Pad models and different pad firmness

With SIGNATI Clarinet Pads, we offer two innovative product lines that allow you to precisely tailor the feel and tone color of your clarinet to your personal preferences. Discover the differences and assemble your ideal pad setup!

 

💎 The SIGNATI Pad Lines

We offer two distinct pad lines, differing in the material of the layer (the uppermost, airtight membrane):

 

1. ST-Line (Standard)

  • Layer Material: GoreTex

  • Sound Characteristic: The GoreTex layer imparts a minimally darker, warmer tone color to the sound.

 

2. HT-Line (High Molecular PE)

  • Layer Material: High Molecular Polyethylene (PE)

  • Sound Characteristic: The HT-Line stands out with a powerful focus and direct response.

The Importance of Hardness Levels (Durometer)

Both pad lines—ST and HT—are available in different hardness levels. The choice of hardness is a matter of personal playing feel and precision of the mechanism:

Medium Hard: Very quiet mechanism, provides a gentle touch feeling.Requiring a more frequent adjustment of the mechanism.

Density: 45 Shore A

 

Hard: Allows for an extremely precise and crisp key action. Direct response.The mechanism feels precise and immediate.

Density: 60 Shore A

 

Extra Hard (cork density): This pad have the same density as a cork pad and is developed only for smaller diameter pads (till max. 10 mm).

Recommendation

Personally, I have become a great fan of the hard SIGNATI pads (e.g., HTM – High Molecular or ST - Standard, Hard). With these pads, the mechanism feels extremely precise and the response is immediate.

 

🛠️ Your Individual Setup

The special feature of SIGNATI pads: You can freely combine all models and hardness levels!

  • You do not have to commit to a single line.

  • For example, mix HT pads in the upper joint and ST pads in the lower joint to ideally shape the tonal profile.

  • Use softer pads for heavily used keys and hard pads for the main keys.

As always, finding the ideal setup is a matter of personal taste.

 

🤝 Consultation & Contact

Are you unsure which combination is best for your clarinet? I would be happy to advise you personally and help you find the perfect pad setup.

📩 Simply send me an email with your questions: signati-pads@outlook.com

 

User Guide: Clarinet Key Selector and Tracker

Welcome to the Clarinet Key Selector and Tracker. This tool is designed to provide clarinetists and instrument makers with a visual and intuitive way to plan, document, and save the padding setup of a clarinet (French System).

Below you will find an explanation of the user interface and functions.

User Interface Overview

The application is divided into two main areas to ensure an optimal overview:

1. The Visual Display (Left Side)

On the left side, you see a schematic drawing of the clarinet mechanism (French System/Boehm System). Each key is clearly named so that you can immediately identify which part of the instrument it is.

  • Legend: In the bottom left area, you will find a color legend. This explains which color corresponds to which pad model (e.g., Cork, Leather, Gore-Tex, Fish Skin, etc.).

2. The Selection List (Right Side)

On the right side is the control center of the application: a list of all key names that correspond to the drawing. Behind each name, you will find selection circles.

Using the Application

Selecting and Assigning Pad Models

Assigning a specific pad to a key is very simple:

  1. Find the desired key in the list on the right side.

  2. Click on the corresponding circle behind the key name.

  3. By clicking, you select the desired pad model.

  4. The selection is immediately shown visually by the corresponding color marker (according to the legend on the bottom left).

Note: You can change the selection at any time by simply clicking another option. This allows for flexible experimentation with different setups.

Saving and Exporting

Once you have compiled your personal pad setup, you can save your work using the two buttons at the top of the screen. This is particularly useful for archiving or communicating with third parties.

  • 💾 Save JSON File:

    Click this button to save the technical data format of your setup. This file allows you to load your configuration back into the application at a later time for further editing.

  • 🖼️ Save PNG File:

    Click this button to download an image (screenshot) of your current setup.

Use Cases

  • For Musicians: Create and save your personal dream setup to keep track of your preferred materials.

  • For Instrument Makers & Dealers: Use the PNG export function to visually explain to your customers which pads will be installed on which keys, or to document a completed service setup. The image serves as an excellent basis for communication.

 

French System

Sample pad setups
Image – 640,1 KB 32 downloads
Clarinet Key Selector

Clarinet Key Selector and Tracker