What keyboards do Coldplay use?

Agostino · 09-07-2012, 02:37 PM

I can't find anything about it on the net, I only noticed they use a Yamaha GT-20 and a pair of Korg Kontrol49 (a keyboard that I have!!!

)

Especially in the last albums with Brian Eno there are always some keyboard parts with stunning sounds...
For example, in In My Place I think I hear the famous Korg's "Distortion organ" preset, and the "Fix You" organ is so similar to the GarageBand's clonewheel...
The Viva la Vida keyboard sounds aren't familiar with me - I know Korgs wery well because they always have been my lead keyboards... but in Mylo Xyloto I can hear something that reminds me the OASYS or the Kronos...

I have found some photos like this one with a Yamaha CS80 analog synthesizer

...but I think they mainly used modern workstations.

What do you know about it, can anyone recognize which instruments have been used in their albums?
Thank you soooooooooo much!

86Timewarp · 09-07-2012, 08:46 PM

Edit: I thought you guys were talking about their instruments

Agostino · 09-07-2012, 09:01 PM

Yes, I saw there are millions of infos about the other instruments, from Chris' mics to Jonny's picks, but anything about the synthesizers used in studio and the ones controlled by the keyboards on the stage (the GT-20 and the Korgs)!!!

MosesTheMarshmallow · 09-07-2012, 11:43 PM

I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though.

fakfak · 10-07-2012, 04:41 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by MosesTheMarshmallow;5351908
I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though.

According to the little amount of info available on their studio gear, a lot of the synths and samples are either one off products, or things that have been heavily kit-bashed and customized out of existing stuff.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...id=31268882001

This interview is the most in depth stuff I've ever seen regarding their keyboard rig, but it's primarily live (and it's from the last tour.)

Agostino · 13-07-2012, 01:04 PM

Wow!! That's something I was looking for! Thank you!!

fakfak · 16-07-2012, 05:04 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Agostino;5355310
Wow!! That's something I was looking for! Thank you!!

Happy I could help. I know how frustrating it can be when you have gear questions.

bearcat1229 · 05-08-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by MosesTheMarshmallow;5351908
I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though.

The Kawaii is actually used in the studio. The "synthesizer" on stage is not actually a synthesizer, it is a MIDI controller. Specifically, a Korg KONTROL49. I did a lot of research on this last tour. The unit produces absolutely no sound, but sends signals to things that do. Whether that thing is a rack module or a computer program, I am not entirely sure.

The controller is actually pretty cheap ($400 range), but is absolutely worthless if you don't have anything to send it to and make sounds.

Agostino · 17-09-2012, 12:35 PM

I found in another thread this useful video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOQPKn7Vzv4

09-07-2012, 02:37 PM	#1
Agostino \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 26 My Mood: Location: Imperia Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	What keyboards do Coldplay use? I can't find anything about it on the net, I only noticed they use a Yamaha GT-20 and a pair of Korg Kontrol49 (a keyboard that I have!!!) Especially in the last albums with Brian Eno there are always some keyboard parts with stunning sounds... For example, in In My Place I think I hear the famous Korg's "Distortion organ" preset, and the "Fix You" organ is so similar to the GarageBand's clonewheel... The Viva la Vida keyboard sounds aren't familiar with me - I know Korgs wery well because they always have been my lead keyboards... but in Mylo Xyloto I can hear something that reminds me the OASYS or the Kronos... I have found some photos like this one with a Yamaha CS80 analog synthesizer ...but I think they mainly used modern workstations. What do you know about it, can anyone recognize which instruments have been used in their albums? Thank you soooooooooo much!

09-07-2012, 08:46 PM	#2
86Timewarp Billy N.™ the Coldplayer Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3,215 My Mood: Location: Traveling Through Time in a Goofy Lady's European Sports Car Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 94 Thanked 99 Times in 53 Posts	Edit: I thought you guys were talking about their instruments __________________ Ab, Eb/G, Bbsus4, Bb 2012 North American Ambassador 3rd Place Keeper of the Fix You Guitar Riff Last FM \| Thinking Music \| tumblr

09-07-2012, 11:43 PM	#4
MosesTheMarshmallow Coldplayer Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 721 My Mood: Location: Strawberry Swings Forever Gender: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts	I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though. __________________ Quote: Originally Posted by kover;4892162 y=mx+b

10-07-2012, 04:41 AM	#5
fakfak Coldplayer Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,914 My Mood: Location: Illinois Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 142 Thanked 94 Times in 79 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by MosesTheMarshmallow;5351908 I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though. According to the little amount of info available on their studio gear, a lot of the synths and samples are either one off products, or things that have been heavily kit-bashed and customized out of existing stuff. http://link.brightcove.com/services/...id=31268882001 This interview is the most in depth stuff I've ever seen regarding their keyboard rig, but it's primarily live (and it's from the last tour.)

16-07-2012, 05:04 AM	#7
fakfak Coldplayer Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,914 My Mood: Location: Illinois Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 142 Thanked 94 Times in 79 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by Agostino;5355310 Wow!! That's something I was looking for! Thank you!! Happy I could help. I know how frustrating it can be when you have gear questions.

09-07-2012, 09:01 PM	#3
Agostino \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 26 My Mood: Location: Imperia Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Yes, I saw there are millions of infos about the other instruments, from Chris' mics to Jonny's picks, but anything about the synthesizers used in studio and the ones controlled by the keyboards on the stage (the GT-20 and the Korgs)!!!

13-07-2012, 01:04 PM	#6
Agostino \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| \|!\|!\| Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 26 My Mood: Location: Imperia Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Wow!! That's something I was looking for! Thank you!!

05-08-2012, 05:38 PM	#8
bearcat1229 Coldplayer Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 243 Location: La Crosse, WI Gender: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by MosesTheMarshmallow;5351908 I've read they use a Kawaii MP-5 on stage (the purple synthesizer in Paradise, Lost, LIJ [in the VLV tour], and VLV). Wouldn't know about studio though. The Kawaii is actually used in the studio. The "synthesizer" on stage is not actually a synthesizer, it is a MIDI controller. Specifically, a Korg KONTROL49. I did a lot of research on this last tour. The unit produces absolutely no sound, but sends signals to things that do. Whether that thing is a rack module or a computer program, I am not entirely sure. The controller is actually pretty cheap ($400 range), but is absolutely worthless if you don't have anything to send it to and make sounds.