Tears For Fears - Shout | Lead Synth Patch Remake

Remaking the lead synth from the 1985 song "Shout" by Tears For Fears can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Shout" 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

Tears for Fears’ 1984 track “Shout” features a distinctive airy, flute-like lead synthesizer that enters prominently at the 0:50 mark. This sound was created using the Fairlight CMI sampler, specifically utilizing its “ARR1” sample, which contributes to the song’s haunting and memorable quality. The ARR1 sample was a popular preset in the Fairlight CMI, known for its ethereal and pipe-like timbre.

Original Performing Instrument

Fairlight CMI (Sampler)

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 "Shout" by Tears For Fears, 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: 10 ms
  • Sustain: 100%
  • Release: 130 ms

Oscillators

  • Oscillator 1
    • Waveform: Pulse
    • Pulse Width: 80%
    • Volume: 50%
    • Pitch: +1 Cent
  • Oscillator 2
    • Waveform: Pulse
    • Pulse Width: 80%
    • Pitch: -1 Cent
    • Volume: 50%
  • Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
  • Noise Volume: 30%

Filter

  • Type: Low Pass
  • Cutoff: 80%
  • Resonance: 40%

Chorus

  • Mix: 50% Wet
  • Rate: Slow

Reverb

  • Mix: 20% Wet
  • Size: Big

Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.

Notes And Observations

This was made with the Fairlight CMI sampler, but we can get pretty close with a synth.

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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
Download Presets

Comments

This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?

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