How To Create AMAZING Pads and Drones 🌌 | A Sound Design Tutorial

[@VenusTheory]

So do you actually like Taco Bell nacho fries? 🤔 👇Wanna win a copy of Spaced Out? Join the giveaway in my Discord!👇 discordapp.com/invite/p7RUmTt​

[@ambivibe6602]

No, They are gross! 😂 😂

[@dbhammond]

42

[@AndyAffleck]

I love that first bite followed the slowly growing sense of horror as the aftertaste comes in like a mad contractor and begins demolishing everything in reach leaving me in a pile of rubble with the gentle sound of water dripping somewhere. Now I want to make a pad that tells that story…

[@logancoats]

They hooked me. But dipping anything in nacho cheese is a win!

[@generalawareness101]

lol, I made as close to the same preset as you did in Dune and it never sounded like yours.

[@BrofUJu]

This is literally the greatest KZbin intro I've ever seen, and I'm not exaggerating. Absolutely dying. Glorious.

[@emmosea]

I thought you might be exaggerating, there, and I normally skip intros anyway - so I heard it. properly. on studio speakers - on LOUD - and you're totally right ! The .best. intro. ever.

[@dispatcheraaron5034]

🤭🤭🤭

[@aegisraven1284]

I couldn't stand it I skipped it

[@Jason75913]

oh yes, glorious intro, perfect delivery

[@WinItReigns]

Nice, and one year later I contributed the 200th like to this comment. Word

[@SongOfItself]

"As a youtuber described by one user as having no idea what he's doing, I feel fully qualified to say that today I'm going to show you how it's done." Instant immortality!

[@vertigev]

I'm a simple man, after I heard that, I subscribed

[@hodelmusic]

Hhahahah what a f* line! Love it!! 🤣

[@sspiderandbee]

Mmkay I'm gonna need you to do a guided meditation on synths, please.

[@NinjaSpecter]

You have caused a total shift in my view of "sound" and how it serves a song with that philosophical approach, something suddenly just clicks now and I'm inspired. You made me understand sound design on a whole new level. Thank you!

[@VelvetVoice]

Inspired, eh? Then I hope you “got out there, and made something awesome.” 😊👍

[@Jesus-ss2rn]

Same bro😆 same!

[@marctestarossa]

I spent pretty much my whole life making music, but a couple of days ago I got into using the computer to create music. So I'm in the middle of figuring stuff out. And all this 'how to make a beat' and stuff is great, but then I found your channel and that's a completely different level. You're amazing. I love your approach to sound, thanks for sharing all those things. I have so many recordings of ambience that I made over the years and didn't know what to do with them.

[@Wayne_Robinson]

"Portentous existential reverb" alone is worth a like, but plenty of other value here too. Thanks for helping up my game for these sounds.

[@earlgrey2130]

Pretentious

[@SongOfItself]

One night I took my Zoom recorder and started walking around the house and recording any random noises that I could make on the spot. Obvious things, like turning locks, opening and closing doors, throwing and catching various objects, rubbing my fingers against a piece of cork, tearing tissues, gently knocking the wood on my ukuleles, nothing very fancy at all. I recorded well over 50 individual sounds, most of which turned out predictably crappy, but a few turned out to be gems. A large, sharp knife slicing through a big onion sounds both wet and crunchy, and the best part is, you can hear the blade engage each layer of the poor onion, one by one. All sorts of fun can be had with putting effects on that. But the winner was a kind of big knock which, with a bit of a filter and reverb, sounds positively scary, as if death itself were stomping across a boarded floor. Just that one knock has darkness in it, loneliness and creeping fear. Of course, I have no idea how I made it, but that's life :-)

[@steveditore3165]

The perennial dilemma: to track down all the gold, you'd have to keep notes of each audio snippet, what was done and how. Tedium kills spontaneity and turns random fun to plodding drudgery, gold into lead. It's even worse when designing sounds: each step in the process has to be either notated or lost. Some- times it's just better to let it all flow, and take whatever you get as the end point, no option to duplicate or develop, whatcha got is all ya get. It's good enough, enough of the time, as long as you don't look back. The ratio of gold to throw-away garbage is the measure of your genius. Or lack of it. This from somebody who has disks jammed full of mostly crap from years of hacking around in the weeds and picking through junkyards.

