Remaking the lead synth from the 1984 song "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Dancing In The Dark" 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
Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit “Dancing In The Dark” opens with a brassy lead synthesizer sound that defines its synth-rock identity. Played by Roy Bittan on an analog polyphonic synthesizer, emulates a brass instrument while contrasting with the track’s rock elements.
Original Performing Instrument
Unknown
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 "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen, 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: Mono
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 90 ms
- Decay: 3050 ms
- Sustain: 30%
- Release: 450 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 50%
- Volume: 100%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 40%
- Resonance: 45%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 20%
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 2800 ms
- Sustain: 30%
- Release: 350 ms
LFO
- Destination: Pulse Width
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 55%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
Chorus
- Mix: 25% Wet
- Rate: Slow
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Dancing In The Dark – The Mix Review (Production analysis of synth riff and harmonic structure)
- Dancing In The Dark synth cover (Bruce Springsteen) (Practical recreation using Roland Juno GI and Nord Lead 2)
- Born in the USA record synths. – Harmony Central (Community discussion about Springsteen’s synth choices)
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
