Voice for "I'm a Believer"?

[VilleGuy]

I have been looking (without success) for a voice that matches the keyboard intro voice for the Monkees hit "I'm a Believer." It's like a cross between an organ and a calliope.

Has anyone got a suggestion for this voice?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB9YIsKIEbA

[Ed B]

Hi
I use the "white barrs" organ voice seems close.
Regards
Ed B

[DrakeM]

S. Art! AllBarsOut

https://app.box.com/s/1txhzuos0a42hj9u3t0h7mpk8z9qww2r

Regards
Drake

[VilleGuy]

Ed: Thanks, I'll check that.

Drake: Thank you as well. That sound is close, but I'd like to get closer if possible.

This voice has been hard to track down. Ironic, because back in the 60s when this record was made  there weren't too many sounds available on the keyboards that were available for bands.

[overover]

Hi VilleGuy,

i guess, this sound is the "Flute" voice of a "Mellotron" (a Vintage "Tape Sampling Keyboard"):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N07-YAKtRAw&t=132


You can download this voice in .PPF format (for Tyros5, Genos, PSR-A3000, PSR-Sx7x and PSR-SX) from German CMS Sounddesign site (by Peter Schips). There is also an Audio Demo:

http://www.cms-sounddesign.de/page104_en.html

I just imported this .PPF Pack to YEM, double-clicked the voice "CMS Mellotron Flute" and played some keys (above C3) on the virtual keyboard in "Wave Assign" display. This could be sound that was originally used in that song. You could possibly add some distortion (Insert Effect) to make the sound even more authentic, but this voice should do the job ...


Best regards,
Chris

[VilleGuy]

Wow, thank you, Chris, I found several great keyboard voices on that page. It brought back memories of classic songs that featured the B3, Farfisa, Mellotron, etc.

Importing to YEM is beyond me at this point (newbie), plus I am a Mac user, so I am not able to use YEM until I get a Windows emulator (working on that).

But the sounds are great, so I look forward to adding them one day!

[DrakeM]

I went to the WIKI page for the song and it states that a Vox Continental organ was used.

I have a ear for guitar sounds, not much well versed on organ sounds.

Here is the link to the Vox Continental organ:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_Continental

Go down to the bottom of the page and you will find other songs this organ was used on.

[VilleGuy]

I think you nailed it, Drake. In my research I saw various keyboards suggested as the one used in the Monkees recording, but I did not see the Wiki listing you cited.

So now I will hunt for a Vox Continental voice! Thanks again.

Al

[DrakeM]

I found a "House of the Rising Sun" style and that one used the: "Cool! Organ" voice

[VilleGuy]

When I played in local rock bands in the late 1960s through 70s I never would have guessed that the Farfisa, Vox, Wurlitzer and Rhodes keyboards that everyone used would be revered as classics in future decades.

And of course few of us back then would ever have guessed that many of the Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and other guitars that passed through our hands would become highly sought-after collectibles!

[Bill]

Importing to YEM is beyond me at this point (newbie), plus I am a Mac user, so I am not able to use YEM until I get a Windows emulator (working on that).

You do not need to use a Windows Emulator. Yamaha provide a MAC Version of YEM.

Bill

[overover]

Wow, thank you, Chris, I found several great keyboard voices on that page. It brought back memories of classic songs that featured the B3, Farfisa, Mellotron, etc.

Importing to YEM is beyond me at this point (newbie), plus I am a Mac user, so I am not able to use YEM until I get a Windows emulator (working on that).

But the sounds are great, so I look forward to adding them one day!

Hi VilleGuy,

as Bill already wrote: There is also a MAC version of YEM:

https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/yem_mac.html


You can download the YEM Installation Guide and the YEM Owners Manual here:

https://usa.yamaha.com/support/manuals/index.html?l=en&c=keyboards&k=yamaha+expansion+manager


On YouTube you can find many videos about the YEM:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=yamaha+expansion+manager


P.S.
Yes, the keyboardist of the "Monkees" played a "Vox Continental" Organ on some old videos (starting in 1967, when the Monkees went on tour as a Band). But "I'm a Believer" was recorded before the Monkees "revolted" and took control of who played on their records. (Originally, the producer always included studio musicians in the recordings.)

Therefore, in my opinion, it is possible that the Organ part in "I'm a Believer" was NOT recorded by Stan Free and / or NOT on a "Vox Continental", but on a Mellotron, maybe by a studio musician.


P.P.S.
On the CMS site I linked before, there is also a "Vox Continental" Voice Pack. The first Voice in this Pack goes "in the right direction", but there is a (relativly loud) additional 5th in that sound ...


Best regards,
Chris

[VilleGuy]

Thanks again, Chris and Bill. Lots of good info here.
I've downloaded the Mac version of YEM and will try it.

Al