In the realm of electronic music, the epic EMD Dance lead is an iconic sound that stands out for its richness and fullness. The key to this sound is the supersaw, which might seem complex, but with a straightforward approach, anyone can achieve this powerful sound. Here’s a simplified guide using Reveal Sound’s Spire.

Unison: The Foundation

The essence of the sound’s big washiness lies in its unison. More voices equate to a richer, more enveloping sound. By maxing Spire’s Unison Density, our sound officially becomes a supersaw that fills the audio spectrum with its aggressive, bright presence.

Adding Oscillators

The next step involves bringing in two additional oscillators, set to the same settings as the original. The magic happens when these are slightly detuned from each other. This detuning is crucial as it introduces a lush, phasey quality to the sound, and makes are sound even more lush and aggressive.

Filtering and Bite

To sculpt the sound further, a basic high pass filter is applied. This helps in cutting out the low frequencies, ensuring the overall sound doesn’t muddy the mix. Then, to add bite and definition, the sustain level is reduced. This adjustment allows the attack of the sound to be more pronounced, making it stand out in a mix.

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Volume and Distortion

Often, the process of shaping the sound can lead to a loss in overall volume. To compensate, the volume is increased. Following this, a bit of distortion is introduced, clipping the sound slightly. This is not just about making it louder but adding character and warmth to it through subtle drive and distortion.

Compression and Reverb

To ensure the sound is really punchy, compression is applied. Compression is usually used to control dynamics, but in this scenario it’s more about squeezing the tone. After compression, reverb is added to give the sound space and depth. However, it’s essential to dampen the reverb to prevent it from overwhelming the mix, ensuring the sound remains clear and focused.

Conclusion

Creating an epic supersaw-style EDM dance lead is about more than just stacking sounds; it’s about carefully shaping and controlling those sounds to achieve a desired emotional impact. Through the use of additional oscillators, strategic filtering, volume adjustment, distortion, compression, and reverb, a simple waveform can be transformed into a powerful musical expression. This step-by-step approach demystifies the process, making it accessible for producers at all levels to add the iconic supersaw to their sonic toolbox.