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

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 were among the most prolific acts to make use of 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 aims to document all verifiable sound sources for many of the musical parts used by Depeche Mode in the production of their 1983 album Construction Time Again.

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 or Recoil, 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 or Recoil.

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.

Construction Time Again (1983)

1. "Barrel Of A Gun"

"Love, In Itself" Depeche Mode 1983
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Synthesized choir pad	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #3 - 2338 Voices #1	Confirmed	The synthesized solo choir sound audible throughout "Love, In Itself" is derived from the "Voices #1" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #3.	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, a section of the outro as heard in the center channel of the 2006 5.1 reissue containing the relevant synth choir sound is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (timbre "2338 Voices 1" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
	Chorus kalimba arpeggio	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #1 - 2136 Calimba #2	Confirmed	The percussive kalimba-like arpeggio heard during the chorus sections of "Love, In Itself" is derived from the "Calimba #2" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #1. Notably, this sound is also utilised throughout "It Doesn't Matter" and the middle eight section of "If You Want".	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, a section of the third chorus as heard in the rear right channel of the 2006 5.1 reissue containing the relevant synth line is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (timbre "2136 CALIMBA 2" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).
	Synth pad	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #3 - 2382 String Section	Confirmed	A synth pad sound derived from the "String Section" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #3 is utilised throughout the verse sections of "Love, In Itself", heard most prominently during the third verse.	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, a section of the third verse as heard in the rear right channel of the 2006 5.1 reissue containing the relevant synth line is compared to the source sound as produced by the Arturia Synclavier V, a Synclavier VST emulation (timbre "2382 STRING SECTION" courtesy of Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones via "Timbre Share" Facebook group).

"Everything Counts" Depeche Mode 1983	Self-made samples
	Sample	Notes			Audio
	One-shot guitar chug	Part of the "chugging" guitar rhythm most clearly heard during the opening bars and throughout "Mercy In You" is sampled, transposed up several notes, and filtered to produce a rhythmic element heard during the choruses and break section of "Everything Counts" as it was performed on the Devotional tour.			✖
	Middle eight melody	The middle eight melody as heard in the Devotional arrangement of "Everything Counts" is performed using a series of edited samples derived from an e-bow guitar performance originally recorded for use in "Walking In My Shoes".			✖
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Chorus synth riff	Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 Bank B: "CALIOPE"	Confirmed	The Music For The Masses tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs a series of two metallic synth samples reminiscent of a calliope for use as a riff during the chorus and outro sections. The samples are derived from the Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #1 program "CALIOPE" and are performed via the E-MU Emax sampling keyboard.	✖
	Ascending/descending two note melody	Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #4 Bank A: "OBOE"	Confirmed	The Music For The Masses tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs an oboe-like sample derived from the Yamaha DX7 factory ROM #4 program "OBOE". The sample is layered with a separate sample for sporadic use as an oscillating two note swell occurring once per bar throughout the song.	✖
	Xylophone melody	Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #10: GhostRyder - SAMPLE "127 C5"	Confirmed	The Devotional tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs an edited "ghostly" percussive sample derived from the "GhostRyder" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The sample is layered with a self-made xylophone sample derived from the studio recording of "Everything Counts" to form the lead xylophone melody instrument.	✖
	Orchestral strings	Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #07: TheStrings - SAMPLE "127 F#3", SAMPLE "127 C5", SAMPLE "127 C2", SAMPLE "127 C3" and Bank A, voice #77: ArcoAttack - SAMPLE "127 F#5"	Confirmed	The Devotional tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs an orchestral string instrument during its chorus and outro sections that is comprised of a series of stock and edited orchestral string samples derived from the "TheStrings" and "ArcoAttack" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. Varying combinations of the "TheStrings" samples are layered together to form octaves, which were subsequently recorded to form a single sample in which the octave is "baked" into the sample (in order, these samples are "127 C2", "127 C3", and "127 F#3": "127 C2" and "127 C3" combine to form an octave chord playing an A; "127 C2" and "127 C3" then combine to form a similar octave playing an E; and "127 F#3" and "127 C3" combine to form an alternate A octave one key above the original A octave). Conversely, samples "127 F#3", "127 C5", and the "ArcoAttack" "127 F#5" sample are also utilised separately as non-octave samples. The resulting orchestral string instrument was performed by Alan Wilder. Notably, varying combinations of these samples are also utilised for use in the Devotional arrangements of "A Question Of Lust" and "I Want You Now", as well as the unplayed Devotional arrangement for "Leave In Silence".	✖
	Verse synth layer	Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #51: Super Tine - SAMPLE "80 C6"	Confirmed	The Devotional tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs an electric piano-like tine sample derived from the "Super Tine" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The sample is layered with a self-made synth sample to form the synth stabs performed during the verse sections.	✖
	Resonant synth pad	E-MU Emax II Elements Of Sound Volume 1 - "Synth World" - Preset #2: "Synth Wash", SAMPLE 21, SAMPLE 22	Confirmed	A resonant synth pad derived from the "Synth Wash" preset of the E-MU Emax II Elements Of Sound Volume 1 factory disk "Synth World" is used to play a series of chords during the chorus and outro of "Everything Counts" as it was performed on the World Violation tour and during the outro of the Devotional tour arrangement.	✖
	Verse fill	Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #71: PercussiveOrgan 2 - SAMPLE "127 F#4"	Confirmed	The Devotional tour arrangement of "Everything Counts" employs an edited percussive organ sample derived from the "PercussiveOrgan 2" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The organ sample is layered with another sample to form the melodic fill performed during the verse sections.	✖
	Breathing sound	Kraftwerk - "Tour de France" - 1983	Unknown		✖
	Intro sweep	Kraftwerk - "The Robots" - 1978	Unknown		✖

