Outrun / synthwave / retro electro production ideas?

Hello.. I've been really getting into stuff lately along the lines of Lazer Hawk, Mega Drive, Power Glove, Mitch Murder, Pertubator, etc.. here's a playlist of such stuff:

I've had a bit of a go at producing it but it's so much cleaner and more polished than what I usually do.. everything I do comes out sounding noisy and gritty. Is it just a lot of careful EQ to make things fit together so well? Or what?

Anyone doing this sort of stuff? Got any tips?

I guess might just have to do a grittier version of the style.

I release this type of stuff on Future City Records. There's no real secret. Some guys use strictly Synth1, others use stuff like the Korg M1, TAL-U-NO-LX, Diva, FM7/8 (running DX7 patches), SQ8L.

What you need to do is read up on production techniques from the time period you're looking to emulate. You don't want a fat heavy low-end for this type of sound. If you want to ask questions directly to these people they all post on the facebook group "Synthwave Producers".
https://www.facebook.com/groups/synthwaveproducers/

Also, drum machines. Linndrum, TR-707, Emu Drumalator, Oberheim DMX, etc etc. Remember to not beef up the low-end too much. A bit of tape saturation on the drums goes a long way with this type of sound.

Thanks.. I dig future city, keep up the good work.

yea, get a Sonicprojects OP-X and you are done..sound-wise..they have a sale thingy going on til March 23

http://www.sonicprojects.ch/obx/shop.html

http://www.sonicprojects.ch/opxpro2/audioclips.html

all those 80s sounds..some nice synthwaves

https://soundcloud.com/aphasia-records