While those sounds (especially the piano) eventually became overused and dated, if that’s the aesthetic you’re going for, look no further than Arturia’s emulation. The original Yamaha DX7 brought the glassy, bright tones of FM synthesis to the mainstream, used in productions by A-ha, Whitney Houston, and many more. The expressive, evolving pads of the Arturia CS-80 V are featured prominently on many of the 80s-inspired productions that I’ve worked on recently. While the Yamaha CS-80 was released in 1976, it was used on many important recordings in the 80s - notably in Vangelis’ score for Blade Runner. The rich pads, the intuitive arpeggiator, and the ethereal leads - all the qualities that made the original one of the most widely used synthesizers of the 1980s are recreated to near-perfection. While the V Collection (now up to version 6) can absolutely be used on more modern-sounding productions, I’ve found it to be especially effective for creating music with a bit of a retro vibe.Īrturia’s emulation of the Roland Jupiter 8 is stunning.

If you’re looking for plugin versions of vintage synthesizers, this is the most comprehensive and authentic collection of virtual instruments I’ve used.

Virtual Instruments The Arturia V Collection Here are some of the virtual instruments and plugin processors I used to do so, with insight as to how I used them. On an album I recently produced for SIGNALS, I was tasked with nailing the 80s aesthetic, while maintaining the punch and presence common to modern mixes. From the prominent and multi-layered synthesizers, to the punchy electronic drum sounds, today’s music listeners love the sounds that were common to popular music in the decade of decadence.

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