How did Duran Duran make that amazing arpeggio sound in the track Rio? After years of trying to figure it out, and a few misdirects, I finally figured out a way. I show you two critical synth arpeggio techniques you need to master. Then I demonstrate how close you can get using those techniques, and contrast that with the 'official' way of doing it. Then I show you other ways of using those new synth arpeggio techniques, and do a live performance. 1982 was a very good year for music in the UK, and maybe the best year of the 1980s. I end by listing some of the records I bought in 1982 and still listen to.

#duranduran
#synthpop
#synthpop80

00:00 What was the best period for UK music?
00:53 Duran Duran’s dominance in 1982
01:40 About this video
02:44 The first time I heard 'Rio' by Duran Duran
07:27 Two foundational synth arpeggio techniques
07:46 Understanding arpeggio clock maintenance and how to hand it over
10:00 Understanding arpeggio note count and its impact on polarity and rhythm
12:43 Why are these arpeggio techniques hard to achieve in the DAW?
13:26 Combining the synth arpeggio techniques
13:38 Building the 'Rio' synth arpeggios: two methods
14:26 Method #1: using random arpeggios
15:04 The problem with using random arpeggios to make the 'Rio' synth arpeggios
15:44 Demonstration: the 'Rio' synth arpeggios using the random method
16:32 Method #2: using the two techniques we learned earlier in this video
17:35 What are the advantages of using these techniques to create the 'Rio' arpeggios?
18:45 Demonstration: the 'Rio' synth arpeggios using the two techniques we learned earlier
19:04 What did Nick Rhodes actually do to create the 'Rio' arpeggios?
19:14 Review: the two foundational synth arpeggio techniques
19:48 Extra tip: another way of maintaining the arpeggio clock
20:27 Live performance: 'Avon's Theme'
24:02 Afterword
24:17 A long list of UK records from 1982 that I bought/taped at the time and still listen to in 2024

Musical equipment I used in this video
Behringer Deepmind 12
Roland R8
Squarp Pyramid