How to design a supersaw lead synth

A supersaw is the iconic huge trance/EDM lead — originally a single oscillator on the Roland JP-8000 that stacked 7 detuned saws into one massive sound.

Updated 2026-05-19

Short answer

A supersaw is the iconic huge trance/EDM lead — originally a single oscillator on the Roland JP-8000 that stacked 7 detuned saws into one massive sound. To recreate it on any modern synth: use 7 unison voices, detune around 25, slight stereo spread, and pair it with a long reverb tail and rhythmic delay.

Oscillator: saw wave, unison voices 7, detune 25-35
Stereo spread: 60-80% — anything more starts to feel hollow in mono
Filter: lowpass cutoff at 8 kHz, resonance 0.3 — subtle high-shelf rolloff
Envelope: medium attack (50-100 ms), full sustain, medium release (300-500 ms)
Effects: reverb (40% wet, 3s decay), ping-pong delay at 1/4 dotted

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Pick a synth with unison

Best supersaw synths: Spire, Sylenth1, Serum, Ableton Wavetable, Roland Cloud JP-8000. Any modern synth with unison voices and detune works. The original JP-8000 had a dedicated 'supersaw' oscillator; everything since has been an emulation of that stacked-saw sound.

Set unison voices and detune

Set unison to 7 voices (matches the original JP-8000), detune around 25-30. Higher detune (35+) makes the sound wider but starts to feel out-of-tune. Lower detune (15-20) gives a tighter, more focused lead. The 'sweet spot' depends on the song — for trance leads go wider; for hardstyle leads, tighter.

Add a second octave layer

Stack a second oscillator one octave up (also saw, also unison 5-7, detune 20). This adds brightness and 'shimmer' to the lead. Mix the second oscillator at -6 dB relative to the main one. Without the octave layer, supersaws can feel flat in dense mixes.

Glue it with reverb and delay

Supersaws sound naked without effects. Add a hall reverb (40% wet, 3 second decay) and a ping-pong delay (1/4 dotted, 30% feedback, 25% wet). The reverb fills the stereo field; the delay adds rhythmic depth. Most supersaw leads in EDM are 50%+ wet — that's the sound.

Frequently asked

Where did the supersaw come from?

The Roland JP-8000 (1996) introduced a single oscillator that internally stacked 7 detuned saws — the 'Supersaw'. It became the defining lead sound of trance in the late '90s (Tiësto, ATB, Paul van Dyk) and has spread to every EDM subgenre since. Every modern soft-synth emulates it.

Supersaw vs regular saw with unison — same thing?

Functionally yes, sonically slightly different. The original JP-8000 supersaw had a specific detune curve and slight pitch wobble that emulations don't always replicate exactly. For 99% of producers, 7 detuned saw voices with unison is indistinguishable from the original.

Why does my supersaw sound thin?

Three usual reasons: 1) Unison too low (try 7 voices, not 3). 2) No second-octave layer (stack a higher octave for shimmer). 3) Not enough effects — supersaws need reverb and delay to sound 'in the song'. Adding all three usually fixes thin supersaw leads instantly.

Should I use a supersaw on a pad too?

Yes — supersaw pads are a common chill-out and ambient choice. Same patch but with a longer attack (300-500 ms) and a more closed filter (3 kHz cutoff). The slow attack makes it wash in rather than stab; the closed filter makes it sit behind the lead instead of competing.

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