Layering tracks

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intomusic

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Just a quickie - do most people layer their tracks? And do you layer them slightly out of time?
I just recently found out about this technique and wondered whether this is really the norm for music production - it certainly helps create a fuller sound.

intomusic
 
Depends. What do you mean "layer" your tracks?

When I use the term, I'm generally talking about double- or triple-tracking a part, but it sounds like you're thinking of something else...?
 
This is talked about looooaddssss. Tried a search on the forum?

Yes, in some genre's of music it is quite common practise to record the same part a second time, if not more.

If I layer guitar parts its generally for heavy rhythm parts and I'll do four (2L, 2R) at the most. Other times I'll just do two, but quite a often a single well recorded track can be just as powerful as two poor-sounding tracks. I try to keep lead and solo parts on single tracks so mixes don't get too piled-up with hard panned guitar tracks.

I never purposefully make them out of time though; it works best if the guitarist is as tight with their playing as possible. Its the tiny nuances between the takes that lend to a nice wide stereo image - delay can be used to enhance the effect, but I'd say its best to keep the two sides as tight as possible. Layering different amp tones can also sound good.

Duplicating identical tracks and using delays, etc, is a different matter however. I'd steer clear of this completely.
 
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Putting them out of time is a trick to layer the exact same recorded track over itself to make it sound fuller. My opinion is that the results yielded are nowhere as good as playing it a second time and layering that over. You don't need to change the time on that.

I layer my tracks to thicken up the sound. Generally what I'll do is record 2 tracks with the same amp and pan them left and right. Then record 2 more tracks with a different amp and pan them left and right too. How much I pan them depends on the indvidual track and what it requires.

I only really do this a a matter of course for high gain rhythm guitar, but it's still not a rule. It doesn't work for me for cleans, slightly dirties, harmonies or leads. But that's not a rule either.
 
Every song I've ever heard has layered tracks. Usually, the vocals are layered over the guitars which are layered over the bass which is layered over the drums. :D

What was the question again???? :eek:
 
RAMI said:
Every song I've ever heard has layered tracks. Usually, the vocals are layered over the guitars which are layered over the bass which is layered over the drums. :D

What was the question again???? :eek:
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You forgot to mention the triangle. The layering of the triangle is very important and not to be forgotton, or you risk unravelling the very fabric of the space-time continuum.
 
legionserial said:
You forgot to mention the triangle. The layering of the triangle is very important and not to be forgotton, or you risk unravelling the very fabric of the space-time continuum.
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What layer does the lava lamp come in???
 
To me if I hear or say "layer" I interprit that as recording the same or similar part again ti thinken, give body ,depth etc. I will at times, take a track,lets say guitar, clone the track then very slightly offset the time of one of those tracks then pan them anywhere from 10 and 2 o"clock to hard right and hard left.
 
RAMI said:
Every song I've ever heard has layered tracks. Usually, the vocals are layered over the guitars which are layered over the bass which is layered over the drums. :D

What was the question again???? :eek:
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I think it had something to do with the knee bone connected to the shin bone or something like that...

Seriously @ OP: It all depends on what type of song you're doing within what what kind of music genre and so forth. I assume you, like most people here work mainy with Gregorian chants, right?

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
I think it had something to do with the knee bone connected to the shin bone or something like that...

Seriously @ OP: It all depends on what type of song you're doing within what what kind of music genre and so forth. I assume you, like most people here work mainy with Gregorian chants, right?

G.
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Don't forget to add triangle to those Gregorian chants. The layering of the triangle is very important and not to be forgotton, or you risk unravelling the very fabric of the space-time continuum.
 
legionserial said:
Don't forget to add triangle to those Gregorian chants. The layering of the triangle is very important and not to be forgotton, or you risk unravelling the very fabric of the space-time continuum.
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Absolutely. I always record it direct to a metronome or click track.

G.
 
You forgot to mention the triangle. The layering of the triangle is very important and not to be forgotton
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god that reminds me of the satire threads on goto mics

whats your goto mic for a guy who plays the jew harp with his three remaining teeth without picking up the taps of his left foot that come in on the and beat the boys got rhythm!

why I prefer a neuman u87 through a ua 610 with a hint of distressor to taste etc. but if he had 4 teeth id have to go with the manley slam and avalon 737 with the u87

but in all Seriousness i need more cowbell before triange more cowbell!
 
doulos24 said:
but in all Seriousness i need more cowbell before triange more cowbell!
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There's only one way to go there, my friend. You need the Rad Monkey VLC800 digital cowbell modeler. Every classic vintage cowbell you'll ever need in one package.
rmcb.jpg


G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
There's only one way to go there, my friend. You need the Rad Monkey VLC800 digital cowbell modeler. Every classic vintage cowbell you'll ever need in one package.
rmcb.jpg


G.
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No way! Modelling? Bah. You need a good old tube cowbell. You don't want none of that solid state nonsense either.
 
legionserial said:
No way! Modelling? Bah. You need a good old tube cowbell. You don't want none of that solid state nonsense either.
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C'mon!!! Modeling is great for the home recording enthusiast who is working late at night while the family sleeps. I tell ya, it's extremely difficult to play a cowbell when it's in an isolation box. I mean, the cow doesn't fit in there!! :eek: ( this is Texas, ya know!!)
 
Hmmm...

I've been absent from these parts for a while, and it looks like things have degraded more.

It's sad... although I was laughing at the triangle :D:D:D
 
Oh come on guys, you can't seriously be discussing harp mics without taking into account the alignment of the moon and the mic axis!?!

Pfffft, nooobs.
 
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