Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Full recreation of a-ha's 1985 hit single Take On Me using vintage hardware.
Instruments: Casio CZ-1, Casio VZ-1, Sequential Prophet 5, Linn Electronics LinnDrum.
Hardware effects: Alesis Microverb 4 (x2), Klark BBD-320, Klark 76-KT (x2)
Software effects: Waves Audio Kramer Master Tape. Fruity Compressor. Fruity Parametric EQ2 (sparingly) + channel strip EQ (majority), Wave Alchemy Tapewave.
Mixer: Mackie DL32S
Speakers: ik Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro
The original was almost exclusively Yamaha DX7, as I don't own a DX7 I reprogrammed some presets from my 1988 Casio VZ-1 and I think people would struggle to tell the difference. The strings and e-piano are particularly lush when put through a chorus and reverb.
The 1986 Casio CZ-1 was used only for some quiet, brassy chords during the verse as well as the rhythmic four bar loop that plays under the drums for the entire track.
The drum line was programmed, in full, on my 1982 LinnDrum. I actually programmed /two/ songs on the Linn, one being the main drums and the second being the pitched down stick and snare. The snare drum is made up of three layers: Linn Snare, Linn Stick, triggered acoustic snare sample (which I had taken from the original studio tapes).
The Sequential Prophet 5 was layered with an organ preset from the VZ-1 to make the main lead. The original was allegedly a Juno-60, although it was most likely a Juno-106, as that was equipped with MIDI and the entire song is sequenced, and they've also been seen on stage with a 106.
Vocals, electric guitar and acoustic guitar were all taken from the original studio tapes, and I applied my own effects, mixing and compression to them.
Full recreation of a-ha's 1985 hit single Take On Me using vintage hardware.
Instruments: Casio CZ-1, Casio VZ-1, Sequential Prophet 5, Linn Electronics LinnDrum.
Hardware effects: Alesis Microverb 4 (x2), Klark BBD-320, Klark 76-KT (x2)
Software effects: Waves Audio Kramer Master Tape. Fruity Compressor. Fruity Parametric EQ2 (sparingly) + channel strip EQ (majority), Wave Alchemy Tapewave.
Mixer: Mackie DL32S
Speakers: ik Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro
The original was almost exclusively Yamaha DX7, as I don't own a DX7 I reprogrammed some presets from my 1988 Casio VZ-1 and I think people would struggle to tell the difference. The strings and e-piano are particularly lush when put through a chorus and reverb.
The 1986 Casio CZ-1 was used only for some quiet, brassy chords during the verse as well as the rhythmic four bar loop that plays under the drums for the entire track.
The drum line was programmed, in full, on my 1982 LinnDrum. I actually programmed /two/ songs on the Linn, one being the main drums and the second being the pitched down stick and snare. The snare drum is made up of three layers: Linn Snare, Linn Stick, triggered acoustic snare sample (which I had taken from the original studio tapes).
The Sequential Prophet 5 was layered with an organ preset from the VZ-1 to make the main lead. The original was allegedly a Juno-60, although it was most likely a Juno-106, as that was equipped with MIDI and the entire song is sequenced, and they've also been seen on stage with a 106.
Vocals, electric guitar and acoustic guitar were all taken from the original studio tapes, and I applied my own effects, mixing and compression to them.
![#cfz theme reveal soundtrack (2026) [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uPeaGhTN7LY/mqdefault.jpg "#cfz theme reveal soundtrack (2026) [OFFICIAL AUDIO]
I was commissioned by the fine folks at #cfz #confuzzled to compose the theme reveal trailer music! Made using a Behringer RD9, Roland TR808, Roland D-50, Kawai K4 and a Casio CZ-1.")