[@sdejo]

I love session like that and i love even more the question i ask myself when i listen to the song a couple month later like "holy shit how did i do this?"

[@NateHorn]

Happy accidents are the fruit of life

[@mikedegrazia]

Foley sound art is magical...

[@colinbabb8061]

Thanks for the onion tip! I'm preparing a meal as we speak...will grab my zoom!

[@jcgamin1080]

What a epic intro with his amazing voice, he should make a movie and win Oscar

[@KnzoVortex]

What if Oscar doesn’t want to be won? :

[@flickeringscreens]

@@KnzoVortex That's deeper than asking if anyone likes taco bell nacho fries

[@KnzoVortex]

@@flickeringscreens destroy capitalism

[@flickeringscreens]

@@KnzoVortex Industrial Society and it's futur-

[@theplacebeyondthelies2429]

@@flickeringscreens definitely Taco Bell nacho fries cheated on the guy or something

[@snardash_1197]

Honestly that advice of picturing a sensation, color, moment, whatever is the best advice for making art in general. It’s tremendously overlooked most of the time. Better said You gotta get yo’ vibe men.

[@SoundDiggerFozo]

This is what I call proper guide throughout the production process include a emotional background of it. As usually on this channel very useful piece. 👍🙂

[@eugenewhite1937]

One of the best things you do almost in every video you producing (and this is the reason I love your work so much), is the sort of "sense behind the music, something deep and almost philosophic, something that makes you think about the music which is more that just an arrangement, just a couple of instruments and layers, more that just a thing that would be played once or twice, and about the impact to the listener, that music makes. And together with all that, the video about the pads and drones 😍😍🤩🤩

[@kon4m]

100% agree. You've just saved me valuable time writing out a thought haha

[@paulmoadibe9321]

You literally decompose those sounds... each time I watch your videos I feel "i'm so incompetent..." but the way you show us how to do things with synths, it makes me feel more confident again ! thank you 👍👍

[@marcolamasironi]

I really love the philosophy part of sound design. I think the most valuable thing is that you are teaching how to think about a sound and not just how to make a patch.

[@IanWaugh]

Like everyone else - love the intro! :-) As you say towards the end, many pads have a cold feel. Apart from adding rain and organic sounds, is there anything you would do to create a warm, snuggly pad? Maybe another video on that...?

[@VenusTheory]

Noted!

[@futur_sunds]

I second that!

[@guided-introspection]

Spitfire Audio - Labs - Organic Texture's would get you some organic pads if you're looking. On Ableton's website spitfire audio's guys have a tutorial on making synths out of recorded field ambience such as rain, traffic, and birdsong. This isn't at all the answer you're looking for but it may be helpful.

[@IanWaugh]

@@guided-introspection Hi - Thanks for your reply. I use some of these ideas. I was wondering if Cameron - or anyone - had a design tip for the snuggly pad. Organic and some movement work well but iut's always good to get new ideas.

[@jaimemorales6695]

I’m really digging the philosophical heady heady stuff

[@magneticmonopole7824]

Then record it with the effects, pitch it up an octave or 2, render it then put it in Tal Sampler. Play it back pitched down for more grit.

[@andrewbruch5643]

I gotta be honest. I find myself spending hours researching how to make evolving drones and sounds with no success. I see a VenusTheory video and of course I learn everything I need… lol thankyou

[@peterkoval]

I usually think your videos are ok. But this is probably one of your best videos. Not because the technical info is all that great, but because your insight and approach to sound design and the way you made it personal and honest. I like how you kept referring to the sounds in visual terms. I thought I was crazy doing it this way as well. Good to know I'm not alone. Anyway, probably one of your best on a deeper level.

