How To Apply Gain Staging To Drum Mixes (Pt.2)

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[@rick_music]

Bro did a full master class for free 🤝

[@_.damani]

no frrrr

[@slackstarfish8133]

I just need to streamline this advice to programmed drums. It seems like no matter what I do, how good the quality of the samples are, how much I gain stage or process, my drums are never distinct in the mix. I’ll hear the mix in my car and my kick will be sitting so lightly on top of the mix it pains me. And yet I have tracks where the drums are hitting amazing. I have great plugins and I know how to use them, so I’m struggling to figure out my issue. I sidechain as well. I lowpass clashing tracks as well so idk. I just want to be able to use my plugins to achieve that efficiently loud, but distinct shape to my drums. I wanna feel the shape of the kick in my mixes, so often it just loses all shape the second more elements come in.

[@kaelinellis]

this is a great point to bring up. ll definitely address this in a seperate video!

[@larsi1206]

Gain staging and Transient shaping is a great tool. (Kiloheartz have one thats is free) or Compressor with slow attack to Get the transients more pronounced Also to Get your things SMACK… or EQ boost where the smack is. Plusss NY Compressor and HEAT like in protools in return tracks is Also nice

[@larsi1206]

but when you record so low you will always get more of the noisefloor when you boost it back up again. Thats why you want to so loud you can to minimize that noise. I think in your scenario you should record loud and then take down the volume! Right?

[@kaelinellis]

Record low but work your way up. Some Noise Floor is inevitable but you can always adjust as you record 👍🏾

[@larsi1206]

@@kaelinellis i mean you want a High signal to noise ratio when you Are recording and therefore is better to lower the volume if its to high than raise the volume afterwards if its too low?