KVR Audio

exmatproton · Post by **exmatproton** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:38 pm

Pads: Diva

cake builder · Post by **cake builder** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:00 pm

Normally Zebra is my go to for pads, but I picked up a Kontakt instrument called Granulate recently that can do some fun stuff. I've also become really fond of Icarus lately.

Diva can make some nice ones, but it makes my CPU scream for help with long release and multiple voices.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 6:33 pm

For noisy, partly inharmonic pad sounds... Bazille
For soft analog pads... Diva
For evolving pads... Icarus and Zebra

Vospi · Post by **Vospi** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:54 pm

Hey, threadstarter here :)

1) Thank you for all of your responses, I enjoy reading all this very much, even for the 10th time :)
2) I know you still are going to say that, but hey, this thread is not about "what's best for pads" or "oh, let's list all VSTis, I can use anything"! I know you can. Good for you. :) It's about "what do you like personally", even "what are your habits?" Clearly, we all have our approaches and workflows, and that's what this thread is absolutely brilliant for.
3) About white noise convolution: FL Studio is great, but this method (to volume-shape white noise and use it as an impulse for your IR reverb) is of course in no way limited to any DAW. Also, I've recommended an FM synth for that method not by an accident and was a bit off-put when I've read the mindless "you don't need it". FM sounds, especially simpler ones, tend to give you "harmonically even" results, which can translate to a pad that is not bloated and easier to mix (remember that your time-to-freq relationships are crucial for the perceived sound quality!). So of course you don't need specifically an FM (or AM, rather) source and yes, it's a matter of taste, but I'd still specify that for above-mentioned reasons.

4) I really enjoy seeing DUNE2 beeing mentioned more and more often. The person who said something about its "lightness" has my full agreement on that. :) I'd love to think it's getting picked up big time.

Please have fun reading and posting.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 9:55 pm

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

Wusik

mcnoone · Post by **mcnoone** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 10:02 pm

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

U-he Hive

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 10:34 pm

Diva, Zebra, Falcon, and Omnisphere all layered together through Shimmer, Blackhole, and VVV in series.

Because sometimes less is more.

Dasheesh · Post by **Dasheesh** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 11:07 pm

Don't know if I have jumped in here before but I feel like I have. Anyway, if I haven't I will emphasize that waldorf was and is the king of pads.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Oct 12, 2016 11:08 pm

deastman wrote:Diva, Zebra, Falcon, and Omnisphere all layered together through Shimmer, Blackhole, and VVV in series.

Because sometimes less is more.

I would say that is plenty already.

Dasheesh wrote:Don't know if I have jumped in here before but I feel like I have. Anyway, if I haven't I will emphasize that waldorf was and is the king of pads.

Yep.

fluffy_little_something · Wed Oct 12, 2016 11:17 pm

pdxindy wrote:For noisy, partly inharmonic pad sounds... Bazille
For soft analog pads... Diva
For evolving pads... Icarus and Zebra

I often don't know which sounds people mean. What for instance does a soft analog pad sound like?

Googly Smythe · Post by **Googly Smythe** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 1:10 am

HALion.
But then, HALion is my first choice for everything...
Select a "Warm Analog Pad", slow attack and release, whack up the unison, load 8 instances of it, 20 second reverb (of your choice), then 4 bars D/B, 4 bars E.
Loop.
Play guitar solo for a couple of hours...

Fleer · Post by **Fleer** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 1:34 am

PlugInGuru's MegaMagic Pads for Omnisphere 2 with Zynaptiq's Adaptiverb.
Sheer heaven.

goldenanalog · Post by **goldenanalog** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 1:38 am

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

Maybe this is cheating

but the iPad can play, too!

- Can't say enough good about the Virsyn line - their latest release - Addictive Pro - is just superb, w/plenty of cojones to survive even in a thick mix -

Sunrizer (Beepstreet) is an alpha male - as is Moog's Model 15, and Animoog -

Bottom line: there are some excellent options for dominant pad-production w/apps that run on an iPad.

One more quick mention:

http://www.wolfgangpalm.com/ (genius)

Cinebient · Post by **Cinebient** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:12 am

goldenanalog wrote:
Vospi wrote:You need a pad to play a sequence of beautiful emotional chords, and the first VSTi you usually load is..?
Maybe this is cheating but the iPad can play, too!

- Can't say enough good about the Virsyn line - their latest release - Addictive Pro - is just superb, w/plenty of cojones to survive even in a thick mix -

Sunrizer (Beepstreet) is an alpha male - as is Moog's Model 15, and Animoog -

Bottom line: there are some excellent options for dominant pad-production w/apps that run on an iPad.

One more quick mention:

http://www.wolfgangpalm.com/ (genius)

I prefer Mitosynth for pads in iOS land!

ontol · Post by **ontol** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 3:40 am

deastman wrote:Diva, Zebra, Falcon, and Omnisphere all layered together through Shimmer, Blackhole, and VVV in series.

Because sometimes less is more.

My synth stack is different, but our fx chain looks fairly similar. I find Valhalla and Eventide work pretty well together.

I focus more on processing than synths, but since this is an instrument thread; my usual pad base starts with things like Arturia's CS80V / Solina, AIR Vacuum Pro, Memorymoon ME80, or Krakli StringZ2/S30

Pads: your first choice?