Remaking the keys synth from the 2021 song "What's Next" by Drake can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "What's Next" 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 Drake’s song “What’s Next,” the Keys synthesizer sound is introduced at 0:11, contributing to the track’s atmospheric depth. The resulting timbre and texture of the pad are essential to the song’s mood, with an oscillating chord progression moving between C Major, B minor, and E minor.
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 "What's Next" by Drake, 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: 4
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- FM Amount: 30%
- Carrier
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 50%
- Modulator
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 100%
- Volume: 60%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: Yes
- Noise Volume: 20%
Modulation Envelope
- Destination: Pitch
- Modulation Amount: 11 Semitones
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 50 ms
- Sustain: 0%
LFO
- Destination: Pitch
- Waveform: Triangle
- Amount: 28 Cents
- Rate: 1/16 Note
- Voice Mode: Mono
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- Capturing Synth Sounds with ZENOLOGY: “What’s Next” by Drake (Roland Articles)
- Drake Synth/Sound Design Tutorial (What’s Next in 2 minutes) – YouTube (Sound Design Tutorial)
- Drake’s Music: Instruments Used in His Songs – FLStudioMusic (Instruments Used in Drake’s Songs)
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
