Stevie Wonder Collaborator Bill Wolfer Explains The Making Of "Happy Birthday" & "That Girl"
By JR on 11:32 PM
Filed Under: Bill Wolfer , In The Studio , Interviews (Video) , Pro Audio , Stevie Wonder
The Making Of "Happy Birthday" & "That Girl"
The Vision Behind the Sound
One of the key elements Bill highlights is the use of vocoders, which were relatively new at the time. Stevie's idea to run a vocoder into the Prophet 10 synthesizer was an innovative approach that opened up a world of possibilities. Bill explains how vocoders work and how they were used in "Happy Birthday" to create the unique quality of the sound.
Another crucial piece of equipment was the Prophet 10 synthesizer itself. Bill describes it as two Prophet 5s in one unit, with two keyboards and stereo output. This allowed for greater flexibility and control over the sound creation process.
Early Use Of The Drum Machine
The use of the Lyn LM-1 drum machine was also essential in creating the rhythm and groove of the song. Bill explains how Stevie programmed the beat on the LM-1 and how they used two vocoders to create a stereo effect, sending different sounds to each side of the stereo field.
Stevie's Innovative Use Of Sampling In Music
Bill also shares some interesting details about the sampling process, particularly the use of the Computer Music Melodian, the first sampler ever made. He describes the challenges they faced in sampling the bass line and the late-night call to Harry Mendel, the creator of the Melodian, to troubleshoot a glitch.
Conclusion
Overall, Bill's blog post provides a comprehensive and insightful look at the technical aspects of programming synthesizers for "Happy Birthday." He shares his expertise and passion for music with the reader, making the blog post both informative and engaging.
Here are some links to the gear that Bill speaks about:
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