Remaking the keys synth from the 2022 song "Kill Bill" by SZA can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Kill Bill" 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
In SZA’s song “Kill Bill,” the muffled keys starting around the minute mark are created by a Prophet-6 synthesizer. This distinctive sound is sampled from the Prophet-6 and used to add a retro, late 1990s–early 2000s vibe to the track. The sampled flute-like sound from the Prophet-6 contributes to the song’s boom bap influences and adds a unique texture to the production. You can hear this sound prominently in the song’s instrumental sections, particularly after the initial guitar and bass introduction.
Original Performing Instrument
Sequential Prophet-6
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 "Kill Bill" by SZA, 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: Poly
- Voice Count: 6
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 1900 ms
- Sustain: 60%
- Release: 700 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 90%
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 15 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 50%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
- Noise Volume: 40%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 50%
- Resonance: 55%
- Key Tracking: 100%
LFO
- Destination: Pitch
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 70 Cents
- Rate: 1/4 Note
Velocity
- Destination: Volume
- Modulation Amount: 100%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Inside Track: SZA ‘Kill Bill’ – Sound On Sound
- How To Recreate Sounds: A Simple Approach – YouTube
- How to Produce: “Kill Bill” by SZA – Free Download – YouTube
- How KILL BILL by SZA was made – 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
- Vital
