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synth from “strobe” by deadmau5 | ToneDB

strobe

deadmau5

synth

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright, evolving sawtooth lead with a prominent resonant filter sweep, creating a trance-inducing and iconic sound. The tone is characterized by its clean and digital quality, with a focus on precise modulation and stereo widening.

The Story

The iconic synth sound in deadmau5's "Strobe" was created using an Access Virus TI synthesizer. The sound is built on a sawtooth waveform with a resonant filter sweep that creates the signature evolving texture. Stereo widening techniques were employed to create the spacious, immersive quality that makes the track so distinctive.

Production Credits

Producer: deadmau5

Signal Chain

Instrument: Access Virus TI

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth waveform in your synth of choice.
  • Use a resonant low-pass or band-pass filter and automate the cutoff frequency to create a sweeping effect.
  • Experiment with different filter types and resonance settings to find the sweet spot.
  • Add chorus or a stereo widener plugin to create a sense of spaciousness.
  • Use LFOs or envelopes to modulate parameters like filter cutoff, resonance, and panning for added movement and interest.
  • Pay attention to the timing and depth of your modulations to achieve a similar rhythmic pulse as the original.
  • Consider using a high-quality digital reverb with a long decay time to add depth and ambience.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Access Virus TI2 Desktop$1800-$2200

Alternative to: Access Virus TI synthesizer

Direct successor to the original with the same sound engine and filter characteristics that created the Strobe lead

Native Instruments Massive X$150-$200

Alternative to: Access Virus TI synthesizer

Excellent sawtooth oscillators and resonant filters with precise modulation control for recreating evolving filter sweeps

Virus TI VST Plugin$300-$400

Alternative to: Access Virus TI synthesizer

Official software version of the hardware with identical sound engine and filter modeling

Roland System-8$1200-$1500

Alternative to: Access Virus TI synthesizer

Modern digital synth with high-quality sawtooth waves and resonant filters capable of similar evolving textures

Waves S1 Stereo Imager$30-$50

Alternative to: Stereo widening processing

Professional stereo widening to recreate the spacious, immersive quality of the original sound

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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