Steamroller (synthwave/chillwave)

[Mariosprt]

Hi everyone

https://soundcloud.com/mariosprt74/steamroller
http://soundcloud.com/mariosprt74/steamroller

As part of my new year resolution, I will not leave a track unfinished
So this synthwave track I made last year, had to be done with, rough mixed but it's done.
There will be new tracks coming soon.

All comments (good or bad) will be welcome.

Thanks for listening

[polyslax]

So that's what synthwave sounds like. Very nice indeed. Hypnotic night-time feel, really enjoyed it! What is that overdriven lead synth sound btw? It reminds me so much of a sound I've used before.

[polyslax]

Oh, meant to say you can get the regular SC look by dropping the s off https, like this:

http://soundcloud.com/mariosprt74/steamroller

[Mariosprt]

So that's what synthwave sounds like.

Actually I found the term the other day so I figured I'd show off by using it

Very nice indeed. Hypnotic night-time feel, really enjoyed it! What is that overdriven lead synth sound btw? It reminds me so much of a sound I've used before.

That's quite a compliment Matt.
I like to make melodies on synths, and still trying to figure out the right arrangement for this type of track
The distorted lead is (Logic) ES2, when I started this one I didn't have any other synths. I fell in love with this preset immediately too. It's a weird modulation of the osc cutoff by one of the envelopes.
Do you have a track with a similar sound?

Oh, meant to say you can get the regular SC look by dropping the s off https

Thanks for the heads up, my first post on the Music Cafe

And thanks for listening

[Frantz]

Congratulations on getting your first track up in the Cafe.

The music is minimal, moody, dark, analogish, and a little retro. Just the way I like it. The sound design is very good. It creates a brooding, late night atmosphere. Quite enjoyable.

The bass sounds great but is straight eighth notes sitting on the chord root. This is like a default bassline. It works for everything but a different bassline might have added more interest.

Good job on this.

[abstractcats]

Nice! TD meets Front242.

[himalaya]

So that's what synthwave sounds like.

Actually I found the term the other day so I figured I'd show off by using it

You show off, you....

This is very moody and hypnotic. This really sounds like it's been plucked out of a 1980's film, perhaps 'Risky Business'? Your track reminded me of Com Truise a little bit, although I'm so glad you didn't use that awful pumping compression style as he does. This is clean but 'fat' (can we still use that word?).

Nice minimal chord changes there which work well. I liked the bare bones drums, less is more kind of thing.

Good contrast between sounds, ie: the heavy bass and that metallic pluck. That distorted sound (which is great BTW) and the high freq tinny sound. The pad works very well too. It's 'thick' and full of texture. Great job!

However I felt like the track can be developed further, perhpas by modulating to another key and stepping up the drum pattern with some more sounds...

[dark_virus]

I enjoyed the track (specially the synth work), but I think it's too repetitive. I miss a break, some filtering, sweeps... Dunno if it's a genre thing (I know nothing about Synthwave and just a little about Chillwave).

And I should do a similar resolution about my 100+ unfinished tracks.

[seismic1]

Cool track Mario. Himalaya beat me with the show-off comment. Scott beat me with the TD reference.

I enjoyed the dark, brooding atmosphere, and the sounds you chose suited that very well indeed.

Now you've established a precedent, you have to complete the next track.

Good work

[ariston]

Now that's a good New Year's resolution!

At first I though it was a bit repetitive, but if you go along with the flow, it's a very hypnotic track. Just the right length as well.

Thanks for sharing!

[Mariosprt]

Thank you for listening and your comments guys, you rule

@FrantzM: the bass is prety simple, the whole track is, it was one of the first so I figured I would let it be. The only thing I changed was the bass sound itself, replaced one of logic synths - which wasn't working really - with the arturia minimoog, love that one
and with my new korg microkey's arpeggiator, oh man, love that arp on the moog I know it's kind of cliche but I couldn't resist...

Good job on this.

Thanks man

[Mariosprt]

Your track reminded me of Com Truise a little bit, although I'm so glad you didn't use that awful pumping compression style as he does.

Yeah that pumping thing is very common, like Casa del Mirto and Washed Out too, and it gets tiresome.
But to be honest I WAS trying to do it but didn't know how at the time, so I routed the kick and the pad to a separate bus and slapped a compressor on it, thus achieving a compressor but not pumping sound
Later I learned side-chaining is the way to do it but I liked this effect better, it's less obvious.

However I felt like the track can be developed further, perhpas by modulating to another key and stepping up the drum pattern with some more sounds...

I know what you mean, but it's been almost a year since I did this, so I decided to just let it be.

Thanks man

[himalaya]

Your initial unfamiliarity with side-chain compression only served you well in the end, I feel. Side-chain compression should carry a heath warning. Like, I absolutely love Titanium by David Guetta, but the side-chain pumping when it drops on the chorus just hurts my ears/head - and I'm being dead serious. Such a dreadful execution of this technique and yet a chorus I want to hear again and again! <--Mr.Guatta

[Mariosprt]

@abstractcats: Thank you man

And I should do a similar resolution about my 100+ unfinished tracks.

Hehe.. I'm going on 30 myself I used to let the ideas rest a while to listen with fresh ears, but in the end the mood and the initial feeling was gone, so I have to change my method.
Yes it needed some more variaton, but like I said, the mood was lost.
Thanks man

[chaosWyrM]

i like this track. mellow and moody. id listen to this driving on the highway late at night. i like that bit that comes in at 2:12