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synth from “when you were mine” by prince | ToneDB

when you were mine

prince

synth

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Tone Profile

This synth lead has a bright, cutting tone with a slightly metallic edge, characteristic of early 80s synth-pop. It's a monophonic, slightly detuned sound that punches through the mix.

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The Story

Prince used an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer to create the lead synth sound on "When You Were Mine." The track was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles with engineer Peggy McCreary. The synth was likely recorded direct to console with slight detuning or chorus effects added to thicken the sound and give it that characteristic early 80s brightness.

Production Credits

Producer: Prince

Engineer: Peggy McCreary

Recorded at: Sunset Sound, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Oberheim OB-XaShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

  • Start with an Oberheim OB-Xa or a similar analog polysynth known for its bright and aggressive sound.
  • Use a saw wave or a combination of saw and square waves as the oscillator source.
  • Slightly detune one of the oscillators for a richer, thicker sound.
  • Add a touch of chorus or ensemble effect to further enhance the sound.
  • Use a high-pass filter to remove any muddiness in the low end and a slight boost in the high frequencies to achieve the bright, cutting tone.
  • Experiment with the filter envelope to create some movement and character in the sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia OB-Xa VPlugin Boutique$100-150

Alternative to: Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer

Official Oberheim-licensed plugin recreation with authentic OB-Xa oscillator modeling and filter characteristics

Sequential OB-6Shop on Reverb$2800-3200

Alternative to: Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer

Modern analog synth co-designed by Tom Oberheim with similar oscillator and filter design philosophy as the original OB-Xa

Behringer OB-XaShop on Reverb$400-500

Alternative to: Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer

Budget analog recreation of the OB-Xa circuit with the same saw wave oscillators and SEM-style filters

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft ChorusShop on Reverb$150-180

Alternative to: Chorus/ensemble effect

Vintage-style chorus that can add the slight modulation and thickening effect heard on the original recording

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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