Production Tutorial: How to make Retro Synthwave sounds in Ableton | Beat Academy

[@BeatAcademy]

►► Enjoy this video? Download the project file as well as the sample pack here for FREE - www.beatacademy.com/pack

[@mike_gread]

thanks a lot mate for this tutorial, very helpful !

[@gabrielscopeldelima3640]

At 8:13 if you can't find the Chorus, go to Packs > Core Library > Devices > Audio Effects > Legacy

[@lucasphillips2177]

thank you so much

[@ZadronXion]

Took me forever to find a tutorial that actually shows how to make the actual synth sounds! Thank you so much!

[@alexc9278]

@@26Wyatt exactly!

[@BrandonHeilBHB]

Holy shit Ron Pearlman teaching synthwave.

[@BeatAcademy]

Yup. Thought I’d switch it up ;)

[@luxomoore6711]

@@BeatAcademy Beauty and the Beats!

[@darrenhirst9900]

@@luxomoore6711 So this is what Hell Boy does when he relaxes 👀

[@joelmpott]

What a great guide! Others have shown how to create synthwave with preset sounds, but I love how you've instructed how to build the sounds by using basic wave forms and manipulating the oscillators and adding effects. Thanks for sharing this!

[@MichaelSafwat]

Ivan ... You've been my unique teacher since the last year ... Thanks man ..

[@BeatAcademy]

Happy to be of service!

[@SAGE1991]

I have watched literally 10-15 videos..but no videos were as informative as this single video..i have learnt so much about ableton's synth design and synth wave..and how to make it..so thanku beat academy❤️

[@BeatAcademy]

Glad to hear that

[@kerymichael1849]

I learn so much about synthesizers and sound design every time Ill Factor posts a video. Thanks!

[@almightyIrie]

Few years back when i started messing with music / ableton i was strictly into Hip Hop beats, watching tons of tutorials and always thought yours where some of the best.. A bit surprised to see you again after searching for ableton synthwave! Dope content as usual!!

[@BeatAcademy]

Glad I’m still part of the journey ;)

[@EmmettFlo7]

Blown away by the sound design!

[@culley20]

Thank you for the excellent tutorial ill Factor!!! A great starting guide for any electronic music beginner

[@floatinganarchychannel3204]

The best synthwave sound design tutorial i saw :) thanks!

[@jamesd7998]

The gated arp on the bass to get the double knock is cool!

[@Alex.FilipDUB]

Wow nice work, I mean I've seen many tutorials about Producing on ableton but I have never seen it with so much clarity and tbh, they used Analog, but honestly I have never understood it still now, and also making it seems simple. Thank you iLL Factor, you rock

[@adrianray6756]

I'm installing Ableton for the first time right now. It'll be my first DAW and I have no idea what you just did but it sounds awesome

[@tillschroder6992]

How it's going?

[@adrianray6756]

@@tillschroder6992 I unfortunately gave up. I wasn't cut out for it I guess

[@tillschroder6992]

@@adrianray6756 sad to hear but I hope you find something else to Express yourself🤙🏻

[@TeddyTentacle]

@@adrianray6756 Dude everything is hard when you just started. Don't listen to that brainlet. You are not not cut out for it, you are fucking lazy. Look for some real beginner tutorials and get in there. (I really REALLY recommend the KZbin Channel Collective Intelligence for that, look up his newbie guides) Im struggling a lot myself, even after 2 months, but i still keep at it. If you want to get good at something hard it's never going to be easy, but if you want don't want to die with the knowledge that you could have done so much more the time to start and fight through this shit is now! The reason I'm saying this is because i was thinking like you a while back, but now im sick of it. I want to do something with my life, as should you.

[@alexmaur8817]

Keep going dude, it takes about 4 years to get okay

[@aaronmyrie]

That output arcade pad patch rules! Geeeeez

[@AayushSingh]

Thank you! You have always helped me understand Ableton a bit better!

[@thifowhy]

Never though Ron Pearlman would teach me how to synthwave! Thank you!

