synth from “never let me down again” by depeche mode | ToneDB
never let me down again
depeche mode
synth
Tone Profile
A bright, evolving synth lead with a strong sawtooth wave character, featuring chorus and delay effects that add depth and width.
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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 2.2Shop on Reverb
Processing: Roland Dimension D ChorusShop on Reverb, Lexicon PCM70Shop on Reverb
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
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Substitutions & Recommendations
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
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
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
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
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