Warm String Pad
Sounds like: A lush, ensemble-like string pad that eases in like a bow.
Sound type: pad · Genre: House, Ambient · Style: lush, string-ensemble-like analog pad
A lush, string-section-like pad built from multiple slightly detuned voices — reads as an ensemble rather than a single synth voice, with a moderate attack that mimics a bow or breath onset.
Open this patch in the interactive Patchpad
Digitone II
Exact match: Ensemble of slightly detuned voices
SYN page 1
- ALGO: 3
- RATIO C: 1.00
- RATIO B: 1.00
- HARM: 4.00
- DTUN: 20
- MIX: -64
SYN page 2 · Operators A & B
FLTR page 1 · Multi-mode
- FREQ: 70
- RESO: 10
- TYPE: 0 (LP)
AMP page
- ATK: 45
- DEC: 25
- SUS: 102
- REL: 64
- MODE: ADSR
FX page
Digitone II's ALGO 3 gives three plain carriers (C, B2, B1) when the FM depth of A and B is off, so LEV (A) and LEV (B) are both 0. MIX -64 selects the X tap (C + B2), and DTUN, which offsets only the ratio of operators A and B2, detunes B2 against C so the two beat against each other. DTUN below 64 is a very slight detune; above 64 is heavier.
Syntakt
Exact match: Ensemble of slightly detuned voices
SYN — SY SWARM
- DET: 60
- MIX: 70
- DEC: 90
- ANIM: 30
FLTR PAGE 1
- FREQ: 70
- RESO: 10
- TYPE: Lowpass
AMP PAGE 1
- ATK: 45
- DEC: 25
- SUS: 102
- REL: 64
- DEL: 0
- REV: 32
AMP PAGE 2
SY SWARM's built-in multi-voice detune (DET) plus its own ANIM parameter (a small amount of detune animation) gives a genuine ensemble-like width and gentle movement from a single track, without needing 2-3 separate layered tracks. Syntakt's real effect sends are Delay and Reverb only -- there's no dedicated Chorus send the way Digitone II has one, so the ensemble width here comes entirely from SY SWARM's own detune rather than an added Chorus effect. AMP PAGE 2's MODE must be ADSR, which is the default for SY machines.
Novation Summit
Exact match: Ensemble of slightly detuned voices
OSCILLATOR 1
OSCILLATOR 2
- WAVE: Sawtooth
- RANGE: 8'
- FINE: +12 cents
OSCILLATOR 3
- WAVE: Sawtooth
- RANGE: 8'
- FINE: -12 cents
MIXER
- Osc 1: 100
- Osc 2: 100
- Osc 3: 100
FILTER
- SHAPE: LP
- SLOPE: 12dB
- FREQUENCY: 70
- RESONANCE: 10
- SOURCE: Amp Env
- ENV DEPTH: 0
AMP ENVELOPE
- ATTACK: 45
- DECAY: 25
- SUSTAIN: 102
- RELEASE: 64
EFFECTS
- CHORUS DEPTH: 45
- CHORUS RATE: 20
- CHORUS FEEDBACK: 10
- REVERB TIME: 70
- REVERB LEVEL: 32
- REVERB SIZE: 2
All three real oscillators are used here, each detuned a little differently (FINE +12 cents / -12 cents either side of center) for a genuine three-voice ensemble spread on one Summit layer, rather than splitting across both layers -- Summit's three real oscillators per layer make that unnecessary. Chorus and Reverb are both pushed up to reinforce the width the detuned oscillators already provide.
Arturia MiniFreak
Exact match: Ensemble of slightly detuned voices
OSCILLATOR · Osc 1
- TYPE: SuperWave
- WAVE (Waveform): Sawtooth
- TIMBRE (Detune): 30
- SHAPE (Volume of copies): 60
- VOLUME: 100
ANALOG FILTER
- TYPE: Low Pass
- CUTOFF: 55
- RESONANCE: 8
- ENV/VELO: 0
ENVELOPE
- ATTACK: 40
- DECAY: 20
- SUSTAIN: 80
- RELEASE: 50
DIGITAL EFFECTS · FX1
- TYPE: Chorus
- INTENSITY: 35
- AMOUNT: 35
DIGITAL EFFECTS · FX2
- TYPE: Reverb
- TIME: 45
- INTENSITY: 30
- AMOUNT: 25
Osc 1 is SuperWave, the stacked-detuned-copies engine: Detune (30) sets the spread between the copies and the third knob (60) sets the copies' level against the original. A tamer, faster-attacking relative of Wide Analog Drift Pad. Values are on MiniFreak's native 0-100 scale.
