How do you add life to Drums on a Mixdown?

[martymodem]

I'm looking for a method of bringing fullness to my drums. I have some decent wav kicks and snares but the mixdown sounds kind of hollow. Do I add a slight reverb, some kind of echo to the snare? Any tips would be highly appreciated.

[cordura21]

http://www.recordinginstitute.com/R2KREQ/excomp.htm

you could use it for drums also.

Cheers, Andrés

[littledog]

Thanks for the interesting link, Cordura.

But theres a warning for those doing this method digitally on a DAW like Pro Tools. Adding plug-ins to a track (like compression and EQ) adds a slight delay to the signal. Since this method requires blending two tracks of the "same" vocal, you may have to add up the delays of the plug-ins on each track and come up with a total on each track. Then subract the smaller total from the larger. That will be the amount you'll need to shift the less delayed track to match the more delayed one to avoid unintentional phasing.

[Track Rat]

I like get a good drum mix going and then I send the kick, snare and tom tracks (I don't send the cymbals as the compressor can take the sheen off of them) to a sub group and then out to a compressor and return that to two channels. Pan 'em out and ring them up under your existing drum mix to taste.

[TexRoadkill]

A touch of room reverb on everything but kick can help liven up sampled drums.

[martymodem]

Thanks fellas. This board is real helpful and hospitable. I mean you cats really go out the way to help. I wish I could buy you a drink. I know how to add reverb and eq BUT I'm having trouble understanding how to compress. I know what it is and I know where it is on Cool Edit Pro, but how does one use it? The tutorials doesn't explain well so I would appreciate some insight.

[Gidge]

i dont think id compress samples.......

maybe some verb.......

maybe play the drum mix thru a small PA or stereo speakers, mic it, and blend that in......

maybe id add some live percussion (shakes,tambourine,etc)......

[VotaIdiota]

don't even think about the CEP compressor..... try to find some good free compressor plug-ins out there.... like BlueLine...

[Creepy]

Add a tad of distortion to the snare and toms, along with the other fine suggestions.

Creepy

[BrettB]

a bit of stereo delay on the toms or even the hihat can make it sound more open. Be carefull though, 'cause a little too much delay can muddy up your mix and give a dated sound.

[UberGawkman]

Set your relative drum levels. Bounce all the drums to one stereo track, and then saturate that track in your sweetest reverb (all wet). Barely bring that up with what you got. It will liven up the drums, and make it sound more like one (especially if you're using samples). You may or may not want to leave the kick out of your track bounce. I did that on this song right here because I was using sound fonts for the drums.

http://pluh.com/reviews.php?ID=140

(be warned.. the song is retarded!)

[Teacher]

throw PSP vintage warmer on it...i love it for snares...haven't gotten it to work on the kick as successfully though(yet)