I love lowpass-filtered pads in the low to mid frequency range but with soft synths like Zebra2 I often run into a problem where some chords or parts can sound excessively boomy or loud. It seems like resonant frequencies build up and overlay. Is this just a matter of EQ and mixing, or do software synths like Zebra2 tend to have more issues with resonant frequency buildup compared to hardware synths? I've heard hardware synths can be easier to mix—does that have to do with the way voices are generated or filtered - or is it a myth?
Regardless, my main question is: are there any tricks to avoid that resonance frequency build up or is it just about identifying and taming the areas afterwards?
resonant frequency build up playing pads - can it be prevented?
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- KVRist
- 255 posts since 4 Apr, 2020
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- KVRian
- 511 posts since 5 Oct, 2011 from Deep in the jungle
If you have a resonant filter that’s not fully key tracked then that will cause inconsistency across the keyboard, meaning certain notes related to the cutoff frequency will cause some harmonics to be boosted, while other notes won’t cause boosting.
A fully key tracked filter will boost the same harmonics for all notes creating a much more consistent sound across the keyboard.
A static eq boost could cause a similar problem too, or flangers, phasers, frequency shifters, ring mod fx etc. Key tracking those can help, if the synth allows.
EDIT: Regarding effects, it really depends on whether they are polyphonic or not, which more than likely they won't be, so key tracking might not help here.
Also, if velocity is modulating a filter, or the modulation amount of a filter envelope, LFO etc, that can be something to be aware of. If each note in a chord has a different velocity then that may cause a problem.
A fully key tracked filter will boost the same harmonics for all notes creating a much more consistent sound across the keyboard.
A static eq boost could cause a similar problem too, or flangers, phasers, frequency shifters, ring mod fx etc. Key tracking those can help, if the synth allows.
EDIT: Regarding effects, it really depends on whether they are polyphonic or not, which more than likely they won't be, so key tracking might not help here.
Also, if velocity is modulating a filter, or the modulation amount of a filter envelope, LFO etc, that can be something to be aware of. If each note in a chord has a different velocity then that may cause a problem.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 255 posts since 4 Apr, 2020
Thank you Satch1,
this makes a lot of sense, I will test key tracking today, all my softsynths can do it.
The sounds I use for these pads almost never have any modulation to it other than the LP filter, just straight saw and/or triangle oscillators, sometimes with a sub OSC. Typically same midi velocity, too.
But I do run the deep pads through long-ish reverbs (Valhalla Vintage Verb, EQ'd to cut the low end and low-mid end in 'side' mode for phase issues), so that often accentuates problems.
I'll test and maybe try to upload an example later.
this makes a lot of sense, I will test key tracking today, all my softsynths can do it.
The sounds I use for these pads almost never have any modulation to it other than the LP filter, just straight saw and/or triangle oscillators, sometimes with a sub OSC. Typically same midi velocity, too.
But I do run the deep pads through long-ish reverbs (Valhalla Vintage Verb, EQ'd to cut the low end and low-mid end in 'side' mode for phase issues), so that often accentuates problems.
I'll test and maybe try to upload an example later.
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- KVRian
- 511 posts since 5 Oct, 2011 from Deep in the jungle
You're welcome stippenstoh, I hope it helps.
Another thing you can try - maybe you don't want the filter to key track, so that higher notes are duller for example. In this case if the synth has mod mappers like in Zebra 2, or the ability to edit the key tracking shape with multiple breakpoints, then you can use these to modulate the resonance and reduce it for notes that need taming.
Another thing you can try - maybe you don't want the filter to key track, so that higher notes are duller for example. In this case if the synth has mod mappers like in Zebra 2, or the ability to edit the key tracking shape with multiple breakpoints, then you can use these to modulate the resonance and reduce it for notes that need taming.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 255 posts since 4 Apr, 2020
That's an interesting concept that I'll keep in mind because I do often prefer the sound of no or little key tracking. Thank you!
I think most of my issues come from the fact that the fundamental frequencies of the chords of the pads are just very low, often between 80 - 170 Hz. It's ambience soundtrack music, similar to "Killing Hawk" from The Revenant OST / Ryuichi Sakamoto, just with synths.
But I remember that, in general, I often felt that frequencies could quickly pile up in the wrong place with synth pads, so I'll experiment a bit more with key tracking and your alternate method (if I manage to, ha).
I think most of my issues come from the fact that the fundamental frequencies of the chords of the pads are just very low, often between 80 - 170 Hz. It's ambience soundtrack music, similar to "Killing Hawk" from The Revenant OST / Ryuichi Sakamoto, just with synths.
But I remember that, in general, I often felt that frequencies could quickly pile up in the wrong place with synth pads, so I'll experiment a bit more with key tracking and your alternate method (if I manage to, ha).
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- KVRian
- 511 posts since 5 Oct, 2011 from Deep in the jungle
Maybe try high pass filtering the lower notes that you use a touch, just to reduce the clashing of the lower frequencies a bit. Or a low shelf EQ. Again, you could use a key tracking mod mapper to set it how you like for each note.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 255 posts since 4 Apr, 2020
Oh now it clicked - you mean use key tracking to drive a mod mapper to control a HP filter for the lower frequencies, and fine tune it for the troubling notes? That sounds like the perfect solution, preventing rather than fixing.Satch1 wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 8:52 pm Maybe try high pass filtering the lower notes that you use a touch, just to reduce the clashing of the lower frequencies a bit. Or a low shelf EQ. Again, you could use a key tracking mod mapper to set it how you like for each note.
I'll give it a try right now.
Last edited by stippenstoh on Thu Oct 16, 2025 10:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 511 posts since 5 Oct, 2011 from Deep in the jungle
Yes, that's exactly what I meanstippenstoh wrote: Thu Oct 16, 2025 7:51 amOh now it clicked - you mean use key tracking to drive a mod mapper to control a HP filter for the lower frequencies, and fine tune it for the troubling notes? That sounds like the perfect solution, preventing rather than fixing.Satch1 wrote: Wed Oct 15, 2025 8:52 pm Maybe try high pass filtering the lower notes that you use a touch, just to reduce the clashing of the lower frequencies a bit. Or a low shelf EQ. Again, you could use a key tracking mod mapper to set it how you like for each note.
I'll give it a try right now.
Hopefully it will give you satisfactory results.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 255 posts since 4 Apr, 2020
Satch1,
just set it up and it's the perfect solution! Still need to get a grip about the best settings and balance but this is preventing the issues instead of fixing them afterwards and will help me tremendously going forward, thanks so much!
just set it up and it's the perfect solution! Still need to get a grip about the best settings and balance but this is preventing the issues instead of fixing them afterwards and will help me tremendously going forward, thanks so much!