Learn how to make old school Italo Disco / Synth pop in under 12 minutes

Рет қаралды 178,637

7 жыл бұрын

Do you want to make old school Italo Disco/ Synth pop using old gear and techniques, while at the same time wondering how to do this? This tutorial is for you then. I go through what it takes and I'll even perform the work-in-progress live.
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft
Episode 2 in my series where I construct, and perform a track totally dawless and with only 80s synths, samplers, drum machines and modules.
In this episode I take a look at Italo Disco, a very popular genre in the 80'ies and its sound has some key signature sounds and structures that I go through here.
Each episode ends with me performing the song, recorded in one take. Could be sour notes, playing errors and more, but it's the raw performance. No autotune or post editing.
The track in episode 2 is called "Greyhound".
I go over each synth I use, why I use it and the different parts will be broken down to show you what I think each part contributes to the song. I also program the drum machines or sequencers to show how these old machines work.
the patches I refer to in the video (free download) had to be taken down due to many people having problems installing them
www.bome.com/products/sendsx
Dexed can be downloaded through this site:
asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
Check out my latest album here:
espenkraft.bandcamp.com/album...
play.spotify.com/artist/1dMWi...
Thank you for watching!
Listen to more of my music at:
/ espenkraft
www.espenkraft.com
play.spotify.com/artist/1dMWi...
My tracks pay homage to all synth.pop acts of the 80'ies like Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears, Ultravox, OMD, Euryhmics, Duran Duran, Giorgio Moroder, Jean Michel Jarre, Jan Hammer, A-ha and many more.
A use mostly old gear on my tracks and among them Roland Juno 6, Alpha Juno 2, D550 and JX-8P. Korg DW-8000. Roland TR-626 drum machine. Yamaha DX7 and TX802 and drum machine RX11. I use the Novation Mininova as a vocoder on all my tracks. Effects are usually handled by Strymon and TC electronics. Sampling is done on my E-MU ESI-4000 and I mostly use that for drums.
Please join me on social media:
Facebook: / espenkraftmusic
Instagram: / espenkraft
/ espenkraft
Please subscribe on my KZfaq channel: / espenkraft

Пікірлер: 677

@freakmag99 4 жыл бұрын

This is insane. Please do a whole album.

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

I have a albums worth of music in this style on all the digital platforms. You can find this through this channel. Thanks! :)

@freakmag99 4 жыл бұрын

Espen Kraft This is great news

@AssortedBits 6 жыл бұрын

Haha, that "Blue Monday" reference while showing the kickdrum!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Couldn't resist...

@awaken77 6 жыл бұрын

exactly!

@O.Dibrova 5 жыл бұрын

Kick + Snare = Take On Me A-Ha 2:32 )))

@LAZYSUNDAY 4 жыл бұрын

hahaha yeah, I saw that

@TheRealDoc707 4 жыл бұрын

2:19 reminds me of the beginning from Bad Boy by Miami Sound Machine

@danilorenzo1296 5 жыл бұрын

Amazing! This could have been an italo hit back in the 80's. Congratulations

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Sweet! Thanks for saying! :)

@rickygarcia7400 6 жыл бұрын

how can people give this guy thumbs down his work is so awsome(:

@HowlingMoonCinemas 6 жыл бұрын

RICKY GARCIA They're just angry, jealous and envious because they have only crappy "music" today while we had some of the greatest music and sound in history back in the 80s and early 90s.

@EmporiumDigitalStudios 5 жыл бұрын

RICARDO GARCIA, Espen Kraft rules!! Probably some frustrated assholes who simply can’t get it done were the ones with thumbs down.

@quazar912 5 жыл бұрын

those are hard rock fans...they are jellaous

@shazabrahim5208 5 жыл бұрын

Because of their state of retardedness!

@lszlpesti 11 ай бұрын

2:15 New Order - Blue Monday kick pattern. :)

@PereRevert 6 жыл бұрын

Magic ! love the Sabrina and Moroder screensavers !!

@hispanochino 6 жыл бұрын

PR Indeed I was sold the minute I saw Sabrina's picture!

@awesomereviews1561 4 жыл бұрын

Sabrina is still super hot now. Mega Milf. Check her IG.

@danimontana100 4 жыл бұрын

It’s such a treat to see how the legends were created in the 80’s. Wow, thank you for this. You mastered this game! Modern Talking is still with me till this day. Great job Sir!

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks! :)

@westbestp 6 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial!!! I adore this sounds!!

@rainerfingerle281 3 жыл бұрын

Love Italo Disco....grew up with it...

@straydog8843 4 жыл бұрын

the Juno1 is incredible at providing sounds straight from the 80's so glad i have one

@ryananthony4840 2 жыл бұрын

Back watching again, great playing man!!