[@itinerantghost]

Coming back to this one for like the fifth time! Love, love the conceptual approach about designing a sound, Cameron! 🔥

[@LawrenceAaronLuther]

That chow tape is awesome. Great video!

[@floatinganarchychannel3204]

Extended tutorial from shorts :) yesss!

[@sdejo]

Thank you! You are right i always felt the pad is done almost right at the point you mentioned

[@jfilbert]

"You're travelling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Pad Zone!". Thanks for this-- I'm all about the pads.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

The whole thing is 🔥🔥!! One again Venus Theory killing the game and reinventing it. 👏

[@erkamoztoprak]

its like blade runner soundtrack i love it

[@chrisliddiard725]

Lol 4th wall meets the 4th ear - Love it.

[@jwp2460]

I am truly inspired by some of your ideas about sound design. These tips are helping me to create sounds to use in my compositions that help to take it to the next level. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@quantumphlo3541]

That Taco Bell comment caught me off guard in the best way possible 🤣 I love the NOTT preset in Multipass for the OTT effect but now that the non-linear filter is out I also find it great to filter different frequency bands with different filter types and mess with/modulate the cutoff, resonance and drive of the each filter.

[@RobertMatichak]

Seriously this intro is hilarious! Not only are you articulate and concise in your explanations, you’ve got a great sounding « voiceover » voice! Thanks for all you do!

[@brandtreppond2167]

This is really enlightening, im using this video often just because the depth has me making use out of plugin tools im not very familiar with. The saturation was a great tip

[@futur_sunds]

“Dollar Shave Shadow VPN”😂

[@umanoid1523]

You killed it with your woo-woo style opening questions on the meaning of life. Supermassive has become my go-to for washes on my pads. I also use tape emulation for some warble and saturation, noise, and a bit of movement on the verb wash using shaperbox. I hadn't considered layering several different tape plugins and like the OTT compression addition.

[@igorbeuk6298]

Ambient music is free form of expression not only past, there is no rule but there are playlists that dictate mood and sound but we don't need to obey because it is only matter of time when. New way is heavy BASS futuristic Lower case sounds and that's will change as time passes so it's only matter of time when some different Ambient will be in focus that's why we have to be free to explore new ways.

[@olivert4648]

I love pads and I always struggled to create my own pads, because I don't know how to go about it and i don't want to use presets all the time. Your video gave me a huge insight, man. Thank you so much!

[@elektrikblu7331]

haha. well done. I'm only at the intro but I'm already loving it. Keep that sense of humor alive

[@lucave15]

That intro is amazing. I checked out your channel after this video and it's a hidden gem for music producers. Keep it up man! Cheers form spain.

[@AndreasR86]

A thing I like to do is to add some noise run through resonators. You can get some cool textured notes.

[@arcsibo]

Thank you! Have a great day!

[@obiwantschernobyl5650]

I love Venus Theory, you love Venus Theory, We all love Venus Theory

[@maxrodes2085]

SO incredibly deep for no reason and i love it.

[@lokelosk]

This was very helpful. My new pastime is to open DX7 V, mix in the operators in a very subtle way, then drown the sound in reverb with Valhalla Supermassive. Just recently found out that adding Sketch Cassette + Izotope Vinyl in moderate amounts can help create an even better atmosphere, then running through Gullfoss to clear some of the mud. I'll definitely try using other combinations of reverbs, saturators, and tape emulations in the future.

[@kukubh]

Brilliant. Respect.

[@johnchongsing7745]

Thanks. This was very informative. I’m new to synths and have been struggling to understand exactly what a Pad was - Until your video.

[@kevinthomas9013]

I really need a love button for this. The intro is immaculate

[@pf844]

That sound, that voice, this is my new sleep music!

[@josesparrow307]

That is one absolute badass intro

[@GhanimaGalach]

That intro synth is awesome!

