By the late 1970s, Devo had evolved from an experimental punk band out of Akron, Ohio, into one of the most forward-thinking acts of the new wave era. While their early albums flirted with synthesizers, it wasn’t until their third record, Freedom of Choice (1980), that they fully embraced synths—and landed their biggest hit in the process: the quirky, unforgettable "Whip It."
In this episode of The Synth Sounds Of, William Kirk dives into the gear and techniques behind the track, showing how to recreate its iconic parts using both vintage and modern instruments.
The song’s driving force is its unison bassline, originally tracked on a Minimoog Model D. William uses a Geddy Lee Signature Moog Model D to nail that thick, punchy tone, and shares alternatives like the Moog Grandmother, Novation Bass Station II, or software emulations such as the Arturia Mini V.
Another defining element is the descending Prophet-5 line that runs through the verses. By detuning one oscillator slightly and layering two octaves panned left and right, you can capture the lush, hypnotic texture. For those on a budget, the Korg Minilogue XD or Arturia Prophet V plug-in offer affordable ways to get close.
Of course, no discussion of "Whip It" is complete without the signature whip-crack sound. Originally created with the rare EML ElectroComp 500 and enhanced with natural hallway reverb at the Record Plant, William recreates it using a modern Moog synth and digital reverb plugins.
Finally, the quirky hook melody—the epitome of Devo’s playful aesthetic—was originally played on a Moog Liberation keytar. Since those are hard to come by, William opts for a RadioShack-era Concertmate MG-1, which shares the same Moog DNA.
Watch the full video above to see how these legendary sounds come together—and learn how to whip your own synth setup into shape.