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synth from “where are ü now” by justin bieber | ToneDB

where are ü now

justin bieber

synth

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

This sound is a heavily processed synth lead, characterized by its bright, almost abrasive texture, achieved through layers of distortion and manipulation. It's a very modern, digital sound, pushing the boundaries of conventional synth tones.

Gear

Native Instruments Massiveinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
FabFilter Saturn 2processing
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The signature synth sound in "Where Are Ü Now" was created by Skrillex and Diplo using Native Instruments Massive as the primary synthesizer. The sound features heavy processing through FabFilter Saturn 2 for distortion and manipulation. The producers used multiple layers of Massive with different settings and extensive automation of parameters like filter cutoff and resonance to create the characteristic movement and texture.

Production Credits

Producer: Skrillex & Diplo

Signal Chain

Instrument: Native Instruments Massive

Processing: FabFilter Saturn 2

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth or square wave in Native Instruments Massive.
  • Experiment with wavetable positions and modulation to create a unique timbre.
  • Use multiple layers of distortion with FabFilter Saturn 2, focusing on different frequency ranges.
  • Automate parameters like filter cutoff, resonance, and distortion amount to add movement and interest.
  • Apply EQ to carve out specific frequencies and enhance clarity.
  • Add a subtle chorus or flanger effect to widen the sound.

Original Gear

  • Native Instruments Massive(synth)
  • FabFilter Saturn 2(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Native Instruments Massive X$149-199

Alternative to: Native Instruments Massive

Direct successor to the original Massive with enhanced wavetables and modulation capabilities for creating similar aggressive lead sounds

ReverbSweetwater
Xfer Serum$189

Alternative to: Native Instruments Massive

Modern wavetable synthesizer excellent for creating heavily modulated lead sounds with extensive automation possibilities

ReverbSweetwater
FabFilter Saturn 2$149

Alternative to: FabFilter Saturn 2

The exact distortion plugin used on the original track, perfect for recreating the multiband saturation

ReverbSweetwater
Soundtoys Decapitator$99

Alternative to: FabFilter Saturn 2

Alternative analog-modeled saturation plugin that can achieve similar aggressive distortion characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Arturia Minibrute 2S$449

Alternative to: Native Instruments Massive

Hardware option with aggressive analog filters and extensive modulation routing for similar aggressive lead textures

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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