synth from “tainted love” by soft cell | ToneDB
tainted love
soft cell
synth
Tone Profile
The synth lead has a bright, slightly detuned sawtooth wave sound with a chorus effect. It's a classic 80s synthpop sound that's both catchy and slightly melancholic.
Shop This Rig
ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
The Story
Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' features a Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer as the main lead sound, recorded at Ad Vision Studios in London with producer Mike Thorne. The distinctive character comes from the CS-80's sawtooth wave with slight detuning between oscillators, processed through a Roland Dimension D chorus unit to create the wide, shimmering quality that defines the track.
Production Credits
Producer: Mike Thorne
Engineer: Unknown
Recorded at: Ad Vision Studios (London)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Yamaha CS-80Shop on Reverb
Processing: Roland Dimension DShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a sawtooth wave on a synthesizer.
- Add a subtle detune to the oscillators for a richer sound.
- Use a chorus effect (like the Roland Dimension D or a similar plugin) to widen the sound.
- Adjust the filter and resonance to taste.
Original Gear
ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80
Official emulation of the CS-80 with authentic sawtooth oscillators and the exact filter characteristics needed for this lead sound
Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80
Vintage-style polysynth with rich sawtooth waves and oscillator detune that can closely approximate the CS-80's character for this tone
Alternative to: Roland Dimension D
Modern recreation of the Dimension D circuit providing the exact chorus modulation heard on the original recording
Alternative to: Roland Dimension D
Precise digital emulation of the Dimension D's unique chorus algorithm that created the wide stereo image on Tainted Love
Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80
Budget hardware option that aims to recreate CS-80 oscillator behavior, though exact specifications haven't been confirmed
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Insights
No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!