I know mixing and mastering is important for quality purposes. My question... I'm using FL Studio and I just can't get the beat to really bang when I pump up the volume!!! My mentor makes beats in Logic and his bang like theres no tommorow! Is it the pgrm I'm using or is there a plugin that can get that beat to bang? I keep maxing out my lows in attempt to get it to hit hard!
Someone help please!
D
This might help you out.
LAYERING KICK DRUMS
Consider layering your kick drum. For example. Take a soft 808 kick, which has more "wash" to it, and then add a little "click" with another sample (like a Power kit kick.) Mix these two together. Add more kick drums to that mix that add different "color" to the kick. You NEVER want to add two similar kicks, like two flubbery kicks or two "clicky" kicks, because doubling up in that respect goes against what you're trying to do.
For example, layer your kick like this (either in MIDI, or with an audio sample. Each kick is on a different track
1. 808 kick
2. Power kit (kick)
3. Strong 909 kick
4. Hiphop kit (kick)
EQ'ING KICK DRUMS
If there is a nice bassline, you want your kicks to cut through the mix, so I would generally rolloff at 150 Hz. That means that everything under 150Hz for the kick drum you're mixing is cut "out" of your mix. This in turn, let's your bassline fit better into the mix.
A strong kick that doesn't sound too deep, but has presence (like a power kick) combined with a deeper bassier kick drum, will make your beats hit harder.
Don't try to get involved in EQ'ing kicks below 150Hz, it takes really good monitors to sculpt the right tone. Try something simpler for now.
BASSLINE
If you have a bassline, you probably want to notch the EQ where you rolloff your kick. You definitely don't want the kick to compete with the bassline. You want everything to sound "clear."
Consider yourself lucky -- I have to mix guitars with heavy distortion from time to time, and a multitude of other instruments in it. EQ'ing and mixing that is a bitch and a half.
Good luck!
