Layering Audio 101
In your quest for richer, more “pro-sounding” tracks, it is likely you have stumbled across the idea of layering sounds. Basically, this is a simple principle: combine (or stack) 2 or more identical types of noise together. In order to get a stronger or more interesting result than one single source may achieve.
The only reason to do this is to make the perception of one fuller, thicker sound. After all, this is what makes layering in music production a more thorough process and a thoughtful one. Below we have listed some layering tips for you to use in your process.
Introduction
The concept of layering in music is old as the music itself. Imagine choirs combining several singers in unison to produce more depth and energy. That will be providing a more complicated, intriguing sound for your listener.
The risk is that it’s easy to create a mess when blending several sound sources together. Particularly when they have comparable characteristics. Frequency clashing and hammering can easily muddy up your mix, especially in the mids.
Transients can battle with one another, causing energetic inconsistencies. Also, a lack of precision may cause phase cancellation, flabby effects, and a feeble, amateur mix in general.
Concept of Layering Sounds
For centuries, arrangers and composers have thought about the frequency makeup of the various tools they are using. Instruments have a frequency range, regulated by their own dimensions and shapes. Composers utilize these functional limitations to their own benefit. When composing music for a string quartet, for example, a composer instinctively knows each element’s limit.
The bass can reach very low frequencies, whereas the violin’s range extends to the highest registers. They examine instrumental parts in order that specific orchestral sections match each other. To be responsive in the higher and lower portions of the song.
Many times by way of instance, rousing glissandos that start from the lower registers and wind up with the highest notes. Knowing these details, they are able to match and layer up instruments to achieve greater sound.
Extending this concept into a composition, even if your sounds are electronic. It’s a terrific method to control the frequency make-up of your mix and bring a pro sound to your finished tracks.
Carefully choose instruments with non-competing frequency profiles to complete your sonic canvas. That will keep the listener’s ear intrigued. And don’t overuse the same instrument across the entire musical range. Especially in case you have a lot going on in your own arrangement. Layering sounds can be destructive if not used properly.
Layer with Loops
Begin with a simple 4-bar loop. Duplicate exactly the same loop but include some reverb or other effects to your own taste. Maintain the first present to keep the loop secure, but then layer it with your own processed layer to provide your loop some character.
Experiment with the way you process each duplicate and get the best place for every layer in your mix. But be cautious. So layer your loops, yet do it carefully and smartly. Always check your entire mix to be certain everything is fitting.
Start with your Present Percussive or Melodic track
Make a new track and duplicate the aggregated information from your first path to the newest one. Keep the same sound and try utilizing the brand new track to place the melody up or down an octave.
Also, try taking the brand new track and audition sounds to determine which one matches best with your imaginative vision for the tune as a whole. It is often better to experiment by layering sounds with noises that are sonically different than your very first audio.
Frequency Layering
The idea of layering sounds may be summed up merely as copying and pasting any given part that has been taken out of your mix into completely different sounds and multiple music tracks.
After mastering this method, you’ll start to know the precise components you’ll want to spotlight and learn how to obtain the specified impact by tweaking completely different layers.
This system, when executed appropriately, has the ability to offer your tracks extra dimensions and richer sound. Any musician who researches music concepts understands the limitations of each instrument and the way hard it’s to supply a track with completely different instruments.
The harmonization of various instruments to attain easy transitions is completed by sound layering via the adjustment of frequencies.
Bass Sound Layering
Whereas EDM is usually performed on huge club and festival sound techniques, a considerable amount of its consumption is on laptop audio systems and headphones. These smaller systems aren’t able to reproduce sub-frequencies, so including an additional layer to your sub may help make it audible.
One methodology to try:
- Duplicate the sub-bass.
- Pitch the sub-bass notes up for an octave.
- Low cut the sub-layer around 120 Hz.
- Add saturation or distortion.
- Add a stereo spreader.
Drums Sound Layering
As soon as your drum layers are correctly aligned, audio results and processors can be utilized to additional outline the group of samples as one drum hit. If this processing is completed after the samples are layered, every pattern shall be affected by the identical processing parameters, creating a general “sound” for the drum hit.
Theoretically, any impact can be utilized to create this cohesiveness. Nevertheless, in case you’re making an attempt to protect the sonic character of the original layers, there are some comparatively clear effects that we are able to use to attach the layers together. We often use kick drum layering to shape the low end of the drums. This is a great way to enhance your low end in the kick drum if you are lacking some.