[@s3vva]

I really love the pulse kick

[@ntartienii]

Would be loved a 2 part of this tutorial with Pads, vocals end stereo effects.

[@jackjackson3591]

I prefer smaller channels like yours, please keep up the good work. Your directions are clear and concise bra bra

[@cocathg]

You are such an artist.

[@dannyday1984]

Was so surprised to see Ill Factor here. Is there anything you ‘don’t’ do, man? 😂 Good stuff. Cheers!

[@galacula]

seeing those analog boxes at the bottom of the screen for the first time made me go...yeah maybe music production isn't for me...but it's not that scary now! thanks!

[@sabbathgita5511]

Even though you do this on Ableton I,as a FL user still find this useful :D Thanks for sharing sir!

[@Eric-LB]

Great video. You’re very good at passing on knowledge in a easy-to-understand way. Making synthwave for years now, but learned some new tricks from watching. Thanks for sharing.

[@XnazxulX]

I’m glad you finally did a synthwave tutorial, been waiting for this. Also a common thing i hear in synthwave is after doing the double hit bass like you are doing for a bit, then it comes in 1/16th arp bass sidechained just a small bit and the snare starts up.

[@namansanghvi9653]

Beautifully explained using stock albeton :D

[@KarsonMusic]

Great tutorial best description and now I understand analog on a bigger scale! Thanks so much!

[@Violentic81]

That makes me wanna watch 80s cult cyberpunk movies and play Farcry 3 blooddragon

[@rayderrich]

This helped me out 2 years after the making, so thanks!

[@kipdrums147]

i actually understand analog now lol

[@Timmy_04]

Same, Thank you so much!

[@treesforzoe4655]

Same exact feeling

[@treesforzoe4655]

Love this teacher he is not only successful in his craft he shares how to develop.

[@iraklismoschonas5214]

ill, congrats and thanks very much for this amazing tutorial! The track you created to demonstrate the production techniques was dope, plus you explain everything so clearly and in such a simple way that watching and learning from you is inspiring and fun.

[@BeatAcademy]

Truly grateful for you taking the time to watch it. Looking forward to getting more out there

[@iraklismoschonas5214]

@@BeatAcademy Great! Always looking forward to new content!

[@fanilosendrison3050]

great video, what is the white noise at 4:18 for ? i can't hear any difference before and after

[@Guitarmfig]

Thank you for an awesome tutorial

[@gmryn]

The final track was so sick I nearly cried. :') Bless ya

[@michaelvrontos5997]

Great video tutorial on making classic synth sounds...love it!

[@no.data.interpreter]

what a gem

[@jeremyfox7599]

Perfect tutorial, superb work! Thank you!

[@SteliosDaf]

I underestimated the stock plugins of Ableton Live. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! :)

[@freddyrlz]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🙌

[@dimwoo]

Perfect - exactly what I was looking for! Ta very much.

[@Emguilar]

this tutorials are so useful, thank you so much!

[@afaydilek]

THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge with us

[@BeatAcademy]

My pleasure!

[@BencePauker]

Fantastic tutorial! I love you Dude!! Cheers!!

[@jaym2112]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@Taurex]

Thanks, tutorials like these are really fun to watch!

[@RichardRichardVC]

Really love this videos - I learn so much about Ableton, synthesis, layering, arrangement. Please keep them coming!

[@BeatAcademy]

That’s awesome happy to hear that.

[@wyldkard4461]

@@BeatAcademy where can I find the project file . its not on the folder

[@keyron4]

watching this for the fourth time. it's so helpful... and beautiful

[@Gesiek]

'Best academy', thanks! ;)

[@corican]

Super detailed, yet super clear. Thank you so much!

[@laodes]

Oh look it's Ron Earlman! Nice

[@FrankHoffmann1000]

Thank you very much for this very transparent tutorial! It is not easy to recreate the RC-20 effects with Ableton Live stock plugins only, but this is not a complaint! Thx again!

[@carlosbeltranpatino9950]

thank u so much!!! incredible!

