Remaking the bass synth from the 1994 song "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Closer" bass 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
Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 track “Closer” from *The Downward Spiral* features a menacing bass synthesizer sound that emerges prominently at 0:21, characterized by its throaty, resonant timbre and dynamic modulation. The bassline uses heavy resonance and filter modulation to create its aggressive, “throaty” quality. This iconic bassline anchors the track’s industrial-tinged rhythm section, blending raw analog character with precise electronic control.
Original Performing Instrument
Sample from the "A Poke in the Ear Vol 2" library
Our Remake of The Bass Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the bass synth from the song "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails, 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: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 100%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 50%
- Resonance: 70%
- Key Tracking: 100%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 25%
- Attack: 100 ms
- Sustain: 100%
LFO
- Destination: Pulse Width
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 35%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
Delay
- Mix: 35% Wet
- Feedback: 0%
- Time: 1/32 Note
- Stereo Spread (Time shift of Left or Right Channel): 10ms
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- NIN – Closer Synth Bass Sample FOUND! Synth Sherlock #1 (YouTube)
- Synth Breakdown – Closer – Nine Inch Nails (YouTube)
- Nine Inch Nails “Closer” bassline on Novation Peak synthesizer (YouTube)
- Recreate the bass sound at the start of NIN “Closer” (Harmony Central Forum)
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
