List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album

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This article is about the various sample sources used on Depeche Mode album tracks and official remixes. For sample sources used on Recoil works, see Recoil sample sources. For sample sources in the live arrangements of Depeche Mode songs as they were performed on the various concert tours undertaken by the group, see List of Depeche Mode live sample sources by tour.
Glossary
Terms used in this article

In audio production, sampling refers to the use of a portion (or sample) from a sound within another recording. As pioneers of the electronic music genre, Depeche Mode are among the most prolific acts to utilise sampling technology within a traditional pop music format. Among the many original samples recorded and utilized by Depeche Mode to enhance the atmosphere of their musical output are many that originated elsewhere, including brief passages of musical recordings by other artists, snippets of audio from television shows, radio broadcasts, films, environmental sounds, and more. Analysis of these sample sources and how they are manipulated is a popular topic of discussion amongst fans of the group.

Key
Official
The sample is confirmed to have been used in the specified song by a past/present member of Depeche Mode, an individual involved in its production, or band archivist Daniel "BRAT" Barassi.
Confirmed
The sample is independently confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Likely
The sample is likely to have been used in the specified song but has not yet been confirmed.
Unconfirmed
The sample is not yet confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Disproven
The sample is confirmed to not have been used in the specified song.
Unknown
It is unclear if the sample was used in the specified song.

Information

This page documents all verifiable sound sources for many of the musical parts used by Depeche Mode in the production of their studio albums recorded between 1981 and 2023.

Due to the manipulated nature of the samples described in this article, there is unavoidable potential for error or sample misattribution. To ensure accuracy, this article strives to use verified quotes from band members and recording personnel with citations wherever possible, audio examples, and independent research voluntarily contributed by Depeche Mode and Recoil fans worldwide. This article provides an interesting document on this topic in a tabular format that is organized, well-researched, and reasonably accurate. Please bear in mind that due to the limited number of relevant quotes for each sample from band members or associates involved in producing the music described on this page, audio samples that lack official confirmation are not guaranteed to be accurate.

This article differentiates samples by origin: Self-made samples, which describe any material initially recorded by Depeche Mode, and Sourced samples, which describe samples not initially recorded by either group. In addition to confirmed samples, this article also covers samples commonly misreported as having been used but directly refuted by a member or associate of Depeche Mode.

If you notice an error or wish to contribute or request the removal of information contained within this article, please feel free to contact us.

Speak & Spell (1981)

Speak & Spell is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

A Broken Frame (1982)

"Leave In Silence" - Depeche Mode
1982

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Orchestral string layer Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #77: ArcoAttack - SAMPLE "127 F#5"
Confirmed
The unplayed Devotional tour arrangement of "Leave In Silence" was planned to include an orchestral string sample derived from the "ArcoAttack" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer layered with an organ-like sample for use as a pad.
Electric piano Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #81: Digi Years - SAMPLE "127 C5" and Bank B, voice #24: Acoustic Guitar - SAMPLE "127 F#4"
Confirmed
The unplayed Devotional tour arrangement of "Leave In Silence" was planned to include electric piano and acoustic guitar samples derived from the "Digi Years" and "Acoustic Guitar" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer.
Brass swells Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #92: SFZ Brass - SAMPLE "127 C5-L", SAMPLE "127 C5-R"
Confirmed
The Devotional arrangement of "Leave In Silence" was planned to include an edited brass swell sample derived from the "SFZ Brass" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer.

"Shouldn't Have Done That" - Depeche Mode
1982
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Ambient marching Daniel Miller described the origin of this sound in the sleeve notes for the 2006 A Broken Frame remaster CD: "I remember we got Blancmange in to do some on-the-spot marching for 'Shouldn't Have Done That' because they were in the studio next door, making their record, and they were mates with Depeche Mode."[1]

Construction Time Again (1983)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Construction Time Again

Some Great Reward (1984)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Construction Time Again

The Singles 81→85 (1985)

"Shake The Disease"
Depeche Mode
1985
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Celeste-like bell A filtered bell element reminiscent of a celeste is employed during the post-chorus sections layered with a variety of other parts, including a separate bell sample and synthesized parts. This distinctive sound would also see use in several other Depeche Mode songs recorded during this era, including "It Doesn't Matter Two" and "But Not Tonight".
Metallic percussive element A textured, highly-resonant percussive element with a high frequency is used during the post-chorus sections layered with several other parts and processed with reverb. The sample is re-triggered to play in time with the bell melody, and is played in two ways: one where the sample is re-triggered in time with the bell melody and then allowed to play out (or allowed to play from beginning to end) on the seventh keypress, and one where the sample cuts away on the seventh keypress without playing in full. Notably, this sample is also used in several other songs recorded by Depeche Mode between 1984 and 1985, including "It Doesn't Matter".
Verse melody synth layer A synth sample originally recorded for use during the verse sections of "Everything Counts" is layered with a separate sample to form the eight note melody performed throughout the first half of each verse section. This sample is also used to subtle effect throughout the chorus sections of "Here Is The House".

