What synth did Gotye use on Somebody That I Used to Know?

Gotye used a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer to create the main synth pluck sound on "Somebody That I Used to Know." This vintage analog polysynth from the 1980s is known for its bright, clean sound and distinctive chorus effect.

How to recreate Gotye Somebody That I Used to Know synth sound?

Start with a sawtooth or pulse waveform on a Juno-106 or similar synth. Set a fast attack and medium decay on the amplitude envelope, adjust the filter cutoff for brightness, and add some resonance for the metallic character. The built-in chorus also adds to the distinctive sound.

Where was Somebody That I Used to Know recorded?

"Somebody That I Used to Know" was recorded at The Church studio in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. Gotye (Wally de Backer) produced the track himself at this residential studio facility.

What makes the Roland Juno-106 sound so distinctive?

The Roland Juno-106's distinctive sound comes from its analog oscillators, resonant low-pass filter, and built-in chorus effect. It's particularly known for its bright, punchy character and the ability to create both warm pads and cutting lead sounds, which made it popular in 1980s music.

Can you get the Gotye synth sound with modern gear?

Yes, the Roland JU-06A Boutique module is a direct digital recreation of the Juno-106 used on the original track. Software options like TAL-U-No-LX and Arturia Jun-6 V also provide highly accurate emulations of the same synth for a fraction of the cost.

synth from "somebody that i used to know" by gotye

somebody that i used to know

gotye

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Tone Profile

A clean, bright synth pluck with a slightly metallic and resonant character. It has a clear attack and a relatively short decay, making it percussive and defined.

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Roland Juno-106(instrument)

The Story

The synth pluck sound on "Somebody That I Used to Know" was created using a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer, recorded at The Church studio in Beechworth, Australia. Gotye (Wally de Backer) used the Juno's characteristic bright and clean character, setting up a sawtooth or pulse waveform with adjusted filter cutoff and resonance to achieve the metallic, percussive quality. The sound was then layered with other synths and samples in the final arrangement.

Production Credits

Producer: Wally de Backer (Gotye)

Recorded at: The Church, Beechworth, VIC, Australia

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a sawtooth or pulse waveform on a Roland Juno-106 or similar synth.
Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to create a bright, resonant tone.
Use an envelope to shape the sound with a fast attack and medium decay.
Experiment with chorus or other modulation effects to add depth and richness.

Original Gear

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Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb(synth)