What synth did Daft Punk use on Human After All?

Daft Punk used a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer for the main synth sounds on "Human After All." The Juno-106's sawtooth wave oscillators and characteristic filter provided the foundation for the track's lead synth.

How did Daft Punk get the distorted synth sound on Human After All?

The distorted synth sound was created by running the Roland Juno-106 through guitar distortion pedals, specifically an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer and a ProCo Rat. This unconventional approach of processing synthesizers through guitar effects created the signature gritty, lo-fi character.

What guitar pedals did Daft Punk use on Human After All synths?

Daft Punk used an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer followed by a ProCo Rat distortion pedal to process their synthesizer sounds. The Tube Screamer added warmth and sustain, while the Rat provided the aggressive distortion and fuzz.

Can you recreate Human After All synth tone with modern gear?

Yes, you can recreate this tone using a Roland JU-06A or Juno-106 plugin for the synth base, combined with the same pedals (TS9 and RAT 2) or their plugin equivalents. The key is stacking the overdrive and distortion effects while starting with a basic sawtooth wave.

What makes Human After All synth sound so gritty?

The gritty character comes from the combination of analog synthesizer warmth and multiple stages of guitar distortion. The stacked Tube Screamer and RAT pedals create harmonic saturation and compression that gives the synth its raw, aggressive edge.

synth from "human after all" by daft punk

human after all

daft punk

synth

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Tone Profile

A gritty, distorted synth lead with a raw and slightly lo-fi character. It has a strong mid-range presence and a biting edge, making it stand out in the mix.

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Roland Juno-106(instrument)
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer(processing)
ProCo Rat(processing)

The Story

The distorted synth lead on "Human After All" was created using a Roland Juno-106 processed through guitar distortion pedals, specifically an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer and ProCo Rat. This unusual approach of running synthesizers through guitar effects was part of Daft Punk's deliberate lo-fi aesthetic for the album, creating the signature gritty, saturated character that defines the track.

Production Credits

Producer: Daft Punk

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb, ProCo RatShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a basic sawtooth wave on the Juno-106 and adjust the filter and resonance to shape the initial tone.
Introduce the Tube Screamer with a moderate drive setting to add warmth and sustain.
Follow up with the ProCo Rat to introduce the aggressive distortion and fuzz. Adjust the filter and distortion knobs to taste.
Fine-tune the overall level and EQ to sit well in the mix, paying attention to taming any harsh high frequencies.

Original Gear

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Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb(synth)
Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb(pedal)
ProCo RatShop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Roland JU-06AShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Authentic Juno-106 recreation with the same oscillators, filter, and chorus that provides the foundational sawtooth wave character

TAL-U-NO-LXPlugin Boutique$60-$70

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Software emulation of the Juno-106 that captures the vintage analog character at a budget-friendly price point

Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

The original pedal is still manufactured and provides the exact mid-range warmth and sustain used on the recording

ProCo RAT 2Shop on Reverb$70-$90

Alternative to: ProCo Rat

Current production RAT that delivers the same aggressive distortion and filtering capabilities for the gritty fuzz character

Neural DSP Archetype PliniPlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Ibanez TS9 + ProCo Rat combination

Includes high-quality overdrive and distortion models that can recreate the stacked pedal effect digitally

Sources

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synth from “human after all” by daft punk | ToneDB