Take your pad cleaning brush tool & run it over the new pad to remove any minor defects & to smooth out the pad surface using a 3-4 setting & no product. New pads will soak up (sponge effect) more of your product. I would add extra product for the "Maiden Voyage" so to speak, to ensure your working with a Wet Pad, better to be a little wet than dry. Now spread the product onto the work area 18" x 18" or no more than 2' x 2' aka Test area with the pc in the off position. Then on my lowest setting (1) I work / spread the product in the test area before adjusting the dial setting up to the (4) mode to begin working the product in to the test area to see if I'm making any progress to correct the test area. Without any detail info on what your goal is, I can only assume your compounding with the orange pad? I certainly don't claim to be a pad Pro & I'm sure the Pro's will add /chime in here to help you. To me it sounds like you didn't have enough product on the new pad, the pad Soaked up the small amount of product & your setting to spread /"work in" the product actually dried the product out & that's why your seeing the dried splatter. I hope I've helped in some small way. Also if you have a camera, I would suggest taking some pic's & posting them so the Pro's here can see your approach & technique. I have found this site to be extremely helpful & regard it as a Reference Guide often. Practice is helpful, but Perfect Practice will make you better. I wish you the best & I'm sure you'll find all the help here you will need.