[@DSVN23]

Bro you could for sure make some money doing guided meditations alongside celebs on that Kalm app. Or even voice acting !

[@SyncdAlien]

Darragh O'Sullivan, that's what I was thinking.

[@DanUpdegraff]

Wow! That multi-band expander after the reverb is a sweet idea. Love it.

[@Fauna_ofc]

Damn ! Please do more of these pallet paint things. Some of the best content I've seen and enjoyed in the last 2 months.

[@krazywabbit]

It's been two years since I jumped into this space of dabbling with making noise. At that time, this didn't make sense. Today, it does. Does not mean I'm ready to spice up my tacos yet it's progress. Thank you for the tutorial.

[@babymdlm]

best music production channel. Thank you!

[@d0ntbeevil]

Bravo maestro!!! 🤣😂 Intro: successfully droned. Now to the pads... ☺

[@demotrexx]

Спасибо, очень интересное и полезное видео, ты меня вдохновил!

[@PhilippBaumann]

Fantastic tutorial... Please more ambient turorials.... Maybe something about arrangements

[@mikedegrazia]

This is the kind of thing that I'm glad other deep minds contemplate, i watch it absorb it and digest it...if i actually thought about things this deeply while making music I'd never get anything done...well done!

[@beatsbabez4139]

You really transcended into my soul with those existential questions.

[@rumariomusic]

Great tutorial. Very nice intro

[@johnnyt5054]

So glad you used Dune 3! Thanks for the great vid.

[@TheGhostRecordsChannel]

WOW that intro was amazing man! Awesome tutorial , thank so much Cam :)

[@nebroskitheraut6705]

Loved the video Cam! But I have one request: could make more videos about chords and melodies? I watched your chords video that you uploaded a year ago and I significantly improved my progressions. If you have any other tips im sure many of us would be thrilled to see another video.

[@lukystreik]

best tutorial i‘ve ever seen. unbelievable great sound design

[@VenusTheory]

Thanks so much!

[@MaybeAnnatar]

I'm going to shill for one of my favorite textural plugins for pads. It's called Organic Orchestra. It's by this guy that you might have heard of called Venus Theory. In all seriousness, that thing is KILLER to layer on top of a pad to just add a bit of texture on the top. I regularly move that with GateLab to also add some stereo motion super easily.

[@bsbazzman]

Love your philosophy man. That’s my kinda sound design ❤️

[@_Loop_0]

Thx 4 this tut... highly appreciated❤

[@stefandamian5519]

Wow, that was amazing!!!

[@fredrikuppsall1043]

This is the greatest intro of all time !

[@brianhudson7058]

Listened again today to this, that incredibly slow diminish in the tail(s) near the end of developing this particular pad, brings to mind echoes of the Big Bang, like it never will reach zero and keeps one hanging on, enjoyed this, learned some more now, thanks Cam

[@chrisfillman6335]

You had me at " subjective mind" !!

[@tecnosinemusic]

existential reverb

[@sakurahertz]

existential reverb

[@KnzoVortex]

existential reverb

[@fearzstealth]

existential reverb

[@Jimbo386000]

This will be a great reference to make me think a bit more about my pads.

[@jmfreeland]

No question the best sound design video I’ve seen

[@ndwknss]

how'd I miss this one. epicness

[@mimikova390]

This intro deserves an award.

[@LightsPersonalAcc]

The quality of your videos always amaze me.

[@rhinoskin7550]

You're fantastic Cameron. Please run for President Lol. Entertained and educated

[@NigelMerrick]

This is an awesome tutorial, Cameron, and great to see such an in-depth explanation and walk-through of the process and especially the ideas and thoughts behind the sound design. Thanks, and keep up the great work you do :-)

[@KUPHSER]

nice. with pads sometimes i like to subtly layer choir or use formant filters like you did with the noise. can never get tired of pads!

