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synth from “firestarter” by the prodigy | ToneDB

firestarter

the prodigy

synth

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Aggressive and distorted synth lead with a raw, buzzing character. It's a high-energy sound with a cutting edge.

Gear

Roland SH-101instrument
ReverbSweetwater
Pro Co Ratprocessing
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Akai S950processing
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The Story

The aggressive synth lead on "Firestarter" was created by Liam Howlett using a Roland SH-101 synthesizer running sawtooth waves through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal. The distorted synth sound was then sampled into an Akai S950 sampler, which added further grit and allowed the sound to be triggered consistently during live performances. This combination of analog synthesis, guitar pedal distortion, and vintage sampling created the track's signature buzzing, aggressive character.

Production Credits

Producer: Liam Howlett

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland SH-101

Processing: Pro Co Rat, Akai S950

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a sawtooth wave on an analog synth like the Roland SH-101 or a comparable synth.
  • Use a distortion pedal like the Pro Co Rat to achieve the aggressive, buzzing tone. Experiment with the Rat's filter and distortion amount to find the sweet spot.
  • If possible, sample the distorted synth sound into a sampler like the Akai S950. This allows for further manipulation and adds a unique sonic texture. Alternatively, use a modern sampler with bit-crushing and lo-fi effects.
  • Adjust the filter and envelope settings on your synth to shape the attack and decay of the sound.

Original Gear

  • Roland SH-101(synth)
  • Pro Co Rat(pedal)
  • Akai S950(sampler)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Roland SH-01A$300-$400

Alternative to: Roland SH-101

Authentic recreation of the SH-101 with identical sawtooth wave character and filter response

ReverbSweetwater
Pro Co RAT 2$70-$90

Alternative to: Pro Co RAT

Current production version of the exact same distortion circuit used on the original track

ReverbSweetwater
Native Instruments Kontakt 7$400-$500

Alternative to: Akai S950 sampler

Modern sampler with vintage emulation modes that can recreate the S950's lo-fi sampling character and bit-crushing

ReverbSweetwater
TAL-BassLine-101$60-$70

Alternative to: Roland SH-101

Software emulation specifically modeling the SH-101's sawtooth oscillator and filter characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
JHS PacketMan$150-$180

Alternative to: Pro Co RAT

RAT-inspired circuit with additional filtering options for fine-tuning the aggressive buzz character

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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