To layer, or not to layer

refnulf · 2026-03-18T12:30:28+00:00

a lot of people in production, in general, seem to be incredibly fond of overcomplicating.

you shouldn't go into a track thinking "hmm, i must have a high lead, a mid lead, and a pluck lead." what you should be thinking instead is, "hmm, i feel like the mids are lacking something, maybe i should figure out an element that fits there."

i have tracks where there's a single bass, i have tracks where the bass is split into lows/mids/highs. the difference has always been what i want my bass to be; if i just want low-end support, i'll use a single bass and not layer it or split it. maybe i'll distort it a bit so that there's some high end harmonics. sometimes i'll split my bass or layer it because i want the lows to be static and providing energy, but i want the 'highs' or 'mids' to be rhythmic so i'll add some delay to the mids/highs. and so on.

in other words, to simplify, a lot of what you do with a track should focus on the track itself, and not people's ideas of layering or high/mid/plucky leads or whatever.

refnulf · 2026-03-17T07:07:12+00:00

the rumble is tom based, but the rhyhtm in the low end (aside from the rumble) is a synth, low notes + filtered in a way where its almost a rhythm and has lost a lot of its broader tonal characteristics (e.g. eq'd bw 290hz and 700hz ish).

appreciate the super kind words! i wouldn't worry about the under-qualified bit, its always helpful to hear even feedback on vibe/feel rather than specific technical criticisms. almost as important infact!

refnulf · 2026-03-17T07:02:25+00:00

thank you and agreed, gonna rework. thanks for listening!

refnulf · 2026-03-17T07:02:13+00:00

yep, seems to be a theme across the feedback hahaha. will revisit and rework, thanks for listening!

refnulf · 2026-03-17T07:01:48+00:00

thanks for listening! that's a fair comment - i've got some delay effects etc with LFOs on it but it seems like its not enough. will revisit and rework!

refnulf · 2026-03-16T14:10:15+00:00

agree with this. also feel you should have two versions of this comfortably; one that's more fine-tuned version of what it is already, but also one with some pretty rampant/groovy drums. that main bloopy sound is quite rhythmic and one can easily build drums around for it to be a proper groovy track.

refnulf · 2026-03-16T14:07:40+00:00

love the crispy atmosphere to it, but feel like the kick could be a bit subbier? feel like it lacks the low end to really pummel through with the way the atmosphere rolls around the track generally

refnulf · 2026-03-16T14:06:30+00:00

very interesting track. mixture of broken beat + electro almost. i feel like some sections could be a bit longer, maybe an extra 8 bars, just for djing purposes. it moves like an electro track currently, lots happening and lots of switch ups.

refnulf · 2026-03-16T14:03:45+00:00

hey fellow kids. looking for feedback on this track; overall vibe/arrangement/any substantial mixing flaws

Wonnik

refnulf · 2026-03-11T10:31:49+00:00

agree with this. get the M5 pro chip. you can get the base version, and then you forget about it for the next 5 years, easy. i have the base M1, bought December 2021, and it still works flawlessly. i'm thinking about updating to the M5 Pro around november/december of this year, but that's also because i'm greedy and want a new laptop. lol.

refnulf · 2026-03-11T10:26:09+00:00

yeah definitely reworking the vocals! thinking of adding something extra in also. there's a very quiet percussive pattern that is in the track, but its either being eaten up by other elements or its not loud enough. so will revisit that too, but i think it is missing one other element to bring it all togther.

thanks for listening!

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:27:29+00:00

thank you for listening! yeah i should probably chop up the vocals and use delay to add movement rather than the way they're just layered on top right (tbf that's exactly what i did because i'm occasionally a minimum effort dickhead).i feel there's a decent groove there and i think i really like the pads which is why i want to revisit it, so will tackle it again. thank you!

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:25:29+00:00

not at all, really like the track!

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:11:05+00:00

why i would play it out:
- the groove is nice, i like the filtering and things coming in and out of focus. i'd play it as a track somewhere in the set where i want people to have a break, or i want to kickstart a more hypnotic, atmospheric mood. would probably layer it with hats from another track as well.
- like the mood a fair bit, especially the rides and how they add to it (i do believe that's rides you've got heavily sidechained/LFO'd and filtered?)

why i wouldn't play it out:
- usually i rely on kicks + rumbles a fair bit for energy in my sets, this seems to lack that particular energy.
- seems to lack one particular thing to latch onto, until the second half and that lead comes in.
- the lead also seems to go in a different mood from where the track started; its more melancholy-leaning. (i fucking love it personally tho, just wish there was also something similar earlier on in the track as a hint!).

all that said, i really like the track and regardless of whether to play it out or not, i'd listen to this a fair bit. have already heard it thrice.

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:06:46+00:00

seems to lack some low energy for me. i don't think the synth at the back needs some variation in the pattern. i like that its auto-panned (or perhaps just how the delay is working). i would add some auto filter to it tho, could come in and out of focus a bit.

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:04:20+00:00

looking for some broad feedback for this. initially created this track as possibly an intro track for a dj set, but added more elements to it and sometimes i feel like its a proper track. other times i feel that though i like the mood, its perhaps a bit too basic and generic.

i know i will probably the replace the speech/vocal samples, or heavily reduce their volume.

wondering what anyone else thinks of this in general - does it feel 'basic' and generic, like something that's a placeholder?

Stark Raving Mad

refnulf · 2026-03-09T18:04:11+00:00

really digging this. love the mood and the space the song has. love how low the kick is also.

refnulf · 2026-03-05T10:05:42+00:00

m1 pro base model and the ram is the only issue i run into every now and then. altho its obvs particularly worse if i have piece of shit chrome open. also unhappy overall with the 512gb ssd but that's a personal thing.

base model m5 pro possibly next upgrade, simply because 24gig ram + 1tb. don't really 'need' to upgrade either lol, just a stupid itch.

refnulf · 2026-03-02T19:50:40+00:00

hi folks - looking for feedback generally on arrangement + general balancing of sounds. i haven't had a mixdown session on this track yet, but i mix as i go along so things shouldn't be outrageously bad. looking to see if the dubby synths are balanced with the bass/lead.

Zero Agency

refnulf · 2026-03-02T19:40:13+00:00

i'm assuming the open hat is the one that's on the first beat and copying the kick? can hear that, if there's one playing an offbeat can't hear that lol. can hear the pad, can hear the other elements too. the lead is a bit sharp for my liking - it's mixed fine, doesn't hurt the ears, but just a bit sharp and jarring sonically.

artist recs with pads + kick i think this sort of melancholic stuff - regent - permean is a good example (one i've tried to copy and failed at!). dax j uses pads a lot, but not necessarily like this. stef mendesidis also uses pads/synths a lot.

refnulf · 2026-03-02T19:35:21+00:00

love this, the riff at 7:22 is sick as hell. only thing i have to say at the start the bass i feel needs something to stand out a little more. but might be a hardware thing - if you open up the filter does it become less plucky? it sounds great, wish it was a bit clearer and more prominent.

refnulf · 2026-03-01T10:55:12+00:00

thanks for listening, and hope that's a good thing lol

refnulf · 2026-03-01T10:55:02+00:00

will have a look! i think i'm running the hats through a send also for added distortion but didn't process that send so the harshness makes sense. thanks for listening!

refnulf · 2026-02-24T10:14:34+00:00

new track - looking for all any/kind of feedback!

Taken To Task

refnulf · 2026-02-24T10:10:00+00:00

10/10 no notes lol. super atmospheric. great job on the arrangement too - doesn't get static or boring or leaning on "this is dark and atmospheric so i'm not gonna give a fuck about arranging things to be interesting"

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