How many processing steps for your drums?

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- How many processing steps for your drums?

Posted by ClearWater on Sep-14-2009 22:47:

How many processing steps for your drums?

Layering, filter envelopes, reverb, compression, EQ, excitation, etc...

I seem to be averaging around 8 steps these days.

Posted by sixofour.604 on Sep-14-2009 23:10:

For Trance percussion or for DNB? What 8 stages are really needed for trance? Kick drum, hat, clap sample, slight reverb...bam, percussion is done.

Posted by DigiNut on Sep-14-2009 23:22:

I don't really consider EQ to be a processing step. And "layering?"

I'd say 2 steps, compression and light reverb, not necessarily in that order. I may play with filters, bitcrushers etc. but I would consider those to be individual effects, not general processing.

Posted by ClearWater on Sep-14-2009 23:31:

Yea... could be spending too much time with my drums I think It's been pretty tough for me to find that "perfect" sound for my drums and I'll just to settle for what I have at some point.

sixofour, I was refering to the number of processing steps you add to sculpting a single drum hit.

Posted by Nightshift on Sep-14-2009 23:39:

The most important part is how you level your drums to fit the mix. becasue it dont matter how much reverb compression etc you have on your drums they will still sound bad/unblanaced if not mixed right.

This goes for all elements of a track.

Posted by Subtle on Sep-14-2009 23:40:

Gate can be very useful!

Posted by sixofour.604 on Sep-14-2009 23:59:

I usually have 2 layers of percussion, a chopped loop, and a drum machine. I send them both through a filter and some other effects to even the sounds out. Sometimes I change them so much that I get new sounds. Then I do slight reverb and other effects.

So in the least, sounds, into filter, into reverb.....3 steps.