Supersaw
A supersaw is a synthesizer sound created by layering multiple slightly detuned sawtooth oscillators, producing the dense, chorus-like timbre iconic to trance and EDM leads. Pioneered by Roland's JP-8000, the supersaw became the defining sound of trance, progressive house, and big room EDM.
The original Roland JP-8000 (1996) introduced the Super Saw oscillator, which stacked seven sawtooth waveforms with slight pitch offsets between them. The result was a thick, self-chorusing sound that filled the frequency spectrum in a way single oscillators couldn't.
Modern synthesizers replicate this with a unison or 'super' mode: stacking 4–8 oscillator voices with detune spread between them. The key parameters are the number of voices (more = thicker) and the detune amount (more detune = wider but less focused). A subtle spread around 10–30 cents sounds tight and professional; extreme detune creates a washy, unfocused sound.
To make a supersaw sit well in a mix: apply a high-pass filter to remove low-frequency buildup, use slight panning spread across the voices, and keep the bass mono. A touch of compression after the synth can even out the dynamics and add punch to the attack.