What synth did The Chemical Brothers use on Go?

The Chemical Brothers used a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer as the foundation for the aggressive lead sound on 'Go'. The sawtooth wave from the Juno-106 was then heavily processed through additional effects to create the final distorted character.

How to get The Chemical Brothers Go synth sound?

Start with a sawtooth wave from an analog or virtual analog synth, then run it through aggressive filtering and distortion like a Sherman Filterbank. Add high-frequency enhancement with an Aphex Aural Exciter and use filter sweeps with envelope modulation to create the rhythmic movement.

What is a Sherman Filterbank and why is it important for Go?

The Sherman Filterbank 2 is an analog filter and distortion unit that provides aggressive resonant filtering and saturation. It's crucial to the 'Go' sound because it transforms the clean Juno-106 sawtooth into the harsh, distorted lead that defines the track.

Who engineered The Chemical Brothers Go?

Steve Dub engineered 'Go' by The Chemical Brothers. He's known for his work on many Chemical Brothers tracks and helped shape the aggressive, filtered electronic sounds that became their signature style.

Can you recreate Go synth sound with plugins?

Yes, you can recreate the 'Go' synth sound using plugins like TAL-U-NO-LX for the Juno-106 foundation and FabFilter Saturn 2 for the aggressive filtering and distortion. You'll also want to add high-frequency enhancement and filter automation to match the original character.

synth from "go" by the chemical brothers

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Tone Profile

Aggressive and distorted sawtooth lead synth with a driving, rhythmic character. It's a powerful sound, characterized by its distorted tone and percussive envelope.

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Roland Juno-106(instrument)
Sherman Filterbank 2(processing)
Aphex Aural Exciter(processing)

The Story

The Chemical Brothers created this aggressive lead sound using a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer as the foundation, with the sawtooth wave heavily processed through a Sherman Filterbank 2 for distortion and resonant filter sweeps. An Aphex Aural Exciter was used to enhance the high-end frequencies and add presence to the sound. The track was engineered by Steve Dub, who helped shape the distorted, rhythmic character through envelope modulation and filter automation.

Production Credits

Producer: The Chemical Brothers

Engineer: Steve Dub

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb

Processing: Sherman Filterbank 2Shop on Reverb, Aphex Aural ExciterShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a sawtooth wave on an analog or virtual analog synthesizer.
Use a filterbank or distortion pedal to add heavy distortion and resonant peaks.
Experiment with filter sweeps and LFO modulation to create rhythmic movement.
Use an exciter or high-shelf EQ to add brightness and air to the sound.
Adjust the filter and distortion settings to achieve the desired level of aggression and grit.

Original Gear

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Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb(synth)
Sherman Filterbank 2Shop on Reverb(pedal)
Aphex Aural ExciterShop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Behringer DeepMind 12Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Analog synthesizer with classic sawtooth waves and filter character similar to the Juno-106, providing the raw foundation for this aggressive lead tone

Analogue Solutions Red SquareShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Sherman Filterbank 2

Aggressive analog filter and distortion unit that delivers the harsh, resonant character essential to recreating the Sherman's sound

TAL-U-NO-LX PluginPlugin Boutique$60-$80

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Accurate software emulation of the Juno-106's oscillators and filter, providing the classic sawtooth foundation at a budget price

Aphex Aural Exciter Type BShop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: Aphex Aural Exciter

Modern version of the original unit used on the track, adds the same high-frequency enhancement and presence

FabFilter Saturn 2 PluginPlugin Boutique$160-$180