Colyn - Exchange | Pad Synth Patch Remake

Remaking the pad synth from the 2019 song "Exchange" by Colyn can be an exciting challenge for any synthesizer enthusiast. Here’s how you can create the "Exchange" 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

Colyn’s “Exchange” features a distinctive flute-like synthesizer pad that emerges prominently at 2:03, characterized by a bright, airy timbre with a modulated stutter trail. This sound combines ethereal qualities reminiscent of a flute with the dynamic responsiveness of a synthesizer, creating a haunting yet melodic texture that underscores the track’s emotional progression. This sound becomes a focal point during the track’s breakdown, blending organic and electronic elements to create a memorable atmospheric layer.

Original Performing Instrument

Unknown

Our Remake of The Pad Synth sound

This audio clip is how close we've matched the original tone of the pad synth from the song "Exchange" by Colyn, 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 allx 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 3

Oscillator Setup

Oscillator 1

• Mix: 71%
• Wavetable: Basic Shapes
• Wave Frame: Square (position 155)
• Routing: Filter 1
• Unison Voices: 5
• Unison Detune: 7%
• Unison Stereo Spread: 100%

Sample Oscillator

• Sample: White Noise
• Routing: Filter 2
• Level: 22%
• Keytrack: On
• Modulations:
• Lfo 1 → Level

Filter Settings

Filter 1

• Model: Analog
• Style: 24dB Slope
• Blend: Low Pass (0)
• Cutoff: 46% (250.981 Hz)
• Resonance: 0%
• Modulations:
• Env 4 → Cutoff

Filter 2

• Model: Analog
• Style: 24dB Slope
• Blend: Low Pass (0)
• Cutoff: 103% (16945.862 Hz)
• Resonance: 0%

Envelope Settings

Envelope 1 (Amp)

• Attack: 316 ms
• Sustain: 100%
• Release: 1.04 s
• Attack Curve: Exponential
• Decay Curve: Logarithmic
• Release Curve: Exponential

Envelope 2

• Attack: 0 ms
• Decay: 511 ms
• Sustain: 30%
• Release: 32.00 s
• Attack Curve: Exponential
• Decay Curve: Logarithmic
• Release Curve: Exponential

Envelope 3

• Attack: 0 ms
• Decay: 511 ms
• Sustain: 83%
• Release: 32.00 s
• Decay Curve: Logarithmic

Envelope 4

• Attack: 333 ms
• Decay: 2.09 s
• Sustain: 0%
• Release: 31.48 s
• Attack Curve: Exponential
• Decay Curve: Exponential
• Routed to:
• Filter 1 Cutoff (26%)

LFO Settings

LFO 1

• Mode: Trigger
• Sync: Tempo
• Tempo: 1/16
• Shape: Triangle
• Destinations:
• Sample Level (amount 0%)

Effects Processing (Ordered)

Reverb

• Mix: 51%
• Size: Default (50%)
• Chorus Amount: 5%
• Chorus Frequency: Default (0.250 Hz)
• Time: 2.044 s

Modulation Matrix

• Mod Wheel → Env 1 Release 29%
• Envelope 4 → Filter 1 Cutoff 26%
• Mod Wheel → Modulation 6 Amount 10%
• LFO 1 → Sample Level 0%

Note: the patch settings may slightly differ in the Syntorial challenge.

Explore More

• How to make COLYN signature lead synth [Afterlife Records] (YouTube tutorial discussing filter settings, stereo imaging, and waveform selection relevant to pad textures)
• Equator: Recreating Classic Sounds (General guide to synthesizer sound design principles applicable to pad/flute recreation)

*Note: Specific technical details about the pad/flute sound in “Exchange” are not publicly documented in available sources. The listed resources provide foundational techniques for synthesizing similar timbres.*

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:

• Vital

Comments

This recipe is the result of a Syntorial community preset remake request. Need support remaking this sound? Have comments?