Mark Mothersbaugh

In this video Mark Mothersbaugh is playing the DEVO song Patterns on an Omnichord OM-27

Mark Mothersbaugh is shown using the Moog Memorymoog synthesizer at the 1:10 mark in the article "Vintage Synthesizer Pr0n: The Gear of Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh" by Alan Cross on A Journal of Musical Things.

At 10:09, shown in the basement of Mutato Muzika. Mark has said that he really doesn't like this synthesizer, and couldn't really get much out of it other than the whip crack sound on "Whip It" and the "engine sound" on "Freedom of Choice" (although it toured with Devo during the 1979 and 1980 tours)

"Mark Motherbaugh's keyboard rig comprises a Korg microKORG synth, a Moog Voyager and original Minimoog."

Pictured: Mark's main Minimoog, with his performance notes plastered all over it.

The Minimoog Model D was one of Mark's main synthesizers for most of DEVO's career. It can be seen as early as 1973 (back when DEVO were called "Sextet Devo"). At some point in the mid-1970s, Mark had his Minimoog modified with a reverse sawtooth wave so that he could do the ascending sound in "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA". It remained in their performance synthesizer lineup until 1980. For New Traditionalists and Oh No! It's Devo, it was briefly replaced by a Moog Source. It was not seen on stage until 1990, when it was needed to play "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA". When the band reunited in 1996 (after breaking up in 1991), Mark began using this Minimoog along with a second one. It stayed that way until about 2006, when the main Minimoog was replaced with a Minimoog Voyager (the secondary Minimoog remains in use on the bottom of his keyboard stand; it's used for songs like "Don't Shoot, I'm A Man").

"The down side of technology, and having lots of it and collecting lots of it, is that you tend to not make up your own sounds any more, because it's easier. When I first noticed it was happening to me was with the DX7. I was really lousy at trying to program a DX7 when they first came out, and I ended up falling back on the pre?programmed sounds, and that's when I realised that I was being told what colours to use, what palette to use, by tech people somewhere in Japan."

Seen throughout the performance, Mark uses the DX100 for various lead sounds, one example is at 30:07, during Going Under, where he uses the DX100 as a keytar.

The Ondioline is seen at 4:50 in the video. Mark explains that while Devo was writing the Freedom of Choice album, they were rehersing in a store with painted windows, next door to Pink Floyd, who were rehearsing for an upcoming tour. Pink Floyd discarded the Ondioline, where Mark found it later. Notes from Pink Floyd remain on the instrument.

Seen at 3:03. Mark used it for practicing in hotel rooms because of the Sonic Six's compact, all in one, luggage style design.

In this 1979 video, Mark (in costume as Booji Boy) plays a Wasp during "The Words Get Stuck In My Throat". This Wasp was later used by Jerry Casale for synth bass on the Duty Now For The Future tour.

Around 31:00, Mark is talking about Raymond Scott and his electronium, telling the story of how he took possession of it.

Mark using his Odyssey Rev3 in 1980. Mark used this model Odyssey on the 1979 and 1980 tours. On the 1980 tour, two Odyssey Rev3s were used (see https://youtu.be/l1bNh-9Nj7U, around the 2:50 mark). The Odyssey shown in the image broke down in such a way that it produced sounds that you couldn't get out of it any other way. Devo used this to their advantage in songs such as "Gates of Steel" and "Pink Pussycat". They even had their technicians make sure it stayed broken so they could play such songs.

Mark is seen here with an ARP Odyssey Rev2 in this photo from 1976. This Odyssey appears to be a 1975 or 1976 model, since it is a MK2, but it doesn't have the CV/Gate inputs/outputs. This Odyssey was in use from 1975 or 1976 until 1979, when it was replaced with an Odyssey Rev3.

Mark and Jerry Casale are sitting in front of their Fairlight IIx in this video from 1984. The Fairlight IIx was used all over DEVO's 1984 album Shout (the album is almost completely composed of the factory sounds that came with the Fairlight), as well as TotalDevo from 1988 (although its use isn't near as prominent as it is on Shout; it was mainly used for sequencing). It can be heard on Mark's solo album Muzik for Insomniaks, released in 1988. The IIx sound "SWANEE" was used by Mothersbaugh in the theme song to the long-running Nickelodeon series Rugrats.

Pictured is Mark playing around with his EML 101 (connected to an EML PolyBox), sometime around 1978. I'm not sure if this made it onto any Devo recordings.

In this 1989 interview, Mark says the following about Plain Truth from Total Devo: "The opening percussive sound on that track is a combination of a Fairlight gamelan sample and something on a JX3P."

Mark Mothersbaugh is associated with the Oberheim TVS-1 Two Voice synthesizer, famously used in the soundtrack of "The Life Aquatic." This connection is demonstrated in a YouTube video.

In a YouTube video, Mark Mothersbaugh is seen using the Octave CAT synthesizer, a model known for its similarities to the ARP Odyssey, which led to legal action by ARP Synthesizers.

"Mark Motherbaugh's keyboard rig comprises a Korg microKORG synth, a Moog Voyager and original Minimoog."

Box for a Moog One synthesizer is found in the background during the opening segment of the video.

The Prophet 5 is on the left at 0:47. Devo is known to have used prophet synthesizers during the early 1980s, possibly including this very example.

At 4:14 and earlier in the video, the Hymnotron is a synth Mark shows in various studio tours. Usage of this synth is unknown.

In the YouTube video "Mark Mothersbaugh's tour of Mutato Muzika" by Keyboard Instrument Chops and Gear, Mark Mothersbaugh is shown with the EML Poly-Box at the 10:29 mark. This synthesizer has been featured in various live performances and in the Devo music video for "Come Back Jonee."

Mark is clearly seen playing a Moog Source in this video from 1981. He also used it during the 1982 tour. In 1982 or 1983, Moog Music released a Source data cassette that was programmed by Mark which featured Source sounds from New Traditionalists and Oh No! It's Devo, which is mentioned here: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7XqK8o5sYc/WLjD27eeCjI/AAAAAAAK28I/93aHZKnNsPcGOeNHW9wopC9iEHBt19kaACLcB/s1600/moog_source_drum_interface6.jpg

Mark playing a Roland Juno-106, with the "Roland" text partially taped over so it reads "ola". As far as I know, he only played this at a one-off DEVO concert at the grand opening of the Airstream Diner in Beverly Hills in 2002.

In this image of Mark in a mask taken during the "Shout" era (1983 or 1984), an Emulator can be seen on the far left, next to a Fairlight CMI. A LinnDrum can also be seen on the right, atop a Linn LM-1.

In a YouTube video, Mark Mothersbaugh is seen using the EMS Synthi AKS, the touch plate version of the Synthi A.

Mark Mothersbaugh uses the EMS VCS 3 synthesizer, as demonstrated in a YouTube video.

Mark Mothersbaugh received a Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin from Bob Moog after repeatedly inquiring about the completion of the first Theremin. This interaction is highlighted in a YouTube video.

Seen at 4:24. Mark doesn't explain the history or usage of this synthesizer.