Nothing beats those Kronos pads

tdwctdwc · Post by **tdwctdwc** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 12:57 pm

So after getting an ipad couple months ago, i started digging into iOS music making, bought me half-dozen of "must-have" iOS synths. I was pretty impressed with the sounds and capabilities, especially if you control them with the Kronos. iOS instruments really have come a long way.

But then today, i decided to boot up the Kronos and explore the "Slowsynths" bank and there was goosebumps all over again. Phat, rich, thick and satisfying swirling pads.

6 years and the Kronos never fails to satisfy me. Best investment i ever made.

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:54 pm

I too love the pads. I play in church and use them a lot. I sampled several from Omnisphere and mix with Kronos pads. Using the Tone Control I've learned how to make the pads more "alive" by adding small, slow filter sweeps and Karma pad enhancers. Detuning always sounds great.

We have two keyboards at church and the other player said man, your pads always sound so good! Yep, it's a Kronos!

Geo

runningman67 · Post by **runningman67** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:03 pm

I agree. I've been messing about with the 'Drive" setting with some of the pads. Even though it adds some lovely controlled distortion, the over all sound still sound lush and warm.

apex · Post by **apex** » Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:19 pm

At Geo. What do you mean by karma pad enhancers?? Lol.

Also. What songs did you all do at church this most recent Sunday?

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:23 am

apex wrote:At Geo. What do you mean by karma pad enhancers?? Lol.

Also. What songs did you all do at church this most recent Sunday?

There is a video about using Karma in pads. Some of the Karma patterns work well with slow sounds like pads. I have a base pad, then another more airy pad with Karma playing a pattern. This adds motion to the overall pad. I believe some of the patterns are actually called pad helpers or something like that.

Last week we played,
Praise the King
King of my Heart
Do It Again
Peace be Still

Geo

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:07 am

Yes, some KARMA GEs are actually named "Pad Helpers" - the idea being that if you have a pad with slow attacks and long releases, you can apply a KARMA GE to them and you don't necessarily hear actual notes being played - what you hear is a constant motion with different notes fading in and out. They can "animate" a pad - provided the right marriage between the two.

Luciano · Post by **Luciano** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:55 pm

Geoelectro, please, could you tell us which pads (numbers) do you use to play this songs?

geoelectro wrote:
apex wrote:At Geo. What do you mean by karma pad enhancers?? Lol.

Also. What songs did you all do at church this most recent Sunday?
There is a video about using Karma in pads. Some of the Karma patterns work well with slow sounds like pads. I have a base pad, then another more airy pad with Karma playing a pattern. This adds motion to the overall pad. I believe some of the patterns are actually called pad helpers or something like that.

Last week we played,
Praise the King
King of my Heart
Do It Again
Peace be Still

Geo

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:37 pm

My pads are almost always layered. Most are sampled from Omnisphere. In fact, I layered two Omnisphere pads before sampling them and named it Omnipad. It's a combination of Atmosphere Strings and PPG Wave.

I approach it as starting with a base pad, like Omnipad and add something that has some movement in the background or, that is just brighter and add some animation like small filter sweeps etc.

I'm not at the keyboard now but I'll try to mention some stock pads I use.

Geo