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Controlling Your Rhythm Track Trick

i all, Ken here! When mixing drums I like to sit back and listen to the whole mix in full and get an idea of how I want it to sound:

• Do I want things to stand out more?
• Do I want the toms lower in the mix?
• Do I want more sizzle in the cymbals?
• Do I want the kick with more punch?

I ask myself this all through out the mixing of the song. For me this can go on for an hour or more just sitting back listening to the song, and then, when I get the feel of the song and what is trying to be said, I start to mix it.

First I like to get a sub mix of my rhythm section. To do this, open up a stereo aux track and call it Sub Kit (or what ever you like), then open up a send on all the drum parts and send them to the Aux Track (Sub Kit).

It will look like this:

• Stereo Aux Track: Input buss 1-2
• Send: Buss 1-2 (make sure you set the send fader to 00dbs to see and hear sound.)

Now you have a bigger section and can control each drum. Set your EQ's for each drum etc., you can even add effects to the Sub Kit (Aux Track) if you like.

Ok! Now we have a bigger sounding rhythm section. Cool Right!!!!!

Here's the trick with the Compressor

• Open up another Aux Track (stereo) and buss your drums (Sub Kit to the input of the compressor) and call it Compressor.
• Set your compressor kind of hard, 10dbs or more if you like the sound your getting.
• Now return it to the Sub Mix (the output of the compressor to the sub kit input (buss 1-2)).
• Add an EQ to the compressor track and add a good amount of high end to it around 6-10dbs at 10kHz and low end 6-10dbs at 100hz or so to the compressor.
• Bring the fader levels of the compressor up until it sits just under the rhythm section mix where you can just hear it.

What is happening is you now have a bigger sounding section with more control without sounding too compressed.

You can do this with the bass guitar too, just send the bass to the compressor and return it to the sub-bass.

If you get lost just reply to this forum and I'll help you out.

Good Luck in Recording!!!!!!
Ken

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