Legendar Tone: Boards of Canada

Legendary Tone:

Boards of Canada

Boards of Canada is a unique electronic music duo. They are highly influential for many other electronic music groups and are sort of pioneers of this genre of music. 

One of the reasons that BOC's sound is so unique is because they only use analog equipment (as opposed to digital). This is different from the equipment that most modern electronic musicians use to achieve their sound. Analog gear makes BOC stand out above the rest. There are a few other groups such as Tycho that followed suit with this idea and absolutely have an apparent influence when it comes to their sounds.

To achieve the sounds on songs such as ROYGBV, BOC used a mono-synth called an SH-101. This is an analog synth that can produce very unique sounds like deep bass lines. It is extremely possible that this is their only mono-synth.

On songs such as Olsen, they use a blue Yamaha CS-1X. It can be used as a sampler trigger for samples in some songs and it is more likely used for this than generating its own sounds. However, it is possible that is is used to create the filtered piano sound in Olsen. it is also seen on the 199 Lighthouse Part photo. 

BOC is also a fan of recording their music to tape. This creates a unique saturation in the music that creates a very grainy sounds that makes the track sound very vintage. They are quotes saying Grundig is their favorite tape machine because is saturates the track in a way that is very different. It makes the tracks sound almost 100 years old. The Tascam 4-track is another favored tape machine used by the group for the same effects.

And finally samplers are the last piece of equipment on the list. These are used for triggering certain sounds in BOC's music. This could be any sound from a vocal drop to kids laughing. 

Boards of Canada are one of the most unique electronic artists on the scene and because they are very secretive about their gear, they cover up labels with their own stickers. But the equipment I have listed will generate most of if not all of Boards of Canada's sounds.