There are sounds that might seem almost inaudible, but once you turn them off, you will notice something is missing or that song “feels” different without them.
Those sounds are called pads and let’s check what’s so special about them and what benefits you can have from them.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Pad VST Plugins
- OUR TOP PICK: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2
- RUNNER-UP: xFer Serum
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: AiR Music Xpand 2
Table of Contents
What is a Pad VST Plugin and What is it Used For?
Pad is a sustained subtle note or chord most often created by a synthesizer. They are mostly used for creating a background layer that makes the song sounds fuller. Some extreme editing values can make them ideal for creating fantasy environmental effects for video games as well
It’s very versatile in terms of sound character so it’s only up to you to decide if you need a hard, cold, and mechanical or soft, warm, and organic sound. And the most fun part of all is that there are software features that allow you to crossfade between those two types in a second.
Is a Pad VST Plugin Hard to Learn?
Pads are those plugins that are easy to learn but hard to master. As a matter of fact, as it’s a never-ending artistic “job” - you may feel that there is always something new to learn. This shouldn’t discourage you as most of the music genres require pad sounds that are considered as basic to intermediate and you will know how to use them if not instantly, then very soon.
However, don’t be afraid to experiment - the key of great pad sound is to create something unusual and new and during that process, you will evolve as a musician in general.
What Makes a Pad VST Great?
Pads are created from synth sounds, so let’s see what synth aspects are essential for creating a great pad sound:
Modulation Matrix
Pads are all about making moving and evolving parts. Being static is a big no-no regarding pad sounds. In the synth world, this is mostly done with some advanced LFO editing and applying the modulation matrix. The more matrix slots it provides, you can make more connections and make your pad sound more “alive”.
Effects & Filters
Effects are a very important part of the Pad VST as it’s all about being creative and unique. You may end up using some extreme settings you wouldn’t even consider in first place for any other instrument. That’s why having various effects options will make a significant difference for your pad and the same said for effects can be applied for filters, too.
Wavetable Synthesis
Wavetables combine a bunch of periodic short samples with editable starting positions played together in a way so they create a certain harmonic complexity that can’t be so easily reproduced with the regular synthesis. The most important feature is that any part of the wavetable can be manually edited so you’re going to feel like an artist in front of the drawing board eventually.
Comparison Chart of the Best Pad VST Plugins
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Review of the Best Pad VST Plugins
There are many synths on the VST market that can bring you pad sounds, but we found the next software to have some kind of edge that makes them different:
Best Overall:
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Omnisphere contains more than 14.000 sounds and more than 500 DSP waveform selection. It can stack up to 20 oscillators per patch and it’s capable of pretty deep wavetable synthesis. It also provides you with the 34 filters in dual-mode, versatile modulation system. 58 fully modulated effect units and sample import options. On top of that, it supports granular synthesis, advanced morphing wavetable synthesis, and deep FM and Ring Modulation with very capable Stack mode which allows you to make some complex patch layering.
Why it Stands Out to Us
To be fair, the Omnisphere is much more than just a pad collection. It’s the best synth collection in the world no matter what type of sound you’re looking for. But, the number of the pads found in this collection makes it undoubtedly the best solution, especially because Omnisphere has a feature that suggests you sounds that tend to go together.
Also, considering the number of effects, quality of the filters, and the range of instruments captured the only problem you may find is that you will have more than just one solution most of the time. So, good luck with your decisions!
Runner-up:
xFer Serum
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Serum is a software synth that excels in digital wavetable synthesis. It can stack up to 256 wavetables per oscillator and uses high-precision sampling optimization using SSE2 instructions to remove any unwanted artifacts upon building a custom wavetable.
These wavetables can be drawn by hand thanks to the graphical editor found in Remap modes with snapping tools and a couple of shaping tools such as Warp or.
The modulation system provides you with even four LFOs and a simple drag-and-drop option for connecting certain matrix points.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Serum wavetable creation is the tool prone to create some of the most complex pads created by synth software so far. If you’re not interested in getting typical pads found at other software, this is your gear. The textures you can create in this plugin can be detailed to the granular level and the only limitation is your mind. Possibilities are endless, and you’re definitely going to love to Hybridize function that will randomize parameters based on your direction and create something completely new. Very handy composer tool if you get stuck with the creative part of arranging.
Best for the Money:
AiR Music Xpand 2
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Xpand 2 is a synth that has a multiple sound generator. It combines subtractive and FM synthesis along with tonewheels and sample playback. The patch can be built up to 4 instruments and every instrument can have an individual arpeggiator, zone range, modulation, and MIDI channel assigned. Dual effects are also applied on the instrument basis and there are 50 modules to select from. Sound can be further manipulated with six smart knobs that allow you control of multiple custom parameters. Turning the easy mode on, Smart Knobs control all 4 instruments at once.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is an incredibly affordable plugin for your all-around synth needs. For any kind of basic pad creating, Xpand will be a great solution and may save you a lot of money. It excels in making soft and mellow pads, and it also comes with a bunch of other “bread and butter” sounds you may need at certain points.
