Layering techniques allow the user to achieve a balanced sound that has a great impact on the overall mix and provide a bigger and more present sound. You can use layering when a certain mix needs space, widening, thickening, or a simple overall personality boost. This technique offers depth and texture to the overall sound within a mix.
For Example
Most modern electronic music genres, such as Trance, House, D&B, and Dubstep involve a saw-tooth waveform. This specific waveform produces sounds that range from bass to mid-range, to high pitched synth leads, to pad sounds.
Layering Techniques: Diversify Your Strategies
The layering synth sounds technique involves the process of dividing copies of the synthesizer across the whole frequency spectrum. This avoids phasing issues typically caused by the overlapping of frequencies, especially in the low-end of the spectrum. (Remember that low, mid, and high cover the entire frequency spectrum.)
It’s essential to diversify strategies and tools when using layering techniques. Layering synths is a great way to get a full and radiant lead to a mix. In particular, layering samples provides a more versatile interesting sound to the overall mix. This technique works amazing with drums. The ambient layer is a great way to give tracks depth and texture. You can achieve this by adding a warm bass pad, a sustained drone, and a field recording of a rainstorm to the overall mix, for instance. Layering ambience will give the mix more depth and fill out some of the thinner spaces of any given track.
Layering Techniques and Space
The layering technique is quite useful when trying to create space in a mix. This process also works well when trying to harmonize specific areas of said mix. For instance, layering percussion is an amazing way to transform a simple track into a more interesting and engaging piece of art. Panning subtle percussion provides another layer of space to a mix. It’s crucial to avoid repetition when layering sounds. When you achieve this, sounds appear more interesting in the overall.
Another wonderful strategy is to layer with loops since it adds personality. However, you should do this in moderation and in a smart and sparing way. The reason is that too many loops will end up fighting each other for space in the entire mix.
All in all, layering is a creative process than involves small steps that add a lot to the overall mix.