Dreadbox Typhon
Approximation: Only one detuned pair: narrower ensemble
FRONT PANEL
- WAVE: ~3 o'clock (VCO1/VCO2 saw blend)
- TUNE 2: ~1 o'clock (about an hour off unison, for a moderate ensemble detune)
- CUTOFF: ~2 o'clock (~55% open)
- RESON: ~8 o'clock (low)
- EG LEVEL: ~9 o'clock (minimal filter movement)
- FILTER TIME: ~11 o'clock
- AMP TIME: ~12 o'clock (normal speed)
- VOLUME: ~12 o'clock (global, not stored in the preset)
FILTER ADSR
- ATTACK: 45
- DECAY: 25
- SUSTAIN: 100
- RELEASE: 65
AMP ADSR
- ATTACK: 45
- DECAY: 25
- SUSTAIN: 100
- RELEASE: 65
FX2
- TYPE: Ensemble
- DEPTH: 50
- SPD: 25
- WIDTH: 90
- FEED: 15
- MIX: 40
FX3
- TYPE: Soft Reverb
- PRE: 10
- SIZE: 55
- FEED: 45
- DAMP: 30
- MIX: 30
Typhon's 2 VCOs give only one detuned pair rather than the 2-3 independent voices the other synths use, so expect a narrower ensemble result here -- a genuine architectural limitation, not a settings mistake. FX2's Ensemble effect (a polyphonic chorus, wider than plain Chorus) does extra work here, and FX3's Soft Reverb adds a touch more space.
ASM Hydrasynth Desktop
Exact match: Ensemble of slightly detuned voices
OSCILLATOR 1
- MODE: Single
- WAVE: Saw
- SEMI: 0
- CENTS: 0
- KEYTRACK: 100%
MUTATOR 1
- MODE: WavStack
- DEPTH: 40.0
- DRY/WET: 60%
OSCILLATOR 2
- MODE: Single
- WAVE: Saw
- SEMI: 0
- CENTS: +10
- KEYTRACK: 100%
MIXER
- OSC 1 LEVEL: 100.0
- OSC 2 LEVEL: 70.0
FILTER 1
- TYPE: LP Fat24
- CUTOFF: 70.0
- RESONANCE: 10.0
- ENV 1 AMOUNT: 0
ENVELOPE 2
- DELAY: 0 ms
- ATTACK: 400 ms
- HOLD: 0 ms
- DECAY: 200 ms
- SUSTAIN: 102.0
- RELEASE: 500 ms
PRE-FX
- TYPE: Chorus
- RATE: 0.30 Hz
- DEPTH: 45.0
- OFFSET: 90°
- FEEDBACK: 10
- MONO/ST: Stereo
- DRY/WET: 35%
REVERB
- TYPE: Hall
- PREDELAY: 20 ms
- TIME: 3.0 s
- TONE: 0
- HI DAMP: 30.0
- LO DAMP: 50.0
- DRY/WET: 30%
Mutator 1's WavStack mode (5 detuned copies of the waveform, layered via DRY/WET) is Hydrasynth's real built-in unison-style thickener. OSC 2, an octave down, adds a second real voice underneath for ensemble depth. FILTER 1's LP Fat24 (a compensated ladder that doesn't thin out in the bass as resonance rises) keeps the low end full through the Chorus/Reverb width added on top.
How the synths compare
A tamer, faster-attacking relative of Wide Analog Drift Pad — less drift/movement, more immediate ensemble presence.
Patchpad is a free reference of drum patterns and synth patches written for real hardware: Digitakt II, Digitone II, Syntakt, Novation Summit, Arturia MiniFreak, Dreadbox Typhon and ASM Hydrasynth Desktop.