synth from “in the air tonight” by phil collins | ToneDB
in the air tonight
phil collins
synth
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A dark and atmospheric synth pad with a slightly detuned and chorused quality, creating a sense of brooding tension and space.
Gear
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-5instrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Roland Juno-106synth
- ReverbSweetwater
- Yamaha DX7synth
- ReverbSweetwater
- Boss CE-1pedal
- ReverbSweetwater
ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
The Story
Phil Collins used a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer to create the dark, atmospheric pad sound heard throughout "In the Air Tonight." The track was recorded at Townhouse Studios in London with Hugh Padgham serving as both engineer and co-producer. The Prophet-5's analog oscillators were likely detuned slightly and processed with chorus and delay effects to achieve the spacious, brooding quality that defines the song's atmospheric foundation.
Production Credits
Producer: Hugh Padgham, Phil Collins
Engineer: Hugh Padgham
Recorded at: Townhouse Studios, London
Signal Chain
Instrument: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Prophet-5 or a similar analog polyphonic synthesizer.
- Create a patch with slightly detuned oscillators to achieve a subtle chorus effect.
- Add a chorus and delay effect to further enhance the spaciousness of the pad.
- Experiment with different filter settings and modulation to fine-tune the tone.
- Consider using a compressor to even out the dynamics and add sustain to the pad.
Original Gear
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-5(synth)
- Roland Juno-106(synth)
- Yamaha DX7(synth)
- Boss CE-1(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Modern reissue of the exact same synthesizer used on the original recording, maintaining the authentic analog oscillator character and filter response
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Faithful software emulation of the Prophet-5 with detailed modeling of the analog oscillators and filters needed for this atmospheric pad sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Affordable analog synthesizer that captures the Sequential Circuits sound character, though monophonic so requires layering for the full pad effect
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Modern analog/digital hybrid with similar warm pad capabilities and built-in chorus effects that can recreate the detuned, spacious quality
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Chorus and delay processing
High-quality reverb and modulation processor that can add the atmospheric space and subtle movement essential to this synth pad sound
ReverbSweetwaterSources
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Insights
No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!