Posts Tagged ‘ Kick ’

Do something different with rhythm

Break out of your usual rhythms. Think about all the usual assumptions you make when you’re programming drums and rhythms for other parts. People often speak of breaking the rules… what happens when you break your own rules? Take the kick drum for example… do you only ever place the kick drum on quarter-notes? See [ READ MORE ]

Examples of using group busses

Group busses are a versatile and useful mixing technique. They’re often used in a variety of different situations: Distorted guitar stacks. It’s quite common to layer or doubletrack (or tripletrack or quadrupletrack) distorted guitar parts in order to make them sound bigger. Sometimes the layers are all recorded with the same setup (same guitar, same [ READ MORE ]

Tuning the kick drum to the key of the song

It’s sometimes said that it’s important to tune the kick drum to the key of the song. While it’s commonly said in relation to electronic music, it’s certainly not restricted to that genre. Drummers tune their acoustic drum kits, no matter what genre they play. Often the individual kit pieces are tuned together so they [ READ MORE ]

Five secrets to making your mix louder

Don’t dismiss this post yet! Even if you’re in the ‘more dynamics’ brigade, these tips will give you clearer mixes that suffer less in mastering. That means better-preserved dynamics and higher fidelity! For those of you who really do want your mixs SUPER LOUD, this tips will let you push more volume without your sound [ READ MORE ]

Composing for Kick Drums 3

Variation Like for any other part, adding variation to the kick drum pattern adds interest and scope. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of variation – changing the timing of notes (keeping the same density) and adding/removing notes (changing the density). These variations are most effective when a regular pattern has been established (repeating for [ READ MORE ]

Composing for Kick Drums 2

Sparser Kick Drums In general, sparser kick drum patterns will be less energetic. As with the First and Third pattern, a sparse approach is generally useful for leaving space for other instruments. Taking this approach, the kick typically only emphasises the first beat of the bar, and sometimes a secondary beat (secondary in importance – [ READ MORE ]

Composing for Kick Drums 1

Kick drums. Where would we be without them? They are the foundation of the rhythm section. In most dance music, the kick drives the rhythm and groove of the entire song. Even in other genres, the kick drum provides a grounding. It marks the most important beats in the rhythm pattern, it helps us understand [ READ MORE ]

That pumping effect

So you’ve probably heard enough of that pumping effect by now. Yes, that pumping effect where the whole mix ducks to the kick. Or at least ducks in time with the music. Or at at least some instruments in the mix. Or something. If you still think it hasn’t gone out of fashion yet (or [ READ MORE ]

Compressing kick drums

Just a quickie to say that the choice of compressor you use for kick drums is more important than the actual settings you use. Kicks are a fickle beast – a few ms or a few db can make a huge difference in how the sound is perceived. This is also where a lot of compressors [ READ MORE ]

Balancing kick and bass

A kick drum can be loose, tight, deep, percussive, hollow, tubby, thick, light, etc. Do you want it to hit you in the stomach? The chest? The face? Likewise, a bass could be rough, smooth, deep, throaty, thick, etc. Bass often also has the potential for emphasising the higher-register sound of upper overtones. A bass could [ READ MORE ]

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