Low End
If there is one area that confuses both beat makers and producers alike it is the management of the Low End in the mix.
It can be a nightmare understanding how to get the bass and kick to marry each other. If you are into the Urban genres then you can appreciate how difficult it can be to get an 909 bass drum to not conflict with the bass-line. In EDM the low end can be even harder to manage as there are many sounds that encroach into this frequency range.
The video tutorials in this category cover some of the traditional techniques used to manage the low end and are explained in detail using before and after audio examples. However, I have also made sure to include some novel approaches to treating this problem area.
Tutorials
Combining Ripped Beats to create new Beats
Intermediate
A sound design technique covering how to rip two different beats, at different tempos, replace all the drum sounds within the beats and then mash them up together to create a new beat!Duration: 7 mins
Processing a Snare to fit in with a Ripped Drum Break
Intermediate
Using drum replacement software to rip a snare drum from a commercial drum beat and then creating new snares using a string of dynamics!Duration: 7 mins
Working on the Sub Layer of a Kick Drum
Intermediate
How to process a sub kick to blend in with a ripped beat!Duration: 7 mins
Extracting Drum Sounds from a Beat using Drumagog
Intermediate
How to rip and replace drum sounds (drum elements) within a beat using Drumagog.Duration: 9 mins
Compressing Roland TR 808 Kick Drums
Intermediate
Understanding and exploring Roland TR 808 kick drum compression techniques.Duration: 12 mins
Multiband Compression - what is it and how do you use it
Beginner
A detailed tutorial on what is a multiband (MBC) compressor, how does it work and how to use it to treat a Hip Hop mix.Duration: 18 mins
Compressing Hip Hop Drum Beats
Intermediate
Transparent and parallel compression techniques for processing Hip Hop drum beats.Duration: 9 mins
Pumping and Swelling Drum Beats using Compressors
Intermediate
Learn how to use a compressor to pump and swell a drum beat.Duration: 14 mins
Side-chaining Bass and Kick for EDM
Intermediate
Creative side-chaining techniques for low end management using compressors.Duration: 19 mins
Side-chain Expansion - Bass and Kick processing
Advanced
An advanced tutorial on how to use the side-chain of an expander to manage the kick and bass in a mix. The expander is used to extend the dynamic range as opposed to narrowing it like a compressor.Duration: 6 mins
Low End - what is Low End and how to Analyse it
Beginner
What is Low End and how to analyse the frequency content of a mix?Duration: 8 mins
Layering drums using middle and side processing
Advanced
Sound Design tutorial on how to create a background ambient texture from a drum loop using M/S (Middle and Side) and Layering it with drum sounds.Duration: 6 mins
Processing Low End Kicks
Intermediate
Very cool techniques on how to process Low End kicks for a bigger sound!Duration: 7 mins
Side-chain Pumping Effect
Advanced
Detailed tutorial on how to use side-chaining and filtering to create the famous Pumping effect.Duration: 9 mins
Using Ghost Triggers for side-chaining
Advanced
This tutorial explains how to configure a compressor and its side-chain for triggering using what we refer to as 'ghost triggers'. This is a great technique for managing kicks and basses within a mix.Duration: 8 mins
Dynamic EQ - what is it and how do you use it
Intermediate
What is Dynamic Equalisation, how it works and how to use it.Duration: 8 mins
Eq Filters and Slopes/Responses
Intermediate
Which filters to select when using equalisation, how to match filter slopes and responses and how best to utilise them.Duration: 13 mins
Mastering EQ - Air Band Processing
Advanced
How to process the Air Band using equalisation - add sparkle and space to your mixes.Duration: 8 mins
Roland TR 808 Kicks and Multiband Compression
Intermediate
Learn how to use a multiband compressor (MBC) to shape and colour Roland TR 808 bass drums. Getting 808s to swell and bounce has never been easier.Duration: 7 mins
Creating a Huge Low End Kick
Intermediate
A sound design tutorial on how to use dynamic processors to create an epic low end kick!Duration: 6 mins
Adding Sheen and Bounce to Roland TR 808 Kick drums
Intermediate
Learn how to add 'bounce' and sheen to Roland TR 808 bass drums.Duration: 8 mins
Mixing Bass and Kick
Intermediate
Mixing the bass and kick in a mix can be troublesome, but that can be negotiated by working on the harmonics and complimentary frequencies of each sound.Duration: 15 mins
Using Recycle REX Files and Constructing New Beats
Intermediate
Learn how to import Propellerheads Recycle REX files into NI's Battery and then create new beats from existing content.Duration: 7 mins
Programming Drum Beats in Cubase
Beginner
Learn how to program amazing drum beats using the Key Editor in your DAW.Duration: 16 mins
Layering Kicks using a Tone Generator and Noise Gate
Intermediate
Learn how to create epic new kick drums using noise gates and tone generators. The noise gate shapes the tone generator which is then layered with a kick drum.Duration: 15 mins
Roland TR 808 Kick Drum Bounce Processing
Intermediate
Get your Roland TR 808 bass drums bouncing like a rubber ball!Duration: 10 mins
Layering Kick Sounds using Tone Modules
Intermediate
Build the most potent kicks known to mortals using advanced drum layering techniques!Duration: 21 mins
Processing a Kick Drum in Parallel
Advanced
Sound design tutorial - creating a monster kick drum using tone modules and parallel processing.Duration: 12 mins
The Art of Drum Layering - Advanced
Advanced
The Art of Drum Layering Advanced is jam-packed with over 60 minutes of advanced drum layering techniques. A comprehensive aid for pros and hobbyists alike, build on your know-how with easy to follow tutorials and produce truly epic beats.Duration: 60 mins
Using the Pultec Eq on a Drum Beat
Intermediate
Learn how to use Vintage Response equalisers on drum beats! The mighty Pultec EQ is a weapon. Let me show you how to use it.Duration: 8 mins
Get your 808 Kicks to bounce using Dynamic Equalisation
Intermediate
Give your TR 808 bass drums bounce and colour using this very cool technique!Duration: 13 mins
Using EQ to add presence and dynamics to an Electric Bass
Intermediate
Liven up electric basses guitars using dynamic equalisation processes!Duration: 13 mins
Using Dynamic EQ to balance Kick and Bass
Intermediate
Don't always reach for the compressor's side-chain to marry the kick to the bass. A dynamic eq can sometimes be better!Duration: 8 mins
Using EQ to add Punch and Clarity on a TR 909 Kick Drum
Intermediate
Struggling to get your TR 909s to cut through the mix and invade the dance floor? This video tutorial shows you how to use equalisation to add punch and clarity to 909 kick drums.Duration: 10 mins
Using Dynamic EQ on the Drum Group
Intermediate
Glue the drum group with dynamic equalisation!Duration: 9 mins