Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is a sound design tutorial for how to approach a specific sound that was used in the film Blade Runner 2049 from 2017 with a score by Hans Zimmer. I was requested to show how I would make the lead sound that happens in the track "Mesa". The sound is a wet synth brass type of sound, with some wrinkles, where the pitch is a little further apart than you normal would do for an EDM track or the type of pop 1980s track, where this type of sound was used a lot.
The Sequential Circuits OB-6 can do a respectable job of coming close to the sound. I have no idea what was actually used for the film, but it sounds closer to a CS-80, which now costs over $100,000 used. For this reason, I'm teaching how to make the sound on both OB-6 and the Moog Grandmother.
Analog synthesizers have found a way back into film music, which has led to a lot of rich experimentation of what these instruments are capable of. I think my main takeaway from making this video, is that a lot can be achieved by moving the pitch of two oscillators far apart from each other to create a lot of disturbance in the melody. Also, having a really dry sound mixed in with lots of ambience really cuts through in a way that creates a strong effect.
I hope you learn something from this tutorial, and it gives you some ideas to try out! Please let me know if there are any questions, or if anyone knows what instrument was used on the film. I would guess a Minimoog or similar.
This is a sound design tutorial for how to approach a specific sound that was used in the film Blade Runner 2049 from 2017 with a score by Hans Zimmer. I was requested to show how I would make the lead sound that happens in the track "Mesa". The sound is a wet synth brass type of sound, with some wrinkles, where the pitch is a little further apart than you normal would do for an EDM track or the type of pop 1980s track, where this type of sound was used a lot.
The Sequential Circuits OB-6 can do a respectable job of coming close to the sound. I have no idea what was actually used for the film, but it sounds closer to a CS-80, which now costs over $100,000 used. For this reason, I'm teaching how to make the sound on both OB-6 and the Moog Grandmother.
Analog synthesizers have found a way back into film music, which has led to a lot of rich experimentation of what these instruments are capable of. I think my main takeaway from making this video, is that a lot can be achieved by moving the pitch of two oscillators far apart from each other to create a lot of disturbance in the melody. Also, having a really dry sound mixed in with lots of ambience really cuts through in a way that creates a strong effect.
I hope you learn something from this tutorial, and it gives you some ideas to try out! Please let me know if there are any questions, or if anyone knows what instrument was used on the film. I would guess a Minimoog or similar.
