Three approaches to synthwave production

Arturia V Collection 8 1

1Synthwave’s retro production aesthetic relies heavily, as the name suggests, on vintage synths. That’s an unavoidably expensive way to make music these days, as prices of classic instruments have skyrocketed in recent years. For most of us, software emulations of iconic models are the more affordable option. You can take your pick from hundreds of instruments in the plugin world, but if you want the most comprehensive choice of high-quality emulations, Arturia’s V Collection 8 is the obvious starting point, including a total of 28 instruments in a 599€ bundle.

Vintage drum samples from Loopcloud or Splice.com 2

Drums are easily handled using samples, blending acoustic hits with vintage drums and harder-hitting modern sounds to give character and impact. Most DAWs include a decent selection these days, but if you want more options, subscription platforms like Loopcloud and Splice will give you plenty of royalty-free sounds to choose from. Or check out FM’s own Sample Archive, free at filesilo.co.uk/future-music-369

Korg Minilogue 3

Vintage analogue synths are usually expensive and sometimes unreliable, but there are modern options too. Korg’s Minilogue is one of the most accessible, affordable polyphonic options, offering four voices of true analogue power at around £430. It might not offer the prestige of a classic allrounder like a Roland Juno-106, but it has a similar ability to turn its hand to most sounds, from fat monophonic basslines to delicate arpeggios, silky pads and beefy leads.