Relaxation pads: before and after
You said the relaxation style still has harsh pads. Here is every pad the style can pick, played alone on the same two chords, as it was and as it is now. Below them, two real relaxation tracks, before and after.
What changed
- No more buzzy waves. Seven of the twelve pads played a sawtooth or a square wave, and another (Crystal air) sat very bright. With four notes held at once that is where the edge came from. Every pad now plays triangle and sine waves only.
- Darker and still. The filter sits low (500 to 1,000 Hz) and does not sweep.
- A gentler start. Every pad takes 0.8 seconds or more to swell in. Three used to reach half level in a tenth of a second or less.
- Lower in the mix. About 4 dB quieter.
- No more piano chords in this style. The four keyboards (felt piano, dream piano, electric piano, vibraphone) are out of the pad list, and the chords are always held pads now. Struck keys started in a twentieth of a second and were the loudest thing in the style.
- Every other style is untouched. These pads sound exactly as before everywhere else.
In figures, the twelve pads together
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| Buzz band (1 to 4 kHz), average | -47 dB | -66 dB |
| Buzz band, the worst pad | -36 dB (Crystal air) | -59 dB |
| Harsh band (2 to 8 kHz) | -61 dB | -87 dB |
| Level | -19.2 | -22.9 |
| Time to reach half level | 0.42 s (fastest 0.05) | 0.72 s (fastest 0.49) |
Lower numbers are quieter. 10 dB less is about half as loud to the ear in that band. The two worst before were Crystal air and Ahh choir.
Two real tracks
The same song number on the page before and after, 30 seconds each. The top line and the bass are as they were; only the chords differ.
Track one
Before: the pad Crystal air, the brightest of them, held. After: the same song now picks Wool, with its soft settings.
Pad part: level -21.6, harsh band -46 dB. Whole mix: harsh band -47 dB.
Pad part: level -25.1, harsh band -84 dB. Whole mix: harsh band -62 dB.
Track two
Before: Ahh choir, with the chords played as struck keys on a felt piano. After: Ahh choir with its soft settings, held.
Pad part: level -23.9, harsh band -69 dB. Whole mix: harsh band -66 dB.
Pad part: level -25.4, harsh band -73 dB. Whole mix: harsh band -67 dB.
Each pad alone
The same two chords of four notes at 70 bpm, with the style's own reverb. Worst first.
Crystal air
Buzz band -36 dB, level -18.5, half level after 0.22 s
Buzz band -68 dB, level -22.6, half level after 0.49 s
Ahh choir
Buzz band -41 dB, level -23.6, half level after 0.48 s
Buzz band -59 dB, level -23.7, half level after 0.94 s
Slow cellos
Buzz band -42 dB, level -19.1, half level after 0.64 s
Buzz band -68 dB, level -22.6, half level after 0.65 s
Siren drift
Buzz band -42 dB, level -19.6, half level after 0.29 s
Buzz band -70 dB, level -22.8, half level after 0.69 s
Sunday morning
Buzz band -44 dB, level -18.4, half level after 0.10 s
Buzz band -59 dB, level -23.3, half level after 0.75 s
Low flutes
Buzz band -45 dB, level -17.4, half level after 0.07 s
Buzz band -70 dB, level -21.8, half level after 0.52 s
Velvet
Buzz band -45 dB, level -18.6, half level after 0.65 s
Buzz band -67 dB, level -23.3, half level after 0.68 s
Wool
Buzz band -46 dB, level -19.9, half level after 0.58 s
Buzz band -67 dB, level -22.8, half level after 0.91 s
Wine glass
Buzz band -50 dB, level -19.1, half level after 0.59 s
Buzz band -66 dB, level -23.2, half level after 0.52 s
Flute section
Buzz band -55 dB, level -19.8, half level after 0.05 s
Buzz band -66 dB, level -23.4, half level after 0.72 s
Ooh choir
Buzz band -56 dB, level -18.0, half level after 0.41 s
Buzz band -67 dB, level -22.6, half level after 0.71 s
Low blanket
Buzz band -65 dB, level -18.4, half level after 0.97 s
Buzz band -69 dB, level -22.1, half level after 1.08 s
Made for MON-6332 by Byte, MONSTERS_.