Layering Synth Leads and Pads

[Spring Goose]

2) You can create separation using compression as well by using different settings. Typically, I would apply a higher ratio to a pad and really saturate the sound. This way it can be mixed low whilst still being heard. A lead requires less saturation and more shaping to help it sit - as before, opening up the attack, maybe a moderate ratio and higher threshold than the pad: for which you might want a fast attack, longer release, low threshold and high ratio.

This is just IMO..

Yes you could smash things together but sometimes when you do this it can end up sounding more mangled than smooth. Just depends on how hard you push things and the type of compression. Really it depends on the type of sound you want, if you want it to sound aggressive then compressing multiple layers together can really work good in some contexts. Another thing you can do is group your pads and leads together and just use a decent parametric EQ.

For adding saturation, i'd be careful and make sure you are using oversampling on your compression or saturator to prevent any nasty aliasing distortion. I've ran into this problem before with some built-in synth FX and had to bypass the effects to get it sounding the way i wanted.

If you can't hear aliasing then that doesn't necessarily mean it's not there and it can really mess with your sounds when you want a really cohesive mix. I've been reading a bit and think it really HELPS to know your plugins a bit before using them.

Generally if it doesn't have internal oversampling when I'm working at 44800 then i'll probably not use it in my mix. If i like the plugin and absolutely have to have it's sound i'll use it in it's own project at a higher sampling rate, print it and then bring the frozen high res version into the 44800 mix.

This lets me still use some of my older plugins without having to deal with any ugly alising distortion or Intermodulation Distortion.

YMMV though and maybe you like the sound that aliasing or imd does?

I personally do like the sound of aliasing in certain contexts, but if the plugin does it on it's own when i don't want it to i generally avoid it unless i need that sound.

what's a 44800 resolution? never heard of it

[Synthack]

.........

[Spring Goose]

2) You can create separation using compression as well by using different settings. Typically, I would apply a higher ratio to a pad and really saturate the sound. This way it can be mixed low whilst still being heard. A lead requires less saturation and more shaping to help it sit - as before, opening up the attack, maybe a moderate ratio and higher threshold than the pad: for which you might want a fast attack, longer release, low threshold and high ratio.

This is just IMO..

Yes you could smash things together but sometimes when you do this it can end up sounding more mangled than smooth. Just depends on how hard you push things and the type of compression. Really it depends on the type of sound you want, if you want it to sound aggressive then compressing multiple layers together can really work good in some contexts. Another thing you can do is group your pads and leads together and just use a decent parametric EQ.

For adding saturation, i'd be careful and make sure you are using oversampling on your compression or saturator to prevent any nasty aliasing distortion. I've ran into this problem before with some built-in synth FX and had to bypass the effects to get it sounding the way i wanted.

If you can't hear aliasing then that doesn't necessarily mean it's not there and it can really mess with your sounds when you want a really cohesive mix. I've been reading a bit and think it really HELPS to know your plugins a bit before using them.

Generally if it doesn't have internal oversampling when I'm working at 44800 then i'll probably not use it in my mix. If i like the plugin and absolutely have to have it's sound i'll use it in it's own project at a higher sampling rate, print it and then bring the frozen high res version into the 44800 mix.

This lets me still use some of my older plugins without having to deal with any ugly alising distortion or Intermodulation Distortion.

YMMV though and maybe you like the sound that aliasing or imd does?

I personally do like the sound of aliasing in certain contexts, but if the plugin does it on it's own when i don't want it to i generally avoid it unless i need that sound.

what's a 44800 resolution? never heard of it

It's this newfangled thing I typed due to lack of sleep apparently.

I meant 48000.

Peace!

[Dasheesh]

yeeeeeeah. You use compressors to separate signals. Not smash them together. Got it.

[Synthack]

.........

[cryophonik]

When you go to the source, the synth, you could also look at the effects that are in use. Very often effects applied on the 'synth' level can take too much space in the mix. A preset with nice delays, reverbs, phasers, etc might sound very nice in isolation, but in the mix, such effects can create issues. They can simply 'eat' into your 'mix space'.

Yeah, this was going to be my reply. When I'm layering parts, I typically turn off any spatial effects (e.g., reverbs and delays) on each patch as a first step and add them back in after layering so that they share the same effects and sound more cohesive. You can do that by routing the layered instruments to the same summing buss and inserting the effect(s) there, or by sending the layered instruments to the same effects busses. Some instruments (e.g., Omnisphere) let you easily layer sounds within the plugin itself and add the effects at the output stage.

[Dasheesh]

phasing low ends is fun. phasing the highs sucks donkey balls.

[antic604]

Should be very simple. Put your pad down then choose a good lead that cuts through it. Pads and leads don't tend to gel anyway.

Every synth ever that has the obligatory piano + stings patch would disagree