Produce Like A Pro
Bold pre-tape EQ shaping for kick and snare
Darrell Thorp enhances the kick and snare using API 550A and Pultec EQP-1A hardware EQs, focusing on achieving a bigger, more present sound with added weight. He emphasizes the importance of pre-tape EQ, not shying away from heavily shaping the signals directly on the board to achieve the desired sound. For the kick, Thorp employs a Neumann U 47 fet microphone placed inside the drum, preferring a close-miking technique to capture the full body of the sound. He boosts 6dB at 100Hz and 10kHz, and adds 4dB at 3kHz for presence, using the API 550A to shape the low-end and high-end, while the Pultec EQP-1A adds thickness and brightness. On the snare, a Shure SM57 captures the top, with Thorp applying 9dB at 10kHz and 2dB at 100Hz using the API 550A, complemented by a Pultec boost at 10kHz for silky air. The snare bottom, also miked with an SM57, receives a 6dB boost at 10kHz, ensuring a cohesive, well-defined snare sound. Thorp's approach demonstrates confidence in using EQ aggressively during the recording phase to craft a polished sound before it even hits the tape.