Topmusicanswers
Reverb and echo have nothing to do with it. Many old synths have no reverb or echo effects of any kind, yet they're full of "pad" sounds. A pad is a steady, long sustained sound with a non-sharp attack that's used for filling the soundscape.
- Why is a synth pad called a pad?
- What does a pad mean in music?
- What is a synthesizer pad sound?
- What are pad instruments?
Why is a synth pad called a pad?
However, it seems to be widely accepted that the word reflects the fact that a pad 'pads out the musical mix to fill the space'.
What does a pad mean in music?
A sustainy, “wash” or fill sound, usually used as harmonic background material in a musical arrangement. Arrangers often speak of using a “string pad” during a passage; this would be a section of strings playing long, sustained chords behind the melody.
What is a synthesizer pad sound?
What Is A Synth Pad In Music? A synth pad is a soft, often elongated sound designed to 'pad out' a track or section of instrumentation. This is in contrast to a synth lead which would be much more staccato and at the forefront of a mix.
What are pad instruments?
A category of synthesizer patches which produce a soft, pleasing sound. The pad sound is difficult to describe as it is unlike anything produced by any traditional instrument, but an approximation would be massed string instruments, played very softly so that most of the high-frequency content is eliminated.
