Public Broadcast: Retro Ident Soundset

Exploring the hazy, warped aesthetic of the late 1970s with Oblivion Sound Lab and TAL-Pha.

Around six months ago, the incredibly talented sound designer Jonathan Nicol (Oblivion Sound Lab) created a new soundset called “Public Broadcast” for the TAL-Pha synthesizer. This collection is a love letter to the hazy, warped aesthetic of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and it immediately sparked a wave of inspiration in my studio.

I created four different demo tracks for the soundset, two being short idents. Think VHS tape brand logo intros that would play before the film starts. The following two tracks, “Retro Ident” and “Retro Ident 2,” are the result of those sessions.

Exploring the Soundset

If you are a fan of vintage synthesizer sounds, Public Broadcast is an essential addition to your toolkit. Unlike many preset packs that focus on clean, polished production, this library leans heavily into the “hauntology” genre. It captures the sound of technology aging, the drift of an analog oscillator, and the dust settling on a circuit board.

Jonathan Nicol has expertly programmed 88 patches that cover everything from melted keys to detuned brass. The inspiration for Public Broadcast comes from vintage library music and synth-heavy television scores, channeling artists like Boards of Canada and Pye Corner Audio. It transforms the TAL-Pha (an emulation of the Roland Alpha Juno II) into a machine capable of generating instant nostalgia.

The Magic of TAL-Pha

The vehicle for these sounds, the TAL-Pha, is an impressive plugin in its own right. It emulates the classic Alpha Juno II, a synth known for its “Hoover” sound but often underrated for its lush pads and bells. Public Broadcast exploits the unique architecture of this synth, particularly its ability to create complex, evolving textures.

For my demo tracks, I wanted to capture the specific vibe of a “station ID.” In the 80s, local TV stations and video production companies (like Vestron Video or Cannon Films) used short, memorable synth cues to brand their content. These cues had to be punchy, futuristic (for the time), and memorable. Using the Public Broadcast patches, I was able to dial in that exact “wobbly” character without needing to process the audio through external tape emulations. The character was already baked into the presets.

Listen to the Tracks

The two tracks below serve as a sonic demonstration of what Public Broadcast can do. “Retro Ident” features a swelling, majestic pad intro that transitions into a bright, optimistic lead, emulating that classic corporate optimism from 1984. “Retro Ident 2” takes a slightly darker, more mysterious approach, hinting at the sci-fi and horror movies that often followed these logos on a rented VHS tape.

These tracks were a joy to compose because the sounds themselves did the heavy lifting. When you press a key on a patch from this collection, you aren’t just hearing a note; you are hearing a texture that carries weight and history.

Stream & Download

If you enjoy these sounds, I highly recommend checking out the full soundset at Oblivion Sound Lab. In the meantime, you can stream the tracks below via Spotify or Bandcamp.

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