Remaking the keys synth from the 2004 song "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Drop It Like It's Hot" keys 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
Snoop Dogg’s 2004 track “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” produced by The Neptunes, features a minimalist beat highlighted by distinctive descending synth chords at 0:17. These chords are played using a standard polysynth patch, likely comprising detuned sawtooth waves with moderate filter and amplitude envelope settings. The song is in the key of C# minor, and the chords follow a progression that includes C# minor and A major. You can hear the descending synth chords at 0:17 in the song.
Our Remake of The Keys Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the keys synth from the song "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg, 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: 4
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 10 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 80%
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 2
- Detune Range: 5 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 100%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
Filter
- Type: Band Pass
- Cutoff: 40%
- Resonance: 30%
LFO
- Destination: Pulse Width
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 65%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
Modulation Wheel
- Destination: LFO Rate
- Modulation Amount: 50%
Velocity
- Destination: Filter Envelope Amount
- Modulation Amount: 40%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Drop It Like It’s Hot (Wikipedia)
- Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot Beat Tutorial – MPCLIVE (YouTube)
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
