How to make modern deep pads for Minimal, Melodic and Deep Techno & House

Tutorial focuses on creating deep pad sounds used in minimal techno, melodic techno, ambient techno, and hidden techno to create mysterious ambience

• Deep pads crash with kick and bass if overdone • Can muddy the mix if opened too much • May sound boring or too in-your-face • Can clash with lead sounds and percussion

Understanding the theory and techniques behind deep pad creation to replicate and create original deep pad sounds

Pigments synthesizer selected for its filters, wavetables, and samples capabilities

Start with minor chords; can add seventh, ninth, and eleventh depending on taste. F minor chosen as an example chord

Single oscillator starting point using a sawtooth-like wavetable that provides dark tones with harmonics rather than pure sine waves

Reduce initial high pitch of the basic chord to create deeper foundation for the pad sound

• Use unison or artificial chorus to spread oscillator voices • Increase voices and adjust detune for mysterious effect • Keep detune moderate so movement doesn't overpower the core sound

Use one or two chord progressions maximum; second progression often uses same notes with subtle variations to maintain minimal aesthetic

• Add seventh notes by counting up from root • Ninth notes add complexity (counting 8-9) • Eleventh notes extend harmonic richness (counting 10-11)

Fifth and sixth intervals create bread and butter combinations in minimal techno; keep movements subtle to preserve the minimal feeling

Make chords short enough to feel tight but long enough to sustain the minimal aesthetic throughout the progression

Cut below 200Hz to prevent clashing with kick and bass; be especially careful with resonant frequencies around 200Hz that can mask bass

• Use matrix filter for sharper, more aggressive filtering • Apply gentler filters to allow more harmonics through • 24dB slope provides sharp cutoff for deeper sound

Balance between dark sound and brightness; opening filters too much creates harsh in-your-face sound, while closing them creates dull pad

Apply multiple filters in series to shape the sound; first filter adds harmonics, second filter creates contrast and smoothness

• Use dark reverbs like room, hall, or cathedral • High wet level eliminates sharp peaks and fills spaces between sounds • Reverb reduces harshness and adds ambience feeling

• Tape echo adds subtle stereo spread for richness • Make delay stereo so left and right channels sound different • Chorus or artificial unison spreads the overall sound

Compressor creates warm, steady low end; helps pad fill background; fast attack captures all peaks; allows sound to feel more cohesive

• Flanger and phaser add movement and interest • Slight panning creates subtle movement • Overdrive can add warmth but use sparingly

Keep stereo information minimal below 200Hz to maintain track tightness and prevent phase issues

• Use EQ8 in mid-side mode to check stereo field • Cut excessive stereo on sides in low frequencies • Boost center channel (mid) for control

Allow more stereo information in high frequencies for width and space without compromising low end stability

Apply sidechain compression from kick to pad for ducking effect; creates space for kick while maintaining pad presence

Noise layer adds organic texture and interest to the pad; creates movement and complexity without overwhelming the core sound

• Use white noise, pink noise, or sampled engine/ambient noises • Source sounds from YouTube or synthesizer sample libraries • Can convert to sampler for additional manipulation

Apply compressor to control dynamics and cracking; reduce width to prevent excessive stereo image; sidechain with kick alongside main pad

Keep noise subtle to maintain tight low end while adding ambient texture; layer multiple noise sources for richer ambience

Create additional pad layer with fewer notes (F and G sharp) to introduce movement and variation without too much complexity

• Remove resonance peaks before adding filter resonance • Use FabFilter to precisely identify and eliminate harsh resonances • Prevents two resonant sounds from clashing

• Apply auto filter with LFO modulation for movement • Use different filter types and LFO rates • Adjust depth to control intensity of filter sweep

Keep moving sound in center channel rather than wide stereo to allow room for resonance and automation of the pads

Choose percussion or effect samples with unique character; different every time to create varied results while maintaining core technique

Apply high pass filter to sample layer to prevent low frequency buildup and clashing with the main pad and kick

Add reverb to sample layer for blending and creating ambient connection with main pad sounds

• EQ to shape frequency content of samples • Volume control to balance with main pad layers • Optional additional effects for texture

Combine main pad, noise layer, and moving layer into cohesive sound; each layer serves specific purpose in overall pad texture

Check final pad sound against the kick and bass to ensure no clashing and proper ambience without muddying the mix

Despite using different samples and sounds each session, the foundational technique remains consistent for creating deep pads

Complete project file available on Patreon for viewers who want to study the finished deep pad sound and all layers