A
27. Revenge of the Nerds
Synths: Roland cr-5000
28. Chain Reaction
Synths: Ensoniq EPS sampler. EPS makes a cameo as a nuclear fusion reaction stabilizer. Not bad for a humble 12-bit sampler.
29. Howard the Duck
Synths: Roland TR-707 and MSQ-100
Note: I'm only listing the synths here. Check out the comments for more details on some. Inspired by the previous post. I want to create a list of film and TV that featured synths in it. Feel free to add to the list in the comments and I'll update the post. If you have a picture or video great, if not, no worries. Note I'm looking for stuff were the synth isn't the focus, but rather makes a cameo. Also, this isn't a top 10 list, so don't take the numbering into consideration.
Update: via Max in the comments:
Snuff Box - Empty Room
YouTube via Exulus
The 10 Greatest Sounds from Star Wars
See this post for more info.
See the ARP 2600 in "Et la tendresse?... Bordel!"
via synthetic in the comments of this post: "Neil Diamond's "The Jazz Singer" was on cable a few days ago and the synth player was rockin' an ARP Quadra. I think I saw a String Ensemble in there too. The last concert scene, "Fahhh, we've been travelin' faaahhh..."
via Khoral
"Fun shot of a Prodigy from "Mr Monk goes to a rock concert", episode 8, season 5.
Not very good quality... if somebody has the dvd, there's surely a better screenshot to do...
Cheers
Khoral"
More "Gord" this time via Christian Rock Hard!
via Mr. Array.
Bottom shot is from another episode. Not sure which one, but I'm guessing that's the Jonas Brothers. Update via the comments: it's from "The Ring"
South Park, "Fishsticks."
Paul Shaffer on Letterman with a mutated Moog Voyager and a "Gerg."
The episode is available via South Park Studios online. Direct link here. The scene comes in at 3:21. via Mr. Array.
Note the South Park label below. Click on it. Someone at South Park knows their synths. :)
via Computer Controlled on the AH mailing list:
"Spotted a MiniMoog and a Theremin on L&O last night. Nnice little surprise =o]"
and via analog-jeff:
"HI yeah I saw that too,, I thought it was pretty cool.. the guy was playing
the theramin and switching switches on the minimoog..:) cya analog-jeff"
Synths: ARP 2500 played by Phillip Dodds, head of ARP Engineering, Yamaha CS-?.
2. Fame
Synths: ARP 2600, MOOG Minimoog
3. Brainstorm
Synths: Triadex Muse
4. High Fidelity '82 (more info on this one here).
Synths: Yamaha ?
5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Synths: Emulator II
Image via idiotsavant
6. Beat Street
Synths: Prophet 5, Synclavier, ARP 2600, MOOG Memorymoog
7. Krush Groove
Synths: DX-7 and Linn Drum
8. Better Off Dead
Synths: Juno-106
9. Tango & Cash
Synths: EMS Synthi.
10. Sneakers
Synths: JX3p and SCI Prophet (2002?), Akai DD1000?
11. Lipstick
Synths: EMS VCS3 (wall of ~6 of them)
12. Running Man
Synths: Yamaha GX-1
13. Phantom of Paradise
Synths: Tonto
image via commeaucinema
15. La Boum II
Synths: Drum synth - most likely ROLAND CR-8000 CompuRhythm
16. Contact
Synths: Eventide (H3000?).
17. American Anthem
Synths: room full of various synths
18. Flight of the Conchords
Synths: Minimoog and a few others at around 2:00 on the video.
19. Mighty Boosh Season 2 Episode 2 Priest and the Beast 1 of 3
Synths: misc
20. Big Train Keith Emerson Sketch (previously posted)
Synths: misc including SCI Prophet 5, Roland Alpha Juno, Korg Z1
21. Big Train does Roxy Music (previously posted)
Synths: MOOG Minimoog
22. The Shout (1981)
Synths: EMS gear, probably just about everything EMS made at the time
23. Stealth
Synths: Korg KP2s in the command center
24: Masters of the Universe live action movie
Synths: Casio MT-210
25. One Perfect Day (2004)
Synths: Yamaha RS7000, Motif
26. "The Conversation" with Gene Hackman
Synths: EMS VCS3 or a synthi A
27. Revenge of the Nerds
Synths: Roland cr-5000
28. Chain Reaction
Synths: Ensoniq EPS sampler. EPS makes a cameo as a nuclear fusion reaction stabilizer. Not bad for a humble 12-bit sampler.
29. Howard the Duck
Synths: Roland TR-707 and MSQ-100
Note: I'm only listing the synths here. Check out the comments for more details on some. Inspired by the previous post. I want to create a list of film and TV that featured synths in it. Feel free to add to the list in the comments and I'll update the post. If you have a picture or video great, if not, no worries. Note I'm looking for stuff were the synth isn't the focus, but rather makes a cameo. Also, this isn't a top 10 list, so don't take the numbering into consideration.
