Yazoo – Don’t Go (40 Anniversary Analog Remake)

Patrik (I do synths) shared this 40th anniversary take on the classic Yaz/Yazoo synth pop track, Don’t Go.

Yaz/Yazoo was an English synth-pop duo, consisting of original Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke on keyboard and Alison Moyet on vocals.

This version keeps the powerful Moyet vocals, but remakes the music using a variety of modern analogue synths and hardware sequencers. A Behringer 2600 is used for the lead/hook (patch here), along with dual Elektron Analog Four keyboards, a Moog Minitaur bass synthesizer and a Sequential Prophet X.

Here’s what they shared about the technical details:

:: SYNTHS
Behringer 2600 Blue Marvin:
Lead/hook, Kick, Hats, Toms

Sequential Prophet X:
Swells, Brass, Bridge lead + sync

Elektron Analog Keys:
Arps, Snares

Moog Minitaur:
Bass

:: SEQUENCING & ARRANGEMENT
Sequenced by Elektron Analog Keys (x2) and recorded as separate stems into Elektron Octatrack where final arrangement took place.

:: RECORDING
Multitracked to Presonus Studio One Pro through a Midas Venice 320, using onboard eq and a bit of Kurzweil Rumour, Behringer V-Verb and Elektron Analog Keys FX.

:: MIXING
Mixed in Presonus Studio One using Softube Console One & Fader with SSL 4000, Tape, a bit of FabFilter Pro-Q3, Brainworx BX Digital V3, Valhalla Vintageverb and Ozone 9.

All individual tracks are pitched 40 cents in Studio One to match Alison’s vocals (which are pitched high, possibly related to tape sync/speed or vinyl pressing).

20 thoughts on “Yazoo – Don’t Go (40 Anniversary Analog Remake)

    1. Thanks for watching! Main driving force behind this was to celebrate the 40th anniversary and see how close I could come with the lead sound – using a modern clone of the original (Arp 2600). When I felt that came along quite nicely, I got interested to see how faithful I could be to the overall feel of the original while still using the modern hardware synths I’ve got (ie not getting a Pro-1 again or the 808 and possibly RSF Kobol). The track’s had a huge impact on me since childhood, so I quite enjoyed “documenting” it this way ?.

    2. Thanks for watching! Main driving force behind this was to celebrate the 40th anniversary and see how close I could come with the lead sound – using a modern clone of the original (Arp 2600). When I felt that came along quite nicely, I was interested to see how faithful I could be to the feel of the original while still using the modern hardware synths I’ve got (ie not getting a Pro-1 again or the 808 and possibly RSF Kobol). The track’s had a huge impact on me since childhood, so I quite enjoyed “documenting” it this way ?.

    1. The lead sound was Daniel Miller’s Arp 2600 and the snares came from the TR-808. It’s safe to say that the Pro-1 was used for majority of the rest (surely bass) but it seems hard to know exactly (RSF Kobol was there in the studio and since it’s used on Only You it could also been used here).

  1. @Moddy Leads and bass: Sequential Pro-One. Bassdrum and arps: ARP 2600. Other drums: Roland TR-808 & possibly Linndrum LM-1.

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