When i read the title i thought it was a thread about "humanizers, adding swing, etc." Now i see it's a drum compressor discussion. I'd recommend an EQ and a fast compressor (there's so many, but i'm sure they will all be posted in a few pages).
Back when i was more interested in drum loops i used StylusRMX with it's built in effects (and it's great "chaos" and timing features). Unfortunately it's abandonware (i still occasionally use it). also used multi band compression (izotope) and some light overdrive.
Drum Loops: What Software Brings Them to Life?
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- KVRAF
- 2856 posts since 10 Jul, 2008 from Orbit SW US
gadgets an gizmos..make noise~crystalawareness.bandcamp.com/ soundcloud.com/crystalawareness Restocked: 5/2026
if this post is edited -it was for punctuation, grammar, or to make it coherent (or make me seem coherent).
if this post is edited -it was for punctuation, grammar, or to make it coherent (or make me seem coherent).
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- KVRAF
- 2575 posts since 25 Apr, 2009 from gone
I’d use :
- a noise gate first. Not to cut anything, only to reduce the lower volumes. You’ll get insane contrast and so more power instantly.
- a speaker simulator to create living resonances. If phase issues appear, simply run it 100% through a very very short reverb added in parallel mode. You’ll get the sound but not the problems. You can run this layer in a stereo making plugin so it doesn’t interfere but it’s still hearable.
- compress your drum loop as much as possible, until the sound seems ultimately powerful to you, then dry/wet it until you like it. Start from dry and slowly add wet.
- if needed, a transient modifier can add life instantly.
- think of reverb. But not as huge spaces. Use very small reverbs. As long as you obtain something better when you dry/wet it, you’re good to go. Try presets or make your own if you know what you want. If you want this snare to sound deeper, then program your own reverb by making it 100% wet and simply adjust everything until you only hear a deeper snare. It’s quite easy by selecting the sidechain frequencies : cut anything excepted the main snare frequencies. Then back to dry/wet when done, simply control how much deeper your snare will be. Repeat for anything, may it be a hat, a tamb or a kick. By staying subtile, you can make your drumloop come to life very easily this way.
But imho : forget about automatic magic tricks. No software will make every of your loops sound better. It’s a work of art and patience.
- a noise gate first. Not to cut anything, only to reduce the lower volumes. You’ll get insane contrast and so more power instantly.
- a speaker simulator to create living resonances. If phase issues appear, simply run it 100% through a very very short reverb added in parallel mode. You’ll get the sound but not the problems. You can run this layer in a stereo making plugin so it doesn’t interfere but it’s still hearable.
- compress your drum loop as much as possible, until the sound seems ultimately powerful to you, then dry/wet it until you like it. Start from dry and slowly add wet.
- if needed, a transient modifier can add life instantly.
- think of reverb. But not as huge spaces. Use very small reverbs. As long as you obtain something better when you dry/wet it, you’re good to go. Try presets or make your own if you know what you want. If you want this snare to sound deeper, then program your own reverb by making it 100% wet and simply adjust everything until you only hear a deeper snare. It’s quite easy by selecting the sidechain frequencies : cut anything excepted the main snare frequencies. Then back to dry/wet when done, simply control how much deeper your snare will be. Repeat for anything, may it be a hat, a tamb or a kick. By staying subtile, you can make your drumloop come to life very easily this way.
But imho : forget about automatic magic tricks. No software will make every of your loops sound better. It’s a work of art and patience.
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- KVRAF
- 1787 posts since 22 Feb, 2014
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- KVRian
- 516 posts since 12 May, 2023
Slap-very cool drum shaping plugin I love it and recommend ,Shaperbox and Efx Motions to really mangle or glitch a drums, Supercharger Gt is great on drums , Fuse compressor or Vanai XTT for that noisy OTT sound, a hard Clipper -always
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- Banned
- 475 posts since 22 Nov, 2015
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 25 Sep, 2024
A good free option that I use from time to time is Kiloheart's free Transient Shaper: https://kilohearts.com/products/transient_shaper
I haven't used it but I've heard good things about Surreal Machines' Impact: https://www.surrealmachines.com/transie ... nes-vstau/
I haven't used it but I've heard good things about Surreal Machines' Impact: https://www.surrealmachines.com/transie ... nes-vstau/
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- KVRian
- 744 posts since 15 May, 2003 from R'lyeh
I use an old Akai so its already done for me before it even gets to the computer..
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- KVRian
- 552 posts since 8 Sep, 2013
+1 on SLAPChanceB wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 7:33 am Slap-very cool drum shaping plugin I love it and recommend ,Shaperbox and Efx Motions to really mangle or glitch a drums, Supercharger Gt is great on drums , Fuse compressor or Vanai XTT for that noisy OTT sound, a hard Clipper -always
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- KVRian
- 552 posts since 8 Sep, 2013
For over a decade now.. Permut8 is still my #1 fave FX plugin of all time.I`d give my arm for a hardware version.