Update: via Max in the comments:
Snuff Box - Empty Room
YouTube via Exulus
The 10 Greatest Sounds from Star Wars
See this post for more info.
See the ARP 2600 in "Et la tendresse?... Bordel!"
via synthetic in the comments of this post: "Neil Diamond's "The Jazz Singer" was on cable a few days ago and the synth player was rockin' an ARP Quadra. I think I saw a String Ensemble in there too. The last concert scene, "Fahhh, we've been travelin' faaahhh..."
via Khoral
"Fun shot of a Prodigy from "Mr Monk goes to a rock concert", episode 8, season 5.
Not very good quality... if somebody has the dvd, there's surely a better screenshot to do...
Cheers
Khoral"
More "Gord" this time via Christian Rock Hard!via Mr. Array.
Bottom shot is from another episode. Not sure which one, but I'm guessing that's the Jonas Brothers. Update via the comments: it's from "The Ring"
South Park, "Fishsticks."
Paul Shaffer on Letterman with a mutated Moog Voyager and a "Gerg."
The episode is available via South Park Studios online. Direct link here. The scene comes in at 3:21. via Mr. Array.
Note the South Park label below. Click on it. Someone at South Park knows their synths. :)
via Computer Controlled on the AH mailing list:
"Spotted a MiniMoog and a Theremin on L&O last night. Nnice little surprise =o]"
and via analog-jeff:
"HI yeah I saw that too,, I thought it was pretty cool.. the guy was playing
the theramin and switching switches on the minimoog..:) cya analog-jeff"
Posts
44 comments:
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Emulator II:
http://www.idiotsavant.com/bueller/pictures/ferris03.jpg
In the movie Beat Street, there is a Prophet 5 and i believe a Synclavier, as well as a 2600.
re; Beat Street:
There is also a MemoryMoog, and i think a few other analogues. Let's see... Krush Groove, DX-7 and Linn Drum. Better Off Dead there is a Juno-106 during the High School Dance scene.
In Howard the Duck theres a Tr 707 and an old sequencer..a msq 700 i believe.
Tango & Cash = EMS Synthi.
Sneakers = JX3p and SCI Prophet in rack.
I remember a movie "Lipstick" with a scene with a VCS3 wall (I think 6 of them IIRC)
In the movie "Running Man" there is a Yamaha GX-1
ChamomileShark says. I watched an obscure french movie where the central character was an electronic music composer. I think he was with a VCS3. well, he was accused of rape, in the court they played his "crazy music" to show how he was a disturbed person and not the nice person he presented himself to be. Yes really, and it irritates me to this day.Ho hum.
Brian De Palma's "Phantom of Paradise" featuring Tonto
A Sci-Fi movie or TV-series from the 70´s has a EMS Synthi 100. It was a famous actress in a fancy spaceoutfit resting her arm on the Synthi. I think that pic was up here for a year ago or so. Otherwise it´s somewhere on the net. I´d like to see that again.
In the French movie "La Boum II" there is a scene with a Drum Computer on a grand piano. It is most likely a ROLAND CR-8000 CompuRhythm.
In "Miami Vice" once Crocket and Tubbs run into a flat where some equipment shows up, including a synth...
Georg.
I think that your "obscure french movie" is "lipstick" (the story is the same)
with mariel and margaux hemingway
Contact from 1997 with Jodie Foster had an Eventide unit cameo (H3000?). I don't remember if it was actually used, or only appeared in the background.
I remember in an obscure old '80s HBO-fodder crapfest called "Gymkata" there was a nerdy friend who made the synth pop music the hot babe lead character did her routine to at the big finale.
He had a room full, FULL, of sexy synth gear. I'm not even going to bother YouTubing it... seems too obscure even for YT.
Woah! I remember "Gymkata". Some karate guy had to beat up some folks in an obstacle course of death. I was too young when I saw it to notice the synths, though.
Hang on, I was totally wrong. It wasn't "Gymkata." After a little creative Googling I determined it was "American Anthem" from 1986. The girl's best friend was in a wheelchair and she'd go and visit him periodically in his almighty synth pit bedroom.
Not a YouTube trailer for it to be found, unfortunately, and it ain't even on Netflix. The good newsd is there's no fewer than 24 used VHS copies for sale on Amazon, but I can't bring myself to believe this subject has quite enough merit to buy one & grab the synth part. Dangit, I guess I'm just not hardcore.
In "Sneakers", they had a SCI rack sampler (Prophet 2002?) that they used to analize a sound bite.
youll have to check me on these :
gremlins - gismo sings along to a vl tone?
electric dreams - some stuff . ;)
beat street is the best ., he breaks the synclavier :)
thats going to cost a LOT to repair !
"In "Sneakers", they had a SCI rack sampler (Prophet 2002?) that they used to analize a sound bite."
