Kick too boomy when recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter errr314
  • Start date Start date
Bd is a bitch

Bd is tricky. Some use 2-3 mics for just Bd.

Check out
http://www.johnvestman.com/secrets_of_miking.htm

When you get it sounding almoust right, then try param.eq. up around 5k. move th peak in the spectrum till it sounds right.use lots of comp. roughly 50ms attack/ 100ms release
Get it pumping.
 
Venni said:
Bd is tricky. Some use 2-3 mics for just Bd.

Check out
http://www.johnvestman.com/secrets_of_miking.htm

When you get it sounding almoust right, then try param.eq. up around 5k. move th peak in the spectrum till it sounds right.use lots of comp. roughly 50ms attack/ 100ms release
Get it pumping.
Click to expand...
Why such a slow attack time? I would use a faster attack time for a bass guitar!!!
I usually go for a fast attack since a kick drum has .... fast attack. Around 2ms. I aint too sure about the release times though. im thinking around 5ms.
 
Here are two samples. One is a dry Kick drum on its own and the other is the same kick with effects in a mix. Just to show that a not so great dry kick recording can sound pretty good in a mix if EQd and compressed well.
sample1: "DRY KICK" (as you can hear this is a live recording)
sample2: "KICK IN MIX"
click on link at bottom to get samples.
 
The slower attack time is intended to allow the initial transients through, then catch the body of the kick sound, the primary tone. Bydoing so you should hear more consistency of the actual note, while keeping the dynamics of the performance.

Remember, we're dealing in milliseconds here. I don't image that a 5ms comp would do anything but knock down the attack of the beater, doing nothing for the actual primary note of the drum.

Hope that helps. ;)
 
skipwave said:
Remember, we're dealing in milliseconds here. I don't image that a 5ms comp would do anything but knock down the attack of the beater, doing nothing for the actual primary note of the drum.

Hope that helps. ;)
Click to expand...
A single Kick drum's attack (meat) only lasts for about 20-30ms, so im thinking that the compressors attack should be atleast less than half of 20-30ms. Does that sound resonable at all?
 
if it makes it sound like you want it to.
fast attack will make a kick sound boomier, because you're making the transient the same volume as the envelope, and possibly decay too.

i usually go at 30 or so ms, but i level also if it needs it.
 
giraffe said:
if it makes it sound like you want it to.
Click to expand...

An excellent point. I guess I've never really paid much attention to the digits, just turned the knobs until it sounded right. ;)
 
YEah yous are both right. I kinda get stuck using the same settings once i know they control the level of the drums. I only really use compression on kick drum so as to get a decent level without peaks
 
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