"The Landscape Is Changing" Depeche Mode 1983
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Synthesizer elements	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #1 - 2148 ELEC.DULCIMER 2	Confirmed	The sitar-like melody audible throughout the verse sections of "The Landscape Is Changing" is derived from an edit of "2148 - ELEC.DULCIMER 2", a dulcimer-like timbre featured on Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #1. Similarly, an edit of the "ELEC.DULCIMER 2" timbre would see later use during the verse sections of "Behind The Wheel".	✖
	Synthesizer elements	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #1 - 2136 CALIMBA 2	Confirmed	A melody audible in the intro and outro sections of "The Landscape Is Changing" is partly derived from "2136 - CALIMBA 2", a timbre featured on Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #1.	✖
	Synthesizer elements	Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #3 - 2361 Voices 2	Confirmed	A choir pad heard most prominently in the outro section of "The Landscape Is Changing" is derived from "2361 Voices 2", a timbre featured on Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #3.	✖
	Drum elements	E-mu Systems - E-mu Drumulator - 1983	Confirmed	A series of bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hat samples derived from the E-mu Drumulator programmable drum machine are utilised throughout "The Landscape Is Changing".	✖
	Spoken word in German	Einstürzende Neubauten - "Merle (Die Elektrik)" - 1983	Unknown		✖

"Told You So" Depeche Mode 1983
	Sample sources
	Sample	Source	Status	Notes	Audio
	Middle eight organ	E-MU Emulator I factory library disk #28 Prod Set - "Pipe Organ (L) (04-005-102M1) - Pipe Organ (U) (04-005-101M1)"	Confirmed	The middle eight section of "Told You So" employs a pipe organ instrument derived from Emulator I factory library disk #28 "Pipe Organ - Pipe Organ".	Click to display/hide audio example Note: In this example, Emulator I factory disk $28 "Pipe Organ - Pipe Organ" is compared to the middle eight section of "Told You So" as heard in the center channel of the 2006 Construction Time Again 5.1 reissue.