Remaking the lead synth from the 2024 song "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Espresso" 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
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” features a distinctive lead synthesizer motif that emerges prominently at 1:06, characterized by its bright, big saw timbre. The vibrato effect at the end of the phrase is achieved through LFO modulation of pitch, the amount of which is controlled by the Mod Wheel. This synth layer adds a dynamic, funk-inspired counterpoint to the track’s chorus sections.
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 "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter, 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 Legato
- Portamento: 20 ms
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 150 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 110 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 3 Cents
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: Yes
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 85%
LFO
- Destination: Pitch
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 0%
- Rate: 1/16 Note
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Modulation Wheel
- Destination: LFO Amount
- Modulation Amount: 25%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso” Breakdown (Synth Ctrl) – Detailed technical analysis of the lead sound, including oscillator configurations (ICanHasKick and Basic Shape wavetables), voice counts, LFO modulation, and matrix routing techniques used in the bridge motif.
- The Secret Sauce Behind Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ – Recreated! (YouTube) – Producer ill Factor demonstrates layering techniques, sample manipulation, and atmospheric processing relevant to the lead sound’s texture and spatial placement in the mix.
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
