Remaking the pad synth from the 2006 song "Faxing Berlin" by Deadmau5 can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Faxing Berlin" pad 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
Deadmau5’s “Faxing Berlin” features a signature progressive house pad/chords sound that evolves dynamically through filter modulation. The core sound is built with detuned oscillators and a low-pass filter set to a dark cutoff, creating a rich, evolving texture.
Original Performing Instrument
FXpansion Strobe 2
Our Remake of The Pad Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the pad synth from the song "Faxing Berlin" by Deadmau5, 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: 0 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Saw
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 19 Cents
- Stereo Spread: 100%
- Reset All Oscillators Phase On Note Start: No
- Noise Volume: 80%
Filter
- Type: Low Pass
- Cutoff: 50%
- Resonance: 20%
LFO
- Destination: Filter Cutoff
- Waveform: Saw
- Amount: 15%
- Rate: 1/8 Note
- Trigger: Off
Reverb
- Mix: 20% Wet
- Size: Medium
Modulation Wheel
- Destination: Cutoff
- Modulation Amount: 35%
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
Explore More
- How to make a Deadmau5 Faxing Berlin-style synth sound (MusicRadar)
- Deadmau5 – Faxing Berlin (Main Pluck) Synth Recreation (YouTube)
- Deadmau5 Faxing Berlin Pluck Sound Design Discussion (Syntorial Forum)
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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