How to Produce Synthwave: Retro-Futuristic Sound Design Guide
Synthwave is a genre that imagines the future as it was seen from the past. Born in the mid-2000s as a nostalgic revival of 1980s film scores, video game music, and pop production, it has grown into a global aesthetic movement spanning music, visual art, and film. This guide covers the production techniques behind synthwave — from the iconic analog synth sounds and gated reverb drums to the neon-soaked atmosphere that defines the genre.
What Is Synthwave?
Synthwave is an electronic music genre characterized by:
- 1980s-inspired synth sounds — Warm analog tones, bright digital pads, and soaring leads
- Gated reverb drums — The signature "Phil Collins" drum sound
- Driving arpeggios — Fast, rhythmic synthesizer patterns
- Major and minor key melodies — Often cinematic and emotionally charged
- Retro-futuristic aesthetics — Imagining a future that never happened
Subgenres
| Style | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Outrun | Fast, driving, car-chase energy |
| Dreamwave | Atmospheric, lush, ambient-influenced |
| Dark Synth | Horror-influenced, aggressive, cinematic |
| Spacesynth | Cosmic, sci-fi, vast soundscapes |
| Synthpop Revival | Vocal-driven, pop song structures |
Tempo and Structure
BPM Range
Synthwave typically sits at 90–130 BPM, with most tracks around 100–120 BPM.
| Substyle | BPM | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Outrun | 120–130 | Fast, driving, energetic |
| Dreamwave | 90–110 | Slow, atmospheric, lush |
| Dark Synth | 100–120 | Medium, tense, cinematic |
| Spacesynth | 90–110 | Slow, cosmic, vast |
Arrangement
Synthwave often follows cinematic structures:
| Section | Bars | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | 8–16 | Atmospheric, building tension |
| Verse | 16 | Arpeggios, bass, drums |
| Chorus | 16 | Melodic lead, maximum energy |
| Bridge | 8–16 | Variation, often stripped back |
| Chorus | 16 | Final climax |
| Outro | 8–16 | Fade with atmosphere |
Drum Programming
The Gated Reverb Snare
The gated reverb snare is the signature drum sound of synthwave:
- Record or sample a snare — Tight, punchy
- Apply heavy reverb — Large hall, 3–5 second decay
- Gate the reverb — The gate cuts off the reverb tail abruptly
- Compress heavily — For a tight, punchy sound
- EQ — Boost around 200 Hz for body, 3–5 kHz for snap
The Kick
- Punchy, tight — 808 or 909 style
- Medium decay — Not too long, not too short
- Sidechain trigger — Drives sidechain on bass and pads
Hi-Hats
- 1/8 or 1/16 notes — Steady and consistent
- Open hats — On off-beats for groove
- Shakers — For subtle high-frequency drive
Toms
- Floor toms — Used in fills, classic 80s sound
- Reverb — Gated reverb on toms as well
Synth Sound Design
The Synthwave Palette
| Sound | Characteristics | How to Create |
|---|---|---|
| Brass leads | Bright, punchy, resonant | Saw wave, resonant low-pass filter, fast envelope |
| Warm pads | Rich, chorused, evolving | Multiple oscillators, detuned, slow LFO |
| Plucky bass | Short, punchy, rhythmic | Square wave, fast filter envelope |
| Arpeggios | Fast, rhythmic, driving | Saw or pulse wave, arpeggiator, medium attack |
| Bell tones | Bright, metallic, digital | FM synthesis or wavetable |
Essential Synths
- Hardware emulations — Arturia V Collection, U-he Diva, TAL-U-NO-LX
- Analog-modeled subtractive — Saw, square, pulse waves with filters
- FM synthesis — For bell tones and digital textures
- Wavetable — For modern, evolving sounds
Processing
- Chorus — Essential for the 80s width and shimmer
- Delay — 1/4 and 1/8 note delays for space
- Reverb — Medium to long halls and plates
- Saturation — Tape or tube saturation for warmth
Bass Design
The Synthwave Bass
- Short and punchy — Fast attack, fast decay
- Slightly distorted — Light saturation for harmonics
- Sidechained — Ducks under the kick
- Melodic — Often follows the chord progression
Bass Sounds
- Square wave — Classic, punchy, defined
- Saw wave — Warmer, fuller, more harmonics
- Pulse wave — Variable width for character
Melodies and Arrangement
Melodic Style
Synthwave melodies are:
- Cinematic — Evoking film scores and emotional moments
- Simple and memorable — Often just a few notes
- Major or minor — Major for uplifting, minor for nostalgic or dark
- Layered — Multiple synth layers for a massive sound
Chord Progressions
| Progression | Mood | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| i – VII – VI – VII | Nostalgic, driving | Outrun, energetic tracks |
| I – V – vi – IV | Anthemic, emotional | Choruses, climactic moments |
| vi – IV – I – V | Nostalgic, hopeful | Verses, reflective sections |
| i – VI – III – VII | Dark, cinematic | Dark synth, tense moments |
Mixing Synthwave
Low End
- Kick and bass — Tight relationship, sidechain compression
- Sub management — Not as sub-heavy as modern EDM; focus on warmth
- Mono sub — Keep sub centered
Mids
- Synth presence — Leads and pads should be clear and defined
- Vocal clarity — If using vocals, ensure they cut through
Highs
- Hi-hat sparkle — Bright but not harsh
- Synth shimmer — High-frequency content for the 80s sheen
Spatial Effects
- Reverb — Medium to long; synthwave benefits from space
- Delay — 1/4 and 1/8 note delays on synths
- Chorus — Essential for width and shimmer
- Stereo width — Wide synths, centered kick and bass
Loudness
- Target: -12 to -10 LUFS — More dynamic than modern EDM
- Gentle compression — Preserve dynamics and punch
- Limiting — 2–4 dB of gain reduction
Essential Tools
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Synths | Arturia V Collection, U-he Diva, TAL-U-NO-LX, Serum |
| Effects | Soundtoys Decapitator, RC-20 Retro Color, Valhalla VintageVerb |
| Drum processing | Gated reverb plugins, SSL-style bus compressors |
| Mastering | Ozone, gentle limiting, tape emulation |
Getting Started
- Set tempo to 110 BPM — Classic synthwave tempo
- Program gated reverb drums — Snare, kick, hi-hats
- Create a warm pad — Multiple oscillators, detuned, chorus
- Write a driving arpeggio — Fast, rhythmic, consistent
- Design a brass lead — Saw wave, resonant filter, bright
- Add a punchy bass — Square wave, short envelope, sidechained
- Arrange cinematically — Intro, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus
- Mix with warmth and space — Reverb, delay, chorus, saturation
Final Thoughts
Synthwave is a genre of nostalgia and imagination. It asks producers to recreate the sound of a future that only existed in movies and dreams. The tools are simple — analog-modeled synths, gated reverb drums, and soaring melodies — but the feeling is what matters.
