Tips and Tricks for designing Pads in FM8

Learn how to create really chill pads in FM8 as well as some general tips and tricks for pad design in FM8.

To make pads in FM8, it helps to have some tricks up your sleeve that will help make any sound softer and less digital.

The Multistage Envelopes will be your best friend when creating pads in FM8. Because you can allocate different envelopes for different operators, the Multistage Envelopes become a powerful sound design tool. You can even simulate reverb tails by applying a long release!

The Master Tab houses some great tools to polish up your pads in FM8. Boosting the voice count and spreading the sound out via the pan slider will help create a thicker pad.

Finally, using the LFO in the Modulation the section is  great way to add movement to your pad sound. You can basically use the LFO as a vibrato by applying a fairly quick rate.

It goes without saying that effects like reverb, chorus and delay will help bring your pad to life.

Check out the video to hear the pad in action!

Cheers