How are pads generally made?

[wowfilter]

I'm trying to go for atmospheric pads like in the song [h=1]Au5 & Fractal - Ison[/h]at the very beginning. I think reverb and long attack when I hear pads? and I've been told fm synthesis is good for pads.

 

[scrapheaper]

Reverb and long attack is pretty much it. FM synthesis you can use if like but it's not necessary by any means.

Also consider a lot what chords you are playing and what voicings/inversions you use

 

[Critical Vibrations]

You can use any type of synthesis, not just FM. In that song, there are some gentle filter sweeps happening on that pad sound in the beginning. Changing a parameter like that while the pad is playing is what creates the "evolving" sound and keeps the pad from being monotonous (unless you want something more continuous sounding)