80's cheese

FruitarGeek

I am producing a retro 80's influenced pop track. Can you give me some suggestions of some of the 'cheese' of that music era. So far I have the full on pop synth, the poorly mixed thin snare. Those oh-so-obvious electro tom tom rolls.

Any other ideas?

Chocklit_Thunda

Spandex ?

FruitarGeek

Haha, Yes. Perhaps it will get me in a better creative mood

AlanRatcliffe

Actually a wider genre than you would suspect (Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Talk Talk and Howard Jones to The Police and U2). Generally though: Simmons type toms, synth snare or the gated snare sample from Bowie's Let's Dance (most commonly used snare sound in the '80s). If you use real drums, compress the hell out of the individual parts. Analog synth bass (Mono Moog kind of thing) That's the must-haves.

Sampled sounds were also working their way in with samples of mechanical or industrial noises often being layered over drum sounds (Depeche Mode baby). Feel is important - or lack thereof - sequenced rhythm section with only a few velocity layers (four at most) and every hit on the beat.

Arp key parts were also popular as were sweep pads, Digital piano keys like DX7 or D-50. Chorused cleans and flanged distortion were very popular on guitar parts.

FruitarGeek

This is beautiful stuff Alan. Much appreciated. In terms of the gated reverb snare. Is there a certain point where the gate's threshold should be, or is it a matter of taste? That bowie track had a very quick gate.

AlanRatcliffe

It is a feel/sound thing, but fairly short, to make it stand out as an effect (rather than just tightening/cleaning up reverb tails). Start with a 1/4 note value and experiment from there.

Gearhead

Listen to anything produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman - Bananarama, Rick Astley, Mel&Kim, Samantha Fox, Kylie Minogue etc etc. It literally is all the same, from the bass lines following the melody to the 'fat synth' melody line emphasis to the absolute disconnect of chorus and verse key (accomodating 'artists' with not enough tonal range). One of the best parodies obviously being the 'Pop! Goes My Heart' of 'Music & Lyrics'...

Norman86

slightly off topic, but "music and lyrics" wasnt half bad!
i had no idea that hugh grant could actually play piano!

AlanRatcliffe

Gearhead wrote Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Aaargh! I've been trying to forget them for the last 25 years! ? I'd much rather point someone to the better, more unusual bands that still fit within the confines of the genre, like Yello, Thomas Dolby, Kajagoogoo (Nick Beggs did some awesome slap bass and Chapman Stick playing - worth checking out just for him), The Eurythmics and Yazoo.

FruitarGeek

Gearhead wrote Listen to anything produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman - Bananarama, Rick Astley, Mel&Kim, Samantha Fox, Kylie Minogue etc etc. It literally is all the same, from the bass lines following the melody to the 'fat synth' melody line emphasis to the absolute disconnect of chorus and verse key (accomodating 'artists' with not enough tonal range). One of the best parodies obviously being the 'Pop! Goes My Heart' of 'Music & Lyrics'...

This is some great resources. SAW is right up my alley haha. And I've actually been using "Pop! Goes My Heart" as my main resource tool. Its phenomenal stuff.

I've uploaded a minutes worth of my track on soundcloud for you to listen and criticise. I have my own reservations, but I shall keep quite so as to not bias your opinion. Vocals have not been added yet, I'm outsourcing to another vocalist. Also there is no mastering done. I just stuck a limiter on the Master track. Listen and let me know

Norman86

you're hitting the spot right there! ?

AlanRatcliffe

Adrian Rogowski wrote I've uploaded a minutes worth of my track on soundcloud for you to listen and criticise. I have my own reservations, but I shall keep quite so as to not bias your opinion. Vocals have not been added yet, I'm outsourcing to another vocalist. Also there is no mastering done. I just stuck a limiter on the Master track. Listen and let me know

That's the ticket! Delay on the synth doesn't work for me though and lead sound is a little rough - I'd question whether you need the guitar at all - a little synth ditty would fit in better.

FruitarGeek

This is some good stuff Alan. You kinda hit the nail with what I was thinking. Except for the delay synth, although I do have to agree with you.