Whether you're making high-energy outrun for a car chase or lush dreamwave for a sunset, the principles are the same: warm synths, driving rhythms, and an atmosphere that transports the listener to another time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tempo range is standard for synthwave?
Synthwave typically ranges from 80 to 120 BPM depending on subgenre. Outrun-style tracks (Kavinsky, College) tend toward 110–120 BPM for driving energy. Dreamwave and darksynth sit lower, around 80–95 BPM, for a more cinematic, atmospheric feel. The BPM should always feel like it could score a film scene.
Which synthesizers are essential for authentic synthwave sound?
The Roland Juno-106 (or emulations like TAL-U-No-LX) for lush pads, the Oberheim OB-Xa for lead sounds, and the Roland Jupiter-8 for ensemble sounds are the holy trinity. Software equivalents — Arturia's V Collection, u-he Diva — are used by most producers. The key is subtractive synthesis with warm, slightly detuned oscillators and chorus/ensemble effects.
Why does gated reverb define the synthwave drum sound?
Gated reverb on snares was an accident of the 1980s — a studio technique popularized on Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" (1981). The gate cuts the reverb tail abruptly, creating a huge explosive decay. Synthwave revives this deliberately. Apply a reverb with 2–4 second decay, then gate it to cut off at 400–600ms for the characteristic snap.
Who are the founding artists of synthwave?
Kavinsky (France) is considered a foundational figure — his 2013 album Outrun codified the genre. Perturbator (France) bridged synthwave with darksynth. Gunship (UK) brought it to rock audiences. College & Electric Youth scored the 2011 film Drive which introduced millions to the aesthetic. NewRetroWave YouTube channel (2011) was instrumental in building the early community.
What makes outrun different from other synthwave subgenres?
Outrun is named after the 1986 Sega arcade game and emphasizes speed, freedom, and coastal imagery. It's brighter, faster, and more energetic than dreamwave or darksynth. Characteristic elements: arpeggiated bass sequences, heroic lead melodies, driving 4/4 kicks, and a sense of motion. Kavinsky and Miami Nights 1984 are the defining outrun artists.
How do you create the signature synthwave arpeggiated bass line?
Program a monophonic sequence on a Moog-style bass synth (or Arturia Mini V) with a sawtooth or square oscillator, filter cutoff around 60–70%, and moderate resonance. Feed this into an arpeggiator set to 1/16th notes at a tempo-synced rate. Add a slight portamento/glide of 30–50ms. The bass should pulse rhythmically while following the chord progression.
What mixing techniques give synthwave its characteristic warmth?
Tape saturation is the primary tool — plugins like Softube Tape or Waves REDD console emulation add harmonic warmth and gentle compression. Add chorus to pads (Roland Dimension D emulation), slight pitch detuning across layers, and long plate reverbs. Avoid clinical digital clarity — everything should feel slightly imperfect and analog.
Sources & Further Reading
- Fact Magazine — Synthwave Origins — Electronic music history and synthwave retrospectives
- Sound On Sound — Analog Synthesis — Comprehensive guide to subtractive synthesis techniques
- MusicRadar — Synthwave Production Tips — Practical synthwave sound design tutorials
- Red Bull Music — Kavinsky Interview — Artist background and outrun aesthetic
- Native Instruments Blog — Retro Synth Sounds — Recreating vintage synthesizer sounds in modern DAWs
Related Articles
- FM Synthesis Explained: Complete Guide to Frequency Modulation — Classic DX7-style FM synthesis produces the digital metallic basses and bell tones central to authentic synthwave.
- Subtractive Synthesis Explained: Oscillators, Filters, and Envelopes — Vintage analog-style subtractive synthesis with slow filter sweeps creates hallmark synthwave pads and leads.
- Reverb Techniques and Tricks: Space and Depth in Your Mix — Gated reverb, plate reverb, and deep ambience are the defining spatial signature of the synthwave aesthetic.
- Delay Techniques: Tape, Ping-Pong, Slapback, and Modulated Delay — Slapback and tape delay on guitars and synth leads add the retro depth that characterizes synthwave production.
- Saturation and Harmonic Excitement: Warmth in Digital Mixes — Subtle tape saturation gives digital synthwave productions the warmth of genuine 1980s hardware.
