Remaking the lead synth from the 1979 song "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Funkytown" 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
Lipps Inc.’s 1980 hit ‘Funkytown’ features a distinctive lead synthesizer sound that anchors its disco-funk groove. The bright, bleepy monophonic synth line combines bright multi-octave pulse waves with a prominent reverb effect to create its signature clarity and space.
Original Performing Instrument
Unknown
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 "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc, 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 unlimited famous sound challenges 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
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 50%
- Oscillator 2
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Pitch: +2 Octaves
- Volume: 50%
- Sub Oscillator
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 100%
- Pitch: -1 Octave
- Volume: 5%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 90%
LFO
- Destination: Pulse Width
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 5%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
Reverb
- Mix: 10% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Funkytown Lead Synth Tutorial (Almalibre Studios) – Step-by-step guide to recreating the lead sound using Sylenth1, focusing on oscillator stacking and multi-octave pulse waves.
- Lipps Inc – Funky Town Synth Lead Demo (YouTube) – Gear demonstration using a SCI Prophet 5 for the lead synth, showcasing its bright, bleepy timbre.
- Famous Hooks Dissected: Funky Town (MusicRadar) – Analyzes the lead synth’s harmonic structure (C major with Bb) and its role in the track’s arrangement.
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
