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synth from “kids in america” by kim wilde | ToneDB

kids in america

kim wilde

synth

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright and energetic synth lead with a strong sawtooth wave character, reminiscent of early 80s new wave and synth-pop.

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The Story

The synth sound on "Kids in America" was recorded at RAK Studios in London and produced by Mickie Most. The bright, cutting lead tone was created using a Roland Jupiter-8 synthesizer, which was recorded direct into the mixing console. The sound is built around a sawtooth wave with careful filter adjustment and likely some chorus or ensemble effects to create its characteristic shimmer.

Production Credits

Producer: Mickie Most

Engineer: unknown

Recorded at: RAK Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Jupiter-8Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth wave on an analog or virtual analog synthesizer.
  • Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to achieve a bright and slightly resonant tone.
  • Add a touch of chorus or ensemble effect to widen the sound and enhance its shimmer.
  • Use a fast attack and decay envelope to create a percussive and punchy sound.
  • Experiment with pulse width modulation to add movement and texture to the sound.
  • Consider adding a subtle touch of reverb to give the sound some space and depth.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia Jupiter-8VPlugin Boutique$99-$199

Alternative to: Roland Jupiter-8

Faithful emulation of the original Jupiter-8 with authentic sawtooth waves and filter behavior for that classic new wave lead sound

Roland Jupiter-XShop on Reverb$1,800-$2,200

Alternative to: Roland Jupiter-8

Modern hardware that includes authentic Jupiter-8 modeling with the original's sawtooth character and analog warmth

Behringer DeepMind 12Shop on Reverb$600-$800

Alternative to: Roland Jupiter-8

Budget analog polysynth capable of bright sawtooth leads with built-in chorus effects for that new wave shimmer

TAL-J-8Plugin Boutique$60-$80

Alternative to: Roland Jupiter-8

Affordable Jupiter-8 emulation that captures the punchy sawtooth character needed for 80s synth-pop leads

Sources

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