Sylenth1 has been a go-to synth for producers since 2007, and over the years, I’ve discovered a trick many sample pack creators guard closely: layering oscillators and modulation to mimic real-world drums. The snare, with its sharp crack and deep body, is a perfect example. Let me show you how the pros build this sound without relying on pre-made samples.S

Step 1: Layering the Oscillators

Every perfect snare needs a foundation. Start by setting Oscillator 1 to a sine wave. This will handle the drum’s body. Set the voices to 8, detune to 1.533, pan to -1.8 (left), and fine-tune to -0.2. The detune adds thickness, mimicking the natural imperfections of a real snare’s wires rattling. For Oscillator 2, switch to the noise waveform. Use 1 voice, phase at 98 degrees, volume at 3.4, pan to 0.9 (right), and fine-tune at 0.3. This layer adds the gritty top-end “crack.” Fun fact: Real snares have actual metal wires stretched under the drumhead — this noise oscillator replicates that chaotic rattle.

Step 2: Shaping the Amplitude Envelope

The AMP envelope controls how the sound breathes. Set attack to 0.05 (instant start), decay to 2.4, sustain to 0, and release to 2.3. A longer decay lets the noise layer linger, while the quick attack ensures the snare hits hard. Learn from my mistake: give the tail room to breathe.

Step 3: Filtering the Sound

Switch the filter to low-pass mode. Set cutoff to 6.5, resonance to 2.6, and drive to 4.8. This tames the harshness of the noise while letting the sine wave’s warmth shine. Under Filter Control, set the cutoff to 5 and resonance to 2.5. Think of this as gently muffling the drum with a blanket — it softens without killing the energy.

Step 4: Modulation for Movement

Modulation gives its life. For MOD ENV 1, map -1.267 to the filter cutoff. Set attack to 10, decay and sustain to 0, and release to 10. This creates a slow sweep, as if the snare’s tone darkens after the hit. For MOD ENV 2, assign 4.667 to pitch with a decay of 0.545. This pitch drop mimics a drumhead’s tension loosening — like a car engine sputtering to a stop.

Step 5: Adding Subtle Texture with LFO

Assign LFO 1 (sine wave) to pitch at -3.067, rate 1/2, and gain 6.333. This introduces a slow, wobbling detune. It’s subtle, but without it, the snare feels static — like a drummer who forgets to put soul into their strokes.

Step 6: Effects for Polish

Add distortion at 5 amount (65% wet) for grit. A touch of reverb gives space — imagine the snare in a small studio room. Compression tightens the dynamics. I used this combo in a DnB track last year, and the snare cut through the mix like a knife through butter.

Final Touches

Under MISC 1, link velocity to pitch at -0.6. Hitting the keys harder slightly detunes the snare, adding human-like variation. Play with Keytrack too — it’s how I stumbled into a tribal-inspired snare that became the backbone of a track.

A Little History

The iconic snare drum dates back to medieval times, used in military marches. Modern electronic music owes a debt to those early rhythms. In 1982, the LinnDrum’s snare became a pop staple — proof that a well-crafted sound can shape eras.

Need This Preset?

If you want to skip the tweaking and go straight into using this snare, download the preset here. It’s the exact patch I’ve used in my own tracks, and it’s a solid starting point for adding your own flair. Go ahead — layer it, process it, and make it yours.