Remaking the lead synth from the 1983 song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" lead 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
Eurythmics’ 1983 hit “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” opens with a distinctive dual-synth arrangement, with lead synth patch on the right. This sound combines a pulse-width modulation (PWM) for its smeared, wavering timbre and a slow chorus effect to create a phasey swirl. This right-side synth plays a constant eighth-note rhythm, contrasting with the left-side synth’s intermittent phrasing to generate tension. This iconic lead sound is immediately audible from the track’s start at 0:00, forming the foundation of the song’s driving synth-pop identity.
Original Performing Instrument
Roland Juno-60
Our Remake of The Lead Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the lead synth from the song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, 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: 90 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 500 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 100%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 85%
- Resonance: 20%
LFO
- Destination: Pulse Width
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 20%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
Chorus
- Mix: 45% Wet
- Rate: Slow
Delay
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Feedback: 0%
- Time: 1/16 Note
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams” | Deep Reconstruction (YouTube)
- The Synth Sound from Sweet Dreams (TUTORIAL) (YouTube)
- Eurythmics Sweet Dreams ~ Vintage Synthesizer Recreation (YouTube)
- Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (Detuned Saws) (Syntorial Forum)
- Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Get That Sound (YouTube)
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
Comments
This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?
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