Remaking the lead synth from the 2013 song "Animal" by Martin Garrix can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Animal" 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
Martin Garrix’s 2013 track “Animals” is renowned for its powerful lead synth that drives the drop.
This lead is characterized by a plucky, staccato sound, achieved through layering multiple synth patches and applying cutoff automation.
Garrix utilized the Sylenth1 synthesizer to craft this distinctive tone.
You can hear the lead synth prominently at the 1:00 mark in the song.
Original Performing Instrument
Sylenth1
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 "Animal" by Martin Garrix, 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: Poly
- Voice Count: 3
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 140 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 19 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 100%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: Yes
- Noise Volume: 15%
Filter
- Type: High Pass
- Cutoff: 50%
Modulation Envelope
- Destination: Pitch
- Modulation Amount: 3 Octaves
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 10 ms
- Sustain: 0%
- Release: 10 ms
LFO
- Destination: Pitch
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 0%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
- Voice Mode: Mono
Chorus
- Mix: 100% Wet
- Rate: Slow
Reverb
- Mix: 40% Wet
- Size: Medium
Modulation Wheel
- Destination: LFO Amount
- Modulation Amount: 25%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Animals (Martin Garrix song) – Wikipedia
- Martin Garrix – “Animals” Sound Design (YouTube)
- How To Make Martin Garrix’s Animals Drop Lead Pluck Sound in Vital (YouTube)
- Garrix Edition | Martin Garrix Sylenth1 Presets – Stickz
- Martin Garrix Serum Tutorial | Creating Tracks
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
- Vital