Ableton Forum

I'm trying to learn how to make a proper hardstyle kick. To my surprise, I found out a lot of it is compression and distortion, a little EQing, maybe a filter or two, more compression, distortion, etc, from what I mostly understand.

I want to learn how to make a basic hardstyle kick using only ableton though. A lot of videos show using samples from Drumazon and such. I simply want to start with a 909 kick sample already installed in the library, followed by only the built in instruments and effects that come with Suite 9.

Any suggestions? So far I load up a drum rack and throw a 909 kick in there, throw on a limiter and some compression, EQ, and I get a fairly basic sounding hard kick. I clearly don't really know what I'm doing with the limiter and compression though. I compress often, so I have a good understanding of that, it's the limiter and the distortion I don't quite know how to master. I've been using a multiband dynamics for the distortion thus far.

Any suggestions?

The saturator effect will help a lot, try the hard curve distortion type, then push the drive almost completely up! messing with the base and depth parameters helps too (dial base up slightly, reduce depth)

try pushing the glue compressor a bit, can get some nice results

Learn to synthesize your own kicks to have total control...

Operator is a good place to start... starting with one oscillator, that pitches down a couple octaves (more or less) in a relatively short time period. A sharp attack is pretty well necessary... and mess around with the release time 'til you hit your mark...

I'm thinking the sort of kick you're looking for is probably a sine/square combo... ?

As for the compressor... it's to help your levels. For it to be dirty... set the threshold a few DB below the peak... and push the ratio to inf. (or close to)... attack should be relative to the "click" or "pop" of the kick, and the release relative to what part of the sub you want to emphasize...

Remember at 120bpm, the length between the start of each kick (assuming a four-to-the-floor pattern) is 500ms... you want a minimal kick, set short timing... you want a heavy kick that squashes the signal for the whole track, set it longer... but keep in mind your practical range for a kick is MAX 500ms at 120... no use setting the timing on your compressors or anything longer than that...