Remaking the keys synth from the 2018 song "Bill Up" by BOJ can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Bill Up" keys 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
BOJ’s “Bill Up” features a plucky, percussive synth sound that dominates the track’s intro and rhythmic foundation. The bright, staccato keys are generated using a square wave with a fast decay envelope, creating a sharp, biting attack transient. This sound serves as both melodic and rhythmic driver, with its repetitive pattern anchoring the track’s groove.
Original Performing Instrument
Unknown
Our Remake of The Keys Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the keys synth from the song "Bill Up" by BOJ, 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
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: Poly
- Voice Count: 6
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 240 ms
- Sustain: 40%
- Release: 40 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 100%
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 2
- Detune Range: 3 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 100%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 40%
- Resonance: 20%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 50%
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 70 ms
- Sustain: 0%
- Release: 10000 ms
Modulation Envelope
- Destination: Pitch
- Modulation Amount: 18 Semitones
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 0 ms
- Sustain: 0%
- Release: 0 ms
Reverb
- Mix: 10% Wet
- Size: Medium
Velocity
- Destination: Volume
- Modulation Amount: 100%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
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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