True Faith's Drum Machine: Exploring The Band's Rhythm Secrets

New Order's True Faith is one of the band's most popular songs, and it was produced with a wide range of electronic musical equipment. While the song does not feature real drums, drummer Stephen Morris did bring his kit into the studio so that live hi-hat and cymbals could be integrated into the song. Producer Stephen Hague also brought his own E-mu SP12 drum machine.

The drum sound in 'True Faith' was created using a drum machine

The drum sound in New Order's "True Faith" was created using a drum machine. The song was produced by Stephen Hague, who brought his own E-mu SP12 drum machine to the recording sessions. Hague recalled that "all the drum tracks on both ["True Faith" and "1963"] were done in the SP12".

The SP12 was a pattern-based, MIDI-less drum machine. It was released in 1985, two years before "True Faith" was recorded. It was the successor to the E-mu Drumulator, which was used on New Order's previous album, "Low-Life".

In addition to the SP12, the "True Faith" sessions also featured an E-mu Emulator II sampler, which was used to create the pad sound that "sort of [formed] the harmonic backbone for the track and the chord changes".

The drum machine was an SP12, provided by producer Stephen Hague

The drum machine used in the song "True Faith" by New Order was an SP12, provided by producer Stephen Hague. It was one of the pieces of equipment that Hague brought to the recording sessions, along with an E-mu Emulator II sampler.

The SP12 was a pattern-based, MIDI-less drum machine. According to Hague, "all the drum tracks on both ["True Faith" and "1963"] were done in the SP12." The SP12 was clocking to a Macintosh SE30, which was running Performer, a basic sequencing program.

Hague had owned the SP12 for two or three years by the time of the "True Faith" recording sessions. He had previously used the drum machine on the Pet Shop Boys' "Please" album, which included the hit singles "West End Girls" and "Opportunities".

The drum sound was also created using live hi-hat and cymbals

The drum sound in New Order's "True Faith" was created using a combination of live hi-hat and cymbals, played by Stephen Morris, and electronic drum machines. Morris's live hi-hat and cymbal playing was recorded using close miking and overhead techniques, with the drummer also beating a pillow on his lap as a "silent snare". This was combined with drum sounds from producer Stephen Hague's E-mu SP12 drum machine, which was programmed using an E-mu Emulator II sampler.

The SP12 was clocked to a Macintosh SE30 computer running Performer software, which was used to bounce the band's original Yamaha QX1 sequencer patterns. The Emulator II was also used to create the pad sound that forms the harmonic backbone of the track, in combination with the Octave Voyetra-8 synthesiser played by Gillian Gilbert.

The drum sound in "True Faith" is, therefore, a blend of live and electronic percussion, with the electronic elements being created using a combination of sampling and synthesis.

The SP12 was synced with a Yamaha QX1 sequencer

The QX1 was released in 1984 or 1986 and featured a computer-like keyboard, a big screen (for the time), and eight MIDI outputs. It was not the most user-friendly piece of equipment, and its design predated a number of usability inventions that we now take for granted. For example, it could not pass incoming MIDI data to the output ports, and it was slow due to its use of 5.25" floppy disks. However, it was still considered sophisticated for its time, with its large memory capacity, floppy disk drive, and ability to record, view, and edit all incoming MIDI data.

The QX1 was used by New Order to record their song "True Faith." The song was co-written and co-produced by the band and Stephen Hague, and it was their first single since their debut "Ceremony" to be issued in the UK as two separate 12" singles. "True Faith" peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 32 in the US, making it one of New Order's biggest hits.

The drum sound was also created using a Yamaha DX5

The drum sound in New Order's "True Faith" was created using a Yamaha DX5, a digital programmable algorithm synthesizer. The DX5 is a budget version of Yamaha's flagship DX1, featuring dual 6-operator FM synth engines, 64 performance memories, and dual cartridge slots. It was released in 1985, two years after the initial release of the FM technology.

The DX5 played a crucial role in shaping the sound of "True Faith," providing most of the bass sounds for the song. The band brought the DX5 into the studio during the recording process, along with other gear such as a Yamaha QX1 sequencer, an Octave Voyetra 8 polyphonic synth, and an Akai S900 sampler.

The Yamaha DX5, with its dual synth engines, offered enhanced versatility for live performances and sound creation. Its unique sounds, combining analog and digital elements, contributed to the distinct character of "True Faith."

The song "True Faith" was produced by Stephen Hague and New Order, and it marked a significant milestone in the band's career, peaking at number 4 in the UK and breaking the band in America by charting in the US Hot 100. The song's success can be attributed not only to its catchy melody and lyrics but also to the innovative use of instruments like the Yamaha DX5, which helped create its iconic drum and bass sounds.

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