Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Plugins
Plugins How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
halogen fm
Tech GForce Software makes FM synthesis simple with Halogen FM
jamie xx on stage
Artists “It’s my favourite synth ever”: Jamie xx on the ultra-rare vintage Oberheim that takes "a few days" to program
Fors Pivot
Synths Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Full Bucket Music FB-3300
Software & Apps Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
rival
Artists “You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
Behringer Model D
Soft Synths 10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
  1. Tutorials
  2. Music Production Tutorials

How to make a Deadmau5 Faxing Berlin-style synth sound

Tuition
By Computer Music ( Computer Music ) published 29 July 2009

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Getting started

Getting started

Step 1: To get the kind of progressive house sounds used in Faxing Berlin and other Deadmau5 tracks, you’ll need a virtual analogue synth. We’re using ZebraCM, which you’ll find on the Computer Music magazine cover CVD every month, but these techniques can be applied to other instruments, too. We’re going to start with the Initial patch – while it might not sound like much at the moment, with a few tweaks we can easily get that authentic prog vibe.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Setting up the oscillators

Setting up the oscillators

Step 2: The first thing to do is fatten up the sound by detuning the oscillators and increasing the number of voices used. Click the button that says Dual in the first oscillator panel and select Quad instead. Repeat this process for the second oscillator.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Detuning and filtering

Detuning and filtering

Step 3: Set the Detune knob of Oscillator 1 to -20 and Oscillator 2 to +20. This already gives us a richer tone, but it sounds more like Van Halen’s Jump than anything else. We need some filter action to give the sound some shape, so start by turning the Env2 knob in the Filter panel down to 92.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Adding movement

Adding movement

Step 4: Change the filter model to LP Vintage for a slightly smoother sound. Turn up the Init and Attack knobs in the Envelope section as we have here, and adjust the Decay to 45. These subtle changes give the sound more movement and definition.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Adding FX

Adding FX

Step 5: The patch is getting there but it’s a bit dry, so let’s use some of ZebraCM’s built-in effects to make it sound slicker. Start by turning on the ModFX by double-clicking the ModFX1 button in the FX panel at the bottom left-hand corner.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Adding delay

Adding delay

Step 6: To add some delay, double-click Delay1 under the ModFX1 button and copy the levels we’ve used. Be careful: if the Feedback or X-back settings are too high you’ll be in for some overly loud and unpleasant feedback delay!

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Adding reverb

Adding reverb

Step 7: Turn on the Rev1 effect and copy the settings shown above. The delay and reverb levels we’ve gone for are by no means subtle and won’t suit some playing styles. If you find them a bit overpowering, just turn down the relevant Wet or Mix knob.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Tuning

Tuning

Step 8: Turn the Tune setting of the second oscillator up to 7 semitones. Adding this perfect fifth interval gives the patch a warmer, fuller sound, but if you find that it’s not to your taste, try tuning the second oscillator up a full octave instead (12 semitones). This produces a more up-front, trance-like tone.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Opening up the filter

Opening up the filter

Step 9: The Faxing Berlin sound evolves throughout the song: it starts very dark and gradually the filter opens up. If you want to create the same effect, turn the Key Fol knob in the Filter section down to zero, set the Cutoff to about 32, and use the Env2 parameter to control the filter.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Computer Music
Computer Music
Social Links Navigation

Computer Music magazine is the world’s best selling publication dedicated solely to making great music with your Mac or PC computer. Each issue it brings its lucky readers the best in cutting-edge tutorials, need-to-know, expert software reviews and even all the tools you actually need to make great music today, courtesy of our legendary CM Plugin Suite.

Read more
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
halogen fm
GForce Software makes FM synthesis simple with Halogen FM
jamie xx on stage
“It’s my favourite synth ever”: Jamie xx on the ultra-rare vintage Oberheim that takes "a few days" to program
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Full Bucket Music FB-3300
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
rival
“You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
Latest in Music Production Tutorials
ableton
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
API
Our pick of the very best VCA compressor software emulation plugins for any music project
Native Instruments Raum
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
Uvi Phasor
How modulation effects work and how to use them
bon iver
"It’s simple enough to create the perfect hard-tuned and harmonised effects within our DAW, providing you have the right software": How to harness hard-tuned vocals
Plugins Future owns
Our resident platinum award-winning mixer and producer shares 10 of his go-to plugins
Latest in Tuition
Plugins
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
Plugin Chains
How to emulate a classic analogue recording system entirely with plugins
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
ableton
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Native Instruments Raum
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
mixing desk
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...