Here’s how to make a 3xOsc supersaw lead in FL Studio easily. A supersaw is a very famous saw wave synth, mostly used for leads, melodies, and chords.
Supersaws lay at the foundation of most EDM genres, such as trance, house, and hardstyle. So, it’s essential to know how to make them.
The 3xOsc supersaw lead
The 3x Osc is a stock plugin in FL Studio. Many people write this synth off due to its basic interface and lack of sound results. However, the 3x Osc is often misunderstood and can perform shockingly well. This is rather simple to achieve if you know its little secrets.
Essential for EDM producers
To help you unleash the power of the 3x Osc, I’ve created this post. And there are no ifs and buts. You must know how to make a supersaw lead if you want to be an EDM producer.
This is only a post, so find more steps in the Supersaw FL Studio instruction guide (self-affiliated). It’s your instant template to design a professional supersaw lead in FL Studio. Just click the link to get started.
How to make a supersaw lead?
First, add the 3x Osc to the Channel Rack by clicking “Add” in the menu and select “3x Osc”. Then, follow these 5 simple steps:
- Set all oscillators to a saw waveform.
- Set the “coarse” knob on the oscillators to the same value (“12” in the example). This sets their pitch. You can also set one to 12 and another to 24 for octave variation.
- Detune each oscillator quite a bit. Optionally, use the “phase offset” sliders for extra width.
- Open the “phase rand” knob completely (located at the bottom of the 3x Osc).
- Optionally, set a volume envelope on the “volume” tab. Add some release with the “rel” knob for a smoother supersaw lead.
These are the most important settings and should produce a supersaw-ish type of sound. However, it still lacks fatness, so let’s proceed.
Make supersaw chords and melodies
To hear the potential of your supersaw lead, play some chords on the Piano Roll. Learn here How to Make Chords in FL Studio. Chords help you hear the sound as a whole and give a feel for what’s right and wrong.
Make great chords instantly: Use my free Chord Finder tool here and generate exact notes.
Besides playing chords, you can also draw a rhythm or short melody to get the right impression.
Secrets to a fat supersaw lead
When you do this, you will still notice a somewhat wonky, empty, or monotone sound. This is why most people write off the 3x Osc. They can’t seem to get the right sound.
I wouldn’t make this post if we couldn’t fix it, so pay close attention as we reveal the 3x Osc’s secrets hiding in plain sight.
3xOsc supersaw lead secrets
The magic of the 3x Osc lies in the Fat mode, but it’s cleverly tucked away. Here’s how to access it: select the “Misc” tab and go to the “Echo delay / fat mode” area. Then, follow these 5 easy steps:
- Turn the “time” knob down completely.
- Open the “feed” knob completely.
- Enable the “Fat mode” checkbox.
- Very gently turn the “pitch” knob slightly to the right or left. It’s extremely sensitive, so going too far will make the sound heavily detuned.
- Set the “Echoes” to about 7-8. The echoes act like voices: the same signal multiplied by the number you choose.
After this, play your chords again… Boom! You have yourself a super fat supersaw lead.
When you use Fat mode on the 3x Osc, the volume may drop as you add more echoes. You can bring it back by turning up the 3x Osc volume knob or routing it to the mixer and boosting it there.
Finetune your 3xOsc lead
Your supersaw template is now ready. This is the time to tune it to your liking. Therefore, feel free to play with the settings and tweak the lead. More/less detune, more/less release, more/less octaves, etc.
Of course, also route the 3x Osc supersaw lead to the mixer where you can add effects and shape the sound. Two effects I highly recommend using are reverb and an equalizer. These can balance out frequencies and give depth and fullness to your sound.
Unlock your 3xOsc supersaw lead
That’s really it. You now know the secrets of the 3x Osc and it’s your turn to make a fat supersaw lead.
If things are unclear, or you can’t get the right sound, no panic. Just follow the Supersaw FL Studio instruction guide here (self-affiliated).
You will see all details with clear steps for a guaranteed thick supersaw. The guide is still live, so you can start right away.