How do I get that FAT/WET metal-ish kick sound?

  • Thread starter Thread starter breaktheground
  • Start date Start date
B

breaktheground

ifITsoundsGooditIsGood
I did a search back on here and couldn't find anything for this, so here it goes.....

I want to get a better kick sound, I use a D112 and am not very happy with my results. I record mostly metal/punk/rock stuff and need that modern fat/full on the kick drum.

Are there any techniques I could use to get more of this?

Or is this moreso a EQ/compression issue?

thanks!

ryan
 
Experiment with boosting around 150Hz and cutting around 300Hz for fatness.

A little reverb will do for wetness
 
I usually hi pass at 40hz, boost at 80-150hz, cut 200-500hz, and boost around 7khz.

Hope I could be of service.
 
Try triggering, depending on the type of metal you're looking for.
 
If you want the metal kick sound, trigger is the way to go.
Why ? Cause all the kicks you're hearing on those albums are triggered.
 
How do I get that FAT/WET metal-ish kick sound?


mic placement and eq. i use a d112 for death metal and h/c and it works great in my opinion.
 
Try changing your beater and /or change the tuning on the bass drum.
 
well what kind of sound are you getting now?

i dont think most engineers use triggers for that kind of stuff honestly. At least the guys i know.

Ive never really heard a kick sound thati liked for Metal/Punk that the AKG D112 was used with.

Sennheiser MD421, or e602 all the way with that.

Try having him tune the front head down until it completely loose (like there are waves in the head) then tighten it barely until all the ripples go away. Usually works good for me right there.

Danny
 
Strange Leaf said:
If you want the metal kick sound, trigger is the way to go.
Why ? Cause all the kicks you're hearing on those albums are triggered.
Click to expand...

That's not true...Most Swedish/Finnish metal bands don't use them.

I don't like the idea of triggering.
 
Use a wooden or plastic beater and tape a coin/washer/credit card, etc to the beater impact spot and of course make sure your kick is properly tuned/maintained. It helps to have a FAT/WET metal-ish kick sound before you place a mic on the kick.

If you can't achieve that sound with a D112 and the above mentioned, something is wrong somewhere.
 
FattMusiek said:
That's not true...Most Swedish/Finnish metal bands don't use them.

I don't like the idea of triggering.
Click to expand...

Sorry. . .

trigger.

MP

p.s. I just spoke to triggering, and it told me it doesn't like the idea of you. :)
 
theletterq said:
Use a wooden or plastic beater and tape a coin/washer/credit card, etc to the beater impact spot and of course make sure your kick is properly tuned/maintained. It helps to have a FAT/WET metal-ish kick sound before you place a mic on the kick.

If you can't achieve that sound with a D112 and the above mentioned, something is wrong somewhere.
Click to expand...

What he said... a plastic beater slamming into a big metal disk or fender washer will give you the "click", and tuning/dampening the heads to taste should get you the rest of the way to metal kick land.
 
mallcore pop said:
Sorry. . .

trigger.

MP

p.s. I just spoke to triggering, and it told me it doesn't like the idea of you. :)
Click to expand...

:(. Find me some proof and I'll believe you. Maybe in Metallica - Reload...
 
Yeah, you should hear the new Metallica album. Killer drum sound... you'd almost swear you were 14 and listening to you buddy's demo recorded in his garage. Now THAT's real!!

hehehe :rolleyes:

Chris
 
Im going to have to step in and say

that there are loads of metal bands triggering their drums. Two that come to mind right off are Dimmu Borgir and Emperor. I think the newest In Flames album might even be triggered but I haven't actually read anything to support that. The list goes on and on.....but Im still not really a fan of this method.
 
If you're looking for that Pantera metal type sound. Here's the formula:

-a good kick drum
-a good drummer
-2 ply batter head (pinstripe, superkick II, etc)
-looser than your mom (hand tighten the lugs) resonant head, this gives it flab
-Danmar plastic kick pad
-Wood beater
 
Re: Im going to have to step in and say

Wireneck said:
that there are loads of metal bands triggering their drums. Two that come to mind right off are Dimmu Borgir and Emperor. I think the newest In Flames album might even be triggered but I haven't actually read anything to support that. The list goes on and on.....but Im still not really a fan of this method.
Click to expand...

In Flames' drum tone has gone downhill. Have you heard the In Flames - Trigger EP? The snare is so disgusting...I thought it couldn't get any worse than Reroute to Remain.

Also, let me also recommend those double-coated drum heads, they're warmer than a campfire. Not exactly what you're after but oh well.
 
Purchase the latest Morbid Angel album(I forget the name,and I'm fully ashamed,as it's unbelievably good).

Towards the end of the album,there is a track called "Drum Check".This track is a drum solo,and the drummer begins the track with a kick mic test that is(obviously)VERY well seperated from the rest of the kit.

Rip the track,Isolate the kick,export and trim.....then use the kick sample to make an impulse of the room that the kick resides in......convolute this impulse onto the rest of your kit......and then try triggering THAT kickdrum with the rest of your kit! :)

Nirvana's "In Utero" also has a few good isolated kickdrums in it,but they are more on the "thuddy" side than the "clicky" side.

Heaps more kicks out there to be found......almost one for every different taste.
 
Let me add that a mic I have found that totally delivers the metal kick sound is the Shure PG52. Punch with not many lows and a very high attack built in abound. It isn't good for anything else but absolutely excels at this...I traded a guy some stuff I had laying around for one just for this purpose.

Around $120 new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top