Graham Massey

A Korg DVP- 1 voice processor is used for "really cheesy 10cc-type vocal sounds", and the Roland JX8P is another favourite.

"There's a whacking bass on that. You have to doctor the pre-set, but it's got a gorgeous sound to it. It sounds very analoguey for a digital synth. It's got a warmth to it. The only other digital stuff we've got is a Bit One and a Bit 99, these weird Italian keyboards that Chase used to bring in, which are great for hard, digital sounds."

A Korg DVP- 1 voice processor is used for "really cheesy 10cc-type vocal sounds", and the Roland JX8P is another favourite.

"There's a whacking bass on that. You have to doctor the pre-set, but it's got a gorgeous sound to it. It sounds very analoguey for a digital synth. It's got a warmth to it. The only other digital stuff we've got is a Bit One and a Bit 99, these weird Italian keyboards that Chase used to bring in, which are great for hard, digital sounds."

"The only other digital stuff we've got is a Bit One and a Bit 99, these weird Italian keyboards that Chase used to bring in, which are great for hard, digital sounds."

When it comes to signal processors, the group haven't exactly gone overboard on the digital variety. A couple of MIDIverb IJs handle most of their reverb requirements, while a Yamaha REV7 is used for short pre-delays. A Yamaha SPX90, which Price and Massey characterise as "tinny", is confined to providing weird panning effects, while delays.come from a Korg DDL. In fact, the group are just as likely to turn to a variety of old guitar pedals for their effects.

The standard writing procedure is to demo the rough ideas either at home or in their 24-channel Allen & Heath GS3/Fostex E16 equipped facility.

"We use the internal sequencer and arpeggiator on the Memory Moog, and the arpeggiator on the Jupiter 8 for coming up with lines too. They're run off the [TR-]909 click trigger."

"We use the internal sequencer and arpeggiator on the Memory Moog, and the arpeggiator on the Jupiter 8 for coming up with lines too. They're run off the [TR-]909 click trigger."

"We've started to use the 2600 for synthesized drums too after we read about Vince Clarke making his own! And we use the old Pearl Syncussion unit too: we like sampling and layering sounds from that. You have to get a uniqueness to drums, 'cos that's something that always sounds the same on dance records."

"The cheesy strings on Lift [from Ex:El are a combination of ARP Quartet and FZ sample," says Graham. "The FZ samples seem to have far more character than the Akai. I'm leaning towards that machine nowadays, because of the lack of quality. It's not awful, it's just a difference in quality which we like."

"We have used Cubase live, but not on every night of a 54-date tour!" says Graham. "Last time we did a lot of dates, we did get a bit bored with always doing the same thing with DAT, so we took the Atari out and did a few introductory-type things with Cubase and the S1000."

"We have used Cubase live, but not on every night of a 54-date tour!" says Graham. "Last time we did a lot of dates, we did get a bit bored with always doing the same thing with DAT, so we took the Atari out and did a few introductory-type things with Cubase and the S1000."

ARP Axxe is included in the gear list.

E&MM Spectrum Synthesizer is included in the gear list.

Korg M1 is included in the gear list.

The standard writing procedure is to demo the rough ideas either at home or in their 24-channel Allen & Heath GS3/Fostex E16 equipped facility. From there they will invariably go and track the song at Vibes Studio in Oldham. "Vibes is a fairly cheap studio," explains Graham, "with an Amek Mozart and SuperTrue Automation. It's a system that we're used to now, and we've written that way for ages. Most groups - our contemporaries - write directly off the computer with a sampler. But we've always used tape and have only just started getting into writing on a computer. Its something we should have done a long time ago. It's important that we're all compatible so now we just take disks into the studio."

"We'll also play keyboards through amps - like an AC30 - to get a fucked-up sound."

"We're getting away from that a bit at the moment. The place we were working at then had a 1-inch 16-track with a real punchy sound to it. This is a B16, and since we got a bigger sampler - the S1100 - with a mammoth memory, we keep more on disc."

Roland SH 2000 ins included in the equipment list.

Moog Prodigy is included in the equipment list.

In the article "Art Of The State - 808 State" on 808state, Graham Massey is noted to have the Moog Rogue synthesizer in his equipment list.

Oberheim Matrix 1000 is included in the equipment list.

EDP Wasp is included in the equipment list.

Yamaha CS-30 is included in the equipment list.

Yamaha QY10 is included in the equipment list.

Casio CZ1000 is included in the equipment list.

Fender Rhodes MKII is included in the equipment list.

Hohner D6 Clavinet is included in the equipment list.

Hohner Clavinet C is included in the equipment list.

In the 808 State article "Art Of The State," it is mentioned that Graham Massey uses a Hohner Soprano Melodica as part of his equipment.

Vox Jaguar is included in the equipment list.