Tone Profile

The synth lead has a bright, slightly metallic, and futuristic sound. It's a monophonic melody with a percussive attack and a smooth sustain.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The synth sound in "1999" is thought to be primarily created using an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer, favored by Prince for its versatile sound palette.
• The bright, cutting tone is likely achieved through a combination of sawtooth and pulse waveforms, with some subtle detuning for added thickness.
• Envelope settings would have been crucial to define the attack and sustain characteristics of the lead sound.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a sawtooth wave and a pulse wave, blend them, and slightly detune one oscillator.
• Use a fast attack envelope for a percussive initial sound.
• Experiment with the filter cutoff and resonance to achieve the desired brightness.
• Add a touch of chorus or flanger to create subtle movement and width.
• Adjust the amplifier envelope for a smooth sustain.

Recommended Gear

• Oberheim OB-Xa(synth)