The pads in 808 State’s genre-defining ‘Pacific State’ are no doubt at the top of the list of the most iconic sounds in dance music. In this Synth Secrets, we replicate the Mancunian quartet’s synthesis secrets.

In this installment of Synth Secrets, we use the third and latest version of Arturia’s Pigments synth to build a pre-drop riser full of movement, automation, textures and effects.

We go back to the ‘80s and synthesize some polysynth licks inspired by post-disco heat from Larry Levan and the New York underground.

This Synth Secrets sees us synthesizing some dub techno chords. Tape echo at the ready.

In this Synth Secrets, we dig deep into analogue synthesis to make some dirty, subby garage bass in the style of Interplanetary Criminal.

In this Synth Secrets, we explore how to synthesize your own booms for techno, jungle and other kinds of bass music.

In this installment of Synth Secrets, we’ll be layering a pad with slow and melodic vocal textures in Ableton’s powerful Wavetable synth.

In this Synth Secrets, we create an ambient pad full of modulation and character using Valhalla’s free Supermassive reverb and delay plug-in.

In this Synth Secrets we’ll be creating a variety of 8-bit video game loops and textures using the Kingston Chip Synthesizer in the Korg Gadget 2 app.

In this Synth Secrets, we create a Mall Grab-inspired layered pluck lead that emulates his fast-paced, rave-ready style.

We use Xenakios’ PaulXStretch sampler to employ an audio stretching technique commonly used by Bonobo to achieve haunting textures and ambiences.

In this Synth Secrets, we create a Don Diablo-inspired detuned lead synth that emulates his uplifting and dance-inducing style.

The ‘Reese Bass’ is an evergreen sound. In this Synth Secrets, we’re going to make a modulating ‘Reese Bass…

In this Synth Secrets, we’re going to make a bassline in the style of ANNA’s ‘Forever Ravers’, a…

Synth Secrets is a series of programming tutorials in which we show how to make a range of classic and…

Synth Secrets is a series of programming tutorials in which we show how to make a range of classic and…