Deadmau5 - Strobe | Lead Synth Patch Remake

Remaking the lead synth from the 2009 song "Strobe" by Deadmau5 can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Strobe" 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

Deadmau5’s “Strobe” features an ethereal lead synthesizer prominently in its intro. It’s dual layers utilzies multiple LFOs and modulation destinations to create repeating pattern of notes and swells.

Original Performing Instrument

Unknown

Our Remake of The Lead Synth sound

This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the lead synth from the song "Strobe" by Deadmau5, 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 allx 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 3

Oscillator Setup

Oscillator 1

• Mix: 54%
• Wavetable: Basic Shapes
• Wave Frame: Triangle (position 75)
• Routing: Filter 1

Oscillator 2

• Mix: 0%
• Wavetable: Basic Shapes
• Wave Frame: Saw (position 114)
• Routing: Filter 2
• Transpose: 12 st
• Unison Voices: 2
• Unison Detune: 0%
• Unison Blend: 0
• Unison Stereo Spread: 0%
• Modulations:
• Lfo 2 → Level
• Lfo 2 → Unison Detune

Oscillator 3

• Mix: 0%
• Wavetable: Basic Shapes
• Wave Frame: Sine (position 0)
• Routing: Filter 2
• Unison Voices: 16
• Unison Detune: 100%
• Unison Blend: 0.07
• Unison Stereo Spread: 0%
• Detune Power: 5
• Detune Range: 12
• Modulations:
• Lfo 3 → Level

Filter Settings

Filter 1

• Model: Analog
• Style: 24dB Slope
• Blend: Low Pass (0)
• Cutoff: 37% (127.35 Hz)
• Resonance: 60%
• Drive: 50%
• Modulations:
• Lfo 1 → Cutoff

Filter 2

• Model: Analog
• Style: 24dB Slope
• Blend: Low Pass (0)
• Cutoff: 41% (166.5 Hz)
• Resonance: 33%
• Keytrack: 100%
• Modulations:
• Lfo 2 → Cutoff

Envelope Settings

Envelope 1 (Amp)

• Attack: 0 ms
• Sustain: 100%
• Release: 90 ms

LFO Settings

LFO 1

• Mode: Trigger
• Sync: Tempo
• Tempo: 1/2
• Shape: Sin (custom)
• Destinations:
• Filter 1 Cutoff (amount 41%)

LFO 2

• Mode: Trigger
• Sync: Tempo
• Tempo: 1/4
• Shape: Saw Down (custom)
• Destinations:
• Osc 2 Level (amount 33%)
• Filter 2 Cutoff (amount 40%)
• Osc 2 Unison Detune (amount 7%)

LFO 3

• Mode: Trigger
• Sync: Tempo
• Tempo: 1/4
• Shape: Triangle (custom)
• Destinations:
• Osc 3 Level (amount 72%)

Effects Processing (Ordered)

Reverb

• Mix: 44%
• Size: 40%
• Chorus Amount: 0%
• Time: 1.557 s
• High Shelf Cutoff: 91% (6808.369 Hz)
• High Shelf Gain: -4 dB
• Low Shelf Cutoff: 18% (30.499 Hz)
• Low Shelf Gain: -3 dB

Modulation Matrix

• LFO 1 → Filter 1 Cutoff 41%
• LFO 2 → Osc 2 Level 33%
• LFO 2 → Filter 2 Cutoff 40%
• LFO 3 → Osc 3 Level 72%
• LFO 2 → Osc 2 Unison Detune 7%

Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.

Explore More

• Decoding The Mix: Strobe – Deadmau5 (Mastering the Mix)
  Analyzes the lead synth’s frequency range, stereo placement, and interaction with other elements in the mix, emphasizing its role in the track’s climax.
• Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach (Sonical.ly)
  Details Deadmau5’s use of Serum for creating dynamic, evolving synth sounds, including modulation techniques and effects processing relevant to “Strobe’s” ethereal lead.
• Deadmau5: Strobe | Decoding the Mix (I Love Music Academy)
  Breaks down the track’s arrangement, highlighting the lead synth’s tonal balance, frequency spread, and spatial separation from other elements like the bass and square melody synth.
• How To Recreate Sounds: A Simple Approach (YouTube)
  Provides a general framework for reverse-engineering synth sounds, applicable to deconstructing “Strobe’s” lead synth through pitch, volume, and texture analysis.

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:

• Vital