Post
by superaction80 » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:45 am
Probably it would be best to understand to physical properties of low frequency sounds before trying anything. Frequencies below 150 hz are the first to "mud-up", so you have to be careful. Having two "low-endy" kicks layered on top of each other can cause phase cancellation, or just a low-frequency swamp that will make it hard to hear any definition.
Usually, I'll pick one kick to carry all the booty, and then use other sounds as character. If those other sounds are other kick drums (or they have some lows in them), I'll use an eq to roll off the lows in those sounds.
Really, the low-cut eq is the best-kept secret in audio production. I tend to take 80hz out of everything that isn't a kick drum, and up to 250hz out of anything that is not a bass patch.
Another trick, squeeze the kick with a compressor (4:1 to 8:1 ratio, with the comp hitting around -3 tp -6 db), set a very fast release time, and then open up the attack time until it "pops". Or, run the same comp on a return and send each different kick over to it with the send turned all the way up (I think this comes out at 0bd when the send is cranked).
Of course, your monitoring situation makes a big difference. The bad news is that it is very hard to get the low-end right in a room that wasn't specifically built as a studio control room.
So, at the end of the day, let your ears be your guide, and don't be afraid to take you sounds and play them back on different systems (the living room stereo, the car, the iPod, your friend's studio, etc.).
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