How To Layer Leads Properly

[@stellarshores8565]

Quick and dirty Summary: Layer: 1. Mono Lead (remove useless side info to leave room for wide lead, remove low info and high info as needed) 2. Wide Lead (remove high-mid info so mono lead is more clear, remove low info and high info as needed) 3. Attack Lead (needs least amount of EQ b/c attack sounds are short and therefore mostly transient information. This info won't conflict with your two lead patches, so no worries about freq masking or phase issues, generally) Bus Leads + together to create similar dynamic range and a more unified sound Add a little saturation to BUS, then final Eq Before bussing: remove FX on leads. One thing I'd like to add about FX **(if it sounds good it is, so it will be helpful to listen with FX on and off for each sound. compressing reverb or delay can sound really dope if done properly . Applying a single fx chain to all the leads will definitely create the MOST unified sound tho, the question is, will it create the best sounding sound?) Hope this helps! Thanks for the really dope video!!!

[@stellarshores8565]

you got it fam

[@WilliamByrne_Official]

Great thanks :) was hard to listen to that awful lead sound haha

[@remnhem9255]

For bass heavy music would you add sub to your lead instead of kick?

[@ErickT_MX]

This is one of the best production tutorials ever made. PERIOD.

[@matiassanchez1679]

Gosh, I haven't seen a complete and full tutorial like this in a while, most guys just don't explain that much. Instant follow

[@HIRAMECLARKEHOPS]

I thought I had a good idea of what I was doing, then I watched your videos and now my mind is constantly being blown. You really are a great teacher.

[@veetoutas]

Finally! The perfect tutorial about layer'ing. Your explanation is perfect! Very straight to the point, i love how you sum up everything and repeat the main idea at the end! Really easy to remember and catch what You are teaching!!! Thank You! Respect from Lithuania!

[@Spaced_Invader]

Really enjoyed this.... understood it better than those expensive tutorials. Much appreciated sir!

[@skyron7401]

This is the best explained, most in depth, high quality tutorial I've ever seen. Love your channel bro

[@G3438]

This is so complex at first, I've watched this tut like 20 times and now I finally get most of it.. Thanks Zen.

[@ashishsankpal2743]

That was the best layering tutorial... Had seen many tutorials for layering..this was the best and insanely helpfull... Thanks Zen.

[@erickskating562]

so happy, I've been trying to figure this out for so long and have definitely just been trying to put different sounds together and it never worked. I've definitely been missing layers. So glad you made this video. Thank you, you're the man! subscribed

[@adityamadan417]

Best teacher ever!!!! Thank you so much Francisco

[@0815Snickersboy]

Thanks a lot This is Not only helpful for edm But for anything that requires layering of instance of similair Sounds. Like lead harmonies in Metal Guitars.

[@Shisha67]

This tutorial was a turning point in my production! I've been struggling with getting mono-compatible parts while keeping a good stereo spread. Thanks, man! Keep up the good work!

[@thiekn9240]

So glad that you told me about that Video Zen.Its simply the best layering tutorial on KZbin !

[@jod1291]

I’m just starting out producing and this video was a huge help! Gonna check out all your vids to learn more

[@fragmasterjuju0]

the best teacher on youtube! keep up

[@ZenWorld]

+fragmasterjuju0 Thanks bro I really appreciate the comment.

[@Arcessitor]

+Zen World Speaking as a professional producer, I applaud this video and your entire channel. If I had had these resources 5 years ago, I'd have been years ahead of where I am now. I think everyone should look to you for fundamental EDM concepts like this, because you are the most concise and most accurate at explaining them.

[@kvstles]

Havnt even watched it yet but I already gave it a thumbs up. Always have quality stuff bro! Been waiting for this video for a while.

[@ZenWorld]

+KVSTLES Thanks I really do appreciate it!

[@AdamHaycee]

This might just help me out A LOT with a track I've been getting frustrated with lately. Thanks man!

[@wmulumba8767]

This is the best video I've seen today,two thumbs up.. thank you

[@Hexspa]

Real nice. Three steps to layering: Mid/Stereo, Frequency and Punch/Sustain. Funny cause I feel like I got kicks down which use the same principles but didn't consider them for leads. Cheers -m

[@erikvanzanen]

Great tut. It shows perfectly that it's just not about having a good sound _> patch/preset, but how layering and EQ/stereo placement/comping does a huge deal as well. No, it completes it :)

[@JesseAmisi]

Wow! This is complete gold! it sounds do clean and proffesianal! my leads will sound good from this day onwards!

