Remaking the keys synth from the 2022 song "Sweet Distraction" by Sam Wills, Kofi Stone, Jake Millner can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Sweet Distraction" 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
The synthesizer sound in Sam Wills’ “Sweet Distraction” features a warm, electric brass-like timbre that underpins the track’s dreamy intro. This sound combines a sawtooth with chorus and filter modulation, creating a smooth, soulful texture reminiscent of classic analog synths. The synth is prominent from the track’s opening, providing melodic counterpoint to the vocal delivery and guitar lines.
Original Performing Instrument
Unknown
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 "Sweet Distraction" by Sam Wills, Kofi Stone, Jake Millner, 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: 6
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 40 ms
- Decay: 1050 ms
- Sustain: 20%
- Release: 100 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 40%
- Resonance: 40%
- Key Tracking: 70%
Filter Envelope
- Modulation Amount: 20%
- Attack: 10 ms
- Decay: 600 ms
- Sustain: 0%
- Release: 10 ms
Chorus
- Mix: 50% Wet
- Rate: Medium
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
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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
Comments
This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?
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