Compression is probably the purest path that we are able to go to do that. Bus compression, compression carried out on a bunch of components within the mix, is a regular methodology to connect sounds together.
Particularly, drum bus compression is a typical approach to make a drum kit more cohesive, and we are able to use the identical mentality to make layers sound extra cohesive.
Layering for Sound Design
If you happen to work with numerous samples, it’s very easy to design a brand-new sound by copying and pasting the midi notes from one track into a brand-new patch.
Film score producers love this method for rapidly including extra texture and color to a track. It’s additionally straightforward to transpose notes down an octave for an expanded sound, or simply double the notes with a distinct pattern for an added color.
One of the many perks of working with a digital audio workstation (DAW) is that you’ve got just about limitless tracks. This enables many layers and just about limitless potentialities in getting the sound you need in your mix.
And you can all the time delete the undesirable layers whereas having preserved the unique track. It’s an effective way to experiment and discover a new sound by combining components from pre-existing ones and including richness and texture in your mix and master.
Process the layers individually and as a group
Whereas you will need to process every individual layer, processing groups of layers may help glue them collectively and make them sound like one cohesive instrument. Experiment with sending the layers to a bus and including mild compression to them, or utilizing effects like reverb or delay to make the sounds come alive.
Layered Synths for a Presence
Layering synths are excellent to get a full and glimmering lead that has some low body as nicely. Record an easy mid-low bass line that you simply like. Use your favorite synth VST plugins. Make 2 duplicates of your authentic line.
Pitch the first duplicate right down to cover the lower notes. It will act as your sub. The second duplicate ought to offer you that glimmer. So attempt pitching it up or making use of completely different settings to provide the high-end sugar that cuts through a mix.
What you might be left with is a lead synth that has the high-end shine with the mid-low body that fills out the mix. The settings you apply to every duplicate are up to you.
Additionally, you will need to use some carving EQ to keep away from a muddy mix. Layering synths correctly will take some severe experimentation and listening. Use this sound layering idea as a place to begin. However, tweak it to suit your needs and general mix.
Lead Vocals Layering
It’s best to take the time to develop your sound in terms of how your verses shall be executed. A single lead vocal maybe and needs to be very intimate. Breathing in the right spots will protect this intimacy to the listener.
When doubling the lead vocal, the timing of the performances is an important factor. In case your timing is off of your original lead the outcome might be undesirable. Loosely layered vocals will trigger you to lose the intimacy you are attempting to create.
There’s an effect you ought to be aware of although when sound layering these components. In case your performance is so tight then your vocals will begin to sound phasey. Virtually canceling out the center picture.
Ad-Lib Tracks – Single Tracks & Doubling
Your ad-lib tracks or hype tracks will help you specify yourself in a not-so-formal method. Your tone ought to differ enough so these vocals will stand out.
A few concepts that you could attempt are layering your vocals with a whisper track. The breathiness may be tucked beneath your lead vocal and sound actually cool. The alternative to that will be a screaming track. This track may be processed via amp simulators and actually add some angst to your verses.
Additionally to think about is what number of ad-lib tracks you may want. That is where you may make them stand out within the stereo image. If you happen to do two or more. Attempt to do identical ad-libs on every take or create a stutter effect between the 2 tracks by naturally offsetting your performance.
These tracks can now be panned to the left and right to create a dynamic construct on certain phrases you may need to emphasize.
Background Vocals/Chorus
The best way that the backgrounds are going to sound as a whole is as a result of the arrangement. Understanding how these tracks can and shall be panned will in the end play an enormous function in how many your record of a single note.
Say, for example, you give a three-part harmony for the chorus however only record one take of every note. How will they pan within the mix? Will it have asymmetry?
I’m not saying that only recording a single track of every note is by any means unsuitable. All of the components of a correctly organized vocal need to be heard. If you happen to include layers and components simply to easily construct up your track count then you’re going on the incorrect path. Less is more.
Nevertheless, when a chorus has the right variety of vocals components stacked for every part and the harmonies are added and layered correctly, nothing sounds sweeter.
Conclusion
Layering sounds may be a lot of fun and tricky also. Some sound design tutorials can help you create really great noises. Invest time learning audio design, especially for the specific VST you use for your music production. We tried to share the most important layering tips for you to benefit from.
What is fun about this is that there is not any wrong or right way to do it. You just play around until you come up with something dope. I am hoping this article will give you a few ideas about how you’re likely to use this technique to produce larger sounds.
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