[@him6944]

Jesse Music no they dont

[@djGreenALERT]

So THAT'S how it's done. Thank you. You really are a very good teacher.

[@thtr9647]

Brilliant example of when to use mid/side eq, Thanks bro

[@KepikMusic]

wish I came upon you guys a few years ago! excellent tutorial!

[@MegaUjj]

man.....you are the best....that's why I love your tutorials !

[@RazorTrap]

I wish you mentioned more common mistakes, regarding layering leads and/or bass (please do a video on this if possible), and keep spreading the knowledge, thank you! Just started watching videos in your channel.

[@firehazemusic]

This tutorial is absolutely hammer! I wanna share one interesting technique with you. Put audio rack effect on the group channel. After that, put Valhalla Room Reverb with 3-4 seconds decay time, 20% dry/wet and Medium Room Option. After this reverb, put the compressor with -10 threshold option. So, your leads with this sidechain reverb technique will sounds brutal.

[@homelessguy7158]

wtf this guy makes it so much easier.

[@ZenWorld]

Glad it worked for you Xennoss

[@homelessguy7158]

Zen World Yes,you simplified it.Can you make a video about percussion or impacts please.Everyone has more or less the same melodies,I think percussion makes your track unique.Also the way Martin Garrix adds impacts or Sfx makes the track a lot more interesting.Even if I have good impacts I fail to use them correctly. Thanks for such tutorials.

[@OfficialHaloBelle]

hahahaha.

[@agustinroses4722]

awesome tutorial, never explained so easily, big ups to you!

[@ILLIntentionsOfficial]

Massive thanks for this. It's just what I've been trying to figure out and I understand a lot more clearly what I need to do now. My leads sound a hell of a lot more powerful already and I'm only just figuring it out so I will only improve with time. :)

[@ventusluca]

Thanks for the tutorial! Was just thinking about it today that I should watch a tutorial on this instead of just stacking sounds. You came to help just the right time :D

[@DYLEMAHD]

Yo bro see the ''bus'' thing you did at around 8:00? When you link the 2 to one mixer part. Could you possibly explain how to do that in FL Studio?

[@danecustance2734]

This was my first attempt at this i enjoyed it thanks.

[@NickCroke]

hey man great video. would love to see a similar video about layering sounds but instead of bigroom sounds maybe some future house sounds? Future house sounds are very unique.

[@djmayzon]

Great video mate! You explain things perfectly and quickly!

[@djdiiode2339]

This is a GREAT video. What you explained is really advanced to create a clean and big sound. Keep it Up !

[@leandrofigueira4015]

Really helped me to make my drop sound realy loud and wide! THANK YOUUUUUU!!!

[@ahmegozofficial8633]

You Have Opened my eyes what EDM is at business point of view , and about all these ghost producers. I spin at BASSMNT San Diego and Im going to play at Avalon honestly i feel like I'm the DJ conveyer belt and none of the local DJ's actually advance anywhere

[@ZenWorld]

+AHMEGOZ OFFICIAL I feel you man. All you can do is do it because you love it and just keep trying

[@syeddgtek]

Learnt so much from this video! Thank you Sir, You're a great tutor.

[@tevvmusic]

This is why I subscribed to you - this helped a lot :)

[@futuredyno2663]

You're the MAN! Cheers, bro!

[@lukeepic3821]

best channel i found on youtube! we love you! LUKE EPIC!

[@Umbrohs]

Very nice and so useful! Keep up the good work man, you are very underrated! You asked that we should leave suggestions for future tutorials and I would love to see a general mastering tutorial from you! :> I feel like I'm at least not totally bad at mixing now and I want to learn the proper way of do-it-yourself-mastering.

[@bramvanboom6322]

This was a very useful and detailed tutorial! Thanks a lot Zen's World! :)

[@chuckler2k]

great explanation. you really made things click for me. ty!

[@evelic]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks.

[@TadjhBrooks]

Isn't M for Mid and S for Side, not mono/stereo respectively, hence the name Mid-Side EQ?

[@evilchikennuggit]

yes, that's what they stand for.

[@RaffzVieira]

Which is literally the same thing, BASICALLY

[@TadjhBrooks]

You're right, when it comes to encoding, the mono portion is L + R, which results in the middle of the mix, and the stereo portion is L - Inv R, resulting in the sides of the mix. Another way to think about it is that the middle of the mix comes from summing two channels into a mono signal, and the sides of the mix are the difference between two channels into a stereo signal (by reversing the polarity of one of the channels). Before looking this up I didn't realize there was a direct correlation between mono = mid and stereo = side. While obvious in retrospect it's clearer to me now. Thanks for your comment.

