Scribd
Upload
440 views

Layering Tips PDF

Layering sounds involves combining two or more similar sounds to create a fuller, denser sound. When layering, it's important to avoid frequency clashes or phase cancellation that could muddy the mix. Tips for better layering include using thinner sounds, being selective about layers, adjusting transients, experimenting with pitch and effects, and organizing layered sounds into sample libraries. Layering requires planning and experimentation to produce rich, professional-sounding tracks.

Uploaded by

suriyaprakash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
440 views

Layering Tips PDF

Layering sounds involves combining two or more similar sounds to create a fuller, denser sound. When layering, it's important to avoid frequency clashes or phase cancellation that could muddy the mix. Tips for better layering include using thinner sounds, being selective about layers, adjusting transients, experimenting with pitch and effects, and organizing layered sounds into sample libraries. Layering requires planning and experimentation to produce rich, professional-sounding tracks.

Uploaded by

suriyaprakash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

12 sound layering tips and tricks

In your quest for richer, more 'pro-sounding' tracks, it's likely


you've stumbled across the concept of layering sounds.

Fundamentally, this is a basic principle: combine (or stack) two or more of


the same kind of sound together to achieve a more powerful or interesting
outcome than one single source can achieve in isolation, creating the
perception of one fuller, denser sound.

The idea is pretty much as old as music itself - imagine choirs combining
multiple singers in unison to create more depth and power, providing a more
complicated, interesting sound for the listener.

The caveat is that it's easy to make a mess when blending several sound
sources together, especially when they have similar characteristics. Frequency
clashing and masking can easily muddy up your mix, especially in the mids;
transients can fight with each other, causing dynamic inconsistencies; and a
lack of precision or forward planning can lead to phase cancellation, flabby
results and a weak, amateur mix overall.

These handy tips and tricks should help you avoid these pitfalls, and make
sure your layering isn't doing more harm than good.
Don't get too attached

Stacking sounds isn't just about throwing together layers as quickly as


possible. Use each element to contribute to an overall 'bigger picture', and
don't get too fond of one particular part. Be prepared to throw away or replace
things that aren't working in your quest for a superior sound.

Mono vs. width

When fading in a stereo layer to give a wide presence at the sides of the mix,
be sure to sum your overall output to mono on occasion using any standard
'monoising' or width-reduction plugin. If your end result falls apart or
disappears, consider revisiting each part and tweaking its width to prevent
too much cancellation.

Less is more

Try to minimise the number of layers you're combining together. We're not
saying you should never stack five sounds together, but be sure to regularly
mute each channel to see how it's contributing. If there's one layer that will do
the job of two, replace them with it.

Thinner's a winner

Lots of modern commercial packs contain dense, ready-layered sounds to


create that 'wow' factor when you audition them. Whilst sounding impressive
in isolation, if you want to use them for layering, you'll probably have to
process them a lot to get them to fit in. Keep a folder of thinner sounds and
layers (old hip-hop or drum machine hits, for example) for specific layering
tasks.

Sampler stacking

Modern software samplers and drum machines house features that make
your life easier when combining two or more sounds together. Transpose
functions let you pitch sounds around quickly and easily. Onboard high and
low-pass filters let you speedily remove unwanted frequencies to get things
working in a flash. Most will also feature multiple outputs so you can route
your separate layers to individual DAW channels if you need to process them
further.
Transient awareness

If you've created a punchy drum hit from two or more layers, be careful your
transients aren't peaking too highly as they could eat up valuable headroom.
To monitor these, we recommend a real-time oscilloscope-style waveform
analyser such as the free s(M)exoscope or WaveShaper CM.

Transient reduction

But what if those transients are peaking in a mix? How should you reduce
them without ruining your carefully stacked sound? The obvious solution is
gain reduction from a transparent limiter plugin, but you can get more
creative too. Subtle application of a tape saturation tool, a touch of distortion
or a transient shaper can all help reduce peaks.

Perfect pitch

When layering sounds together (especially drums), make a habit of reaching


for the transpose or tune parameter in your sampler. Repitching can often
really help two sounds to gel even before you add any other effects!
Boy's noise

Whether it's recorded texture or basic white noise from a synth plugin, trusty
noise comes into its own when mixing sound sources together. It can add
brightness to a snare, texture to a soundscape, or realistic 'glue' to stick
sounds together. Again, keep a library of interesting beds and textures to
draw from when designing your samples.

Parallel worlds

Sends and returns can be ideal for creative layering journeys. Load up some
crazy effects chains onto a return track, send a portion of your source sound's
signal to that return, then experiment with plugin settings and effects. Export
the return track separately, then reimport and layer it with your source sound
for even more editing and processing.
Library layering

Once your layering skills develop, it's great to have specific folders in your
sample library dedicated to this layering task so you can quickly turn to
'Tops', 'Snap', 'Body' or 'Release' elements on the fly. Packs such as
Goldbaby's Dirt and Layers have cottoned on to this workflow and offer this
approach in a handy pre-prepared format.

Plan your time

Layering can be a chore, so when working quickly, save dedicated layering or


sound-design templates for your more focused stacking sessions. You can
have your channels, returns, groups and processing chains ready to go. Once
you fancy a little layering action, get stuck in, but don't forget to export your
creations for later use!

You might also like