Remaking the fx synth from the 1984 song "Ethnicolor" by Jean Michel Jarre can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Ethnicolor" fx 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
Sweeping siren-like sound at 10:10, which is characteristic of his use of synthesizers to create ethereal and atmospheric effects. This sound is reminiscent of his work with the EMS VCS 3 and other early synthesizers, known for their ability to produce rich, dynamic timbres. The siren-like quality is achieved through the manipulation of filters and envelopes, creating a sense of movement and tension. We’ll recreate this sound with just a single synth patch, focusing on the EMS VCS 3’s unique capabilities to produce such distinctive and evocative tones.
Our Remake of The FX Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the fx synth from the song "Ethnicolor" by Jean Michel Jarre, 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
Oscillator Setup
Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Basic Saw
- Filtering: Filter 1
- Random Phase: 0%
- Transpose: -12 st
- Wave Frame: 97
- Detune Power: 0
- Unison Detune: 4%
- Unison Voices: 3
Oscillator 2
- Waveform: Basic Triangle
- Filtering: Filter 1+2
- Level: 52%
- Random Phase: 0%
- Wave Frame: 95
Filter Settings
Filter 1
- Model: Analog
- Style: 12dB
- Cutoff: 59% (654.129 Hz)
- Resonance: 22%
- Modulations:
- Lfo 1 → Cutoff
Envelope Settings
Envelope 1 (Amp)
- Attack: 0.04s
- Decay: 1s
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 0.02s
LFO Settings
LFO 1
- Sync: Tempo
- Tempo: 1/4
- Destination: Voice Transpose (amount 38%), Filter 1 Cutoff (amount 24%)
Effects Processing (Ordered)
Chorus
- Cutoff: 86
- Delay 1: Default (2.0 ms)
- Delay 2: Default (7.8 ms)
- Mix: 20%
- Feedback: 0%
- Depth: Default (50%)
- Spread: Default (1)
- Sync: Default (Tempo)
- Tempo: Default (1/4)
- Voices: 1
Eq
- Band Cutoff: 2659.568 Hz
- Band Gain: 5 dB
- Band Resonance: 0.16
- High Cutoff: Default (2637.020 Hz)
- High Gain: Default (0 dB)
- High Resonance: Default (0.32)
- Low Cutoff: 745.482 Hz
- Low Gain: -15 dB
- Low Resonance: 0.16
Filter Fx
- Model: Analog
- Style: 12dB
Reverb
- Chorus Amount: 5%
- Chorus Frequency: Default (0.250 Hz)
- Delay: Default (0)
- High Shelf Gain: Default (-1 dB)
- Low Shelf Gain: Default (0 dB)
- Pre High Cutoff: Default (86% (4698.636 Hz))
- Pre Low Cutoff: Default (0% (8.176 Hz))
- Size: 100%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Zoolook Album (Wikipedia)
- Jean-Michel Jarre: Zoolook (1984) – SynthSequences.com
- Jean Michel Jarre – Ethnicolor (Blogspot)
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
Comments
This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?
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