If I’m after a 70s-style lead or bass, I’ll open Monark and start with the Mini Lead PWM preset for a thick, expressive lead, or Deep Moog Bass for something more foundational.
From there, I’ll tweak the filter cutoff and resonance to taste, possibly increasing the filter envelope amount for added bite.
To give it that authentic analog feel, I’ll run it through RC 24 with a short plate reverb to dial in just enough to add space without losing punch. Or maybe through Guitar Rig 7 Pro using the Warm Tube preset for subtle saturation.
Then I’ll bring in the modern elements. I might layer a clean, wide pad from Massive X. For example, the Wide Sky Pad is great for layering underneath to create stereo depth, adjusting the cutoff so it sits behind the Monark lead instead of competing with it.
For drums, I’ll reach for Battery 4 and experiment with different kits and samples, using transient shaping to get tight, punchy-sounding drum hits that contrast with the warm, slightly loose feel of the vintage synth.
Even if the emotional core of the track has a vintage feel or vibe, modern tools can help balance it out and provide stereo width, low-end precision, and dynamic control that older gear tends to struggle with.
It’s great to draw inspiration from old records, but it’s even more creatively exciting when you present those influences in a way that feels new and modern.
Pro tip from Foreign Air: Install your sample libraries on a lightweight SSD like a Samsung T9, especially if you open sessions on multiple computers.