[@RaffzVieira]

BeatsByITALY Indeed, it's really interesting to look at that correlation between terms and also ironically convenient as one can adress M/S either way. Nice info in your comment btw

[@TheEpicProjects300K]

BeatsByITALY I'm pretty sure M is mono and S is stereo information. If you think about it mono is when the sound is centered, whereas the stereo information is what is being pushed to the sides.

[@Rob-jq2uj]

Awesome bro, great tips, thoroughly explained!

[@MrUsamamubeen1]

Hey sir thank you i have learned a lot from you... Love from Pakistan

[@janklodb]

Hilarious, real, simple, informative. You have socials? instant fan. Thanks for the info!

[@azrudinmutic]

It´s all good, but i would recommend you to use overdrive instead of Saturator. A little trick i learned from F9 ( Freemasons, James Wiltshire ). Works very very well on many things, especially on leads and drums.

[@sleevamusic5811]

your sound bank sounds really good, i wish i could get my hands on it

[@MOMO-tn5br]

Always zen in a zen world;) i love your tutorials man thanks!

[@bennymack9816]

This was awesome. Id like to purchase the pack with the samples you demonstrated, can you kindly tell which one it is?

[@XllrenollX]

Dope video would be great to see other styles of leads layered together. i am sure you already have that planned but, super dope keep these coming!

[@RicardoSilva-jj6rg]

dude you're an awesome inspiration... stay clean and cool and thanks a lot for your FREE gold worth tutorials. can't wait to check out your soundbanks 😎✌ greetings from Germany

[@Arcessitor]

A small correction: A compressors attack and release is NOT how fast it activate. Rather, it's the speed at which the compressors, AFTER the threshold is breached, goes to maximum gain reduction. That was one of the funny things in Jay Hardway's masterclass, he has a threshold below the actual gain so his compressor did nothing. Now, most people don't get it THAT WRONG, but even what you said is incorrect for a different reason. If you put the attack at 20 ms, it will still start compressing at 0ms of the threshold breach, but it will take 20ms to go to maximum gain reduction. For example, breaching the threshold at 20db OVER the threshold will diminish the gain by db / 4db, so it will bring back the total gain by 5db, meaning at 10ms it will have compressed 2.5db (and 1.25db at 5ms, 3.75db at 15ms). By picking a longer attack, this means you essentially preserve the punch of the sound. Similarly, the release determines the amount of time it takes for the compressor to approach 0dB gain reduction AFTER the threshold is no longer breached. So, if you have a sound with a significant release that is under the threshold, the release will still be reduced more significantly at the start of the release than at the end. This means the release will be more uniform. With make-up tied to dB gain, that means the sound is actually louder for longer.

[@ZakFarley]

FFS, I can't seem to get my lil brain to figure out compressors man, from what you just said I have no clue what I am doing with them now

[@humbledeer]

If you follow what Mr. Christopher said you'll be better off.

Yes

[@DJSidhu24]

You are awesome man zen! Love ya bro.. I wanna know which plug in is best to buy serum or sylenth 1 plz tell me bro...

[@OfficialHaloBelle]

You can do the same things with boths serum and synlenth1 bro!

[@yakovhelwani905]

Can you do a tutorial on layering saws?

[@creativetrance1]

very informative and well done video. thanks!

[@akshatsrivastava2252]

Great video again Zen!!!! Hope to see more like these😂😂

[@digitaldiezel5870]

#1 Thanks for all of the knowledge! Its invaluable. #2 Is there a reason you would use separate grouped (bussed) channels over the Instrument Racks in Ableton? Was that just so users with other DAWs can relate more to the example?

[@Alaniasty]

What's up Zen, importante question: when layerning f.e two basses. and cutting eq; 1. 20 - 70hz: sub 2. 70 - 300 some bass There's some gap between 50-100hz its visible on eq and hearable. How to deal with it ?

[@mirankapor9785]

Great video man. Thank you for uploading great content. Keep up the good work.

[@edvinlagermo9994]

Thank you this tutorial helped me alot! Keep up the good work!

[@willroswell]

So helpful! I needed this.

[@pchang4556]

Awesome tutorial. you should do more struff like this! maybe next, layering bass ? mid bass? :) cheers bro appreciate u

[@RoryFP]

really good video man i learnt alot from it :)

[@alosious]

Zen World, can u explain how W&W style leads are made?

