Remaking the lead synth from the 1974 song "In The Cage" by Genesis can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "In The Cage" 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
The lead synthesizer sound in Genesis’s “In The Cage” is a key element of the song’s instrumental section. This sound is particularly prominent during the solo, where it takes center stage.
Original Performing Instrument
ARP Pro Soloist (initially) and later possibly the Elka Rhapsody 610 Synthesizer.
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 "In The Cage" by Genesis, 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: Mono Legato
- Portamento: 30 ms
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: 55%
- Resonance: 50%
- Key Tracking: 40%
Distortion
- Drive: 66%
Chorus
- Mix: 50% Wet
- Rate: Slow
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- In the Cage Song (Wikipedia)
- Genesis – In The Cage solo – Hammond SK2 & Moog Voyager (YouTube)
- Genesis – In The Cage (solo section) | jimalfredson.com
- Genesis Sounds | Synth Fans – WordPress.com
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
