I'm p much a total synth noob.

[NightLight]

Okay, I feel like a huge thing my tracks are missing are solid pad/lead synths. Mainly, I don't know where they should sit in the track and how they should sound with the rest of the track. Also, to be honest, I'm not even entirely sure what the difference between the two are. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MadSci]

pads are usually meant to be played with chords, while leads tend to be more monophonic, both can utilize the same types of waveforms but leads are usually given more prominence. imagine two guitarists, one playing a chord progression, and another soloing over it, thats a general idea. also none of this is concrete.

[NightLight]

Okay, that really cleared that up, thanks! Still wondering should they sit in the track though. Like, in between basslines? on top of basslines? etc...

[atticuh]

Okay, that really cleared that up, thanks! Still wondering should they sit in the track though. Like, in between basslines? on top of basslines? etc...

Like anything else, it truly is a matter of preference and what SOUNDS better, but generally pads are going to sit behind the main elements of your track filling out places in your mix which are empty (IE your 300-500hz range is empty and you want to plug that hole to make the mix sound full).

Now if you're going more for a lead style instrument which contributes the melodic "meat" of your mix, the track would sit much closer to the front of the mix.

Keep in mind that the difference between well established producers and newcomers is the ability of seasoned producers to fill up their mixes with the perfect balance of frequencies in the audible range (20hz-20khz).

[NightLight]

Okay I see. Thanks a lot for the info!