KVR Audio

dmassive · Post by **dmassive** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:39 pm

Anyone can tell me some tips to make the Bassdrum sound better? compression? excitation? equalization? what more?

I made trance/hardcore music, the bassdrum sound good, but don't really kick.

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:42 pm

mp3 example from your song please

it's hard to just say what needs to be done in a certain mix without hearing it.

nool · Post by **nool** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:57 pm

make it short, punchy, loud, and occupying the right freqs on a spectrum :p

Rune L-H · Post by **Rune L-H** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:08 pm

I seconds the answers so far. It all depends on the original kick drum, the context in the mix and your personal taste. There's no magic general formula.

But if you are not satisfied with the dynamics of it, and you want to give it more punch or otherwise shape the dynamics, you might want to check out my Compadre Beatpuncher compressor: http://www.otiumfx.com/compadre.php

pricer · Post by **pricer** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:12 pm

make sure you cut some space in the mix for it - so if you boost it say at 75Hz, make sure you cut the other bass instruments at 75Hz too! Also for presence, boost the clickiness of it - so say a typical 808 kick has the click around 3.5 kHz, make sure you're not cluttering up this frequency space with unwanted stuff too!

Good Luck!

Ackelito · Post by **Ackelito** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:22 pm

Compression and EQ or vice verse... a slight boost in root frequency of the kickdrum will make it kick/punch more, or a pumping compressor... also some distortion can work good to stimulate the high frequencies...

pgarrison · Post by **pgarrison** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:28 pm

Adding to what others have said about EQ/Compression...

The most important decision to make is what is going to be the lowest: kick drum or bass? Make this decision, and then scoop out the EQs accordingly. You'll want to do a scoop on the lower instrument at around 250-400HZ, to get rid of so-called "mud." Most pro-engineers I've read say that cutting frequencies is better than boosting.

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:36 pm

Check this out, just about the best advice I've ever read on the subject:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun01/a ... mixing.asp

VanLichten · Post by **VanLichten** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:10 pm

Some Plugins things that work for me:

Voxengos Crunchessor with its diverse envelope stlyes works wonders often..especiallly the snappy and punchy options.
Also, Digitalfishphones free Dominion can do something for shoretning the deacys, makeing it snappier; good saturation algo also...

Cheers, Richard

Mixing: Bassdrum, How to make it sound better?