Remaking the fx synth from the 1983 song "Lucky Star" by Madonna can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Lucky Star" 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
Madonna’s 1983 hit “Lucky Star” features a distinctive FX synthesizer sound at the beginning of the track. The rapid ascending blips are a defining element of the song’s intro, creating an energetic and catchy opening.
Original Performing Instrument
Roland JX3P
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 "Lucky Star" by Madonna, 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
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 50%
- Pitch: +3 Cents
- Oscillator 2
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Pitch: -3 Cents
- Volume: 50%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 85%
- Key Tracking: 50%
Delay
- Mix: 50% Wet
- Feedback: 70%
- Time: 1/16 Note
- Stereo Spread (Time shift of Left or Right Channel): 10ms
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Big
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Madonna’s Re-invention Tour Synth Rig (Roland Users Group)
- Websites that Identify Synth Sounds in Songs (Harmony Central)
- Nautilus Famous Synth Sounds (Korg Nautilus)
- How To Remake Your Favorite Synth Sounds (YouTube)
- Material Girl: How To Sound Like Madonna (Gearnews)
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
