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.

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.