Dialing In Your First Synthwave Track

You don't need a wall of analog gear to make synthwave. You need a few sounds, a steady pulse, and some restraint. Here's how to get your first track sounding like it belongs at midnight.

1. Start with the drums

Synthwave lives and dies on a punchy, gated drum machine. Program a simple four-on-the-floor kick, a snare on the 2 and 4, and let the hats breathe. Add gated reverb on the snare — that huge "80s" tail is half the genre.

2. Lock the bass to the kick

A driving bassline is the engine. Keep it monophonic, sidechain it lightly to the kick, and let it ride eighth notes. Our Synthwave Starter Pack ships with bass presets that are already dialed in.

3. Pads for the skyline

Stack a warm saw pad underneath everything. Detune two oscillators a few cents for width, roll off the highs, and add slow chorus. This is the neon glow behind the whole track.

4. A lead that sings

Pick one lead and make it cry — a bright saw or square with portamento. Less is more: a four-note hook repeated is more memorable than a flurry of notes.

5. Mix for the night drive

If it sounds good in the car at 11pm, it's done.

Keep the low end clean, push a little tape saturation on the master, and leave headroom. Then bounce it and listen on the worst speakers you own.

Keep going

Finish tracks, even rough ones. The tenth one will sound like you. When it does, we'd love to hear it.