Just a word on the subject of which software compressor to use. For the kick, a compressor capable of true hard-knee behaviour is required. So don't even bother trying to use any of the Waves compressors for this (C1, RComp) as they don't do hard-knee and leave you with a nasty little transient spike. Waves themselves recommend using the L1 or L2 limiters for this purpose but to my ear this sounds like shite.

In my experience good results can be achieved using the (now discontinued) plug-ins from the TC Native Bundle. Best of all I've found to be the humble Logic Compressor.

If I haven't mentioned any other - it's cos I haven't tried them.

muchos gracias

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Ok folks, here's a kick and bass loop I've just thrown together in Logic using the settings I talked about earlier.

http://www.dwsounds.com/music/kick_and_bass_sample.mp3

Remember that although the various compression settings are fairly constant, use the eq notch to get the sound you're after. Move that notch around until the kick jumps out at you and gives you a good smack.

it was about time a good post showed up in this forum, definately the best read since ages

Here's the same basic loop but this time done in Cubase using the TC Native compressor.

http://www.dwsounds.com/music/kick_...mple_cubase.mp3

Both loops have been "Mastered" using the TC Powercore Master X3 but you can get the same result using the VintageWarmer or Waves L2/L3.

Mastering in this sense, is just a temporary fix to get the track levels to demo standard. If you do indeed write the next Ibiza Floor-Filler then it's safe to assume that you won't be mastering it.

And just one final trick to get those kicks giving your audience concussion. It's known as Parallel or Invisible Compression.

Here's one I made earlier...

http://www.dwsounds.com/music/invis...omp_example.mp3

This supplements the low end and gives you that extra thump, and here's how it's done.

Take a very hard-knee compressor (Not C1 or RComp) or a limiter and place it on a new group channel or bus.

Now from your kick channel, send around -6db of the kick to this new group channel - yes, just like a send effect. You can vary the send level depending on how big a headache you want to have.

The settings for the compressor are

Threshold: -50db
Ratio: 2:1
Attack: 0 (must be zero)
Release: 350ms (experiment with this)
Gain: None

You should be seeing around 20db of gain reduction.

You could also duplicate the kick track (if it's audio) and apply the effect on the duplicated track.

This is how you would have to do it in Fruity and Live, as they don't not have any delay compensation.

Ok. I'm done.
So no more girly kicks then?

Dave, your kicks sound fucking girly to me

One final, final tip. If you ever really need someone to lower the tone - find yourself and aussie.

hahahah @ window tapping, that'd be me.

i'll apply some of this methodology later tonight when im fixing my tune, dave. see how we go

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Just a dang fine post Dave.
Brilliant. Your stuff is indeed thumpin' man!
GOtta hand it to ya for sharing what is probably a very h00g trade secret for most of the "bigshots" in the industry.

Thanks again!

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please review my latest AMBIENT track HERE.

quote:

Originally posted by Digital Aura Just a dang fine post Dave. Brilliant. Your stuff is indeed thumpin' man! GOtta hand it to ya for sharing what is probably a very h00g trade secret for most of the "bigshots" in the industry. Thanks again!

Cheers!
Most of this information is to be had in bits and pieces around the place, in books and forum posts. What was always lacking when I was looking for it was the specifics. Like, here's a loop and here are the track settings for that loop. What I've published may not be perfect for every loop but for those who are using the trial-and-error approach it's a very good place to start.