Layering kick drums

sineman · Post by **sineman** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:18 pm

I realise there's many ways to skin a cat but I'm after some advice on sorting out my kick. I'm constantly reading in mags about how layering up samples of kicks is the best way to get a decent kick (other than synthesis) and I've found some good articles on how to do it but it seems like such a mystical art.

Do people actually do this or am I just making life difficult for myself? No producers I know actually do it but the idea does appeal to me. It's just that I want to spend my time making music and not just kicks.

If you do layer a couple of kicks should they be straight samples/ audio files or can you layer two midi instruments 'playing ' kicks as midi notes/ parts?

Basically I just want to know is it worth it and how can I avoid losing the plot in the process!

Ta very much.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:22 pm

I think you're over-thinking things a bit - layering kicks is easily done on the fly.

Say you've got this great kick with tons of attack. You start the track, then suddenly you hear that it just doesn't have the tail you need. Well, drop in an extra 808, perhaps shift it, to delay it a bit, add a lowpass filter, and boom. Layered kick. The process doesn't take long.

It's fun - some of my best samples are layers of 2-3-4-5 snares/claps/snaps all mangled together and compressed. Easy.

AmbientMood · Post by **AmbientMood** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:23 pm

Surely you can just record MIDI or audio kicks, render them together and shazzzammm...

I just use free downloaded or sampled kicks, but I'm a novice and a pauper, so take what you will from that.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:31 pm

Make an impulse kit of kits, one for snares, etc.
Spread them across the keyboard either with the FREE massive rack at www.thecovertoperators.com
or use the pitch plug-in to adjust midi.

Now play drum beats with your hands, not fingers and you'll make layered kick drums.

Yes, some people get totally anal about layering drums, most of us don't like that level of tweaking.

Nogi · Post by **Nogi** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:57 pm

TIP: Play with the track delay a bit between the samples on separate tracks (no IMPULSE, please). Even for properly prepared samples, a slight time offset (say 2-6ms) can make a HUGE difference in the development of a layered kick. (Historically, I have the lower frequency range sample play ahead as it takes longer to bloom.)

sineman · Post by **sineman** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:00 am

Nice one, sounds like I have been making things a bit dificult for myself. Hmm, what a surprise that is.

will get cracking, cheers!

halfadder · Post by **halfadder** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:59 pm

Nogi wrote:(no IMPULSE, please)

why?

NorthernMonkey · Post by **NorthernMonkey** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:03 pm

sineman wrote:I realise there's many ways to skin a cat...

Please, for the love of God, can nobody post an image of a cat being skinned. Many thanks.

sebovzeoueb · Post by **sebovzeoueb** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:40 pm

NorthernMonkey wrote:
sineman wrote:I realise there's many ways to skin a cat...
Please, for the love of God, can nobody post an image of a cat being skinned. Many thanks.

Thanks for suggesting this...

Nogi · Post by **Nogi** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:52 pm

halfadder wrote:
Nogi wrote:(no IMPULSE, please)
why?

It produces too many artifacts when you are doing sound design. Working with unmolested audio will make the results more predictable. Drop the same 909 kick drum sample into an audio track and into IMPULSE. A/B them. You will realize how much work you just made for yourself.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:59 pm

Nogi wrote:
halfadder wrote:
Nogi wrote:(no IMPULSE, please)
why?
It produces too many artifacts when you are doing sound design. Working with unmolested audio will make the results more predictable. Drop the same 909 kick drum sample into an audio track and into IMPULSE. A/B them. You will realize how much work you just made for yourself.

uh-oh. 3... 2... 1...

djadonis206 · Post by **djadonis206** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:06 pm

0...-1...-2...-3

here r = 4/3 + cos(theta)

now find the eccentricity and identify the conic - sketch the conic and label the vertices

thanks

a

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:20 pm

djadonis206 wrote:0...-1...-2...-3

here r = 4/3 + cos(theta)

now find the eccentricity and identify the conic - sketch the conic and label the vertices

thanks

a

But I was going to go to the Tachi station and play with the power converters!!

djadonis206 · Post by **djadonis206** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:26 pm

Tone Deft wrote:
djadonis206 wrote:0...-1...-2...-3

here r = 4/3 + cos(theta)

now find the eccentricity and identify the conic - sketch the conic and label the vertices

thanks

a
But I was going to go to the Tachi station and play with the power converters!!

You can play with your friends when your chores are done...

:rolls eyes: Luke was such a dweeb - I feel bad for the Skywalker family

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:31 pm

djadonis206 wrote:
Tone Deft wrote:
djadonis206 wrote:0...-1...-2...-3

here r = 4/3 + cos(theta)

now find the eccentricity and identify the conic - sketch the conic and label the vertices

thanks

a
But I was going to go to the Tachi station and play with the power converters!!
You can play with your friends when your chores are done...

:rolls eyes: Luke was such a dweeb - I feel bad for the Skywalker family

Star Wars drinking game - drink everytime Luke whines. DANGER!!

Yeah, that family is pretty fucked up. Then again, they're all also religious fanatics belonging to some cult.

Layering kick drums

Layering kick drums

Re: Layering kick drums

Re: Layering kick drums