What synth did The Chemical Brothers use on Hey Boy Hey Girl?

The Chemical Brothers used a Roland Juno-106 analog synthesizer as the main source for the aggressive synth lead sound. The Juno-106's sawtooth waves provided the foundation for the buzzing, aggressive texture.

How to get The Chemical Brothers Hey Boy Hey Girl synth sound?

Start with a Roland Juno-106 or similar analog synth using sawtooth waves, then add overdrive with an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for warmth and aggression. Process through aggressive filtering like a Sherman Filterbank to create the resonant peaks and buzzing texture.

What effects did The Chemical Brothers use on Hey Boy Hey Girl?

The synth was processed through an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for overdrive and distortion, followed by a Sherman Filterbank for aggressive filtering and resonant peaks. This combination created the signature buzzing, mid-range heavy character.

Can you recreate Hey Boy Hey Girl synth with plugins?

Yes, you can use a Juno-106 plugin emulation like TAL-U-NO-LX for the synth source, then add overdrive and aggressive filtering plugins to recreate the distorted, buzzing character. The key is the combination of analog-style overdrive and resonant filtering.

synth from "hey boy hey girl" by the chemical brothers

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Tone Profile

Aggressive, distorted synth lead with a raw, energetic vibe. The sound is characterized by its sharp, buzzing texture and prominent mid-range frequencies, creating a powerful and in-your-face presence.

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Roland Juno-106(instrument)
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer(processing)
Sherman Filterbank(processing)

The Story

The Chemical Brothers used a Roland Juno-106 analog synthesizer as the foundation for this aggressive synth lead, processing it through an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for overdrive and distortion, followed by a Sherman Filterbank to sculpt the resonant peaks and buzzing texture that defines the sound.

Production Credits

Producer: The Chemical Brothers

Engineer: Steve Dub

Recorded at: Unknown

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb, Sherman FilterbankShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a sawtooth or square wave on a Roland Juno-106 or similar analog synthesizer.
Use the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer to add a layer of distortion and warmth to the signal, adjusting the drive to taste.
Introduce the Sherman Filterbank and experiment with the filter settings to create resonant peaks and unique textures.
Adjust the filter cutoff and resonance to find the sweet spot for the desired sound.
Experiment with LFO modulation to create movement and dynamism in the sound.
Use EQ to shape the tone further, emphasizing the mid-range frequencies to cut through the mix.

Original Gear

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Roland Juno-106Shop on Reverb(synth)
Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb(pedal)
Sherman FilterbankShop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Roland JU-06AShop on Reverb$350-$400

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Authentic Juno-106 sound engine in modern boutique format with the same sawtooth waves and chorus

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

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Highly accurate Juno-106 emulation with the exact oscillator and filter characteristics

Ibanez TS9 Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

Still manufactured and provides the same mid-focused overdrive for synth distortion

Analogue Solutions SemblanceShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Sherman Filterbank

Multi-mode analog filter with aggressive resonance capabilities similar to the Sherman's character

FabFilter Pro-Q 3Plugin Boutique$170-$200