How Bob Ezrin Used the Synclavier to Create the Drum Sound on ‘Signs of Life’ — and Why David Gilmour Hated It

The opening track of A Momentary Lapse of Reason wasn’t played by Nick Mason in real time. Producer Bob Ezrin used a Synclavier sampling system to chop up Mason’s individual drum hits (snare, kick, hi-hat) and then trigger them via a MIDI sequencer. This let Ezrin lock the drums to a grid and build a pristine, metronomic feel that matched the album’s heavily processed production — but it also meant the performance was essentially a digital composite, not a live take.

David Gilmour, who had championed analog tape and live-in-the-studio recording his entire career, fought the decision. He felt the Synclavier robbed the drums of breath and natural swing, turning the track into something sterile. Rumors from the sessions say Gilmour would walk out of the control room when Ezrin started sequencing. The tension boiled down to a classic 1980s production debate: digital precision versus human feel. Ultimately, Ezrin’s approach defined the album’s signature cold, glossy sound, but Gilmour later admitted in interviews that he regretted how much control he gave up over the rhythm section.