Kickdrums?

Hi Xavez,

About drumkicks:
We use different ways to create a kick. Often we layer a few samples (one for the top, one for the sub, one for the body) but we always have to search for a nice kick(chain) to blend in with the rest of the mix and the feel of the song. Sometimes we produce 3 or 4 songs with almost the same kick because we luv it, but than we get inspired by a massive kick in a track the guys play and we go tweaking again. Sometimes we even use a synthkick.
Like always, I don't think there is a golden rule for creating the perfect (kick)sound. It very depends on the kind of track you are working on and the other sounds involved.

About stereo imaging:
I tend to keep the low frequencies mono. For me stereo has no use if you are working below a sudden frequency. It only puts a lot of pressure on your amplifier and speakers and isn't really audible. It can also let a sound get "untight" because most of the times stereo is done by delaying one channel. I also luv REAL stereo.
Let me give you an example of REAL stereo:
You can make a vocal track stereo by delaying the right of left channel, but this often gives me a kind of phasing feel...
For me REAL stereo is when you for instance use two completely identical sung outtakes and use one for the left and the other for the right. Your brain notices every difference in the vibration of the notes so it will let you think there is a HUGE singer in front of you... :-D

Grtz,
RAF

Cool, thanks for the info Raf! Really complete and to-the-point ;).

Thanks.

You are welcome.
But I'm really curious in techniques other people use, so please feel free to tell us your vision on this matter.

Grtz,
RAF

I often use a stereo enhancer per channel. I use it both ways. One to make low frequency samples mono and two to enhance synths and loops. Just to give it more wideness. What about over stereoing? I once read that to much stereo can make some sounds disappear in the clubs? Laidback Luke for example, produces in mono first, so he get's the levels right. What is your experience with that?

Hi funkadelic,

Yeah, that's also a great way to improve the wideness of your track. We often use tools like from Brainworks or PSP but also the build in (stereo imagining) tools of Cubase and Logic can do a perfect job (or just the old fashioned rendering to a mono and stereo track and high passing the mono and low cutting the stereo track).
I do have to say I don't like putting a stereo tool on the master bus like some producers do. Instead I 'll look at every separate sound and try to give it an unique place in the overall spectrum. That way the sound becomes "richer" I kinda feel. But one the other hand, there are no rules and it can well be true that your (plugin)chain makes YOUR track sounds just the way you like! :-D

The thing that happens when sound disappears is something called ANTI-PHASE. What happens is that the frequency's of both channels exactly cross each other and therefor the sound will disappear when listened to in mono (and also on a wrongly connected soundsystem...). You can try it out yourself with for instance the Timeworks Phaser. If you insert it on a sound and put it to the max you will find out that the sound is like totally everywhere when listened to it stereo, but will be completely gone if you listen to it in mono. (for a more detailed explanation see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiphase#Phase_difference)
We also switch to mono from time to time while producing. It can even be more easy to first make your mix in mono and afterwards make choices about what should fill up the stereo field, so i do understand Luke's point of view on this.

Grtz,
RAF

I make my kicks 2 ways;

1. By using 2 or 3 kicks (Sub & Body or Sub, Body & Top)
2. There is a good plugin to make you're own kicks, its called Attack from Waldorf.
You can make almost any drums sounds in it
But I use the Attack in the same way as I use layering kicks.

I use in some hi hats and some keys sounds a auto pan and sometimes I puts some stereo spreader on it.
What also works is to pan some sounds more to the left or to the right.
You can also use a little bit of stereo spreading on you're bass to get a more full sounding body but don't use to much.

If one happens upon a price that is too good to be true, rest assured that you are being offered Replica Watches. In all honesty, if a person is walking down the street with genuine designer Replica Rolex Watches or Longines Watches UK , who can tell the difference? Hardly anyone!The fashion watches shops are trying their best to stop the sale of Breitling Replica.