What exactly are Pad Tracks?
Each Pad Track is a 20 minute mp3 that is built over 1 chord and is beautifully textured and ambient with high-quality samples to provide easy transitions or simple soundscapes for a variety of contexts. Like our Bed Tracks product, each of these tracks is offered in 6 different sound palettes that we have classified into albums: Afterglow, Atmospheric Strings, Huge Pad, Liquid Organ, Soft Choir, and Solar Wind.
Each track is recorded as an MP3 in each of the 12 major and minor keys, and each key includes both a ‘high’ and a ‘low’ option. The ‘high’ option includes the pads without the lower register sounds. The ‘low’ option is the full soundscape, including the lower register.
How To Use Pad Tracks?
You can use Pad Tracks to seamlessly transition from one song to another, without feeling rushed in between. With every Pad Track available in each of the 12 major and minor keys, you have the opportunity to have a seamless segue at the end of any worship song. Simply end the song with the band drawing out the last chord, fade in your chosen Pad Track in the same key, and then take all the time you need to let the Spirit of God minister without feeling rushed. If you need to switch keys, you can allow one Pad Track to cross-fade into another. This is an easy process to manage if you have your pads pre-loaded into an app like Worship Team Director.
When To Use Pad Tracks
During your worship sets, you can have an underlying bed of ambient sound that never stops, which creates more flow in your worship experience. When you finish a song, let the pad track continue; let them play during prayer moments; bring them in towards the end of a moving sermon or talk; cross-fade between tracks in different keys for smooth transitions from a song in one key to a song in another key. The possibilities are endless. Also, check out our blog on the Top 10 Ways to Use Bed Tracks as their use is very similar.
What Hardware Or Software Is Needed?
Because these tracks are in mp3 format, you can use them with a player. Load them into an iTunes playlist. Bring them into Ableton Live, Logic, Pro Tools, or any other DAW. Play them straight from your smartphone or tablet. Whatever workflow your band or church uses, these tracks will fit.
Other Tracks
Click Tracks are our most popular audio track product at PraiseCharts. If you're new to using backing tracks, or a seasoned worship band, Click Tracks provide a way to sync your entire band to a consistent tempo and give you helpful navigational cues while using in-ear monitors.
Rhythm Tracks were created based on the success of Click Tracks. Rhythm Tracks are similar to Click Tracks, built on the exact same arrangement, but intended for a different level of the worship band. Where Click Tracks are well suited for a fully developed band that has a solid rhythm section, Rhythm Tracks are designed for a smaller band that may not have live drums and bass guitar.
Choir Practice Tracks are very similar to Vocal Practice Tracks. They are high-quality tracks that are derived from our MultiTrack stems and have been designed to resource Worship Choirs, making it easier for each section to learn their parts.
We have a variety of track products to enhance the sound of your live worship band. Need to fill in a couple of missing musicians? Try a MultiTrack. Just need to tighten up your band? Let them follow a Click Track. Missing a synth or drummer? Rhythm Tracks will help fill you out. Plus tracks for Vocal and Choir Practice, Reason files, Backing Tracks. Our tracks will keep your band in the groove and in the right tempo. No more speeding up, slowing down, and sounding thin.
Listening to a live worship album makes you feel like you are right in the room, surrounded by hundreds of other worshippers. Usually, the arrangement and vocals are less polished, but that comes as an easy trade for capturing the authentic worship experience. When we chart these arrangements, they serve as a great resource to demonstrate how to lead these songs in your own live worship setting. Playing for live worship is not the same as playing in the studio. This list is full of our favorite live worship arrangements.