Jean Michel Jarre - Ethnicolor | FX Synth Patch Remake

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.

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

Explore More

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
Download Presets

Comments

This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?

Join The Conversation

More FX Presets:

Taco Bell

-

Taco Bell Bong

Jingle

Jean Michel Jarre

-

Ethnicolor

Electronic