Remaking the arp synth from the 1982 song "Hungry Like The Wolf" by Duran Duran can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Hungry Like The Wolf" arp 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
The pluck synthesizer sound in Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like The Wolf” is a distinctive, blippy arpeggiated pluck that plays throughout the song. This sound is prominently featured in the intro and throughout the track, adding a unique texture to the song’s new wave and synth-pop elements. The pluck synthesizer was likely achieved using a Roland Jupiter-8 or similar instrument, given its characteristic bright and percussive timbre.
Original Performing Instrument
Jupiter-8
Our Remake of The Arp Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the arp synth from the song "Hungry Like The Wolf" by Duran Duran, 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 up to three challenge packs 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
- Decay: 230 ms
- Sustain: 0%
- Release: 20 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: Band Pass
- Cutoff: 25%
- Key Tracking: 50%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 50%
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 100 ms
- Sustain: 0%
Delay
- Mix: 10% Wet
- Feedback: 50%
- Time: 1/32 Note
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Small
Velocity
- Destination: Volume
- Modulation Amount: 100%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Learn How to Make the Hungry Like The Wolf Arp – YouTube
- Can we make this sound? – “Hungry Like the Wolf” Synth
- Help Needed – Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” Patch
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
