Create a Synthwave Track | Absolute Collection

Fancy having some fun with classic synth 80s sounds? Join Dom Sigalas as he demonstrates how to create a synthwave track. Synthwave was the uplifting sound of a legendary decade and the Absolute Collection of VST instruments gives you everything you need for composing a great synthwave track. Dom uses HALion, Groove Agent and a great virtual synth and sound selection from the Absolute 4 collection with Cubase for creating a track that instantly brings back memories of nearly 40 years ago!
Music Credit: Behind the Wall (feat. Delido) - Single
Dom Sigalas
/ behind-the-wall-feat-d...
open.spotify.com/track/3EPA6M...
We hope you find this video entertaining and useful. If you like what you see, please leave a comment and tell us what you think. Thank you.
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[@VSTInstrumentsPlugIns]

00:00 Intro 00:11 Creating the drums with Groove Agent 05:02 Adding life and variation to hi-hats 07:03 Shaping the toms with Decompose 12:20 Creating the chord progression with Voltage 15:11 Creating the driving synth bass line with Retrologue 19:48 Adding a top snare sizzle with Retrologue 21:01 Adding the synth crash 21:22 Adding a sub bass 22:04 Adding Sidechain for pumping 23:15 Adding effects and swooshes 24:25 Adding ambient sounds with Padshop 2 25:33 Adding the riff/ top melody 26:55 Adding synth stabs for the chorus 28:13 Selecting sounds that complement the harmony 31:10 Song with Vocals

[@Tk5869]

Hi Dom, where can i get this absolutely amazing T-shirt you are wearing in the video please?:-) By the way, very cool beat. Is there a chance to hear the Instrumental somewhere?

[@yeezythabest]

if you add this in the video description itself they will show up in the video timed

[@michaelmos7497]

Anyone who works with Cubase and is interested and enthusiastic about this style of music (for example, I definitely belong 100% to it) is offered a video that is exemplary, well structured and visually perfectly prepared. My conclusion: Cubase-Video of the year 2020🏆 - The winner is: Mr. Dom Sigalas.🏅

[@slimyelow]

That harmonic modulation is killer.

[@sauravchoudhury6023]

Wow... probably the best tutorial on KZbin. But you should have added 🎷

[@natevirtual]

I really wish the Retroactive kit was included with Groove Agent SE

[@aceamadeus]

Hey Dom, This sounds like an 80’s hit!! but since 80’s is timeless, this will probably be a big hit today ! Awesome job🎹😎🎹🎹🔊

[@jonatanmildebarales2511]

hahaah i have the same Tshirt!!!! great stuff dom!!!

[@MBContentCoach]

Thanks again for this Dom - You are Super Hooping right now!!!!

[@amadeus806]

Finally a tutorial with some harmonic complexity!

[@EricF]

That tip about tweaking the bass velocity in the arpeggiator ahead of hitting the compressor is a game changer!

[@ancientcoincollector]

Very beautifully created sound and melodic line. A Hit already ;- ) Thanks for your effort!

[@pavelmolchanov7156]

Love your oldschool track !!!!

[@Yatko-channel]

Beautiful

[@hiding_my_name]

Damn, that opening song is a banger

[@atarisaint]

The absolute Dom Energy - Just bought "Behind the Wall" on Apple Music. Be well Dom, you are an inspiration and driving force. Thank you for everything you do for the community ❤

[@garrettjrussell]

Dom your skills are incredible, I'm blown away. Thanks for this detailed video, inspiring.

[@GuyVignati]

The result is really amazing, but also very interesting the production process. Thinking that was all realized with Cubase internal plugins...incredible! Great video as always Dom!

[@mariomariosaad]

Hands down, the best synthwave tutorial on youtube ! Thank you very much for these valuable tips.

[@Pauluz_The_Web_Gnome]

That was a great demo on how to do it right! Loved it Dom!

[@tumbamarch89]

I had a lot of fun writing and creating an cheesy 80's popanthem with the help of this video. Thx alot. :)

[@x-man8889]

Thank you for your work. Awesome video, as usual!

[@DjHenky]

Dom does it again! Nice work and great song!

[@IlkoBirov]

Great track, Dom! Thanks for sharing.

[@AlessandroBelloni70]

You made me fancy to start creating again. I love synthwave. Great video Dom!

[@Ap0sp3r1tiS]

That was a really inspirational video!!! Bravo!!!

[@piet245]

Hi Dom. I Love behind the wall.

[@ceraunian4554]

AMAZING!!! Back to the future🧭

[@Dr_Future]

Outstanding!!!

[@stefanosmakris5641]

Your love for music is so infectious! Thank you, Dom, for the wonderful presentation!

