11 quick-fire synthwave tips
COMPRESS THE REVERB
It may sound like every synthwave track contains a pad, but this isn't necessarily the case. The use of long reverbs on melodic elements creates a massive reverby background. Try compressing your reverb to bring the ambience up in the mix for a sustained, pad-like timbre.
LO-FI DELAYS
Like reverb, delay is extremely important. For the vintage flavour of synthwave, check out Sonic Charge Permut8 ( sonicharge.com) for crunchy, old-school repeats. To go even further back in time, use a delay modelled on classic tape delay machines.
SATURATION AND BITCRUSHING
Many synthwave sounds appear to come straight out of an old VHS or arcade game. For a distinctly lo-fi sound, stack several stages of light saturation and gentle bitcrushing for that old-school dirt.
USE SIMPLE SOUNDS
Synthwave patches are generally basic, as 80s synths were much simpler in nature compared to the digital powerhouses we work with today. Keep true to this heritage and use raw, straightforward sounds.
LOW CHANNEL COUNT
The genre uses its elements sparingly, but the liberal use of effects means things can get dense quickly. Therefore, strike the right balance between modesty and density.
WORKSTATION MODELLERS
Romplers and emulators of digital 80s gear are used frequently. Check out UVI Digital Synsations ( uvi.net), which gives you the iconic sounds of four classic synthesisers.
POLYSIX BASS
A common bass sound in synthwave is the Fat Line Bass preset from the Korg Polysix VST. Loading in a preset is easy, but you'll instantly sound just like everyone else – so learn how these sounds are made to create your own take on classic synth sounds.
PITCHBENDING
Pitchbending leads are common within synthwave, often mimicking a screaming 80s guitar solo. Wiggle a pitchbend wheel on a controller, or draw pitchbend curves via automation.
CUT THE BASS
Synthwave uses a lot of reverb… but how much is too much? There's a fine line between ‘dreamy' and ‘muddy', so EQ your reverb returns to sculpt the timbre of your virtual ambience and avoid swamping the mix.
RETRO GAMES FOR INSPIRATION
It's no coincidence that there are branches of synthwave known as Road Rash and Out Run, named after computer games of the 80s. Synthwave often borrows from old game music, so have a listen to old soundtracks for arcade inspiration!
AMBIENT ATMOSPHERES
Synthwave tracks feature dusty, ambient backdrops. Get this effect in a flash by layering field recordings or tape hiss samples quietly in the mix. See 239's Instant Analogue feature for more tips!