Actually I seem to remember that was an Akai DD1000 - one of their super samplers intended for audio recording... I remember thinking it was the wrong tool for the job, but it looked cool.
Flight of the Conchords - Minimoog and a few others at around 2:00 on the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RC0DdrHbGg
List updated. Dave, thanks for the Gymkata. Tortured myself a bit trying to find a video with the pit. Gymnastics and Karate. Nice.
Ha Ha I just watched Tango and Cash the other week and spotted the Synthi. Ahh Tango and Cash, Cash and Tango to mice in a maze...
oops missed a W
#14 (Purple Haired Ladies) is from Gerry Anderson's 'U.F.O.'
http://ufoseries.com/
The Purple wigged women are from the UK Series U.F.O. which did not make use of any expensive modular synths as props. I have the original pic this one was doctored from somewhere in my collection, but I'm too busy to look for it at the moment. The following link features several shots with the actual console from the show.
http://www.framecaplib.com/annual/ufolib/top.htm
BTW, Wasn't there also a Prophet 5 in the Masters of the Universe movie?
Thanks. Pulled it from the list. Here's a link to the old post for anyone that missed it.
I remember that there was also an yamaha CS-* in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
It was in the lab sequence where they were analyzing the sounds.
"revenge of the nerds"?
I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet, must be too obscure.
The Shout (1981)
Staring Alan Bates, John Hurt, Susannah York.
John Hurt and his wife (Susannah York) live is a small English country village where John is the town's church organist. One day Alan Bates shows up unannounced, and invites himself to lunch. He tells John that he spent several years in the outback of Australia learning the secrets of the Aborigines magical practices, including a shout that will kill.
Well it turns out that John's character isn't just an organist, he's actually an electronic music composer and the organ gig is his day job. There are several shots of his studio which is made up almost entirely of EMS gear, probably just about everything EMS made at the time. I have the film on video, I'm digitizing it right now, I'll post some stills from the film later.
that crap movie Stealth with Jamie Foxx and Jessica Biel flying planes (and there was the main guy, but I don't know his name). In the command center they had a bunch of Korg KP2s sitting there looking cool. They never touched them though.
Masters of the Universe live action movie had a Casio MT-210
Here's a link to a small pic of TONTO from Phantom of the Paradise
http://www.commeaucinema.com/images/galerie/big/5684_PHANTOM-OF-THE-PARADISE-04%5B.jpg
In the Hammer House of Horror TV episode Witching Time, Jon Finch plays a soundtrack composer with a stack of (EMS?) synths ...
C'thulhu
I'm not sure if showcasing a 1000 synthesizers in a movie could save that stink-bomb known as Lipstick, It's without question the most offensive depiction of electronic music composers I've ever seen in a movie in MY LIFE. Total garbage! A curse forever on those that created this piece of crap!... Oh yeah, the star did kill herself... so we're off to a good start.
Well, its more of a documentary than a movie, but in the DJ documentary "scratch" there is a part where they interview the owner of asphodel records and in the background there is a wall of Serge panels.
One Perfect Day (2004) Best part was seeing the Yamaha RS7000 in it, even if it wasn't being used at all. I think it had a Motif or two too, but I couldn't say which? More toward the end, its a yawner though if you can make it that far in to it, I warned you.
Zam
I remember there being either a VCS3 or a synthi A in "The Conversation" with Gene Hackman. It was in one of the scenes that showed his caged-in working area.
there's a roland cr-5000 in revenge of the nerds:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SkzAJs7NutM
This is one of those "if I remember correctly" things, cause I saw this movie quite long time ago:
In Keanu Reeves movie Chain Reaction there is a Ensoniq EPS sampler. EPS makes a cameo as a nuclear fusion reaction stabilizer. Not bad for a humble 12-bit sampler.
Thanks. Last round updated. Regarding the DJ documentary, I'm leaving those out otherwise stuff like Modulations, the MOOG movie, and other documentaries come in. I also left out the Dr. Who soundtrack documentaries previously posted for example. I'm looking for stuff you wouldn't expect to see synths in. Stuff that surprises you a little and you end up thinking, "no way, that was a [insert synth name]." The two guys lugging the ARP 2600 and Minimoog in Fame for example. I had no idea that was in there. Smaller stuff of course is ok as well.
I remember this one movie with Ben Stiller in it. He played a junkie (i think) and was renting a room from a friend. It had a Korg MS-10 and i think a Bass Station KB . Permanent Midnight?
Howard the Duck's appartment scene has the tr-707 and a msq100 sequencer but don't remember which synth he's playing on.
hey hey hey wheres the love for macgyver with his torure device the vcs 3
How about this.
From UK Comdey Show called Snuff Box
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwyj3D13QhA
Max Syrus
Liquid Sky
roland cr 78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv0PYG1g_iY
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