How much compression does a kick drum need?

A low ratio lets more dynamics through, since the signal won’t be attenuated as much. A good place to start with drums is to adjust the ratio to 4:1. If the drums are still too dynamic, up the ratio to 5:1 or higher.

Should you compress a kick drum?

Just like a bass guitar, our kick drum’s “low-end” will require some compression to provide consistency. In other words, we need to “tighten-up” the “low-end” to bring out the “high-end” of our kick drum. Chances are your mix has more than enough “thump”, but it most likely lacks the “bite”.

How do you compress a kick drum?

Start with the compressor with a fast attack (10 ms or less), fast release (50 ms or so), and pretty large ratio, say 5:1 or so. Now play a part of your song where the kick and bass play at the same time. Set the threshold low enough so that you get around 6 dB of compression on the bass every time the kick hits.

How do you make a punchy kick drum sound?

How To Get A Punchy Kick On Every Mix

1. Choose the right kick sample.
2. Use EQ to fatten/tighten up the kick.
3. Use Compression to make the kick punchy.
4. Make Sure Your Kick Sample Is In Mono.
5. Use Sidechain Compression To Give Space To Your Kick.

What is the best compressor for drums?

The Best Compressors For Mixing Drums

• Universal Audio 1176. The Universal Audio 1176 compressor is known for its super-fast attack and release times and colorful FET sound, which makes it a perfect pick for the drum bus.
• dbx 560A.
• API 2500.
• SSL Stereo Bus Compressor Module.
• UnderTone Audio Unfairchild 670M II.

What frequency should a kick drum be?

Kick drums can be tuned to have a fundamental frequency as low as 50 Hz and as high at 80 or 90 Hz depending on the drum size, the type of drumheads used and the style of music that is being played.

How can I make my drums sound better?

8 Easy Ways To Improve Your Drum Sound

1. WAX THE BEARING EDGE. Don’t melt wax and apply it to the drum.
2. CHECK BEARING EDGES FOR FLAT SPOTS.
3. MAKE SURE HEADS FIT PROPERLY.
4. EXPERIMENT WITH STICK TIPS.
5. INCREASE YOUR FLOOR TOM SUSTAIN.
6. ADJUST YOUR BASS DRUM BEATER.
7. ALIGN YOUR SNARE WIRES.
8. CUT DOWN RIDE CYMBAL OVERTONES.

How much compression do you need for a kick drum?

Compression for Kick Drum As the kick drum contains the most sub content in your drums, I often compress it heavier compared to any other drums in the mix so that it can make us easier to achieve a louder track after the mastering stage. I usually compress the kick drum by 2dB to 6dB with a ratio of 4:1.

How does the compressor work on a kick drum?

Essentially, your compressor is “muting” your track, but only AFTER your designated “attack” time. As you increase the “attack” speed, you let more sound pass through the compressor. More of the “transient”, in other words.

What should the low end of a kick drum be?

The kick drum needs to be tight with enough low end for bass section and enough mid/high end to let it to cut through the mix. Here are a few processing tips that you can apply on your kick drum to make it tighter.

What happens when you compress a drum track?

But when you start adding compression, the bleed can quickly get out of hand. Compression tends to bring up low-level details in a track. If you apply compression to the drums, you often bring out the bleed too — which can easily make your drums sound messy and amateur. Pay close attention to bleed when compressing your drum tracks.