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I like to layer a decent snare hit with a clap. EQ them out. Put your effects on the clap (any reverb, modulation, noise etc) so none of the power is take out of your main hit, the IF NEEDS BE add compression. Voila.

but, didn't I layer too much? I mean, I know there isn't a *right* way to do this, but still...

You kinda answered your own question there bro...

There is no set or right way to do it. It could be two samples, it could be six. What I do is literally go through a load of snare samples and pluck out the ones that could make up the sound I am after... clearly a Pendu-snare isn't going to sit right in a Phaeleh-eque track, so it is all about selecting hits that have the characteristics you are after for what you are trying to achieve, but only your ear will know exactly what those characteristics are. I then stack 'em up layered, and depending on the sound I am after, pitch/EQ each hit until they sit together right.

It's more an art than a science, no rules per se apart from the most frequencies the snare occupies, the more presence it will have (not always a good thing when it comes to the mixdown mind... but that is another story). Compression also helps to 'glue' the sounds together, but really it's just about practice and getting used to accenuating/cutting frequencies in order to shape the sound you are after.

Subtle distortion can give the hit presence too.

filth up youre tune ahahah

anyways ive read so many times layering snares/claps/white noise etc etc is the way to great powerful snares but ive found out its probably in most cases not. u need a nice sounding (of your choice) sample to begin with! tiny bit of eq (of your preference, try boosting abit at 200hz if you want 'punch') but most importantly is the sound of the snare itself.
and go easy on the reverb really.

i find discreet delaying (both low feedback and volume) on snares to be arousing

another thing ive done much lately is cutting around.. 200-250 hz something. cant really remember but it sounds more ghastly and more implented in the bakground that way.. could create a powerful snare if done correctly

I thought a dirty snare was like.. Something from a break where its got hiss and all types of sonic imperfections?


I must be delusional.

legend4ry wrote:I thought a dirty snare was like.. Something from a break where its got hiss and all types of sonic imperfections?


I must be delusional.

I always thought a dirty snare was a drum and needed a little polish and TLC

Saturate the crap out of it, and mix that effect in to taste. Usually about 10 percent mix will be perfect.

Crosby wrote:

legend4ry wrote:I thought a dirty snare was like.. Something from a break where its got hiss and all types of sonic imperfections?


I must be delusional.

I always thought a dirty snare was a drum and needed a little polish and TLC

Yeah, kinda what I meant hehe!

like everyone else is saying its all about layering the right snares...i always slap some reverb on the snare to make it feel even bigger

legend4ry wrote:I thought a dirty snare was like.. Something from a break where its got hiss and all types of sonic imperfections?


I must be delusional.

for me too it is! i think they fit "dubstep" so much more than those snares that just go "PSCHT"

AKAI S-900, aka the spanker.

There is no correct way to do anything in music! Its art! Sure there are paradigms and more accepted ways and theories, but at the end of the day it's what sounds right to you. That could be one single untreated, unmixed sample, or an army of blended and fucked around ones. The sky's your limit!!

DannyDubstep wrote:Big up Manny!

And yeah, white noise is sometimes pretty nice.

all about a bit of white noise behind ya snares

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