Getting started with Synths

Hello Audio people! 
We all know that every game genre has its own feeling and taste, and we composers try our best to convey it, in a personal way, but that has to be recognizable. I personally am a fan of orchestral music, I have a classical musical education (and I'm currently studying in a Conservatory here in Italy), and almost all my favourite OST from games are orchestral compositions. So I've been really focused on studying and experimenting with orchestral music, but with time I realized that I never seriously studied the world of electronic music/synths, which has a huge atmospheric power, especially in videogame music.
I started studying something on sound synthesis, I know how to use some additive syntheziers, but the thing I think I lack the most is practise and tricks/tips on how to obtain certain sounds. I always end up playing with the knobs, but except for the more basic stuff, I most likely don't know what I'm doing.

For example: I really love the steampunk atmosphere of some games (for example, Hyper Light Drifter) and with it, the typical music of that genre (those really tasty synths that reminds me a lot of the Blade Runner atmosphere), and as a musician I really feel the urge to understand this world too.

So I wanted to ask: do you have some tips/tricks on designing this kind of sounds and, more generally, have some particular advice on how I should start studying sound synthesis in a more efficient way? 



Below some examples of sounds I'd love to replicate:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiFykYJfO7Y (the synth on the initial arpeggio, and the one for the main theme too at 1:23);

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiBaFqAr2mY&list=PLjPYu83VEVb6pYJ6o2KjJ3w5CfMdaSaBE&index=2 (there are some serious BladeRunner sound references, I just love them)

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RcPZdihrp4 (I love every single sound here)

Ah, the great 80s and the great 80s synths. 

About HLD, I've had a little chat with Aakash (great guy btw) about his sound design process and he explained how layering was very crucial in getting a full and powerful body with the effects.

That concept carries over into the music side as well, I hear A LOT of Juno influence in these tracks, lucky for you the 80s sound is slowly creeping back into our lives so it's a wonderful time to get into the action. 

There are a plethora of 80s synth VSTs that will help you achieve that sound like: TAL U-NO-LX, U-He Diva, FM8, Dexed and my personal favorite, Obxd. I also highly recommend Arturia's V Collection, it's got great emulations of the CS-80, Minimoog, Farfisa, Prophet, among others.

As for effects, reverb is a must with this sound, something like Valhalla VintageVerb would work very nicely.

And remember, layering layering layering!

Here are some of my favorite Synthwave/80s inspired music:

Perturbator - Humans Are Such Easy Prey
Carpenter Brut - Trilogy (Album)
Miami Nights 1984 - Accelerated
Zombie Hyperdrive - Red Eyes
Miami Nights 1984 - Ocean Drive

Also, if you're feeling adventurous, I once put out a Synthwave record myself: Chrome Prophet - Hybrid Breed

Let me know if you have any questions!

moradenayet wrote:Ah, the great 80s and the great 80s synths. 

About HLD, I've had a little chat with Aakash (great guy btw) about his sound design process and he explained how layering was very crucial in getting a full and powerful body with the effects.

That concept carries over into the music side as well, I hear A LOT of Juno influence in these tracks, lucky for you the 80s sound is slowly creeping back into our lives so it's a wonderful time to get into the action. 

There are a plethora of 80s synth VSTs that will help you achieve that sound like: TAL U-NO-LX, U-He Diva, FM8, Dexed and my personal favorite, Obxd. I also highly recommend Arturia's V Collection, it's got great emulations of the CS-80, Minimoog, Farfisa, Prophet, among others.

As for effects, reverb is a must with this sound, something like Valhalla VintageVerb would work very nicely.

And remember, layering layering layering!

Here are some of my favorite Synthwave/80s inspired music:

Perturbator - Humans Are Such Easy Prey
Carpenter Brut - Trilogy (Album)
Miami Nights 1984 - Accelerated
Zombie Hyperdrive - Red Eyes
Miami Nights 1984 - Ocean Drive

Also, if you're feeling adventurous, I once put out a Synthwave record myself: Chrome Prophet - Hybrid Breed

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you Morad, awesome answer! I know Akash by fame, I follow his YouTube channel and his videos helped me a lot on getting started in the world of Sound Design! Yes, I know layering is the greatest thing ever when it comes to Sound Design, but yeah, in this particular topic my main concern was to get started with Synths, and I will definitely check out the plugins you suggested! Thanks a lot   

P.S.: I've listened to your record already some time ago, you definitely know what you are doing man, GREAT stuff.   I hope to get this good  as well one day!