Hi! OK as title, we've all heard them. I have Komplete and X2 but I'm having a nightmare trying to get those warm, analogue, air-filled background pads. It's to fill the void behind fingerpicked acoustics and acoustic basess and brushed drums. I'm sorted if I want anything else but these seem a real problem for me to find. Ideas please! Sample sets? Synth patches for download somewhere? What to do! Anything! Help! Thanks in advance.

You might need Z3Ta 2.

I havent checked out that, I have the first one and played a while stumbling into all kinds of dance arps and leads and rubber basses. Does 2 have those pads I seek?

Can I link an example? Hear the pad behind this. This!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5rnl_sx0Q

Yes,

It sounds like a sine wave into a ADSR with just the right chords being played.

Then there's a wood wind.

Then the Hammond swirls a bit.


I think what you are hearing is excellent use of sweet harmony and a reverb that was carefully selected to make the most of it.



best regards,
mike

I don't often use pads ....BUT, I have Komplete and there are a bunch of pads in there... everything from the harsh brittle ones to the warm sounding ones like the example you posted.

the right reverb helps to let it fit the space... not to short and not to spacey sounding.... and of course the right pad.... 

to warm things up a bit, I also use a plug in cake that is a bit of tape saturation.  Adjust the levels as needed and it adds a bit of distortion that has a warming effect without being noticeable.

Ok thanks everyone. I had started playing with some reverb. On them pads its the warmth I seek ;0)Im going to try the thig you suggested. Incidently I was lucky enough to see MK at the Royal Albert Hall last year with his band. Amazing. It didn't matter if he had a Strat or Les Paul in his hands, in that majestic hall, "The Tone" was absolutely godly. Godly I tell you. Godly. Cheers ;0)

Ok,

It's difficult for me to understand what the term "warm" means to you but I took another listen, and I want to modify my original statement.

I think that first pad can be emulated with a saw wave going thru a ADSR. That's what, I think, may be described as the warmth. Maybe?

The saw wave emulates the timbre of a horn section... imagine a horn section playing quietly when that songs starts off and see if that makes sense to you.

The ADSR is used to make the initial transient smooth and pad like rather than percussive like a piano. 

It seems like a strings type pad is layered on quickly after ward and they play against each other in anticipation of the wood wind and organ joining in. 


best regards,
mike

Thanks for your time Mike. I appreciate it. Ill get playing with Absynth and see what I can find. I think you used the best word to describe that which I wanted to avoid earlier. "Brittle" I dont want brittle. I want melty, warm, there but "not so you would really notice, but would if it was gone". It's difficult to describe isn't it? ;0) I do understand that the example I gave probably had a great deal of expensive gear to make it sound and sit like that. Thanks again

BTW. It doesn't have to be exactly this pad, I'd appreciate and am looking for an arsenal of these types of Pads. Building my own always goes awry.