Ableton Forum

Hey there,Im having serious trouble with getting that PHAT kick hitting the right frequency.Here's what i do:

-Set the Impulse channel to mono (utility plug in)
-EQ it Cut below 80 Hz and boost it lil bit arround 2 kHz to get that slap
-I compress it a little with fast attack and mid release
-And i sidechain everithing else (basses,leeds)to get it off the way of the kick but still isn't as PHAT as I would like to.

Am I missing something here......?What would you suggest!?

Thanks!

Kaloyan*

www.myspace.com/kaloyangavrilov

get better samples?
its always easier if you start with the sound you want
maybe try bussing your other tracks to a channel and taking out the frequencies that you want to be pronounced in your kick

You cut the low frequencies at 80hz and want to get a SUB kick? Did you ever rethink this decision?

Yeah if any, the sub-kick should be hi-hpassed at that, and the sidechaining trick that works best with this is to have a constant sine being sidechained by a standard kick for an extra push.. Seems like this guy uses the right techniques in the "wrong" way.

Sub is everything below 80 so why cut it all out? High pass at 30, layer up your kick. EQ don't compress bring up between 2 and 5 for the transients.

It might be OK to highpass (at 30 or 80) and then compress (with some attack) your kick if you are aiming to get some THWAP and presence... but for the love of pete go back and add another kick drum layer that is not high pass filtered at all, and don't compress that.

Compressing drums makes them less dynamic, so be careful. ( or as the previous poster says, use EQ to bring out transients, not a compressor!)

And, yeah, as its been mentioned, high pass filtering at 80hz is the best way to make your kick drum wimpy.

But let me mention again... LAYER.

use one layer you can hear in the mix,
the other layer (the "sub" layer if you will) is only to be felt.

heres my tip..

the power of the kick imo lies in the texture.. usually i get this by pairingup 3 elements.


1.a large, but subtle sub.. 30-120 Hz
2.a warm and airy bassline (can also be a sub,) 60 - 300 hz
3.and the a nice punchy mid range kick!

ive been laering for years, but only within this last week have i explored layering basslines/subs.

its the secret to that huge ( but not overpowering) bass imo. good luck

laird wrote:It might be OK to highpass (at 30 or 80) and then compress (with some attack) your kick if you are aiming to get some THWAP and presence... but for the love of pete go back and add another kick drum layer that is not high pass filtered at all, and don't compress that.

Compressing drums makes them less dynamic, so be careful. ( or as the previous poster says, use EQ to bring out transients, not a compressor!)

And, yeah, as its been mentioned, high pass filtering at 80hz is the best way to make your kick drum wimpy.

But let me mention again... LAYER.

use one layer you can hear in the mix,
the other layer (the "sub" layer if you will) is only to be felt.

+1

Can anyone post a small example of an ableton set with layering ?
I am really new to this but deeply interested.

THANKS MUCH GUYS!!!!!!I tried a few things and it turned pretty damn good...!Big ups!