[@richardguy6776]

Warble AND wooble?! i'm sold :D nice video, thanks :)

[@florianrachor7796]

Apart from the amazing content of this video, that intro was pretty dope :D

[@stephenmarsh3986]

Best intro EVER! 🖖

[@alexmoscatelli149]

11:37 Using a sentence like this in your normal way of speaking just blew my mind idk why... You have a rich mind, my man

[@SuperJzero]

Killer video. The intro was hilarious. Just the right amount of serious, but I've watched enough of your stuff to know the punchline was coming. Then you hit with the Nacho fries. I literally LOL, not a fake internet social media lol :D

[@marqusolofsson3552]

that intro was king!

[@wallacebillingham9388]

Another great video, one idea you should try with pads just like this one with movement and reverb is to record a single note like a C two octaves higher than you would normally play it, for just under 30 seconds. Then tweak your ADSR envelopes and modulation sources slightly to create something very similar but slightly different and do it again. Then tweak your ADSR and modulations for the third time and record another sample just under 30 seconds. Load each sample into any DAW and make sure it's just under 30 seconds and fades off a bit at the end either from the way you recorded it or simply edited it that way Load all three samples into the Arturia Synclavier V and set them for the root note you recorded them at. Set a long release time and the loop points for the start and end of the sample so it would repeat Now play it at the original pitch/octave you intended. That 30 second sample now gets pitched down two octaves but because the Synclavier V is modeled after 1980s sampling tech also gets stretched out to two minutes long with awesome 80s color so those slow LFOs and envelopes in your original patch from DUNE get slowed down 2X more and all that reverb gets gloriously darker Layering the three samples with slightly different envelopes and modulation also gives you tons of movement Depending on the original pad sound you recorded sometimes it works great to add a 4th sample layer which would really be the 1st one again but set the root note an octave higher than you did originally. This means when you play it it becomes four minutes long now and gives you nice moving low end Since the Synclavier V still has a bunch of sample slots you can add suble noises like that rain you recorded or the walking in the leaves and pitch them wherever sounds good Glue everything together with a gentle compressor and some reverb. I like a dark plate type sound

[@anticontraband]

i swear u put me on to more dope plugins than anyone else out there 🙏

[@ZethKeeper]

Literally anything you say will feel existential with that intro pad.

[@fisch723]

Excellent! And yay, Dune 3!

[@BF-rm6ip]

This is the best tutorial I’ve ever came across on pads, thank you

[@VenusTheory]

Glad to be of service!

[@DavidLilja]

I try to modulate wavetables too to make them interesting. My weapon of choice when it comes to reverbs is the 2c Audio B2. Not sure what will happen to it now but it sounds epic and can be insanely big!

[@DavidLilja]

And oh, I love your philosophical intros. They’re amazing.

[@MM4F]

Did you get an email from the 2c B2 Developer? He contacted me saying he'd left as he hadnt been paid??? Now there no update... Gutted, loved the plugins...

[@neilarmstrong1883]

Best pad sound design video I've seen, excellent 👌

[@otterguyty]

Beautiful pad! Great tut thx

[@mannmusicaproductions7093]

Perfect tutorial. I think it's important to add that it's important to experiment with the order of the effects as well

[@kevinstoneham1245]

Excellent again. You took the pad from something that sounded amateur to professional. I will try this.

[@yenmeng]

That intro absolutely blew me away lol

[@dgsoundCA]

I thought I'm from Mars but after the intro I'm definitely from Venus... Thank you so much Cameron, you're a great musician and teacher! 🙌🔥

[@VenusTheory]

Thanks so much! Glad to hear you've been finding the channel useful!

[@hymen0callis]

Great production value here. Keep them coming!

[@shawnalove5050]

Dude! You've given me some really great ideas for patch making! And thank you for the free plugin tips! I usually avoid the free stuff, thinking it can't be very good if they're giving it away... but you've made a believer out of me! Thanks again!

[@wepsar]

The best things are always free.

[@kieronconcannon]

What an incredible voice you have.