What frequencies (hi and low) should be rolled-off to clean up drum loops?
I'm trying to cut back on harshness, mud, and artifacts for over a thousand drum loops. Any suggestions for EQ parameters that I can globally use with some confidence during batch processing? Thank you.
What frequencies (hi and low) should be rolled-off to clean up drum loops?
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- KVRAF
- 16890 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
OK, let go of that mouse and keyboard and slowly walk away.
That must be one of the worst things you can do.
That must be one of the worst things you can do.
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRist
- 70 posts since 10 Mar, 2022
Drum loops are already EQ'd to a broadly useful spectrum. They should only be EQ'd when you put them into your project and in the context of the rest of your music.
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- KVRAF
- 2877 posts since 10 Jul, 2008 from Orbit SW US
Noooo, let go of your mouse and keyboard is the best thing you can do.BertKoor wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 8:34 pm OK, let go of that mouse and keyboard and slowly walk away.
That must be one of the worst things you can do.
Batch EQing a thousand drum loops is illegal in some countries!
gadgets an gizmos..make noise~crystalawareness.bandcamp.com/ soundcloud.com/crystalawareness Restocked: 7/2026
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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- KVRian
- 544 posts since 1 Jan, 2021
I think I’ve read somewhere that OP has been arrested already.
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- KVRAF
- 14031 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Seattle
^^^ and being restrained, while over a thousand drum loops with harshness, mud, and artifacts are playing through headphones, at the threshold of pain. Welcome to Florida.
I'm not a musician, but I've designed sounds that others use to make music. http://soundcloud.com/obsidiananvil
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- KVRAF
- 2877 posts since 10 Jul, 2008 from Orbit SW US
Oh no, we tried to warn you.
Glad you're out.
offtopic: my extremely close friend just sent me a message a few mins before i got online that her kid got hauled in for reckless driving (in the US, probably going to be a big moving violation ticket, as big as yours OP, except really real).
Glad you're out.
offtopic: my extremely close friend just sent me a message a few mins before i got online that her kid got hauled in for reckless driving (in the US, probably going to be a big moving violation ticket, as big as yours OP, except really real).
Last edited by CrystalWizard on Sun Aug 24, 2025 5:17 am, edited 2 times in total.
gadgets an gizmos..make noise~crystalawareness.bandcamp.com/ soundcloud.com/crystalawareness Restocked: 7/2026
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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- KVRian
- 1415 posts since 1 Jul, 2023
250hz mud and its corresponding annoying older siblings, 3.5khz. Maybe use a gate with a soft knee to push some of the artefacts down a bit. This can also remove some room tone from a sound.tommyzai wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 7:32 pm What frequencies (hi and low) should be rolled-off to clean up drum loops?
I'm trying to cut back on harshness, mud, and artifacts for over a thousand drum loops. Any suggestions for EQ parameters that I can globally use with some confidence during batch processing? Thank you.
I would however suggest you don't do this en masse, mainly because once you've subtracted this stuff, you're not easily getting it back.
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- KVRAF
- 5274 posts since 2 Jul, 2005
As a batch, I'd only remove dc offset as well as a very gentle filter for extreme subs. The setup a very smooth deesser for harsh highs and a wide smiley "loudness" EQ curve. The deesser and loudness curve should be dynamic with very very high threshold so you don't ruin everything. Anything more in depth should be done loop by loop or left for when the loops are used.
Having some idea of where the loops came from (for potential issues) and how they are to be used would allow for better advice. You don't even say if they're electronic loops of analog drum machines or 16 bar loops of a jazz drummer playing live in a bar. Those would be approached quite differently.
Good luck
JJ
Having some idea of where the loops came from (for potential issues) and how they are to be used would allow for better advice. You don't even say if they're electronic loops of analog drum machines or 16 bar loops of a jazz drummer playing live in a bar. Those would be approached quite differently.
Good luck
JJ
Don't F**K with Mr. Zero.