[@fgtechtips]

amazing sound, depeche mode like. I absolutely love it! Hope i will learn to use Ableton like that one day!

[@ugomariotti5266]

Incredible, Thank you so much !

[@SmOkE118]

best retro tutorial ever!

[@BeatAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@nicotastic4331]

Awesome, this already helped me to understand the tweaking of the Analog much better... Thanks!

[@Luszkah]

Hey, you should watch this tuto, its amazing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXmThpt-o7dsa7s

[@AlexandreSoma]

Thanks man! That was awesome!

[@mobtek]

Really helpful stuff, as a new user of Live and learning the UI etc, this was still really helpful

[@BeatAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MeticulousGuitarist]

Great tutorial! Subbed!

[@BeatAcademy]

Thanks!

[@emmprodigy]

AMAZING!!!

[@nongfabeats9468]

Such an amazing tutorial, nothing special about synthesis, but still those easy techniques can really give that 80's sound. Subscribe for sure!

[@MXP250]

Great info

[@mfspark2393]

That is awesome. Thx

[@dewellhowell4348]

Is there more to this tutorial at Beat Academy? This is great and I would totally pay for more of this type of instruction. The only class that looks similar is the Ableton 10 sound design class.

[@BeatAcademy]

Hey there, if you are already a Beat Academy member visit the exclusive section in the user forum for the exclusives breakdowns for the song titled "Get Me out"

[@alexdias3700]

great!!!

[@rileyk4119]

Would love to see a bit more into the tracks you're using. Having your process already started with instrument settings that can't be seen is sort of making a translation issue. AKA I have NO idea how you're getting the bass track to sound like that as it's initial sound. But awesome tutorial!

[@theorize724]

Yea, I agree. Really great video, but this was extremely difficult to follow right out of the gate with only the three notes showing...finally after banging my head as to why it didn't sound the same I did some rewind to the clip to look at the entire arrangement set and guesstimated where each note (not shown anywhere else in the clip) was to be placed. This took quite a bit of time, but I got it. Then...on the very next step with the analog and arpeggiator edits my sound dropped so low I could barely hear it whereas his was high the entire time.

[@isaacgwams8080]

Thank you so much, we love you so much

[@BeatAcademy]

Right back at cha!

[@damondahl]

GOLD!

[@emiliesky2009]

Nice guide, thank for that! I am using/learning in Ableton live 11 (standard). I can't see any "analog" as you use? It is not under instruments and I cant see it under the other categories. Can you help me? Maybe it is because I use the standard. Can you find it online somewhere?

[@michaelkronenberg3712]

ure the best :) this is sick!

[@theviolinoob]

This guy is really awesome

[@cagdasozdemir4753]

how to creat kick sound.i choosed kick 707 and i appiled your echo delay.But i did not take same result

[@Chef_PC]

JFC. This is amazing.

[@kykyma6563]

back to the HOTLINE MIAMI

[@molliemk3477]

thankyou so much.

[@AlexandrChervinskiy]

Thank you!

[@XMrStalkerX]

Great tutorial, if I had one criticism it would be that it can be difficult for a sound design beginner like myself to apply your instructions to other synths - I have the standard version rather than the Suite version of Ableton and, for eg, I'm finding it quite hard to know what "go to the matrix and assign the detune to LFO1" translates to on synths that aren't Wavetable. Besides that though I am learning a lot about designing sounds

[@baileyjones159]

I put the arp in at 1/16 rate with my synth (using the Tyrell free VST synth) and somehow the BPM is waaaay more than the video's example at 2:16. What am I doing wrong? I'm guessing it's my synth.

[@baileyjones159]

I'm at 90bpm like in the vid. I've tried all the different synths I could.

[@Psynewaves]

Thank you, early 90's Ron Perlman. :D

[@BeatAcademy]

;)

[@Tikolu]

When making a song, how do I know which instrument to choose? Analog, Wavetable, Operator etc?

