Layering Multiple Samples

I told you these guys know their schit.

You gotta try a lot of different stuff before you find what works for you.

That's where the experimentation aspect of production comes in, if you're going to layer use sounds that complement each other in terms of;

1. Timbre.
2. Frequency.
3. Pitch.
4. Volume.
5. ADSR.
6. Panning.

jonestown massacre wrote:

Use this as a guide, then go back to the parametric EQ and play around in the right frequency bands.

This is it right here! Mentally, I hear the sounds and know where they belong when EQing. You wouldn't put bass boost on a flute. Lo and Hi pass filtering is good too but afterwards EQ is what smoothes it all out and defines each instrument when sampling.

Menco wrote:

cyrus wrote:also, its possible that each instrument was not perfectly tuned when recorded. Maybe adjust the tuning on one of the instruments a couple nicks, (like this 0.02) - see if that helps.....

@ Beachbreak: This indeed will help preventing from notes clashing with eachother. But pitching it up or down with such a small amount won't throw it off key.

At the OP:

-Eqing, experiment with that
-Cyrus' tip: pitch it up or down just a little bit.
-Seperate the sound by panning the samples. Let's say keep the piano in the middle, pan the chello slightly to the left and the strings wide right. (or wherever you want to place your instruments) Gives it also more space and air.

yup exactly what I was gonna say...

Tune and Pan you should be good to go

-niN wrote:^cool chart jones... maybe I should print that...

Word. My prof in College (I took Digital Audio Production) had a REALLY detailed version and made us memorize it, then tested us on it. It saved my ass 'nuff times! I blew it up and I keep it on my wall for reference.

Okay. Here goes nothing.

So I took all the advice given here and tried to apply it to this track. Main layers on the sample are the vocals layering the hook. I slightly panned the vocals and kept the main sample in the middle. I actually pitched the vocals down SLIGHTLY. I put the vocals on a higher freq on the parametric eq, and mainly separating it from the other samples. Didn't find any good low tones to sample on here that would compliment the mood to the track, so sorry if this is extremely minor.
I think the collaboration of all these different facets all contribute to the overal layering of the samples. I'm not too much of a fan for the beat, but layer-wise I think this is exactly what I was looking for. Obviously quality can probably be improved, but for now I will keep experimenting, especially with more layering.

Thanks for everyone's help. Hopefully everyone was able to get something out of the post.



Realistically, the sound I want to achieve is seen on this beat. I'm sure you guys can hear the different samples implemented on track.

Remember you don't have to use your whole bag of production tricks all the time.

Sometimes you'll need just one trick, at other times you'll need a combination of tricks.

Most often, less is more...

clint246clint wrote:Remember you don't have to use your whole bag of production tricks all the time.

Sometimes you'll need just one trick, at other times you'll need a combination of tricks.

Most often, less is more...

good point.

one thing i've found when i layer samples............is that i get lucky by stumbling upon something that sounds good. I happen to find a good sample, and when im chopping and making the beat, I experiment and find something that works. especially when it comes to combining 2 samples from 2 differant sources. I happen to find something that works (technically + musically). Its not always as precise as I'd like.

Experimenting is definately key when layering. sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it doesnt, and you dont always get the results you want, but keep at it and you might stumble upon something that sounds good

Its good to know the technical parts on making 2 samples work together, but if you arent feeling it, or arent experimenting and being creative, even if you can technically layer t he smaples, it still might not sound good.

peace.

btw. **** stole my sample on that cole flip!!! sampled that shit like 3 years ago.....lol