With so much energy in the low end, the kick drum is usually one of the toughest element to mix. Yet it can make or break a track. So here are 5 tips that will improve your kick drum in your mix.
1 – DON’T DO ANYTHING
The first way to improve a kick is to not do anything to it and make space for it instead by keeping other sounds from hitting the low end and mids with an EQ.
2 – SEPARATE KICK AND BASS
The second way is to distance the bass and kick from each other. Once again the EQ is the tool of choice here where a boost on one end will result in a cut in the same space on the other.
3 – BOOST
If you want a snappier kick that cuts through the mix, try pushing mids between 500Hz and 1kHz
4 – COMPRESSION SETTINGS
Give your sampled kick attitude and character with compression’s attack and release settings
5 – DISTORTION
Add rich harmonics and character to dull and lifeless samples. But as always, don’t overdo. Start applying distortion in mid and high frequencies first (between 1kHz and 7 kHz)
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