Cant get drums to come thru

[elyhess]

Its kind of strange i must be doing something wrong here, cus this usually isnt an issue, everything on my track is peaking about -3 to -4, yet when i go to make the drums quieter (where i usually put them is -8 db) and now its too quiet, should i quiet down my other tracks even more?

[KoenDercksen]

Just have everything peaking at around the same levels, it's all about relative levels for you I think. To me it sounds kind of logical that when everything but drums peaks 5 dB higher than the drums, the drums will sound quiet...

Or am I misunderstanding something

[B-Frank]

Its kind of strange i must be doing something wrong here, cus this usually isnt an issue, everything on my track is peaking about -3 to -4, yet when i go to make the drums quieter (where i usually put them is -8 db) and now its too quiet, should i quiet down my other tracks even more?

Not sure if I am following you correctly, your drums should be the loudest element of your track. As stated about -8db is fine but your other levels need to be decreased in accordance. For example you'd want your sub at about 12-db and so on.

[Towany]

try sidechaining

[didi]

Choose better samples. That's what did it for me.

[sunny_b_uk]

EQing.. using frequency analysers on each instrument on the mix and making sure peaks dont hit the same frequency as other sounds. that would be the better way if you like the samples your using.

[joshisrad]

It's already been stated but just to reiterate so that the answer resonates with you.

If you can't hear them they are not a loud enough volume. Drums should be your loudest thing in the mix. You don't want your leads and pads to be as loud as your drums.

Turn all your channels completely down to -infinity dB. Bring them back up one at a time, starting with your drum track. The level at which you set your drums however is irrelevant. Reso said around -10, guy above said -8, I like -18. Keep in mind that your kicks and snares are going to be the loudest pieces of your drum kit.

Determine what sounds you want to be loudest in the mix after that. Most people do the sub. Turn it up and find a sweet spot that settles well with the drums. You can also sidechain it to get it up higher, as you probably know already.

You are now mixing. Keep doing that with the rest of the instruments and find a spot that works and balances the mix.

THEN you can EQ and adjust the levels again if necessary.

[wub]

Its kind of strange i must be doing something wrong here, cus this usually isnt an issue, everything on my track is peaking about -3 to -4, yet when i go to make the drums quieter (where i usually put them is -8 db) and now its too quiet, should i quiet down my other tracks even more?

Could be a number of things;

• Your mixdown is lacking - check the Moneyshot thread for some notes re; mixing.
• The frequency range that your drums are occupying is taken up by another element. Some EQing might reduce this, or alternatively you could look at Sidechaining, so that whenever the kick hits, it drops level of other elements to give it some space.
• It could be your samples. Try putting a spectral analyser on the Master, then playing each element (kick/snare/bass/etc) individually to 'see' (not a particularly good alternative to using your ears, but a useful training tool) where in the frequency range each element is hitting. Do you notice any gaps? Does anything need boosting etc? If so, refer to the previous notes and try again.

Alternatively, scrap the drum samples altogether and start with some new ones

Drums should be your loudest thing in the mix. You don't want your leads and pads to be as loud as your drums.

How can you say without hearing a tune what should/shouldn't be the loudest element in the mix? Every tune is different, and to process the drums as the loudest element in EVERY tune you make...

[Jas0n]

Its kind of strange i must be doing something wrong here, cus this usually isnt an issue, everything on my track is peaking about -3 to -4, yet when i go to make the drums quieter (where i usually put them is -8 db) and now its too quiet, should i quiet down my other tracks even more?

When you say everything is peaking at about -3 or -4 do you mean that each channel is there? That would be way way too much.

[CenturySam]

When my snare is lacking in presence in the track (but its hitting -8dbfs as a reference for a hard hitting snare) I use Transient Master from NI to increase the attack of the transient of the snare. There is probably some free sound shaper plug ins out there. This brings the snare to the front of the sound space and makes it 'louder'. Next I will distort it and clip it for a heavy crack. After that you can EQ boost certain parts of the snare that will bring it out over the other instruments in the track. Don't go too crazy with this or you can bring out some nasty atonal frequencies though. The frequencies that you boosted, try cutting them out of the instruments in the track. This will create a nice snug spot for your snare to fit in.

[joshisrad]

Drums should be your loudest thing in the mix. You don't want your leads and pads to be as loud as your drums.

How can you say without hearing a tune what should/shouldn't be the loudest element in the mix? Every tune is different, and to process the drums as the loudest element in EVERY tune you make...

From having produced a number of styles, from pop to dnb. From experience.

[legend4ry]

Sometimes it sounds like quiet and wrong till you turn your monitors up a certain amount and thats just good dynamics!

If you can't get your drums to come through the mix, mix around the drums - isolate all the drums peaks and take them frequencies out of everything else.

[wub]

If you can't get your drums to come through the mix, mix around the drums - isolate all the drums peaks and take them frequencies out of everything else.

[elyhess]

Thanks, sorry for being so fucking stupid

[Ldizzy]

as a general rule of thumb, whatever part of the mix u wish to put at the forefront of ur tune, u should mix early in the mixing process..

maybe u should start with the drums and raise the other tracks against it... or is it what u already do?