Michael Oakley blends deep sound design expertise with a passion for retro synths, crafting vibrant, genre-authentic presets that channel the spirit of Synthwave, 80s Synth Pop, and 90s Dance. Whether you’re chasing vintage tones or modern hybrids, his packs are built to inspire—and built to last.
Which device or feature in Reason do you find most inspiring or useful in your creative work?
Europa. This synth continues to pleasantly surprise me with its vast array of wavetables, features, sound-sculpting options, and flexible modulation routings. I can create almost any analog or digital sound with it, and I know it will always sound fantastic. The user-friendly GUI is easy to navigate, allowing for quicker editing so you can get to the sound you’re looking for much faster.
How would you describe your creative process when working on a Sound Pack?
The most important thing for me is to create sounds that are instantly playable and accessible, even for someone using them for the first time. When I create a Synthwave-style pack, I make sure to give the user 10 presets that accurately represent the genre and work well together. I also want these presets to be versatile enough to be used outside the genre in other styles.
Something I really love about Reason as a platform is that you can expand any synthesizer’s sound by using a Combinator. This lets me add more processing, effects, and performance control features, giving the user multiple sound design options right on the Combinator’s front panel.
What do you find most rewarding about creating Reason+ Sound Packs?
I genuinely love the thought of someone using my presets in their own music—that’s the ultimate goal for me. I want to create sounds that inspire new ideas or help unlock creativity in a production where someone might be stuck. I also try to make my presets both educational and playable, so when users open my Combinators, they can see a chain of processing effects that are just as important as the initial synth preset itself.
Has working with Sound Packs taught you something new about music production or sound design?
When I’m creating my own music, believe it or not, I don’t like to do any sound design until later in the process. I prefer to reach for presets that closely approximate what I’m looking for, allowing me to focus solely on writing and composing. Knowing this, when I approach Sound Packs, I understand that I have to help the user by providing a solid sound palette so they can quickly get an idea off the ground. Creative flow is the most important thing at the beginning of a new idea. You can always go back later to edit and sculpt more precisely, but getting that initial idea down is crucial, in my opinion.
Which of your Reason+ Sound Packs was the most satisfying to produce, and why?
Definitely Synth Pop Modalities Volumes 1–4. Those packs were a labor of love for me because Depeche Mode are my musical heroes and the biggest influence on how I approach creating music. Volumes 1 through 4 explore Depeche Mode’s imperial phase from 1981 to 1990, and I think I managed to nail the sounds accurately on those packs.
Is there a creative idea or direction you’d love to explore, given the time and tools?
Which device or feature in Reason do you find most inspiring or useful in your creative work?Europa. This synth continues to pleasantly surprise me with its vast array of wavetables, features, sound-sculpting options, and flexible modulation routings. I can create almost any analog or digital sound with it, and I know it will always sound fantastic. The user-friendly GUI is easy to navigate, allowing for quicker editing so you can get to the sound you’re looking for much faster.
How would you describe your creative process when working on a Sound Pack?
The most important thing for me is to create sounds that are instantly playable and accessible, even for someone using them for the first time. When I create a Synthwave-style pack, I make sure to give the user 10 presets that accurately represent the genre and work well together. I also want these presets to be versatile enough to be used outside the genre in other styles.
Something I really love about Reason as a platform is that you can expand any synthesizer’s sound by using a Combinator. This lets me add more processing, effects, and performance control features, giving the user multiple sound design options right on the Combinator’s front panel.
What do you find most rewarding about creating Reason+ Sound Packs?I genuinely love the thought of someone using my presets in their own music—that’s the ultimate goal for me. I want to create sounds that inspire new ideas or help unlock creativity in a production where someone might be stuck. I also try to make my presets both educational and playable, so when users open my Combinators, they can see a chain of processing effects that are just as important as the initial synth preset itself.
Has working with Sound Packs taught you something new about music production or sound design?
When I’m creating my own music, believe it or not, I don’t like to do any sound design until later in the process. I prefer to reach for presets that closely approximate what I’m looking for, allowing me to focus solely on writing and composing. Knowing this, when I approach Sound Packs, I understand that I have to help the user by providing a solid sound palette so they can quickly get an idea off the ground. Creative flow is the most important thing at the beginning of a new idea. You can always go back later to edit and sculpt more precisely, but getting that initial idea down is crucial, in my opinion.
Which of your Reason+ Sound Packs was the most satisfying to produce, and why?
Definitely Synth Pop Modalities Volumes 1–4. Those packs were a labor of love for me because Depeche Mode are my musical heroes and the biggest influence on how I approach creating music. Volumes 1 through 4 explore Depeche Mode’s imperial phase from 1981 to 1990, and I think I managed to nail the sounds accurately on those packs.
Is there a creative idea or direction you’d love to explore, given the time and tools?
Probably a 1990s EBM/industrial-style pack would be great to do actually. Something dark and heavy but also melodic.
Three of our favorite Michael Oakley Sound Packs
Polytone – Synthwave:
https://www.reasonstudios.com/soundpack?id=1080
VHS Components:
https://www.reasonstudios.com/soundpack?id=1098
Chariots of Synth:
https://www.reasonstudios.com/soundpack?id=1200
Links
Discover the Reason+ Sound Packs by Michael Oakley:
https://www.reasonstudios.com/soundpacks?producer=Michael+Oakley
Follow Michael Oakley:
https://linktr.ee/michaeloakleyofficial
