What synth was used on The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats?

The main synth lead was played on a Roland Juno-106 analog synthesizer. This was a popular choice in the early 1980s and provided the characteristic warm, slightly detuned sound that defines the song's melody.

How to get The Safety Dance synth sound?

Start with a sawtooth wave on a Juno-106 or similar analog synth, engage the built-in chorus effect, and slightly detune one oscillator for the warbling effect. Use a quick attack and moderate decay envelope to create the percussive quality.

What makes The Safety Dance synth sound so distinctive?

The distinctive character comes from the Roland Juno-106's analog oscillators being slightly detuned from each other, combined with the built-in chorus effect. This creates a warm, warbling quality that sounds both bright and slightly metallic.

Where was The Safety Dance recorded?

The Safety Dance was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec. This famous Canadian studio was known for its work with many prominent artists in the 1980s and provided an excellent environment for capturing the song's distinctive synth sounds.

Can you recreate The Safety Dance synth with modern gear?

Yes, you can get very close using modern Roland Juno recreations like the JU-06A Boutique, or budget alternatives like the Behringer DeepMind 12. Software plugins like TAL-U-No-LX also provide authentic Juno-106 emulation at a lower cost.

synth from "the safety dance" by men without hats

the safety dance

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Tone Profile

A bright and slightly detuned synth lead that carries the main melody with a quirky, almost whimsical character. It has a slightly metallic edge and a playful, rhythmic quality.

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Roland Juno-106(instrument)

The Story

The signature synth lead on "The Safety Dance" was created using a Roland Juno-106 analog synthesizer. The track was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec, with the Juno-106's built-in chorus engaged to add thickness and stereo movement. The characteristic warbling quality comes from slight detuning between the oscillators, combined with envelope settings that provided the percussive attack and moderate decay.

Production Credits

Producer: Stefan Doroschuk

Engineer: John O'Leary

Recorded at: Le Studio (Morin Heights, Quebec)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a sawtooth wave on a Roland Juno-106 or similar analog synthesizer.
Engage the built-in chorus effect to add thickness and stereo width.
Slightly detune one of the oscillators for a subtle warbling effect.
Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to taste, aiming for a bright but not harsh sound.
Use an envelope with a quick attack and moderate decay to shape the sound's percussive qualities.

Original Gear

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Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb(synth)