How to recreate the synth bass inTake On Me by a-ha

The bassline is a Yamaha DX7 patch — reportedly the factory "E BASS 1" preset. That means it's FM synthesis, not subtractive, so the settings above are an approximation rather than a literal recreation. If you have a DX7 emulation or any FM-capable synth, start from a preset named something like "FM Bass", "E Bass", or "Solid Bass" and you'll be most of the way there.

To get close on a subtractive synth:

1. Start with a sine for the fundamental. FM basses of this era have a very pure, round low end. A saw will sound too aggressive and buzzy.
2. Add a triangle an octave up for the bite. This stands in for the FM sidebands that give the patch its plucky, slightly metallic attack. Keep it well below the fundamental in the mix.
3. Short, punchy envelope. Zero attack, quickish decay, moderate sustain. It should have a defined "pop" on the front of each note and then settle.
4. Mono with no glide. The bassline is tight and articulate — you don't want notes sliding into each other. If your synth has a legato mode, leave it off.
5. Keep the filter fairly closed with just a little envelope. This bass sits under everything else; it shouldn't be bright.