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synth from “time to pretend” by mgmt | ToneDB

time to pretend

mgmt

synth

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Tone Profile

The synth lead has a bright, slightly distorted, and heavily modulated sound, creating a dreamy and psychedelic vibe. It's a prominent element that drives the song's melody and atmosphere.

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The Story

MGMT's synth lead on 'Time to Pretend' was recorded at Tarbox Road Studios and produced by Dave Fridmann. The core sound comes from a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer, processed through dual phasers - an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone and MXR Phase 90 - to create the signature swirling, psychedelic movement that defines the track's dreamy atmosphere.

Production Credits

Producer: Dave Fridmann

Engineer: Dave Fridmann

Recorded at: Tarbox Road Studios, Cassadaga, NY

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Roland Juno-106 or a similar analog polysynth.
  • Use a sawtooth or square wave as the oscillator waveform.
  • Apply chorus effect to thicken the sound.
  • Add phaser effects using an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone and MXR Phase 90, experimenting with the rate and depth to achieve the desired swirling texture.
  • Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to fine-tune the brightness of the sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Roland JU-06AShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Authentic Juno-106 sound in a modern Boutique format with the same chorus and filter characteristics

Arturia Jun-6 VPlugin Boutique$99-$199

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Software emulation of the Juno-106 with accurate modeling of the original's oscillators, filter, and chorus

Electro-Harmonix Small Stone PhaserShop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Small Stone

Exact same pedal still in production, providing the vintage 4-stage phasing heard on the recording

MXR Phase 90Shop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: MXR Phase 90

Original pedal still manufactured, offering the classic 2-stage phasing that layers with the Small Stone

Behringer DeepMind 12Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

12-voice analog polysynth with similar filter character and built-in chorus, ideal for lush pad sounds

Sources

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