Hollla GHF,

For a long time I've been struggling to get my 808s (and all my kicks, really) where I want them.

Here's an example of the best sound I've been able to get:



It's boomy, but lacks definition, and gets lost in the mix no matter how hard I sidechain my basses.

I've got a compressor on it to control the release, an eq cut at 400hz, boost around 75-100hz, and not a whole lot else. I've tried doubling and layering with shorter, snappier kicks, but everything just sounds muddy and kind of turrible.

If anyone has any tips, I'd really appreciate it

Edit: Here's an example of the kind of sound I'm striving towards.

what source are you starting with? a sample or synth...good source is is key

sure that an 808 in your example? idk, sounds pretty phat, maybe layered and worked over if it is

Starting with a good sample is the easiest way to solid drums.

The tough part about eq'ing a kick drum is that you run the risk of taking away the transient "pop" at the start of the kick, which is making that sound cut through the mix.

People like 808's for kicks because they are tunable, bassy, and have a very short pop at the start. They barely need eq'ing most of the time.

One super simple way to make the kicks more present in your mix is to turn the other tracks down. Just a little goes a long way.

If i really really need the kick to have more sustained low end, I bring in compression of some type, although if you do it wrong you'll ruin an otherwise good track. There are many types I could use for kicks. In this situation Im inclined to use compressors on specific eq sections. If I went with new york compression, id eq away the mid section and apply a strong compressor ratio. do this on a return track or with chains or some other way to get a good mix of the dynamic dry signal and the compressed wet signal.

If you have access to something that can do multiband compression, extend the release on the low end and increase the saturation a little if you have it. This will smooth out the kick's sub region and extend the kick's release. Make sure with kicks that the compressors attack is slow enough to allow the transient click/pop through. Then experiment with the release to taste.


Sorry if im all over the place. The drums and the bass take the longest time to get right. Once you get these two major elements, the rest of your mixdown will make much more sense (plus there's only a few db of headroom left to play with anyway).

I'm starting with samples. I've got a few different 808 sample packs, but they all seem to be about the same quality/loudness. I've tried to build my own kicks in operator and analog, but generally my sampled attempts sound better. And yeah, that kick is definitely just an 808. It's just ableton's stock 808 with some compression and eq.

"If you have access to something that can do multiband compression, extend the release on the low end and increase the saturation a little if you have it. This will smooth out the kick's sub region and extend the kick's release. Make sure with kicks that the compressors attack is slow enough to allow the transient click/pop through. Then experiment with the release to taste."

This sounds cool, I'll give it a shot.

oh thats a mistype...by 'your example' i meant the utube one...

never thought id go for a synth kick, but ive been using this demo for a week or so....really good imo

http://www.synapse-audio.com/ekspro.html



also, maybe overkill, but heres my 1600 kicks collection...i think the utube example is pretty close to Kick(2)

http://www.mediafire.com/?xdsmtah1ntkw58u

I'm gonna be honest bro, I don't have monitors or anything, but those kicks sound pretty decent to me. None of them were lost in the mix at all. They won't sound like the MP ones simply because you have a lot less minimalistic track. Try using a transient shaper to give them a bit more attack, that may help.

Yeah, I guess I didn't pick great tracks to compare against each other. I'll make some clips of my kicks in isolation tomorrow. I've heard a lot about transient designers/shapers, but never looked into them. I'll check it out, thanks man.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Simmer, thanks a ton for that pack! Sounds much cleaner than a lot of the samples I've been working with.

Judging from the track above I'd say it's mostly a mixing (or mastering?) issue, the kicks are quite soft and the transient "pop" very pronounced compared to the low end of the kick. To me it misses that low-end fatness. For a start, I'd try the kick totally unprocessed, and get the levels right. Also make sure you don't have a compressor or limiter on the master bus that might be hiding whats really going on.

I like to use synths and make my 808's. There a little more dynamic that way (ie. fills or bass lines). Abletons has a great one that you can find in the drum rack(i dont know if it only come with suite) but here's a quick tutorial how to make one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0NHRFnXlls
You can do this using any synth. If you like sampled drums more I would suggest make ten different 808 kicks then bounce them down and throw them in you library. Hope this helps. good luck

I have no idea if this is a proper technique but I have a gated sidechain Hiphop sub bass (operator) to a kick drum track and it gets a good 808 sound with minor tweaking.

I have no idea if this is an amateur move or not but I think it sounds pretty good.