Click to display/hide audio example

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Middle eight melody Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 Bank B: "CALIOPE"
Confirmed
A manipulated calliope-esque sample derived from the Yamaha DX7 factory Rom #1 program "CALIOPE" is layered with a series of other instruments to form the layered melody performed during the middle eight section of "Shake The Disease".

Click to display/hide audio example

Verse melody Emulator II factory library disk #04: Grand Piano - Preset #1: "Piano #1"
Confirmed
"Shake The Disease" utilises a series of edited samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #04 "Grand Piano". As is common practice with multi-sampled instruments, the samples are keymapped onto separate sections of a sampler keyboard in accordance with their pitch to approximate the differences in tone between notes of differing octaves on a traditional piano, and are subsequently layered with a guitar-like sample to form the melody performed in the latter half of each verse section.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, Emulator II factory disk #04 "Grand Piano" is compared to a selection of audio from the "Remixed Extended" remix of "Shake The Disease" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the verse melody) to demonstrate the similarity in tone between the Emulator II contents and one layer of the verse melody.
Chorus synth melody layer Synclavier II Resynth Library Disk #4 - 4464 Harp
Confirmed
A harp-like synth pluck sound derived from the "Harp" timbre of Synclavier II Resynth library diskette #4 is layered with a separate sampled sound to form the lead melody heard during the chorus sections of "Shake The Disease".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a selection of audio derived from "Shake The Disease" is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (Resynth timbre "4464 Harp" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
Post-chorus bell melody layer Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #3 - 2337 Chimes #1
Confirmed
A bell-like chime sound derived from the "Chimes #1" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #3 is used to play a basic two octave seven note melody layered with a series of other sounds to form the bell melody heard during the post-chorus sections of "Shake The Disease".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a selection of audio derived from "Shake The Disease" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the sound in question) is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (Resynth timbre "2337 Chimes #1" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
Hi-hats (open and closed), snare drum, bass drum Yamaha RX-11 - Digital Rhythm Programmer - 1984
Confirmed
A series of bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hat samples derived from the Yamaha RX-11 programmable drum machine are utilised throughout "Shake The Disease".

"It's Called A Heart" - Depeche Mode
1985
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Sampled guitar-like loop "It's Called A Heart" makes sporadic use of a looped guitar part during the instrumental breaks following each chorus section. This sample would later famously be used to form the lead melody heard throughout "A Question Of Time".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Bass Emulator II factory library disk #06: Bass, Synth, Drums - Preset #1: "Bass Synth 1"
Confirmed
"It's Called A Heart" utilises a bass guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #06 "Bass, Synth, Drums".
Choir pad Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices 1", SAMPLE 3
Confirmed
The "ghostly" choir pad audible throughout the intro and verse sections of "It's Called A Heart" features a sample derived from the "Voices 1" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices". Notably, this sample is also used throughout "But Not Tonight".

"Flexible" - Depeche Mode
1985

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Bass Emulator II factory library disk #06: Bass, Synth, Drums - Preset #1: "Bass Synth 1"
Confirmed
"Flexible" utilises a bass guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #06 "Bass, Synth, Drums".
Choir pad Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices 1", SAMPLE 3
Confirmed
A sample derived from the "Voices 1" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices" is utilised throughout "Flexible".

Black Celebration (1986)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Black Celebration

Music For The Masses (1987)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Music For The Masses

Violator (1990)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Violator

Songs Of Faith And Devotion (1993)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Songs of Faith and Devotion

Ultra (1997)

Main article: List of Depeche Mode sample sources by album/Ultra

Exciter (2001)

"Dream On" (Remix) - Depeche Mode
2001

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
N/A Kraftwerk - "The Robots" - 1978
Unknown

Playing The Angel (2005)

"Suffer Well"
Depeche Mode
2005

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Sweep synth, synthesizer elements Native Instruments Reaktor > Kaleidon > "Lagerhallenromanti" - 2003 (?)
Confirmed
A sweep synthesizer pad derived from "Lagerhallenromanti", a preset featured in the Native Instruments Reaktor ensemble Kaleidon, is utilised throughout "Suffer Well".

Sounds Of The Universe (2009)

Sounds Of The Universe is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

Delta Machine (2013)

Delta Machine is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

Spirit (2017)

Spirit is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

Memento Mori (2023)

Memento Mori is not yet known to contain samples from any identifiable sources.

References

  1. Source: A Broken Frame 2006 remaster CD sleeve notes.

Notes