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My Favorite Machines

Some of the instruments I use in my video game remixes. Please note that unless otherwise noted, I do not own the actual hardware, but I do own their respective software emulations.

Favorite machine #8: Yamaha YPG-235 (2009). This is a keyboard - or "Portable Grand Piano," as Yamaha calls it - that I received a year ago for free from my brother's girlfriend. They were moving across town from a smaller apartment to a larger one, and at that time, she said that she had a Roland digital piano on order for the new apartment. The sustain pedal that she included is an M-Audio "M Gear" SP-2, which is a finely-constructed, rugged, piano-style pedal that's got a good amount of heft to it, and the rubber underside makes the pedal very difficult to move across even a hardwood floor. The pedal also features a polarity switch that allows you to adapt the pedal to work with any keyboard or synthesizer you wish. This is a steep upgrade from the YPT-220 that I previously owned; the YPG-235 has at least 150 more sounds and accompaniment styles, the ability to record directly to the keyboard's flash memory, a pitch bend wheel, and velocity responsive, non-weighted keys. There is a USB type B connector on the back of the unit that works as both a MIDI interface and a data transfer port, which also allows you to transfer MIDI files to and from your computer using the Yamaha MusicSoft music management software.Favorite machine #7: Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus (1979). It's a string ensemble synthesizer. It's a vocoder, which can make your voice sound almost robotic. Actually, it's both of these. The effect you're thinking of, that Kanye West and T-Pain use, is called auto-tune, which digitally corrects the pitch of the human voice. Vocoders, on the other hand, shape loudness and timbre around the signals of any audio device that's plugged into it, whether it's a microphone, an electric guitar, or even a LinnDrum. Among other songs, the Roland VP-330 can be heard in "Technopolis" and "Absolute Ego Dance" by Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), and "Mr. Roboto" by Styx.Favorite Machine #6: Yamaha YPT-220 (2008). So yeah, this was the keyboard that I played on a regular basis. It may have been an entry-level keyboard, but it had a lot of nice features, presets, and even some on-board audio effects like reverb, flanging, chorus, and true stereo sound. With the recommended adapter (sold separately), it can be connected to any USB-equipped computer for even more versatility. Unfortunately, it has neither touch response (like on a piano), or any special controls (like pitch bend wheel), but the lack of such features didn't really concern me. I'd say it was the best $60 I had ever spent on a keyboard at a surplus store. After upgrading to a better keyboard with more features, I decided to donate the YPT-220 to a local Goodwill, but I've hung onto my MIDI adapter in case I would buy a drum machine with MIDI, or a MIDI synthesizer module, such as a Roland MT-32, Roland SoundCanvas, or Yamaha XG hardware synthesizer.Favorite machine #5: Yamaha DX7 (1983). One of the most widely used synthesizers of the 1980s, the DX7 uses FM synthesis, which incidentally is also used in the Sega Genesis. Its most recognizable sounds are an electric piano and synthesized bass, among other sounds. The DX7 happens to be the nerve center of 95% of my video game remixes. I so want one of these in real life...Favorite machine #4: Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer (1982). This is THE drum machine used in many hip-hop and rap songs recorded from the 1990s to the present day. Along with its successor, the TR-909, the 808 was also extensively used by Phil Collins, among other rock musicians.Favorite machine #3: Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer (1984). Heard in countless techno tracks from between 1984 and the present day.Favorite machine #1: Linn Electronics LM-1 (1979). This is one of the machines that started the revolution of digitally-sampled drum sounds. Most notably used by Prince, Jean-Michel Jarre, Human League, and others. Along with its successor, the LinnDrum, I use this beast a lot for the rhythm sections on my video game remixes.Favorite machine #2: Linn Electronics LinnDrum (1982). One of the "essential" drum machines used in countless synth pop songs in the 1980s.

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