HELP me mix my kick level--please

[groovepusher]

Im workin on this remix and I am having trouble balancing the Kik. Mainly the bass amount. I think there is too much bass BUT there is a slight "glitch in the matrix"

While I was workin on it, I sent off a version to my manager to see if he thought it was goin in the right direction, he then played it for the A&R dude, Before it was really done.
He liked it but mentioned it needed a bit of Ass.
I didnt think the version I sent did, but........



So I figure I would ask you peeps, Since there are alot of great producers here!

Oh and feel free to offer any other advice. I can take it


Thanks

[Pollyrythm]

I think the bass in the kick really helps to give it a sort of "big room" type feel, but yes I think there may be a little to much bottom end. Not WAY too much, just a bit. Where's the roll off currently sitting?

Can we have an idea of the chain you’re using on the Kick? Is there any parallel compression in the drum mix? If so, whats going to the bus? Is it just that kicks & snare?

FYI – im monitoring through HR284’s

[djui5]

ha! Nice...

That's f'n wicked...

The kick is fine, and bass line should change, and sound more meaty. It's kinda ambient right now, if that makes sense.

You need some deep, hardcore, driving bass. Something with balls.

Also the snare thing sounds really small and weak.

I like the smack in this song though.

[Pollyrythm]

Originally Posted by djui5

ha! Nice...

I like the smack in this song though.

Yeh i liked the smack as well....

[Cojo]

Hi.

I feel that the kick is somewhat wrong for this tune (too boomy an wrong tuned). Further the bassline is rather hi up so I would suggest getting an aditional sub line that just do the "ups" in between the fourth. Then perhaps you need to put a low cut filter on the original bassline to prevent too much bass build up.

Does this makes any sence? At least it's what I would've tried to do to the song.

Good luck!

[cosmos]

i think the kick fit in the track nicely, i would try to tune it alittle with eq to clean it , but it dosent fit right with the bass line, as other mentioned here, work on the bass line, you need some deep hardcore bass there, i like it !

[groovepusher]

Originally Posted by Pollyrythm

I think the bass in the kick really helps to give it a sort of "big room" type feel, but yes I think there may be a little to much bottom end. Not WAY too much, just a bit. Where's the roll off currently sitting?

Can we have an idea of the chain you’re using on the Kick? Is there any parallel compression in the drum mix? If so, whats going to the bus? Is it just that kicks & snare?

FYI – im monitoring through HR284’s

Theres not really any roll off on the kick. Yes I do use parallel compression ! I am a very big fan of that. I usually Find a Kik I like. (Often an 808,or 909) Then copy it and gate and compress it ALOT and EQ. Then Blend it back with the original. I am also using aux sends with compressors(dialed in just right), and blending those in. Then Bounce. Then I often do the whole process over again. Two things to be carefull of are. 1.Too much eq can change the phase of the sound. And that is were you can really muck it up and 2.With compression. its very easy to go overboard, and it sounds like death. But just before. its heaven.

I also send the whole drum mix to a group. Sometimes, I compress and a eq a bit . but I try not to add very much at all. This group outputs to my MAIN output.

The Whole rest of the mix is outputting through a SideChain compressor(Voxengo Crunchessor,I use cubase, and the routing is wack!).Keyed off the KIK the to the Main Output.

The sidechain is how you get your tracks to really slam! But u can just as easily Suck the life out! Big Time.

Hope that makes sence

[groovepusher]

Originally Posted by Cojo

Hi.

I feel that the kick is somewhat wrong for this tune (too boomy an wrong tuned). Further the bassline is rather hi up so I would suggest getting an aditional sub line that just do the "ups" in between the fourth. Then perhaps you need to put a low cut filter on the original bassline to prevent too much bass build up.

Does this makes any sence? At least it's what I would've tried to do to the song.

Good luck!

Hey

I think I agree. I am drummer so Im kinda tone deff. Can u tell me, About how much to pitch it ? I also think its too boomy. I will fix that.

The "ups" . Thats dated. I think. (If im understanding right.like the typical trance bassline?)

Thanks for your help. :)

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by groovepusher

He liked it but mentioned it needed a bit of Ass.

The rhythmic elements just needs a little knock. Not too much but enough it give them some bite and attention. And yeah the kick freq's are pushing up a little into the vocal range when everything breaks down.

Because of all the panning sh*t it gets distracting.

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by groovepusher

Hey

I think I agree. I am drummer so Im kinda tone deff. Can u tell me, About how much to pitch it ?

No. It's hard to say on before hand... just listen as you change the tuning.

I also think its too boomy. I will fix that.

The "ups" . Thats dated. I think. (If im understanding right.like the typical trance bassline?)

Yeah... but I didn't really meant it to be like a trance bassline, more like telling you that I feel something is missing in between the beats if you know what I mean.

[TechnoCowboy]

Originally Posted by groovepusher

Theres not really any roll off on the kick. Yes I do use parallel compression ! I am a very big fan of that. I usually Find a Kik I like. (Often an 808,or 909) Then copy it and gate and compress it ALOT and EQ. Then Blend it back with the original.

I know this is a dumb question but how do you "blend" the two tracks without them phasing?

Love the forum and will post some of my tracks soon for some feedback!
Brett

[djui5]

Originally Posted by TechnoCowboy

I know this is a dumb question but how do you "blend" the two tracks without them phasing?
Brett

The phasing usually comes from a delay somewhere, either through plug-in delay, an actual delay, accidentally shifting a track, clock problems, MTC problems, etc etc. If your getting phasing and none of these is the issue, zoom in on the waveforms and make sure they line up.

All of these issues can easily be resolved.

[groovepusher]

Originally Posted by djui5

The phasing usually comes from a delay somewhere, either through plug-in delay, an actual delay, accidentally shifting a track, clock problems, MTC problems, etc etc. If your getting phasing and none of these is the issue, zoom in on the waveforms and make sure they line up.

All of these issues can easily be resolved.

Originally Posted by TechnoCowboy

I know this is a dumb question but how do you "blend" the two tracks without them phasing?

Love the forum and will post some of my tracks soon for some feedback!
Brett

Yep,djui5 is right on. Also, When you open a plugin,there is a delay due to the calculation time)Most sequencers(Daws) have plugin delay compensation(PDC).To overcome this issue. I dont think Protools LE does. :( This can be a real headache. Also sometimes plugins "report" the wrong delay time. This can be a problem as well.(Ik multimedia's, buggy stuff comes to mind)

Last, EQ will change to phase too. Some Eqs have bigger phase shifts then others. This is Not necessarily a bad thing for eqs, and is often what makes certain eqs very musical.Just not good for parallel mixing. Linear phase eqs overcome this issue. But are not deemed the most"musical"