Remaking the pad synth from the 2019 song "Hey Ma" by Bon Iver can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Hey Ma" pad patch and play this iconic sound on most hardware or software subtractive synthesizers (Serum, Vital, Pigments, Prophet, Korg, Moog, etc). We've included the preset download directly for your convenience, but we strongly recommend you use our programming tutorial to recreate it yourself.
Original Audio
Bon Iver’s “Hey, Ma” from their 2019 album *i,i* features a stringy, ethereal high-pitched pad that emerges at 1:10, creating a shimmering atmospheric layer.
Original Performing Instrument
Unknown
Our Remake of The Pad Synth
This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the pad synth from the song "Hey Ma" by Bon Iver, giving you a reference point as you design your own synthesizer preset. Play it as often as you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the sound.
Synth Patch Programming Recipe
Getting Started
- Start by initializing your synthesizer to a plain saw with no filter, modulation or effects. For soft synths use the "init"/"default" preset or the the button to reset all parameters to their default factory values.
- No two synths are exactly alike, so treat the values below as approximate, and use your ear.
- Percentage values (e.g. 50%) represent the relative position of a knob or slider within its full range. The full range of each parameter may differ from synth to synth, so use your ear.
Voices
- Voice Mode: Poly
- Voice Count: 6
Amp Envelope
- Attack: 350 ms
- Sustain: 100%
- Release: 20 ms
Oscillators
- Oscillator 1
- Waveform: Pulse
- Pulse Width: 20%
- Volume: 100%
- Unison
- Oscillators: All
- Voice Count: 4
- Detune Range: 3 Cents
- Noise Volume: 50%
Filter
- Type: Band Pass
- Cutoff: 60%
- Resonance: 55%
- Key Tracking: 70%
Chorus
- Mix: 50% Wet
- Rate: Medium
Reverb
- Mix: 40% Wet
- Size: Medium
Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.
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Preset Downloads
Don't want to learn synth programming now? Use our synth preset as your starting point and tweak it from there. Register an account with Audible Genius and download the presets for free for the following synths:
- Primer, our free synthesizer VST
Comments
This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?
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