[@david92x43]

Yup i personally prefer wavetable for chords and atmospheres, Analog for leads and operator for bass

[@amusicians2cents]

Really nice video! You might want to check out SamiRabia's "smart pan" video. It's also done with Ableton plugins only. Relating to this video, Sami's videos can be really useful when doing the widening effect, without making it sound weird when panning 100% left or 100% right, especially in headphones.

[@LordLoss66613]

Amazing tutorial! You don't have this live set downloadable from the sample pack right?

[@hakanerozkantattoo]

Hi i made the same synth but when i open a new midi channel for bass and i add Wavetable for it, i cannot hear the same voice like in video. My bass is really weak for this. In video bass sounds like the synth. what i have to do ? :(

[@benjaminfigueredo47]

facing the same issue

[@MrSlendicorn]

I'm in the same boat, I'm having a tough time replicating the wavetable bass

[@threod820]

Hey idk if you are still dealing with that issue but it bugged me and I figured it out. At 10:32 when he goes to the matrix, he assigns 52 to the frequency of Filter 1 ("Filter 1 Freq") but because he's already done it he doesn't show what it's like when you first open it and that option isn't there. To assign anything to the matrix you need to click on that option first while the matrix window is open then the option will appear, like actually press the frequency dial while the matrix tab is open, then the matrix option will be available to assign the frequency. I hoped this solved your issue :)

[@benjaminfigueredo47]

@@threod820 awesome, thanks a lot!

[@fanilosendrison3050]

@@threod820 oookay thx!!!

[@benlund7459]

Having troubles finding which folder contains this project. Could you help?

[@kingcondornev]

He removes them after a couple months. Probably not available anymore

[@EcComicFan]

Was able to follow for about 7 minutes before too much was going unexplained and couldn't use the tutorial anymore. Really enjoyed what I was able to follow though.

[@keyron4]

experiment yourself!! the best part of this is tweaking "random" knobs to create unexpected sounds

[@linkmancin4455]

Thank you! This helped me a bunch. (Btw, has anyone ever told you that you look like a younger Ron Perlman)

[@Bazzguit]

amazing video!!!! thank you so much Ill as always. any tips on how to design that amazing kick? and synthwave snares like the C418's rendition of Stranger Things theme?

[@magnorecords7437]

Hi, I'm interested in starting Ableton from scratch. I have experience with Studio One and Cubase, but I think Ableton is totally different. Should I subscribe to the Beat Academy? Or is it better to learn the basics first?

[@BeatAcademy]

Jump on board! visit the site and we will help you out in any way we can

[@Xupra]

Can you talk about your mic settings for this video?

[@Lucid_Waking]

Shout out to everyone here with Ableton Standard.

[@catspyjamass]

When I tried the tutorial, my initial synth sound wasn't as 'punchy'. Was there an effect already added to the main outs at the start? Thanks!

[@jakeharrell4327]

any suggestions for something other than abletons wavetable?

[@MetalDoraemon6]

i need to find a in depth tutorial..this was good but very subtle

[@boymatmat]

Nice

[@jimmyjohnnsen8511]

Okay, so im still at 1:45 bc it took mke 1 1/2 hours to realise, that the synth hat 4 chords not 3 and i was wondering why the timing wasnt working...

[@BeatAcademy]

Glad you got it though

[@jimmyjohnnsen8511]

@@BeatAcademy My own stupidity and unexpirence with music. I am COMPLETELY new to this.

[@jimmyjohnnsen8511]

@@BeatAcademy I have a question: How did u do the bassline? Bc when i use the wavetable like u it sounds completly different? Did the wavetable change since this tutorial?

[@catspyjamass]

Can we get the full chords for each of the parts in the track? For practice...thanks

[@davidschmid1836]

And Thanks for the very good Tutorial do you also make House and Techhouse?

[@BeatAcademy]

Wrapping up a full in depth EDM course covering those topics in detail be sure ot visit the site and sign up for more info

[@luckyman962]

For retro music which one is better FL or Abelton?

[@egg3913]

enter the arena