synth from “never let me down again” by depeche mode | ToneDB

never let me down again

depeche mode

synth

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A bright, evolving synth lead with a strong sawtooth wave character, featuring chorus and delay effects that add depth and width.

Gear

PPG Wave 2.2instrument
Reverb$22895Sweetwater
Roland Dimension D Chorusprocessing
ReverbSweetwater
Lexicon PCM70processing
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The evolving synth lead on 'Never Let Me Down Again' was created using a PPG Wave 2.2 synthesizer, which provided the characteristic bright sawtooth wave foundation. The sound was then processed through a Roland Dimension D Chorus for stereo width and thickness, followed by a Lexicon PCM70 for ambient delay and reverb effects. The track was recorded at Konk Studios in London with producer Daniel Miller and engineer Steve Lyon.

Production Credits

Producer: Daniel Miller

Engineer: Steve Lyon

Recorded at: Konk Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: PPG Wave 2.2

Processing: Roland Dimension D Chorus, Lexicon PCM70

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth wave on a PPG Wave 2.2 (or emulation) and adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to get a bright, slightly resonant tone.
  • Add a chorus effect, such as the Roland Dimension D, to thicken the sound and create stereo width.
  • Use a digital delay like the Lexicon PCM70 to add space and depth to the sound. Experiment with delay time and feedback to achieve the desired effect.

Original Gear

  • PPG Wave 2.2(synth)
  • Roland Dimension D Chorus(pedal)
  • Lexicon PCM70(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V$199-249

Alternative to: PPG Wave 2.2 synthesizer

Official software recreation of the PPG Wave synthesizer line, providing authentic wavetable synthesis and filtering for that characteristic bright sawtooth character

ReverbSweetwater
Waldorf Blofeld Desktop$399-499

Alternative to: PPG Wave 2.2 synthesizer

Hardware synthesizer from Waldorf that incorporates PPG-style wavetable synthesis with modern features, capable of recreating those classic German synth tones

ReverbSweetwater
Boss DC-2W Dimension C Waza Craft$149-179

Alternative to: Roland Dimension D Chorus

Modern recreation of the Roland SDD-320 Dimension D circuit, providing the same lush, subtle chorus effect that adds stereo width without obvious modulation

ReverbSweetwater
Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Bundle$299-399

Alternative to: Lexicon PCM70

Software version of classic Lexicon algorithms including those from the PCM70, delivering the same high-quality digital reverb and delay textures

ReverbSweetwater
Arturia Chorus Dimension-D$99-129

Alternative to: Roland Dimension D Chorus

Detailed emulation of the Roland Dimension D that captures the subtle chorus modulation and stereo enhancement characteristics of the original

ReverbSweetwater

Frequently Asked Questions

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