What synth did Smashing Pumpkins use on 1979?

The Smashing Pumpkins likely used a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer for the pad sounds on "1979". This analog polysynth was commonly used by the band during the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness era and is known for its warm, lush sound.

How to get the dreamy synth sound from 1979?

Start with a sawtooth or pulse wave on an analog polysynth like a Juno-106, add subtle analog chorus for width and thickness, then apply generous digital reverb for atmosphere. The key is balancing the warm analog oscillators with lush spatial effects.

What effects were used on 1979 synth pads?

The synth pads on "1979" likely used analog chorus, possibly from a Boss CE-1, to create stereo width and thickness. Digital reverb, potentially from a Lexicon 224, was added for the spacious, dreamy atmosphere characteristic of the track.

Where was 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins recorded?

"1979" was recorded at Pumpkinland, Billy Corgan's home studio in Chicago. This allowed the band creative freedom to experiment with layered synth textures and atmospheric production techniques that define the song's sound.

Can you recreate 1979 synth sound with modern gear?

Yes, you can recreate the "1979" synth sound using modern Roland Juno recreations like the JU-06A or plugins like Arturia's Juno-6 V. Pair with analog-style chorus and digital reverb plugins to achieve the warm, ethereal pad sound.

pads from "1979" by the smashing pumpkins

1979

the smashing pumpkins

pads

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Warm and ethereal synth pads with a touch of chorus and reverb, creating a dreamy and nostalgic atmosphere.

Gear

Roland Juno-106instrument: Reverb Sweetwater
Boss CE-1processing: Reverb$747 Sweetwater
Lexicon 224processing: Reverb Sweetwater

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The Story

The ethereal synth pads on "1979" were likely created using a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer, which was a staple in the Smashing Pumpkins' studio arsenal during the Mellon Collie era. The track was recorded at Billy Corgan's home studio Pumpkinland in Chicago, with processing likely including analog chorus and digital reverb to achieve the warm, dreamy atmosphere.

Production Credits

Producer: Billy Corgan

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Pumpkinland (Chicago, IL)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland Juno-106

Processing: Boss CE-1, Lexicon 224

Recreation Tips

Start with a sawtooth or pulse wave on a Roland Juno-106 or similar analog polysynth.
Add a subtle chorus effect to thicken the sound and create a wider stereo image.
Apply a generous amount of reverb to create a dreamy and atmospheric feel.
Experiment with filter cutoff and resonance settings to shape the tone.

Original Gear

Roland Juno-106(synth)
Boss CE-1(pedal)
Lexicon 224(other)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia Juno-6 V$99-149

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Accurately models the Juno's oscillators and filter for those warm, vintage analog pad sounds with authentic chorus

Reverb Sweetwater

Roland JU-06A$399-499

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Roland's official recreation of the Juno-106 sound engine in compact boutique format with identical voicing

Reverb Sweetwater

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft$199-249

Alternative to: Boss CE-1

Modern recreation of vintage Boss chorus circuits that can replicate the CE-1's lush stereo widening effect

Reverb Sweetwater

Universal Audio Lexicon 224$149-199

Alternative to: Lexicon 224

Faithful emulation of the classic digital reverb used on countless '90s alternative records for that spacious, pristine sound

Reverb Sweetwater

System-8$1299-1499

Alternative to: Roland Juno-106

Includes Roland's ACB Juno-106 model with full polyphony and modern reliability while maintaining the vintage character

TONEDB...

1979

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

TONEDB...

pads from “1979” by the smashing pumpkins | ToneDB

1979

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What synth did Smashing Pumpkins use on 1979?

How to get the dreamy synth sound from 1979?

What effects were used on 1979 synth pads?

Where was 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins recorded?

Can you recreate 1979 synth sound with modern gear?

Community Insights