Mixing and Mastering Synthwave: The Ultimate Guide to Polishing Retro Sounds

Pads and Atmosphere: Creating Depth and Space

Introduction to Mixing Pads and Atmosphere

In synthwave, pads and atmospheric elements are essential for establishing mood, depth, and a rich sonic landscape. These components add texture to the mix, filling out the sound and creating an immersive experience for the listener. Properly mixing pads and atmospheric sounds requires attention to detail, effects management, and spatial positioning to ensure they enhance the overall composition. This chapter will provide strategies for effectively mixing pads and atmospheric elements in your synthwave tracks.

1. Layering Pad Sounds

• Combining Textures: Start by layering multiple pad sounds to create a lush, full-bodied effect. Each pad can occupy a different frequency range, providing depth and complexity. For instance, combine a warm analog pad with a brighter digital pad to achieve a rich texture.
• Select Complementary Sounds: Choose sounds that complement each other in timbre and tonal quality. Experiment with synths that have different characteristics, such as one with a soft attack and another with a more aggressive sustain.
• High-Pass Filtering: In most cases, applying a high-pass filter to non-bass pads can help eliminate unnecessary low-end rumble, allowing the kick and bass to occupy their space without interference.

2. EQ Techniques for Pads

• Frequency Allocation: Determine the dominant frequencies of your pad sounds and carve out space for each layer. Typically, pads will sit comfortably in the mid-to-high frequencies.
• Cutting and Boosting: A common practice is to cut any problematic frequencies (often in the low-mids around 200-300 Hz) and apply gentle boosts in the upper frequencies (around 2-4 kHz) to enhance clarity and presence.
• Use of Notch Filters: If any resonance causes the mix to feel congested, use narrow notch filters to clean up these frequencies without drastically altering the character of the pad.

3. Compression for Sustained Sounds

• Applying Compression: Use a gentle compression setting to control the dynamics of pads, ensuring they maintain a consistent level in the mix.
  • Settings: Consider a low ratio (2:1 or 3:1) with a slower attack time (30-50 ms) to maintain the softness of the sound while controlling peaks.
• Utilize Sidechain Compression: Sidechain compression can help pads breathe and create space, particularly in relation to kick and bass elements. This technique can also add a rhythmic pulse to the atmosphere of your mix.

4. Creating Space with Reverb

• Use of Reverb: Reverb is your best friend when it comes to creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Apply a rich, spacious reverb to pads to envelop them in a lush environment.
  • Types of Reverb: Large plate or hall reverb settings can work wonders for pads, providing a natural and expansive feeling. Adjust decay times based on the tempo of your track, typically ranging from 1.5 to 3 seconds for pads.
• Pre-Delay: Implement pre-delay to maintain clarity on the attack of the pad, ensuring the initial sound doesn’t get lost in the reverb tail. A setting of 20-50 ms is often a good starting point.

5. Delay for Added Depth

• Using Delay: Employing delay on pads can create a sense of movement and texture. Consider using a slower delay time to avoid clutter, letting the echoes blend subtly.
  • Settings: Set the delay time in synchronization with your track’s tempo (e.g., quarter-note or half-note settings) for rhythmic continuity.
• Creating Stereo Width: Experiment with stereo delays to create a lush, expansive sound image. For instance, using both left and right channels with slight variations in timing enhances the sense of space.

6. Automation for Dynamic Atmosphere

• Automating Effects: Automate effects parameters over time, such as the reverb size or filter cutoff, to enhance the evolution of your pads. This can add excitement and variation, ensuring that the atmosphere remains engaging throughout the track.
• Volume Automation: Automate the volume of pads to swell in and out throughout different sections of your song, creating dynamic landscapes that draw listeners in. This technique is particularly effective during builds and drops.

7. Final Touches and Considerations

• Use Reference Tracks: Regularly compare your pad mixes to professionally mixed synthwave tracks to gain perspective on levels and spatial characteristics, helping you achieve a polished sound.
• Assess the Full Mix: Listen to how your pads interact with other elements in the mix, ensuring not to overpower lead synths or vocal elements. Balancing these dynamics is key to achieving a cohesive sound.
• Take Breaks: Step away from your mix periodically to reset your ears. This will help you objectively assess the depth and clarity you’re achieving with your pads and atmospheric sounds.

Conclusion

Effective mixing of pads and atmospheric elements is essential for creating the lush sonic landscapes that define synthwave. By layering sounds, employing appropriate EQ, compression, and effects, and using automation techniques, you can achieve depth and space in your tracks. In the next chapter, we will continue our exploration by delving into mixing additional elements, such as bass and drums, that provide the rhythmic and harmonic foundation for your synthwave productions.

Now that you have a grasp on how to create depth and space with pads and atmospheric elements, let’s explore mixing bass and drums to build a solid foundation for your synthwave music!