synth from “once in a lifetime” by talking heads | ToneDB
once in a lifetime
talking heads
synth
Tone Profile
The synth sound is bright and percussive, with a slightly metallic and звонкий character. It has a quirky, almost toy-like quality that adds to the song's distinctive sound.
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The Story
The percussive synth sound on "Once in a Lifetime" was created using a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer. The track was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in New York with Brian Eno producing. The Prophet-5's analog oscillators and filter were programmed to create the song's distinctive bright, metallic pluck sound that became central to the track's hypnotic groove.
Production Credits
Producer: Brian Eno
Engineer: unknown
Recorded at: Sigma Sound Studios, New York
Signal Chain
Instrument: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5Shop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a sawtooth or square wave on your synthesizer.
- Use a resonant low-pass filter to shape the tone and create a percussive envelope.
- Experiment with short attack and decay times on the filter envelope to achieve the desired 'pluck' sound.
- Add a touch of chorus or detuning to thicken the sound.
- Consider using a high-shelf EQ to boost the high frequencies and enhance the brightness.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Modern reissue of the exact same synth used on the original recording, with identical analog circuitry and filter response
Alternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Budget analog clone with similar oscillators and Curtis filter chips that can recreate the bright, percussive patches
Alternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Accurate software emulation with authentic Prophet-5 presets and the ability to precisely recreate the plucky envelope settings
Alternative to: Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Modern wavetable synth with analog modeling that can approximate the percussive attack and metallic character
Frequently Asked Questions
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