Remaking the pluck synth from the 2016 song "Stranger Things Theme" by Survive can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Stranger Things Theme" pluck 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
The Stranger Things theme song, composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of Survive, features a prominent pluck synthesizer sound that runs throughout the track. This arpeggio pattern, which is an arpeggiation of a C major 7th chord, acts as both the main melody and an ostinato, repeating itself throughout the entire track. The sound is particularly noticeable when the intro’s filter is removed at 0:14, revealing the clear, plucked notes.
Original Performing Instrument
Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Our Remake of The Pluck Synth
https://soundcloud.com/audiblegenius/survive-stranger-things-1This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the pluck synth from the song "Stranger Things Theme" by Survive, 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: 15 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 50%
- Pitch: +9 Cents
- Oscillator 2
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Pitch: -10 Cents
- Volume: 50%
- Sub Oscillator
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 100%
- Pitch: -1 Octave
- Volume: 40%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 50%
LFO
- Destination: Filter Cutoff
- Waveform: Saw
- Amount: 30%
- Rate: 1/16 Note
Modulation Wheel
- Destination: Cutoff
- Modulation Amount: 50%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- How To Create the Stranger Things Arp Sound – YouTube
- Stranger Things main theme: how to sound design the main arp sound with the OB-6 – MATRIXSYNTH
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