[@Delston05]

Great tutorial. I'm definitely guilty of too many layers, and find myself reworking leads and basses to find a way to reduce layers and still like the outcome. As a Trance producer, I also struggle with layering and using the filter cutoff to open them up during a breakdown, this changes the sound a lot, do I layer/ & EQ on the opened up sound? or maybe with the cutoff in the middle? Automate the EQ to fit both? Anyway, learned a lot here. Simplicity is key.

[@oscarbrundin5565]

Are the EQ effects available in Fabfilter or Fruity Parametic EQ 2??? Love your stuff Zen helps me alot!!!!!

[@satishreginald8888]

Hey thanks so much for the video. 2 questions, where in the bus chain would you recommend having side chaining? Because personally I've thought it sounds nicer before reverb, but then it seems like having reverb would unfree up the kick. And then my other question is with your technique do you think it's okay to pan our leads after? For instance if we have 2 melodies playing could we have them to each side. Thanks so much for the video!

[@NewRock001]

Lol if I had patches like that to start with I'd be fine... where did you get those?

[@ishaan5849]

Super helpful video! Thanks!

[@Typisktmattan]

Thank you, this video was very insightful.

[@manabbose3467]

thank you Zen for this video I learned about layering with the help of seeing the EQ bands. I have a question weather it's necessary to know how to use different DAWs to be a good producers appreciate your tutorials

[@Arcessitor]

+Manab Bose Why would you need different DAWs? If you only use third party plugins they are functionally the exact same. DAWs don't affect production quality at all.

[@manabbose3467]

+Joven Christopher Thank your very much for your time. appreciated ur opinion

[@thymen121]

Very nice tutorial!!!!!

[@nandoblondemobydick5438]

I agree great tutorial, very well explained. suby

[@Faaaabier]

Could you please cover how to get such a rich and full piano sound like Michael Calfan?

[@kuribohalado2448]

Amazing tutorial mate thanks! Its really easy to understand! =D

[@ricobalboa9185]

TNice tutorials helped sooo much!

[@qatrax]

Try give reverb before Compression. But really great tutorial ;)

[@andrewahn1178]

ZEN WORLD!!!! DUDE THIS WAS SO HELPFUL; HOWEVER, WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO FOR LIKE MARTIN GARRIX STYLE LEADS?????? I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW HOW MARTIJN MADE HIS SOUND, AND I KNOW YOU ALSO KNOW. HAHA THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

[@Williecrts]

This just helped me soooooooo much thank you man!

[@matmeus7172]

absolutely brilliant!

[@ZenWorld]

Thanks Atreus glad you enjoyed the video

[@chammy3904]

Hey mate. Do you have tutorials for Fl studio?

[@alpha5018]

Awesome man, good stuff!

[@angelotagliatelle]

On 2:10 that lead sounds like it's panned is it?

[@jesuslabandelo8299]

Does anyone here knows the tip from minute 8:04 on fl studio. I been using the peak controller method for each channel and it takes a lot of time. This tip from Zen seems much easiest and fast. I need some help in that because when I'm playing my tracks on virtual dj, I can see the peak from my leads playing at high frequencies than my piano chords even though I think my leads sounds good. Maybe I'm doing something wrong in my mixing but definitely when stacking my leads with plucks and chords, I see either my plucks peaking high or my leads peaking high when everything is stack :(. If any experts here in fl studio please let me now, I will send you a screenshot on what I'm mean. I feel like I'm missing tip 8:04.

[@Michael_RareZebra]

Very very helpful - thank you. Liked & Subbed!!

[@majinbuu5234]

I make trap bro! but I bought your pack anyway! I can definitely make something out of it keep it up!

[@KINGVENAROMA]

dude your eqing is beautiful

[@Kevin-xh2pj]

wow really great tutorial, so glad i found this and definitely hitting the sub button

[@joegannuci2193]

How would you do the Bus where there both on the same channel in FL studio 12 ? Same way on the Mac ? Or are you using a PC for this video ?

[@SergioDanielJaramillo]

This is dope!!! Can you make a video about layering bass? (Sorry for my english) hahaha

[@wackercat5754]

How would I mix 2 wide sounds using this technique? For example two big saws

[@anuragpant8076]

Thanks a lot. TNice tutorials video got started.

[@cloudheavenmusic855]

In the layering? Can I like do like a high, mid, low kind of thing, like find a high preset and then layer it? :O

[@alzate1996]

Hey dude! Thank you for posting this videos! I have actually problems with my Synths, because I like how the sound in Stereo but they suck in Mono. Any help over there? And it's a bad Idea to use the same EQ to all the synths? Or it has to be individually?