Remaking the bass synth from the 1985 song "King Tut" by Paul Hardcastle can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "King Tut" bass 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
Paul Hardcastle’s “King Tut” features a squelchy, biting bass sound that emerges prominently at 0:15, characterized by its aggressive resonance and sharp attack. This signature bass tone was created using a Sequential Prophet-5 synthesizer, with Hardcastle favoring manual live performance over sequencing for dynamic expression. The sound became a hallmark of Hardcastle’s 1980s electronic productions, blending synth-driven funk with rhythmic precision.
Original Performing Instrument
Sequential Prophet-5
Our Remake of The Bass Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the bass synth from the song "King Tut" by Paul Hardcastle, 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 Legato
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 0 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Sub Oscillator
- Waveform: Triangle
- Pitch: -1 Octave
- Volume: 30%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 40%
- Resonance: 65%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 25%
- Attack: 0 ms
- Decay: 350 ms
- Sustain: 0%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- When The Tape Runs Out (SOS Jul 86) – mu:zines
Discusses Paul Hardcastle’s use of the Prophet-5 for bass sounds, emphasizing manual playing for distinctive character. - Interview: Paul Hardcastle – 19 Below Zero – Trebuchet Magazine
Confirms continued use of the Prophet-5 for bass and synth textures in Hardcastle’s work. - Famous Sounds – SynthMania
Explicitly identifies the “King Tut” bass as a Prophet-5 patch with “lots of bite,” used in multiple Hardcastle tracks.
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