[@arkanoid8273]

thank you Dom for the insight, really helpful

[@frano5957]

The VSTis sounds amazingly

[@soundblankie]

Dom, your talent and skills as a musician go without saying, they are stellar, but your workflow is something to aspire to. Keep it up man!

[@OutsiderSupreme]

Truly informative and inspiring video!

[@iseeu-fp9po]

This channel is a goldmine.

[@DMeletis]

Well, I'm making synthwave myself also using those perfect tools and I learned new stuff on this video, really thanks!

[@sorenakarimi6612]

Absolutely useful & awesome👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@magdielrodriguez6437]

Thanks, Excellent tutorial and your recording process experience make the differences.

[@slimyelow]

Far out great track and awesome tips. thanks !

[@williedangerr7934]

Thanks Dom! This was super helpful. Song was lit as hell.

[@glorian4339]

Dom, I luv u! Thank u for your tuting!

[@Kingofold2112]

Thanks man! The production walk throughs are such a fun way to learn even if bits and pieces are a bit over my head for now. Awesome!

[@alkorngrigA41]

So cool man, sounds so cool!

[@heikegerlach8249]

Hey Dom, where can we find the drum samples you used for this one? Excellent job mate!

[@wadebay]

Thank you, Dom. Your videos are amazingly helpful, and this one is more so. Packed from the first minute to the last with really tangible ideas, programming tips and sounds. After 20 years, Cubase continues to inspire and amaze me, with artists like yourself leading the way.

[@jj.vargasmusic5019]

I learned a lot from this video. Thank you so much.

[@MartinAslaksen]

Watching Dom work is so inspirational! I haven't got a clue about music theory, but Dom makes it easy to follow, keep it up!

[@mcdebugger]

Wow! I absolutely love this track, Dom, and I didn't even know (if there is a place...... xD)... ok, that there is a full tutorial on how you've made it! Thank you very much!

[@Empirism]

Just watched this a little and even now I got many fine tricks! Huge thanks for making this one. Subd for sure

[@nikibuz1]

YOYR KNOWLEDGE AND YOUR STRATEGY ARE AMAZING!!!! EXCELLENT JOB DOMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hampsonpaul3531]

You are a very talented. Respect

[@Jorge.O85]

Very nice !! 👏👏👏

[@chaton51]

Very nice one 👍

[@micksworldofdrums]

Fantastic tutorial Dom!!! Thank you so much. I learned so much following along and you've inspired me to try and write my own synthwave material. Love your tutorials; you're very clear, obviously passionate about your field and very entertaining (and the clarity and quality is perfect). Having just bought Cubase 11 Pro, there are so many features I wasn't aware of, it's like every one of your videos opens another door. :-)

[@freeze-frames]

You deserve all the thumbs up for this!

[@musicit96]

Very, very, very beautiful! Super! Cool! I once again made sure that everything can be done in Cubase without third-party plugins.

[@hardtimesmusical]

Excellent tutorial as always. Interestingly I am about to compose music for a radio play set in 1982. I have just bought the ABSOLUTE pack from Steinberg to use with Cubase. Your original piece is exactly the vibe and sound I hope to create. Thank you Sir!!!!! Doc

[@andresstaubli5918]

thank you Dom very much, it is great usefull for me 🐬

[@ryde2012]

I’m always leaning something new with you

[@Bastiolo48]

Thanks man, you're helping me go from amateur to semi-pro!

[@larsvanbekkum78]

This is a hit! One of the best italo tracks ever! Listen it more than 50 times on Spotify. Why? ..is more complex, i like the a-typicle chord change. And everything is made with the steinberg stuff i have on my computer, amazing!! I just bought halion 6 after i saw that horror track,also a very good 'carpenterstyle' track! Thanks for showing how to make that kind of tracks..

[@alexandersorbas1881]

THIS IS A GREAT TUNE ! This should be reproduced and you have a HIT ( still super good production !!!!!! )

[@laurenstanfield426]

808 sound?? Thats a linn drum sound friend

[@willdatsun]

took the words out of my mouth, glad someone else knows what an 808 actually sounds like

[@vectrexboy5605]

1:42 Drumkit sounds more like a TR-707 not an 808 to me. By the way, love the t-shirt ;-)

[@rich_in_paradise]

I want to know where I can get that amazing t-shirt!

[@DREAMSOURCEx]

SUPER NICE🤩👍👍👍!! The instrumental parts gives me shivers🤩. I'm a Trance lover and hobby producer, but this New retro wave stuff is so Amazing! It,s like many of the elements I love from the Trance Music getting married with Jean Michelle Jarre and the sound I love so much from the 80's. I love the melody and the sounds😍. Thank you for this inspiring video😀!!!

[@timweinheimer1]

Wow !

[@AlessandroBelloni70]

Please, where can we listen to this song ? Is there a full version ? Thanks Dom!

