Creating Atmospheric Pads
Pads provide the emotional backdrop for your track. Learn to design lush, evolving pads using wavetables, filters, and effects.
Video lesson coming soon
Introduction
Pads are the emotional foundation of UK garage. They create atmosphere, fill space, and give the track its mood—whether that's euphoric, melancholic, or dreamy. This lesson covers how to design lush, evolving pad sounds.
Wavetable Selection
Start with wavetables that have inherent movement:
- Basic waveforms: Stacked saw or square waves (detuned)
- PWM: Pulse width modulation for evolving textures
- Vocal formants: For that airy, ethereal quality
- Analog emulations: Warm, vintage character
Envelope Shaping
Pads need slow, smooth envelopes:
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 200-500ms (slow fade in)
- Decay: 0ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 500ms-2s (long tail)
Filter Envelope
- Attack: 500ms-1s (slower than amp)
- Decay: 1-2s
- Sustain: 50-70%
- Amount: +20-40%
This creates a pad that gently opens up over time.
Effects for Depth
Reverb
Essential for pads. Use large hall or plate reverbs:
- Decay: 2-4 seconds
- Pre-delay: 20-50ms
- Mix: 30-50%
Delay
Ping-pong delay adds width and movement:
- Time: 1/8 or 1/4 note (synced)
- Feedback: 30-50%
- Mix: 15-25%
Chorus
Subtle chorus thickens the sound:
- Rate: 0.2-0.5 Hz
- Depth: 20-40%
- Mix: 20-30%
Filter Automation
Static pads can become boring. Automate the filter cutoff throughout your track—open it up for drops, close it for verses. This creates movement and keeps the listener engaged.
Summary
Great pads are about slow envelopes, evolving textures, and spacious effects. They should fill the background without dominating. Download the presets below to hear these techniques in action.
Devil's Advocate
Advanced thinking for experienced producers
"Do pads need to be complex to be effective?"
Elaborate pad design can be impressive, but simple, well-placed chords often create more emotional impact. The harmony matters more than the timbre.
Alternative Workflows to Try
- 1.Use a basic piano or Rhodes sound instead of a synth pad — focus on the chord voicings.
- 2.Sample a pad from an old record and chop it rather than designing from scratch.
- 3.Try using just reverb on a simple sound rather than complex wavetable modulation.
Critical Thinking Traps
Trap: "I need evolving wavetables for interesting pads."
Reality: Static sounds with good reverb and filter movement can be equally compelling.
Trap: "Pads should always be in the background."
Reality: Some of the best UKG moments feature pads pushed forward in the mix for emotional impact.
Trap: "Long attack times are always necessary for pads."
Reality: Punchy, immediate pads (stabs) are equally valid and create a different energy.
Download: Pad presets for Serum & Vital
Ready-to-use pad sounds