As layers work well with pads, I'm wondering which sounds work best. As shown by some forum members, electric piano presets may already provide for interesting pad style layers. Other ideas?
Hey Fleer,
I still feel like only have barely scratched the surface of possibilities.
Just made a strange one (Wetlands) with church bells echoing, updated an older one (FilmEsque) today and will share here.
So many options - I used the 'Vintage Tines MK II' for the gritty electronic basis in Wetlands - but, there's no end to what can be mixed and (un)matched
Some remarkable results have come from making morphed presets (using various odd instruments), then layering those - very substantially 'away' from piano but such imagination sparking stuff.. I love to put off old 'easy' synth solutions for modern music, and see first, if I can't make something more interesting by layering and mixing 'pushed' or much tweaked Pianoteq instruments.
I'll post an imaginary Iberian fortepiano inspired preset further below which I also finished tweaking today (for now).. since so few use those sounds in modern music, I see it as an opportunity to cut through the pads in multi-track post art-music recordings and so on. Why not pre-romantic sounds among the mystic pads?
Wetlands
Audio
FXP
FilmEsque
Audio
FXP
Emanuel
Audio
FXP
The Emanuel is after J.S. Bach's son Emanuel - himself between Baroque and classical.. I felt so many influences pending to produce this fantasy piano and in some quietly confident way, would hope he'd have enjoyed finding this instrument.
Hope these near-random musings spark some ideas for you or any others dropping by thinking of pads and inspirations, Fleer!
Thank you for such a cool question - I really love layering and morphing and OMG I have spent nearly zero time in my DAWs making soundscapes, since this is so intuitive inside Pianoteq standalone.
Just listening to Wetlands, fantastic!
'Wetlands' is super-cool and quite eerie, more like the swamps of the movie Deliverance than like the Florida Everglades wetlands a couple hours south of me. That's quite the atmospheric piece, Qexl! ...Certainly not comfort-bringing...
Thank you! Really so glad it's enjoyed
There are so many sonic possibilities in Pianoteq when used in this way. Thanks again and always Philippe - you've liberated my creativity in so many ways!
That's quite the atmospheric piece, Qexl! ...Certainly not comfort-bringing
It is a pleasure to make music designed to drive tensions rather than comfort or joy. I commit to that space in various ways in my wilder pieces
. . . I really love layering and morphing and OMG I have spent nearly zero time in my DAWs making soundscapes, since this is so intuitive inside Pianoteq standalone.
I totally agree. All of this can be accomplished in a DAW, but sound how seems to be more inspiring, fun and effective when done in Pianoteq itself.
I'm now planning an entire "Pianoteq CD" using only Pianoteq instruments with plenty of layering and morphing mixed in.
'Wetlands' is super-cool and quite eerie, more like the swamps of the movie Deliverance than like the Florida Everglades wetlands a couple hours south of me. That's quite the atmospheric piece, Qexl! ...Certainly not comfort-bringing...
Indeed, pretty amazing, Deliverance-style.
Qexl is a Pianoteq Grandmaster.
Nice work Qexl! One can almost hear crocodile jaws in those wetlands, and fine use of Mallet Bounce in FilmEsque (If I'm not mistaken).
And setting the transposition of the Church Bells and MKII Fusion layers to “0” creates a lovely non-eerie patch :-)
I totally agree. All of this can be accomplished in a DAW, but sound how seems to be more inspiring, fun and effective when done in Pianoteq itself.
I'm now planning an entire "Pianoteq CD" using only Pianoteq instruments with plenty of layering and morphing mixed in.
High five! Yeah, I think that's a great idea Melodialworks
Indeed, pretty amazing, Deliverance-style.
One can almost hear crocodile jaws in those wetlands
Def gives the vibe of a 70s suspense scene, in a good 'bad' film kind of way. From back when post Film Noire gave rise to some clever and interesting U.S. film makers, with a pinch of Hitchcock
And setting the transposition of the Church Bells and MKII Fusion layers to “0” creates a lovely non-eerie patch :-)
Ha yes! Exactly - changing the bells is the shortest measure to a more 'reasonable' harmonic texture So cool you noticed that.. I absolutely implore anyone making layers to try out transposing these - some fantastic results achievable with that.
Will post more pads here in coming days - a sort of busy elsewhere day - but really appreciate everyone commenting and hopefully more posting their own pad-like (or.. pad kind of like soundscapes) 'gator swamp orchestrations and moor (<-moor, hehe).
[Edit to add]..
@Gilles, yes the cymbalom beating tool - I recall you mentioned it to me something like 5 years back on the forum - thank you for that! I'd played with it but you gave confidence to continue experimenting with it - also you used it very well for guitar-like strumming effect in a demo you once uploaded too iirc. Cheers to you!
Also, worth noting, the 'bebug' effect from the clavinet layer in the Emanuel FXP gives a looseness to the attack (like an Iberian era fortepiano I love the sound of). These often tiny 'devices' make a big difference in the feel of a preset. Always fun to explore how all kinds of control and FX changes can influence toward some fantasy sound beyond core realism.
Hope to inspire others in the same manor in which I've been inspired by so many fantastic and sincere talented people who inhabit this excellent place.
Now I must go complete my next 'gator waltz!
Thought I'd upload a more typical pad-like preset for the NY Steinway D for Xmas. Reminds me of a lot of 90s synth built-in pads.
There are 3 layers with different timings on attack and various other things - it plays from soft and warm thru to amped growl with higher velocity.
I could keep tweaking it but really like it at this point for use as a pad - easy to tweak if softer or harsher to taste from this point.
Cheers and merry Christmas to you all.
Audio
FXP
Thought I'd upload a more typical pad-like preset for the NY Steinway D for Xmas. Reminds me of a lot of 90s synth built-in pads.
Cheers, Qexl, simply delicious.
So glad you enjoy it
Merry Christmas to you Fleer!
So glad you enjoy it
Merry Christmas to you Fleer!
Merry Christmas indeed, Qexl