Synthwave Tutorial: How to Use Ambient VHS Tape Noise to Make Your Track Sound Totally Retro


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Advances in home studio recording mean that your average bedroom producer can release pristine soundtracks mixed entirely in the box. When it comes to synthwave music production, today’s plugins add the sheen, finesse and warmth needed to invoke a retro vibe. But what about background noise, VHS tape hiss and similar “unwanted” artifacts that, according to modern day synthwave producers, are crucial for conjuring the retro sound. In this article we’ll discuss how to use ambient background noise, VHS tape hiss and other oddities to send our listener back to the 80’s for a truly authentic synthwave experience.

Question: How to use ambient VHS tape noise to make your track sound totally retro?

Answer: When added in small amounts, ambient noise elicits feelings of nostalgia and harken to a time when many recording were captured, viewed and shared on less that ideal media formats, such as the VHS, betamax cartridges and cassette tapes. While the goal of a music producer is to create a clean mix, an increasing amount of synthwave producers are using a combination of plugins, background noise and synthesized sound effects to conjure nostalgia, reverie and warmth.

A Little Dirt Goes A Long Way

Pay close attention to some of your favorite synthwave releases. Most of them have a bit of dirt in them. By dirt, we’re referring to background noise. While background noise is something many producers would rather avoid, using it in sparring amounts conjures a sense of nostalgia, reverie and reminiscence.

When added in small amounts, ambient noise elicits feelings of nostalgia and harken to a time when many recording were captured, viewed and shared on less that ideal media formats, such as the VHS, betamax cartridges and cassette tapes. The ability to create an authentic synthwave vibe rests on the use of carefully selected samples. Watch the entire synthwave tutorial and discover how this simple yet powerful music production tip can seemingly add life to a synthwave track.

The 80’s Called – They Want Their Noisy Synths Back

Recordings that took place in the 1980’s had a special sound to them. Some of those beloved recordings will forever go down in history as unforgettable gems in music history. However, some of the new wave music that found its way to the dance floor of popular night clubs had a lot of “noise” in them. These “noisy” recordings were sometimes the result of a synthesizer’s circuitry. Keep in mind, these recording date back to when mixing in a box was a thing.

Also, tape hiss was very real and became synonymous with analog recording. For these reasons, synthwave producers are inspired to use ambient noise to add a touch of vintage dust to their recordings.

Where to Find or Create Background Noise in a Synthwave Track?

If you’ve ever want to add ambient background noise to your tracks, consider using anyone of the following.

  • VHS tape hiss (sample packs)
  • Ambient background noise of a busy cafe
  • Noise generated background noise (easily created in Massive, SERUM etc)
  • Synthesis from a variety of source material and run through a slew of Ableton native plugins
  • Field recordings (head outside and capture ambient sounds)
  • Foley sample packs

When to Use Background Noise in a Synthwave Track?

The trick with using background noise is not to over use it. In short, you want to ensure that it’s volume remains low in the mix. While you track is playing, toggle the background noise track on and off. If you notice the lack thereof – then you’re probably hitting the volume sweet spot.

Sometimes, you may want to ensure that the background music track is audible during key points of a song. For instance, ambient noise is typically louder during intros and outros.

Do note that there are moments in a synthwave arrangement where you’re better off muting or drastically lowering the volume of the ambient noise. For instance, busy sections of a composition tend to avoid using ambient noise tracks as it may interfere with melodic elements. In such cases, the use of low, high pass filters and volume automation can leave room for the more prominent instruments of your mix.

Which Plugins Create Background Noise?

Izotope Vinyl

If you’re looking to be creative and make your own background ambient noise tracks for your synthwave track, consider using Izotope Vinyl plugin. It’s free, robust and flexible giving you the ability to add your own pops, clicks and crackles normally heard on older vinyls. It’s no wonder lo-fi Hip Hop producers have been using this plugin with tremendous success for years. Alternatively, you can find an abundance of ambient noise samples from reputable sample libraries on the web. Before doing so, just be sure you have the legal right to incorporate them into your track.

Super VHS

Baby Audio’s Super VHS is a neat little vst that enables you to add color and noise to a signal. With six unique “one knob” effects inspired by the VHS-era, this plugin adds tons of sonic dust to any instrument.

How to Mix Background Noise in a Synthwave Track?

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Use Serum and Massive’s noise generators to create some ambient noise

If you’re wondering how to mix the background ambient noise into your synthwave track, here are some ideas to get you started on the right foot.

Apply side chain compression to background ambient nose

Consider side chaining your background ambient noise track. Use a kick, LFO or other instrument as a trigger. This ensures your noise tracks pumps with the rhythm, dynamics and groove of your song.

Use two or more ambient noise tracks

Now would be a great time to showcase your music production chops by pairing a noise track and setting the on the left and right within your track’s stereo field. Just make sure they are not identical and ensure that their frequency contents are contrasting. When done correctly, these tracks which reside at the extreme of your left and right channel provide ear-candy for a listener.

Use the pitch or frequency shifter on a track

Apply a small amount of pitch shifting to one ambient background track. Moreover, you can use Ableton’s newly upgraded Redux plugin on the another noise track for variety.

Conclusion

It’s true that most producers would agree that using VHS tape hiss to a modern synthwave track (oxymoron) has been done to death. The new meta, however is to use the background noise so that it’s quiet, unassuming and set low in the mix. Have fun.

Julian

Julian Bell is a music producer and founder of SynthwavePro.com. His musical journey began in 1986. A bass player with a penchant for four-chord jams, his early influences are 1980's bands such as The Cure, Depeche Mode and Siouxsie and The Banshees. For well over a decade, after discovering the joys of computer-based music production, his music has made its way to music labels, TV commercials, video games, popular apps and TV shows. To date, he has licensed well over a half million dollars of music. He is the founder of an online music library established since 2013. He enjoys playing video games, watching horror movies and sharing tips on synthwave music production.

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