Synthwave

Synthwave aesthetics are something I'm interested in for two reasons:

• My cyberpunk-themed adventure game Phalanstery needs a soundtrack with this kind of vibe.
• The genre seems to be a nice entry point to learn substractive synthesis.

So below are a few notes I've gathered while trying to define its moste usual traits. My goal isn't to sound like one more artist of this already overdone genre, but to understand its key components in order to include them in my musical palette.

• Rather slow tempo, between 80 to 120 BPM
• Emphasis on synths, not on drums
• Somewhat cheesy 80s analog synth sounds
• Four-to-the-floor rhythm, usually with a snare on the 2nd and 4th beats.
• Arpegiator use and abuse
• Little to no sub-bass
• Lush pads

Basic pad synthesis:

1. Oscillator 1 is a saw wave.
2. Oscillator 2 is a square or pulse wave, 12 semitones below.
3. Long attack and release.
4. Some reverb, chorus, or both.
5. LFO modulate the cutoff at a slow rate.

Basic bass synthesis:

1. Oscillator 1 is a saw wave, detuned up.
2. Oscillator 2 is a saw wave, detuned down.
3. Oscillator 3 is a sine wave, 12 semitones below.
4. Low pass ladder filter.
5. Envelope with attack and release slightly up.
6. Light touch of chorus and overdrive.