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@calderadelescocia7325 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome video's Espen. Thank you so much for your work!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robert! :)

@lordterra1377 6 жыл бұрын

Wow this is pure synth gold. I love this!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks! :)

@monkeyxx 7 жыл бұрын

So smooth. Great sounds, great chord progression, playing is on point. Top notch gear as well, haha.

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks man! :)

@davidosolo 5 жыл бұрын

Espen, you nailed it man! Just dope.

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks David! :)

@erentxunlopez6281 2 жыл бұрын

His composition by the title " TONIGHT " is awesome ! it has that magical feeling.

@GeorgiosZaimis 7 жыл бұрын

Very interesting tutorial for an insight in the italo-disco basics. Thank you!

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@Irionik242 7 жыл бұрын

Wow, I'm very impressed by so much 80s spirit in your track :)

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Can't make it any other way ;-)

@steffenuhlig1970 2 жыл бұрын

I find myself liking this over and over again; even after all these years. Thank you, Espen!

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Steffen!

@_P_M_ 6 жыл бұрын

That was a lot of fun to watch. I enjoyed the breakdown and explanation on the parts, and seeing the old gear in service was cool too. I'm a big fan of that Roland Juno/JX sound.

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Old Rolands never sound bad :)

@CandyAppleBlue 5 жыл бұрын

How did I miss this one! This is FANTASTIC! Great tutorial, great talent! Great gear!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Nice! It's one of the earliest videos I posted after I started up my channel fresh. Thanks my friend :)

@flob7753 6 жыл бұрын

Master of his craft!!! Such a pleasure to watch and listen 😍

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Flo! :)

@ahmedalshalchi 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent Espen Kraft ... Excellent synthesizing work ....

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Ahmed! :)

@amulpatel 5 жыл бұрын

Your videos are so amazing!! great sound selection and chord progression... love italo.. FANCY (slice me nice)

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Amul! :)

@soarer25gtt 2 жыл бұрын

Really talented! Awesome sounds, and loving the 80s vibes! I want to learn to play and compose like this too.

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@GreenThumbNetwork66 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply Espen, i will keep listening to your music, and enjoying your tutorials, Italo is a great style of music

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! :)

@rogeriogomes3715 4 жыл бұрын

Beutyfull! Once again Espen Kraft made me smile like a kid! Awsome job! I wish one one day I will play like you

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Sweet man, thanks! :)

@pranaytony 6 жыл бұрын

Love this session sir! So warm!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@EmporiumDigitalStudios 5 жыл бұрын

Espen Kraft, you are a pro. Very interesting videos you make and your domain of what’s needed to do to make the track is impressive. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for saying! :)

@_xtfr 7 жыл бұрын

Dayumn you're awesome! I'm going to be plowing through all your videos now. The free dx patches giveaways are simply amazing for a volca fm newbie like me. Keep up the good work!

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! Got lots of new stuff coming soon :)

@AidyJames 6 жыл бұрын

Cm and Gm are the best chords ever. Great work!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@BadBlitz 5 жыл бұрын

This is so my favourite youtube channel now!!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@cosmos8970 4 жыл бұрын

Hey Espen, I've watched this many times just for the Entertainment value. You still lead the pack in this Genre. Miles ahead of the rest. Well done Buddy. Always great. Cheers

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Sweet man, thanks for saying! :)

@druidhdhubh4735 4 жыл бұрын

You, Sir, are a total legend.

@shazabrahim5208 6 жыл бұрын

That hook takes me back to the 80's in such an authentic way - love the whole thing...can listen to it over and over again! And the setup is very cool - using the real beasts from back in the day...The pad on the JX-8P is so organic and warm!!! Very cool!!!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks! :) The track sort of got worked on to form the finished song in the form of "Greyhound" like you hear it in one of my latest videos.

@ryananthony4840 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks for the lesson!!

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

@ShiningJMaster 6 жыл бұрын

I love your tutorials and videos. thank you

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you Andrea! Thanks for the support! :)

@robertgoldbornatyout 5 жыл бұрын

absolutely perfect

@pixelstrikegames6380 6 жыл бұрын

This is a man with a passion for SYNTHS. Great stuff Espen

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! I appreciate you saying that. It IS a passion! :)

@alvfaria 6 жыл бұрын

Beautiful chord progressions

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alvaro! :)

@cellophaneriot 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely amazing!!! Love your collection of synths! Especially that DX 7 Poly! We have a couple Korg’s we use. A MircoKorgS and a Korg MS-20.

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@DJMacX 5 жыл бұрын

I simply love this genre!

@Dylan4Video 5 жыл бұрын

I’m loving these videos! It’s helping me conceptualize all these different genres. Please make a video where the vocals are tuned down or run through a filter :). Your voice is so relaxing it would be interesting to hear it in a more “energetic” genre.

