Tone Profile

A majestic and warm analog synth pad with a slow, blooming attack and a rich, slightly brassy character. It creates a wide, atmospheric harmonic foundation characteristic of 80s stadium anthems.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded in 1983 primarily at Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, and Musicland Studios, Munich.
• Keyboard parts, including these pads, were performed by Fred Mandel.
• The pad sound is constructed using the Oberheim OB-Xa's analog oscillators, likely sawtooth waves, possibly layered or slightly detuned for richness.
• The sound emphasizes stereo width, achieved through the OB-Xa's inherent stereo capabilities, external chorus effects, and panning within the mix.
• Characterized by slow filter envelope and amplitude envelope attack settings, with a long release to sustain the chords and create the 'blooming' effect.

Recreation Tips

• Use a synthesizer capable of emulating the Oberheim OB-Xa (e.g., Arturia OB-Xa V, GForce OB-E, U-He Diva).
• Start with two detuned sawtooth oscillators per voice. A slight detuning (a few cents) will create a natural chorus-like movement.
• Employ a 12dB or 24dB per octave low-pass filter. Set the filter cutoff moderately low and modulate it with an envelope having a slow attack (e.g., 500ms to 1.5s) and some sustain. Add a touch of resonance (around 10-25%) to mimic the Oberheim character.
• The amplitude envelope should feature a slow attack (matching or slightly slower than the filter envelope, e.g., 700ms to 2s), full sustain (or near full), and a long release (2-4 seconds).
• Apply a lush stereo chorus. The OB-Xa had a distinctive stereo chorus; emulations of the Roland Dimension D or Juno chorus are also excellent choices.
• Add a spacious hall or plate reverb with a decay time of 2-3 seconds and a moderate pre-delay (20-40ms) to enhance the sense of space without muddying the attack.
• If your synth supports it, use voice panning or a unison mode with stereo spread to further enhance the width.
• Listen carefully to the original track for subtle filter movements or changes in brightness within phrases.

Recommended Gear

• Oberheim OB-X8(Synthesizer)
• Arturia OB-Xa V(Synthesizer Plugin)
• GForce Oberheim OB-E(Synthesizer Plugin)
• Roland Jupiter-X / Xm(Synthesizer)
• Valhalla VintageVerb(Effect Plugin)
• Arturia Chorus Dimension-D(Effect Plugin)
• UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb(Effect Plugin)
• Roland SDD-320 Dimension D (Vintage)(Effect Hardware)