[@chaton51]

dom sigalas behind the wall on spotify for example

[@No.Seksensekiz]

wow!

[@Abihef]

You know what's nice. I was listening to some music I made myself last year while cleaning in the other room (not on this channel BTW, nothing here) and then after the song this came on and although I don't know you I felt quite complimented KZbin thought this sound was a nice follow up to my tune.

[@CinderellaVasia]

What an amazing 80s style song! Where we can find it?

[@pavelmolchanov7156]

in KZbin dom sigalas behind the wall

[@alainvosselman9960]

I kinda like the sound of synthwave, since a lot of people who're producing are a younger generation who weren't born yet when the 80s were happening. So to capture those sounds and that momentum is just amazing. The one tiny thing i think a bit sad, is the neon thing in how they reshape imagery of that era. The 80s - and i think many will agree on this- were almost ALL about pastel colors. Especially after the mid 80s. I think this might give the revival a little bit more of an authentic look as well as sound. Really cool job on the music.. closing my eyes i feel like a careless teen on a summer's day.

[@larsvanbekkum78]

Come on! Man, this is a hit! Italo on his best. I just bought halion 6, has evert program hou used(als like that 80s horror track), you give me ins piration! Tonight my place is on the attic, making music with cubase, retrologue, halion etc .etc..realy Nice track! A bit like radiorama..

[@gilax]

Why I bought cubase 5 years ago? because Dom show me today how it works…

[@uwe89]

the problem with Dom's videos, i could watch for hours - and as a hobby and amateur musician i wouldn't even get to be creative myself anymore 😁👍

[@BlueJavaTN]

Thanks Dom - Analog Love is one of my favorites, good name for a song : ) Hope you are working on a Cubase 11 Demo Song - could this be it?

[@deeno8]

Italo Disco😃🎹👍

[@elijahcoffin3087]

This went from a tutorial to a promotional

[@GhostsInSpace_]

Clearly extremely talented. First off thank you for the video. Now this is my personal opinion based on my current mixing "skill"..I thought the video was a little fast for my current abilities. For example: I would have loved to of learned a bit more about the driving arp and mixing them/making them wider. I thought that part went very quick and I didnt fully understand it. Again though, really well done. Wish I had all that knowledge you have!

[@jazzdude7014]

I can feel it in the air tonight,

[@timweinheimer1]

Oh Lord

[@Tk5869]

Hi Dom, where can i get this absolutely amazing T-shirt you are wearing in the video please?:-) By the way, very cool beat. Is there a chance to hear the Instrumental somewhere?

[@deriktofil]

Hi Dom. Great Video by the way. Quick question, when I try to bus the individual drums sections like kick, snare etc, it doesn't create a track in the edit window. However it does create a track in the mix window. But without the track in the edit window I cant add individual midi parts. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@NanoverseProductions]

Great tutorial. I mainly use reason 5 and ableton looll I know it's a weird combo but I'm branching off into other stuff.

[@primeguitar462]

I have the Absolute 4 and cant find some of the plugins he use, anyone else? Very Instructive video, Dom is such a beast!

[@onejreaper2420]

be good if you could run us through the vocal settings aswell that would be cool thanks.

[@paulrussell9275]

Looking for the Equatorial Harmonics patch in Padshop 2. Can't find it anywhere. Is it in an expansion pack which needs to be purchased separately?

[@H4kser0]

Same here, can't find it

[@seyiimmanuel8727]

Pls can u do video on hallion 6

[@Arpmode]

Very nice, thank you. Would ist be possible to get track as a template? I would really appreciate it (Not for free, of course)

[@ryde2012]

ARPMode me too

[@supra1981]

Looks like you could launch the mars mission from that room.

[@luckystrke]

Not my style of music at all, but good video. I learned a lot I didn't know about Groove Agent 🙏

[@variant78]

Hi I'm new to this, was wondering if these VSTs can be used on any DAW?

[@hertzton1]

Frage, Retroactive ( Kit/Sound) auch zum kauf verfügbar für Groove Agent SE ??? Wenn ja in welchem Set ist es enthalten ???

[@_golantrevize]

Hey Dom, where can I get that t-shirt?

[@manicbichon5847]

So is every single synth being sidechained to the kick and snare? or is it just the bass synth sounds?

[@FKHR88s]

the drum kit it come with Groove Agent 5 or it expansion

[@arnold_dot]

hello! how to add custom wavetable in anima ?

[@narvadaverma2414]

Please share a video for making synthwave music in bandlab on Android.

[@jeanhydro8263]

Why same Voltage plugin param and chord result another sound ?

[@AnonymousAccount514]

That shirt though

[@ronmartyn]

Hey Dom or anyone, Is the project file available for download?

[@Nicpetelogan]

I was doing ok until the addition of the toms I've got Groove Agent 4, will try again when I get GA5 :)