Remaking the fx synth from the 1973 song "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2" by Emerson Lake and Palmer can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2" fx patch and play this iconic sound on most hardware or software subtractive synthesizers (Serum, Vital, Pigments, Prophet, Korg, Moog, etc). We've included the preset download directly for your convenience, but we strongly recommend you use our programming tutorial to recreate it yourself.
Original Audio
Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s epic “Karn Evil 9” from their 1973 album *Brain Salad Surgery* represents a pinnacle of progressive rock synthesizer artistry, with Keith Emerson’s innovative use of modular analog synthesizers creating otherworldly sonic landscapes. The opening of “1st Impression Part 2” features a mesmerizing FX drone synthesizer that produces random, bubbling electronic textures through the use of sample-and-hold circuitry modulating a highly resonant low-pass filter. You can hear this distinctive synthesizer effect prominently at the very beginning of Part 2, where it establishes the surreal, science-fiction atmosphere that defines this section of the suite.
Original Performing Instrument
Moog Minimoog
Our Remake of The FX Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the fx synth from the song "Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2" by Emerson Lake and Palmer, giving you a reference point as you design your own synthesizer preset. Play it as often as you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the sound.
Synth Patch Programming Recipe
Remake This Sound Yourself
Learn how to program this synth preset with Syntorial, all by ear. Download the demo and try unlimited famous sound challenges for free.
Getting Started
- Start by initializing your synthesizer to a plain saw with no filter, modulation or effects. For soft synths use the "init"/"default" preset or the the button to reset all parameters to their default factory values.
- No two synths are exactly alike, so treat the values below as approximate, and use your ear.
- Percentage values (e.g. 50%) represent the relative position of a knob or slider within its full range. The full range of each parameter may differ from synth to synth, so use your ear.
Voices
- Voice Mode: Mono
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 80 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 2
- Detune Range: 3 Cents
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: Yes
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 60%
- Resonance: 75%
LFO
- Destination: Filter Cutoff
- Waveform: Sample and Hold (Random)
- Amount: 50%
- Rate: 1/16 Note
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Big
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Karn Evil 9 – Sample & Hold Intro Technical Discussion (Korg Forums)
- Trying to recreate Keith Emerson’s sequencer trick of Karn Evil 9 (YouTube)
- Karn Evil 9 Sample And Hold Recreation – Moog Modular V (YouTube)
- Karn Evil 9 part 2- ELP Technical Discussion (Audio Circle)
Preset Downloads
Don't want to learn synth programming now? Use our synth preset as your starting point and tweak it from there. Register an account with Audible Genius and download the presets for free for the following synths:
- Primer, our free synthesizer VST
- Vital
