Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom Petty

Everything about the Nord Electro 2, Electro 3, Electro 4, Electro 5, and Nord Electro 6.
bkirtland1
Posts: 1
Joined: 21 Oct 2022, 06:31
1
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6

Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom Petty

Post by bkirtland1 »

I just got an Electro 6D for a Tom Petty Tribute Band I just joined. This band wants to sound as close to original as possible. Is there a forum where folks have figured out synth, piano and organ settings to match well known rock songs? Especially on the Nord? Some Petty songs are easy, but I am struggling with "Love is Long Road." Would appreciate any resources folks could offer to match the originals of Petty and other great rock bands. Thanks in advance!
User avatar
Gambold
Posts: 520
Joined: 22 Jan 2019, 14:48
5
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Has thanked: 120 times
Been thanked: 214 times

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by Gambold »

Benmont Tench is a fine keyboardist to emulate - although I don't think he was that complicated when it came to choosing sounds. He pretty much stuck to Hammonds, Wurlis, and acoustic keyboards. Here are some videos to get an idea of what kind of player he was and what he played:





Nord Electro 6D
Korg SV-2
Yamaha P22
IK Uno Synth
User avatar
analogika
Posts: 3294
Joined: 21 Nov 2013, 10:02
10
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Has thanked: 1128 times
Been thanked: 1400 times

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by analogika »

„Love is a long road“ is some digital synth. A DX7 will probably get close, though it might be some D-50 preset I’m not familiar with. Looking through the sounds in the Library, it seems you could get pretty close with the „FM Keys 3“ sample from here:

https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-lib ... y-40/synth

Maybe turn down the filter a bit to soften the attack slightly. But you ought to be able to pass the sample off as „close enough“, methinks.
The Nord giveth; the Nord taketh away…
"The Angels of Libra are in the European vanguard of the [retro soul] movement“ (Bill Buckley, Soul and Jazz and Funk)
The Drawbars — off jazz organ trio
User avatar
FZiegler
Donator
Posts: 2386
Joined: 15 Dec 2019, 02:41
4
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Location: Germany south-west
Has thanked: 633 times
Been thanked: 796 times
Contact:

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by FZiegler »

Interesting: That "FM Keys3" isn't part of the Sample Lib 3 - so the Sample Lib 4 now seems to offer additional sounds (from the NW2 in this case?). Or can you find it elsewhere? In any case, a v.4 sample won't fit into a NE6.
Last edited by FZiegler on 26 Oct 2022, 12:50, edited 1 time in total.
Stage 3 Compact (Rev.B 2.1 - OS 2.60) - Kawai VPC1 / Yamaha CP33 - Hall of Fame & NeoVent2 - Behringer Flow-8 - K&M stands 18820+18811 / 18953+18952 - Samsung tablet with MobileSheetsPro & AirTurn Duo200 - QSC K8.2s / Fischer InEars
User avatar
analogika
Posts: 3294
Joined: 21 Nov 2013, 10:02
10
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Has thanked: 1128 times
Been thanked: 1400 times

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by analogika »

Oh. You’re right! Interesting.

They’d better get on with Sample Lib 4 support for the Electro 6/Stage 3, I suppose.
The Nord giveth; the Nord taketh away…
"The Angels of Libra are in the European vanguard of the [retro soul] movement“ (Bill Buckley, Soul and Jazz and Funk)
The Drawbars — off jazz organ trio
nateholt75
Posts: 7
Joined: 04 Dec 2010, 03:51
13
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by nateholt75 »

Yes, pretty sure Benmont stuck with presets on songs he strayed from acoustic/electro-mechanical pianos and organ. Don't Come Around Here No More is just a string preset on the DX7, and pretty certain You Got Lucky is a preset as well. The way they're mixed can make it difficult to emulate to a T but presets for that stuff Love Is A Long Road etc will do a lot of the work for you :)
TnJedHead
Posts: 2
Joined: 13 Feb 2022, 20:51
2
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 2

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by TnJedHead »

For the record, Gambold is right, Benmont stuck to the classics. It was Mike Cambell (guitar player) who wrote every synth part from You Got Lucky to all tracks on Full Moon Fever. So nateholt75 is also right, except it was Mike who stuck to the basic sounds on the DX7.
TnJedHead
Posts: 2
Joined: 13 Feb 2022, 20:51
2
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 2

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by TnJedHead »

Oh, and I’m also trying to figure out this sound on either a LA1 or a E6D. I’ve tried and tried creating it from scratch on the LA1 to no avail. I wish some much more talented synth patch creator would figure out all those classic DX7 sounds and post them. Hint, hint.
User avatar
harmonizer
Posts: 509
Joined: 25 Dec 2012, 17:10
11
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 3
Location: NJ, USA
Has thanked: 72 times
Been thanked: 128 times

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by harmonizer »

My favorite "Classic Albums" documentary is the one covering the Tom Petty album "Damn The Torpedos". I occasionally see "Classic Albums" episode reruns pop up on cable.
A small snippet from that documentary covering Benmont's keys playing for "Here Comes My Girl" can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3N5jZTLYyw
User avatar
Ed On Keys
Posts: 2
Joined: 27 Feb 2024, 02:55
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 3
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Piano 4
Location: Manchester, NH
Has thanked: 3 times

Re: Figuring settings to match Rock Songs - Especially Tom P

Post by Ed On Keys »

I also just joined a Tom Petty tribute band and am trying to get all the sounds right. I found some great information on draw bar settings but I'm wrestling with a few of the synth sounds. Do you have any tips on Kings Highway? I'm trying to recreate it on a synth and then import a sample but I'm struggling with getting the sound right.
Post Reply