adding punch to a boomy kickdrum?

[mojew]

i've got my drumtrack recorded... but now the bass drum doesn't sound punchy enough. it just sounds "boomy" and doesn't stand out enough in the mix... i've isolated it from the rest of the track in an aux send. any tips on what i could do to add some punch to it? thanks!

 

[pipelineaudio]

trigger is the first thing that comes to mind. Barring that, try changing the behaviour a little bit. On that separate send set a compressor to about 25 ms attack 100 - 200 ms release ( up till the next kick hits roughly) with like a zillion to one compression ratio and the threshold WAY down. This will be pretty close to just gating the end of the kick, but in a way that would be hard to do with a gate

 

[roman]

to give it that punch, try EQ at higher FRQ range. e.g. add a bunch at 7-10 kHz. (Q1.5/2)

try finding that right sound by turning your parametric EQ frq-knob gently and have the gain turned up (say 6db or more if you want that metal kick)

Also you might cut a little in the 400-800 Hz range (it's that boomy sound range)

ro

 

[Shailat]

I wouldnt go so high on the EQ. Look around 3k for the smack of the beater and boost the hit. Also look around 170-400kHz to reduce some of the boom and make it sound tighter.
Then you might want to gate it to reduce the ahhhh after the attack and you can also compress it after that.

It will depend on your specific recording and the style your after.

 

[ad0lescnts]

I recently had the same problem...

I cut it A LOT at 80Hz then ran it thru the line out, then came back into the board at the level i wanted to make up for all the lost gain.

it turned out great

T