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent, thanks! A more energetic genre than Italo is hard for me to fathom myself in. I usually go for the more muted softer synth-pop, but have you checked out all my videos?

@grimlund 4 жыл бұрын

This guy is a pure genius.

@distprod 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the in-depth demo! Very inspiring.

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@undefined1022 4 жыл бұрын

Your videos have helped me so much when it comes to writing thank you sir

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

That's great to hear. Thanks! :-)

@Yanik29 Жыл бұрын

Synths, synths and again... Synths!!!!! Good job! ❤

@EspenKraft Жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@maximumcomfort 6 жыл бұрын

great video and thoroughly explained! helped a lot thank you

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Max. Glad it did! :)

@glenquagmire7724 6 жыл бұрын

Beautiful chord structure and variation.

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jimmy! :)

@MrPrax28 6 жыл бұрын

Nice sounds, just love it! :)

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@haroldvaison 2 жыл бұрын

so great man

@dirtysolarremix Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this💯

@lilnazir2099 2 жыл бұрын

That was really awesome!!! Wish you a thousands of likes!

@carloscadenas8602 5 жыл бұрын

I'm very fan of Italo Disco and i liked so much this video. Thanks a lot!!!!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Great Carlos, thanks!

@eugeniacolqui5053 4 жыл бұрын

Ahí está! La fábrica de éxitos. Italos gapul. Hig . Energi . Gracias x publicar , todos los dias se aprende algo nuevo. Que sonido por Dios.

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

@occhiondolo 5 жыл бұрын

this song could have been a hit, back then! Ciao from Italy

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for saying man! Greetings from Norway :)

@FranckChoppin 7 жыл бұрын

Great performance Espen Kraft! I like the way you drive your synths with this vintage sequencer ;)

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! More to come! :)

@edilsonarruda210 4 жыл бұрын

Great job, Mr. Kraft!

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@robertbell3700 5 жыл бұрын

I love the snare sound you had triggering by the #4 pad on the 626. It is almost exactly the same that New Order was using on the Brotherhood album.

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Most of the drums in this video is my own samples, made through multi layering of different sounds, processed and samples back.

@Thaizer 2 жыл бұрын

so amazing.... i like the song and your synth collection

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@annegressett3331 5 жыл бұрын

This is AWESOME! Keep it all up! :) :)

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anne! I appreciate it! :)

@SynthGrooves 5 жыл бұрын

Wow simply amazing love italo so much

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Nice! :)

@voyager134 6 жыл бұрын

You are a MASTER! Thanks for the DX7 patches,cheers from Italy!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I'm glad you liked them. Greetings from Norway! :)

@ianwilson7637 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video, this brings back so many good memories. Those drums are on point!! Slice me Nice, Midnight Radio, Passion, Living on Video, Don't Wake Me Up, Happy Song, Deliverance, Don't Cry Tonight, Hey Hey Guy, Disco Band, Somebody To Love. :)

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, there's so many great tracks you're listing up there. The list is endless really. I'm currently working on a Italo Disco EP coming later this fall. I'm sure you'll like it. Just watch my channel :)

@jamiedavies4545 4 жыл бұрын

Its Jamie Davies I love this music he's awesome at music and keyboards keep it up Espen Kraft my mate.

@interbrainmusic621 3 жыл бұрын

This track is great. I like how you even gave us some of the patches for the synth. Great job, you earned a sub

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! :D

@interbrainmusic621 3 жыл бұрын

@@EspenKraft Hey man. Is this track by any chance on spotify?

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

@@interbrainmusic621 It is, sort of. My expanded idea and rework is on there as the song "Greyhound". Here: open.spotify.com/album/3dIJbQyEx438NzEj9WFBFu

@RUNCNC Жыл бұрын

Great performance!

@VampireStepDad82 7 жыл бұрын

I love how you keep the D# during that descending chord progression.

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

It seemed the natural way to go to create some tension. It's also the 80s way :P

@VampireStepDad82 7 жыл бұрын

Yes, the tension created is just perfect. I gotta work on that kind of stuff.

@jcamp3606 6 жыл бұрын

So kickass. Awesome!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Sweet! Thanks :)

@procta2343 4 жыл бұрын

Where was this stuff when I was learning music at school!!

@francescosky1268 Жыл бұрын

THIS IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!

@EspenKraft Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@IvanRTinkle 5 жыл бұрын

Yeah! Great video and of course a great song!

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 😃

@EnorasisProject 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing tutorial and sound ! I love Italo :) I subbed !

@EspenKraft 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! More coming... ;-)

@TheNagualZone 4 жыл бұрын

very solid! wow! totally authentic - bravo bravo! xx

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@djgilevans Жыл бұрын

Great. I love Italo Disco too.

