Thread preamble
as i listed upper in the thread, we’ll discussed « Layering » after all that’s what is about with Layers101.
Layering may be about drum layering, creative layering, smartly use the synth and sample layers of the Analog Rytm but also process layers OTB or/and ITB, as well as gluing the sounds vs transcient design with the Master Compressor and more…
Defining those terms
What’s Drum layering?
Well you know photoshop right it’s like using it with 2 or 3 layers. (sure on the AR we’ll talk about 2 layers) Technically you will heard or read regarding Drum Layering 3 layers : Transient, Body, Tail. But sometimes people call it differently like sauce, punch, click… anyway it’s all about the same, we stack several sounds on top of each other to create : a brand new one, a more define, enhance the AR synth.
What’s Creative Layering
It’s a less conventional way to Layer sounds. For instance it could be enhance a sound in the reverb territory by flatten the output of a reverb and using it as a layer to give a sound a different spice - without using the internal reverb. The reverb can be gated, impulse response of an amplifier not a space modeling. Something like that. It could also be, give the Dual VCO some top bass layers to reach a new level of bass sounds - something using this idea : layering sounds in a synth-multis way as well
Smartly use the synth and sample layers
We can still be in the layering aspect but we do not produce a sound result from two layers, but we use at our disposal 2 layers most of the time. So technically it could be 24 sounds in one kit, but for sure it would be more 16-12 to less. And with sound lock the amount can be insane.
Process layers OTB or/and ITB (outside the box, inside the box)
To gel layers the right way and feel as a result to get a unique flatten sound, we need some processing. I think we can reach the best results outside the box by preparing-uploading. But in some ways we can on the mark II, get some decent results internally with sampling-resampling.
Gluing the sounds vs transcient design (Master Compressor)
It’s a subject on its own. I have my preferences here and it’s not necessarily RYTM relative in itself but more a way of seeing things in general regarding sounds and dynamics. If I layer, let’s say a kick with one AR machine synth model and add on top a click to enhance the definition of the kick… I may not use any transient designer techniques there, because for me it does double duty (and then maybe i would need a waveshaper etc).
I will be more inclined to use my unique master compressor as a master dynamic tool (parallel compression - glue compression - Live performance) instead of a chirurgical processor for sound design (transient designer).