We also like the simplicity its user interface delivers - every parameter is placed in the front panel with leaving tab diving only for advanced situations. And Easy mode of Smart Knobs makes this VST ideal for live performance, too.
Best Complex Pad VST:
u-He Zebra2
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Like Zebra has four legs, this 16-voice polyphonic plugin is all made in the sign of “four”. It has four wavetable or FM oscillators, cross-modulation filters, regular filters, XY custom pads, LFOs (per voice), 4 x 12 signal routing grid, and so on. You can stack up to 16 different wavetables per oscillator and every oscillator can have its own spectral effect assigned.
The only things that aren’t “on four” are the number of filters (23), effects modules (21), and the number of voices used in unison mode (up to 11).
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are two elements that we find most important when we talk about pad creating - synth engine and user interface and Zebra has it both. The user interface is a real eye candy with so many aiding visuals that lead you through sound creation. It also has a massive community that will provide you with thousands of presets both free and commercially available. And, in the end, you just can’t regard the fact that this synth has been used in several Hollywood blockbusters such as Inception or The Dark Knight.
Best Wavetable Pad VST:
Waldorf Nave
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
The nave is a virtual synth instrument that uses advanced wavetable synthesis. It combines speech synthesis with 86 internal wavetables that include complete Microwave, Wave, and Blofeld collection with more than 500 pre-installed presets included.
The preset is made from two wavetable independent oscillators and one analog-like along with two ring modulators. Unique Travel control lets you cycle all the waves of the active wavetable, synced to various clock sources. It’s also equipped with the typical effect panel made from chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb, and delay and also provides you with a 3-band EQ and a compressor.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Waldorf is one of the wavetable synthesis pioneers. Their first wavetable synth was made in 1989. In the synth world, if you say “wavetable”, Waldorf would probably be the first manufacturer you would think of.
This is also one of the rare plugins that allow you polyphonic aftertouch and also provides you with iPad support so you will have a lot of fun using those XY control pads on the touch screen interface. It’s also one of the best iPad synths ever made. Creating a pad sound is a breeze, and the graphical interface just boosted our creativity while we were trying it out.
Best Ambient Pad VST:
Reveal Sound Spire
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Spire comes with over 900 factory presets that are formed with up to 4 oscillators and 2 analog or digital filters. The modulation system can be very complex with four macros, envelopes, and LFOs along with fifteen matrix slots that can link two sources and four targets per slot. Every oscillator is built by selecting a certain synthesis mode such as Classic, FM, AMSync, Noise, or sample-based waveform. Regarding what synthesis you have picked ctrl-A and ctrl B knobs shape the waveform in a different way then.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Soundwise, Spire may work the best for trance and house music. It’s all about making analog sounds. Spire has an extremely versatile LFO / Modulation Matrix, a feature that is quite essential for making your pads unique.
Many synths have a unison mode but we haven’t encountered one that is so capable. It’s not about stacking up to nine voices per oscillator - the ability to spread those voices in octaves is where the real fun starts. If you’re into pad making, you will probably know how to utilize this feature for making fat and warm pad lines.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Just like other instruments, Pad software can be made for different purposes, so let’s see what you should pay attention to before you decide which Pad VST you’re about to buy.
Options
If you’re songwriting in a traditional music genre it’s good to know that your music genre doesn’t require you to create any moving parts in the pads as they will be mostly used as backing support for the singing or theme parts. That’s why any Pad VST will work for you, so you can save a lot of money and buy budget solutions instead.
Sound Designer
If you’re more interested in sound designing than song composing, making a complex pad will probably be something that thrills you a lot. That’s why you should seek VSTs that provide you with a bunch of wavetables, the ability to import your own wavetable samples, and that have a lot of high-quality effects.
User Interface
Having wonderful 3D animations of your wave designing and an inspiring interface can make a real difference in your overall work. You will also appreciate having all-in-one within a click away because creating a perfect pad can make you focus so much that adding any third-party solutions will just make a mess in your head.
VST Pad Plugin Tips, Tricks, and Hacks For Success
Now, how about we give you some advanced tips on how to create a unique pad?
Use a Single Note
Instead of composing in a traditional way, try to use a single note. Focus more on sound designing than song composing. With Pad VST you can make this note interesting in so many ways that it can even become a rhythmic component that goes throughout the whole song. Full chords should be omitted and it will work better if you layer those notes around several octaves instead.
Let it Evolve
In general, pads are not meant to be a musical element of the song. The “less is more” principle applies here as well. They are used to build the atmosphere, create a certain vibe. That’s why holding a single note with a bunch of modulations and automatized controls will do much more than moving those notes anywhere from the “drone” position.
Make it Artificial
Let’s make another step from being a musical element - try to remove any harmonic component from the sound source - make it artificial, out of this world. Combine several noise sources, apply extreme effects - this will make wonders for any kind of cinematic scoring.
Conclusion
If you’re a soundtrack composer or like experimenting with new and aspiring sounds, Pads VST can provide you with probably more solutions that you can think of. For the rest, Pads can’t do too much harm, but, if used properly, they can make your song stand out from the others.
