Intro to Mixing Drums

A quick tutorial on how to mix drums using EQ, Compression and Reverb.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• tutorial
• drums
• mixing
• eq
• compression
• ssl
• reverb
• waves
• audio
• daw
• pro
• tools
• software
• shachar
• gilad
• snare
• bass
• hihat
• c1
• renaissance
• ir1

[Onetruthrgv]

Daniel how are you able to know what frequencies to boost and cut? Is it by ear or is there just good rules of thumb to go by? If so could you point me to a Good source to learn some stuff like that?

[danielwaves]

@Onetruthrgv It really depends on how the audio sounds to begin with so yes, it's a lot by ear. However there are frequency ranges wherein each instrument lies. For instance, with the kick drum you will be working in the low frequencies while with cymbals you will be in the high frequencies. There are many great resources out there that can help you, including our other video tutorials and webinars.

[Thunderfock]

Hi Daniel, thank for the mixing tips. Just wanted to know who the artist is, and where I can get a link to that song because it sounds like a very good track! Thanks.

[danielwaves]

@Thunderfock

Thanks. The song is called 'Inside Out' by Shachar Gilad

[haquall]

Hello Daniel,

nice mix you did here. I got 1 question, I like the parallel compression that you did, but didn't quite get how you put the buses. You mean you open 2 AUX tracks with the same input, pass all the drum tracks thru the AUX input and only on 1 AUX you put the compressor on? This is the only thing I'd like to know.

Cheers

[danielwaves]

@haquall

That's exactly right.

[destinosangre]

your master is cliping...

[0tto777]

Boosting eq sounds very unnatural. To me you made that snare sound quite papery and unnatural. If you can always pull down all the frequencies except the ones you want to sound boosted then raise the volume. It'll sound a lot more natural and your mix will reflect that

[ExploiterMetal]

@0tto777 Isn't that the same thing as boosting then lowering the volume? :S

[krodcharoen88]

Hey Daniel, what version of pro tools are you using? And why so much EQ? Usually I add only +5db max of EQ. I heard the older versions of pro tools usually you would have to use ridiculous amounts of EQ for your mix to sound good.

[futurerocker77]

This might be a stupid question, but I was doing some mixing of a song the other day when I realized whenever there were really hard snare hits, it caused the volume of the song to breathe, or swell. It's as if there was some really weird compression effect that turned down the song's volume for just a second and brought it back up on loud snare hits. What is this? How do I stop it? I also realized that if a EQed it a certain way, it would stop, but it would stound worse.

[ALDOFCOCABUTO]

Hello, VERY INTERERSANTE, EXCELLENT USE APPLICATIONS WAVES, TE FELEICITO, WE HELP MANY OF THESE VIDEOS TO DO.

[adminallen]

Just checked out you band and I love your music.

[baboonlurker]

Thats actually not a bad song haha

[MsCurwin]

Great vid. Thanks

[BenjaminHooper1979]

Great vid, I knew much of it but it's great to have things like this reconfirmed & explain in such a clear way. Thanks

[Soundon]

I must admit, I can't really get into that snare sound.