KVR Audio

Aroused by JarJar · Post by **Aroused by JarJar** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:26 pm

Tp3 wrote:

Just choose your free\paid synths (there are literally HUNDREDS of free synths that have this one or two or ten sounds that can be used for layering), layer them sounds and get pad sounds like no other. export them as samples, and there you go : instant sound designing without knowing synthesis (I think synthesis nowadays is overrated, anyway. layering, OTOH, is far underrated). just follow your heart - and your ears (in that order).

Someone had to synthesize the stuff you're layering.

Tp3 · Post by **Tp3** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:50 pm

Aroused by JarJar wrote:
Tp3 wrote:

Just choose your free\paid synths (there are literally HUNDREDS of free synths that have this one or two or ten sounds that can be used for layering), layer them sounds and get pad sounds like no other. export them as samples, and there you go : instant sound designing without knowing synthesis (I think synthesis nowadays is overrated, anyway. layering, OTOH, is far underrated). just follow your heart - and your ears (in that order).
Someone had to synthesize the stuff you're layering.

So ?

I'm not trying to invent the wheel, y'know. I'm trying to create engaging sounds. there are, like, forty or fifty (thats : 40 or 50) sound designers who can really SYNTHESIZE an original sound (and I'm being very large with the number I gave). the others (that is the vast majority of us. INCLUDING sound designers who can synthesize basic patches) - can't.

I know it's "cool" to synthesize, but it's not an easy task. on the contrary. and even among the prominent current sound designers, you find banks that are done over and over (and over) again. only on different synths.

You want to do an exercise in layering ? do this :

Download Aethereal FREE
Download REDTRON SE
Download Hilofi Multiband Bitcrusher I
Download DEMO of UberMOD (if you have bought it - even better)

Set Aethereal FREE to preset 20 (dream creatures)
Set REDTRON to preset 32 (In the Garden) - Tune it down with the TUNE knob
Send those two through Hilofi Multiband Bitcrusher I (to rough things up a little)
Add UberMOD to further spice things

Export samples (peak = -3dB)
....
....
And you have sort of distorted-trippy space mellotron

Just with Synth1 (and its 130 free banks that float around) and HG Fortune... you can come up with MILLIONS of sounds. not synthesized but ORIGINALLY DESIGNED by YOU (aka your heart and your ears).

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:54 pm

Tp3 wrote:
And while you kids ponder this heavy topic, just know this :
... LAYER synth patches... You could do that, too.
Just choose your free\paid synths (there are literally HUNDREDS of free synths that have this one or two or ten sounds that can be used for layering), layer them sounds and get pad sounds like no other. export them as samples, and there you go : instant sound designing without knowing synthesis (I think synthesis nowadays is overrated, anyway. layering, OTOH, is far underrated). just follow your heart - and your ears (in that order).

IMO: That is a very good way to start and continue with as we go on. But there is something to be said with those you can do multiple layers in the same synth also.

I find myself layering sampled traditional sounds for better orchestras because of the different philosophies used to capture the nuances they felt the most important and adds more realism to me by doing it that way.

I know some of the patches I've bought for the VIs I have - are obviously layered synths of different characters sampled and resynthed for my ease and laziness.

So If I had to only have one or a few, I would look first at those machines that do more than one form of synthesis and sample/WT import, Chances are, it won't end there, but I do feel it's best to have at least one VI you plan on diving into and milking it dry.

Tronam · Post by **Tronam** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:07 pm

Sampleconstruct wrote:Finally a thread where all synths and samplers on this planet can be mentioned again.

Best response ever.

3*s · Post by **3*s** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 12:23 am

Speaking of Pads I just dusted off my JV-1080. I forgot how sweet some of those choral pads are.

MetroSonus · Post by **MetroSonus** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 2:23 am

To create really engaging pads you need s+s synthesis and that's not something software does well or easily.

That's why I actually prefer hardware romplers for pads. Software is great for synth pads, but you need to either sample or romple to get it to the next level.

C-note · Post by **C-note** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:03 am

Alchemy, Omnisphere, a synth, Morphistra, Nexus 2, Massive

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:48 am

quantum7 wrote:
Aroused by JarJar wrote:
quantum7 wrote:
jacqueslacouth wrote:
I really hope so. This thread prompted me to go back and have another play wih Omnisphere, and yes, there are some really nice pads there. I think part of my thing is that I tend to get sucked in to the multitude of presets and end up noodling around sort of going "yeh, that's cool, nah, don't like that" etc. etc.
The thing with Omnisphere is that there are soooo many patches in there that you have to weed out the "ho-hum" patches. Last year I took a couple days and went through every one of the 2000+ patches in Omnisphere and marked my favorites. Now when I open Omnisphere I can go right to all my favorite pads instantly. Even though some of the Omnisphere material, like the Symphony of Voices samples, is nearly 15 years old, some of the pads based on those samples sound incredible within Omnisphere. Try stacking 2, 3, or 4, of your favorites together and you can get some incredibly stunning pads.
I'd like to hear a modulated PWM pad from Omnisphere that does not use any of the sample library, only the built-in oscillators.
I'd like to hear that also. Spectrasonics really needs their own forum. I would bet that someone out there has created some nice pads using only the built-in oscillators.

I thought that Omnisphere owners just purchased patches?

(Ok, sorry, couldn't resist, just kidding, Omnisphere is awesome, I'm just jealous because I don't have it, etc.)

Mutant · Post by **Mutant** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:28 am

Synth1 for evolving modern pads, Reaktor Player 5 with Solina String Ensemble for not so modern pads.

K-Bee · Post by **K-Bee** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:15 am

Usually some of the freebies like Alchemy Player, the now defunct Kore Player and magware classic Zebra CM. The best of all worlds.
Alternatively, I go to one of my hardware synths.

core · Post by **core** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:54 am

Vospi wrote:You need a pad to play a sequence of beautiful emotional chords, and the first VSTi you usually load is..?

Diva with Luftrum 9 or Zebra with Jospeh Hollo's Padsheaven

Redmerkurii · Post by **Redmerkurii** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:02 am

Libra Comfort Fit anyone?

yamarolorg · Post by **yamarolorg** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:26 pm

Nine times out of 10, it's Alchemy.

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:42 pm

Here's the developer tweaking a pad to choir in ZynAddSubFX, skip to the end to hear the final sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xXcRYQeFcw
Best synth choir around?

Vospi · Post by **Vospi** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:11 pm

I very much appreciate every advice and pad thought posted here, this thread is being very inspirational to me.

Saw a couple of funny guys here, so I want to say something. Please note to yourself that this thread is VERY specific. I'm not interested in "best pads out there" or something.

I'm interested in behavioral patterns.
And your thoughts on them.

You got it, right? Good, let's hear more opininons in peace.
I already have a full list of things to check out thanks to everyone who contributed.

Pads: your first choice?