11.3

NN-XT SAMPLER453
Layered, crossfaded and velocity switched sounds
Creating layered sounds
You can set things up so that two or more zones have overlapping key ranges - either completely or partially. This way
you can create layered sounds, i.e. different samples that are played simultaneously when you press a key on your
keyboard.
In the picture above, you can see a set of piano samples at the top, mapped across the key range.
Below these are a set of string samples that also span the entire key range.
Whenever you play a key within this keyboard range, the sound produced will be a combination of the piano and the
string sample.
In addition, in the example above, the user has arranged the piano samples into one group and the string samples in
another. This is convenient since it allows for quick selection of the entire piano map, for example for balancing its
level against the strings.
About velocity ranges
When zones are set up so that their key ranges overlap – completely or partially – you can use velocity switching and
crossfading to determine which zones should be played back depending on how hard or soft you play on your MIDI
keyboard.
This is done by setting up velocity ranges, with or without crossfading.
Each time you press a key on your MIDI keyboard, a velocity value between 1-127 is sent to Reason. If you press the
key softly, a low velocity value is sent and if you press it hard, a high velocity value is sent.
This velocity value determines which samples will be played and which will not.
Let’s say for example that you’ve mapped three different zones across the same key range:
• Zone 1 has a velocity range from 1-40.
This means that the sample in it will be triggered by velocity values between 1-40.
• Zone 2 has a velocity range of 41-80.
The sample in this zone will be played back by velocity values between 41-80.