@EspenKraft Жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@dreamix2007 3 жыл бұрын

Great pacthes for the DX7, like the poly... could barely believe the DX could sound like that so had to download just to check it out lol, great song aswell Love it!

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

@analogsystem8015 6 жыл бұрын

Great tuto, very interesting !

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@kropfati 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic! I look forward to the release of this music!:)

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

More to come. Thanks for watching and commenting! :)

@mpinzo0098 6 жыл бұрын

Very nice bro. Im very glad im not the only one that likes the 80s synthesizers like the Yamaha Dx7, Roland Juno etc. Yes!! And im only 22 yrs old

@rickygarcia7400 6 жыл бұрын

Marvin Pinzon yep 80s synth are way cooler I just bought new ones from sweet water roland fa6 yamaha moxf6 to name a few but are started to by older ones and now my new synth are put aside lol now I have korg dw8000 roland d50 yamaha dx7iifd ensoniq Esq 1. and slowly still collecting.

@hudsonadair5923 6 жыл бұрын

boi, I'm 16 and I love this stuff just as much

@denvy21 6 жыл бұрын

no nonsense ...only material and few patches sounds so superb ...good feeling character of this genre..

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Nice. Thanks! :)

@denvy21 6 жыл бұрын

Espen Kraft welcome😊

@morrisman64 4 жыл бұрын

WOW that sounds good!!

@maiconfilipiteixeira9047 5 жыл бұрын

Congratulations! I am from Brazil and love italo disco, I was born in 1993. I will try to play an italo disco music on my CTK7200. Great sounds! Hugs from Brazil.

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@birdy369 2 жыл бұрын

I hope to see someone in this synth part of youtube do an 80s Latin freestyle music breakdown or demo! Edit - love seeing Giorgio Moroder in the background lol

@dstrats 2 жыл бұрын

Our phones do listen to us! Lmao I was talking to a friend about my love and inspiration of Giorgio Moroder, and the realization of the synth music I love has a genre called “Italo Disco”. I look at my phone this morning and jump on KZfaq and I see this amazing example of the genre. Awesome playing man! And fantastic sounds!!! Absolutely authentic! Loved it! Trying to capture that sound and feel with my Take5 synth and a Roland TR08. Only a month into the synth life. Lol All the best!

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@fernandoleonelcontino2526 4 жыл бұрын

That was really good! 👏👏👏🎼🎶😎

@EspenKraft 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :)

@F-Andre 5 жыл бұрын

nice, i see why your channel was in my recommandations ;D

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Hey, that's great! :)

@mysterio77690 6 жыл бұрын

A very interesting explainations! i realy enjoyed those italo styles - I played myself some comps with my Tyros 4, and that gave me a lot of pleasure, for sure! Greets. Very nice channel!!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot! Let's play that Tyros! :)

@mickedansar 3 жыл бұрын

Great work👍😃

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! :D

@pss-270casio-coremusic.5 6 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Thx for sharing.

@shazabrahim5208 6 жыл бұрын

Espen, I just listened to the track you put together for Woody's challenge...you have great skills my friend! And to think of it that you did all that in one day is CRAZY talent!!!!I really enjoy your playing!

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Sweet! I've since then completed the track and recorded it properly to form a finished song. With vocals. I will release this after the ongoing remix competition is complete.

@shazabrahim5208 6 жыл бұрын

Great!!!Looking forward to it!

@darren8121 5 жыл бұрын

hey Espen. you bring me joy. i would definitely download those drum sounds. count me in

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Most of these drum sounds are in fact part of my Roland D-50 patch pack. As a bonus folder with drums.

@darren8121 5 жыл бұрын

@@EspenKraft can i purchase without a paypal account?

@EspenKraft 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, you can buy it here and you can use a credit card or PayPal thepatchbay.co.uk/product/roland-d-50-32-retro-patches-for-synth-pop-synthwave-italo-disco-electronica/?description=true Thanks :)

@TheBoyCalledHedge 4 жыл бұрын

Cool sampling trigger with the TR 707 :-)

@user-lg4hs6qp1w 3 жыл бұрын

Very, very nice!!!

@EspenKraft 3 жыл бұрын

Many thanks! :)

@paolonoal9950 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! And everything with Giorgio and Sabrina watching you....

@entersat 6 жыл бұрын

que grato es escuchar mirar y aprender de un gran músico como vos , la verdad te admiro saludos y buena vida

@EspenKraft 6 жыл бұрын

Gracias amigo :)

@donherson 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulation my friend.... you are so great...and your work is amazing...thanks for keep alive the Italo sound... genius.. !!!!... many greetings from Chile

@EspenKraft 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!