Tips For 808 Kicks Worth Trying
Struggling with muddy 808s or kicks that just don’t hit right? Let’s fix that. Here are some genre crossing tried-and-true techniques from heavyweights like @vaughnoliver, @jaycenjoshua, and @willcarson - covering everything from saturation and EQ moves to prgramming and sidechain tricks. Understand how they dial in that clean, hard-hitting low end that translates on every system.
Splice
Programming organic, punchy kick and 808 grooves
Vaughn Oliver demonstrates how to perfect kick dynamics using manual ghost notes and phase alignment techniques in Ableton Live. By adjusting the decay and attack of the kick drum through volume automation and fades, he creates a more natural and organic feel, mimicking the dynamics of a real kick drum. He also employs sidechain compression with the Cableguys ShaperBox plugin to achieve a punchy and tight low-end, ensuring the kick and 808 bass are perfectly in phase.
Mix with the Masters
Extend kick sustain for bigger impact
Jaycen Joshua demonstrates how to enhance the impact and power of a kick drum by extending its sustain. While he doesn't specify the tool used, a transient shaping tool would achieve this result quickly and efficiently. He explains that a longer sustain makes the kick sound bigger to the listener, even if the initial hit remains unchanged. This technique is particularly useful when increasing the attack or volume of the kick would negatively affect the mix. By simply lengthening the kick's duration, you can achieve a more powerful sound without increasing volume, providing a practical solution for achieving a bigger kick in your mix.
URM Academy
Low-end clarity through kick-bass sidechaining
Will Carson demonstrates his approach to using sidechain compression in the low-end, drawing inspiration from Jason Joshua, to craft a powerful, punchy low-end while maximizing headroom and loudness. By applying the Oeksound Soothe plugin on the bass bus and all low-end elements like 808s, Carson ensures the kick drum cuts through the mix. This technique ducks the bass whenever the kick hits, allowing the sub frequencies of the kick to dominate without overwhelming the mix, thus preventing muddiness. This method is essential for achieving a punchy, clear low-end that feels substantial without actually increasing the low-end content, optimizing headroom and overall loudness in the mix.
Mix with the Masters
Get 808s to cut through with parallel distortion
Jaycen Joshua demonstrates how to make 808s cut through a mix using parallel distortion with the UA Ibanez® TS808 Tube Screamer plugin. In the parallel path, he begins by rolling off unwanted high frequencies using the FabFilter Pro-Q 3, focusing on reducing everything above 129 Hz to clean up the sound. This approach allows him to add his own upper harmonics with the Tube Screamer, resulting in a more musical and pleasing presence without harshness. By emphasizing these upper harmonics, Joshua ensures that the 808s remain audible even on speakers that lack sub-bass response, achieving a balanced and impactful low-end that stands out in the mix.