Rolling off top of kick

[SouthSideSamurai]

How much do you guys roll off the top end of your kicks? Not sure whats too much vs not enough

Lee

[Da hand]

It actually really depends on the song in question. I may use the same kick for a few songs and each one will be EQed differently depending on what else is happening in the song and how I want to the kick to sound in relation to all my other elements. The kick is always a careful balance between the low end and the the top end (or click) with some careful attention also needed to the mid frequency (where all the woodiness of the kick resides).

Sometimes I even use a different EQ for the same kick for different parts of the song - the same being for other elements of the song - to give different moods for different sections. If you like, here is an example of this in one of my tracks (not trying to promo my song, just for illustration ):

https://soundcloud.com/janpienkowski/sa ... eart-remix

The first kick only comes in at 1:36 and it's a deep 808 kick with most of the top end rolled off. Then the same kick returns at the drop at 2:51 with the high end now present. Why? To give it more presence at this point in the track and also because I opened up the EQ (and volume) on all the other elements of the drums. If I would have kept the kick's high end muted at this point, the kick would be lost in the mix and sound weak.

So in this case, what works in the first part of the song, doesn't necessarily work in the second part. It is the same when dealing with kick EQs for multiple songs.

One thing to add, when you are trying to find the right EQ balance for the mix, for any sound, don't solo the instrument to try and EQ it for the mix (solo only to fix issues with the sound). You should be EQing your kick with other elements playing (especially the bass and the rest of the drums) to find the right balance.

[SouthSideSamurai]

It actually really depends on the song in question. I may use the same kick for a few songs and each one will be EQed differently depending on what else is happening in the song and how I want to the kick to sound in relation to all my other elements. The kick is always a careful balance between the low end and the the top end (or click) with some careful attention also needed to the mid frequency (where all the woodiness of the kick resides).

Sometimes I even use a different EQ for the same kick for different parts of the song - the same being for other elements of the song - to give different moods for different sections. If you like, here is an example of this in one of my tracks (not trying to promo my song, just for illustration ):

https://soundcloud.com/janpienkowski/sa ... eart-remix

The first kick only comes in at 1:36 and it's a deep 808 kick with most of the top end rolled off. Then the same kick returns at the drop at 2:51 with the high end now present. Why? To give it more presence at this point in the track and also because I opened up the EQ (and volume) on all the other elements of the drums. If I would have kept the kick's high end muted at this point, the kick would be lost in the mix and sound weak.

So in this case, what works in the first part of the song, doesn't necessarily work in the second part. It is the same when dealing with kick EQs for multiple songs.

One thing to add, when you are trying to find the right EQ balance for the mix, for any sound, don't solo the instrument to try and EQ it for the mix (solo only to fix issues with the sound). You should be EQing your kick with other elements playing (especially the bass and the rest of the drums) to find the right balance.

Yo thanks homie, this helped alot! and i appreciate the detailed response, unlike the classic, "there's no right answer" response haha. also digging you're code blue remix! i can totally hear what you're talking about with the kick.

[Da hand]

Very glad to be of help and very happy you like the track - thanks man!