What you will find here are not rules but some of the basic solutions that I have found, learned and "stolen" over the years, so in reality here I am just giving back.
The first series of tips is dedicated to a battle that has lasted since the (electronic) dawn of time:
Kick vs 808
Imagine you have two cats who want to fit in the same little box. Here, you just visualized your kick and your 808 trying to make their way into the mix.
Tip # 1
Regardless, choose your samples carefully and tune your kick. Always! This tip is related not only to this tip but to each production.
For example, if your song is in Fa the fundamental frequency of the case should be, depending on the type of case, 44Hz for sub kick, 88Hz for punch kick.
Here you find the frequencies for each note: www.febat.com
Tip # 2
In this technique based on the Carving it is basically a question of reducing what is not needed. If you want to keep the kick punch and depth of the 808 then try cutting out the bass frequencies that you don't feel are needed. Following your ear, not the screenshots. Each song has its own alchemy and it's yours.
Now reduce the main frequencies present in your kick on the channel of your 808. You can also do this with an eq but, in my opinion, it is better if you do it using the kick as a foreign key for a multiband compressor, a dynamic eq like Pro Q3 or that Trackspacer wonder (the amount rarely exceeds 6-7%, don't trust the screen).
I generally use fast attack and a fairly short, musical release as much as possible. If you want to hide the kick in the 808, do the same operations but reduce the frequencies in common with the 808 in the speaker.
Tip # 3
Finally my favorite system. If you don't want to cut the frequency, you can follow this other tip: carefully observe the waveform of your kick and turn down the volume of the 808 at the first impact, before the sustain of the kick becomes stable, then raise the volume.
They love each other. Get over it.
Or at least you will make the first ones by hand doing tests to feel well which curve to apply to the "ascent", then you can copy the automations.
In short, as a key compression would do, but better.
Tip # 4
To give intelligibility to the 808 open an aux channel on the 808. On the return of the aux add a saturator (I love the black box of di Brain Worx), smoothly cuts the bass under the 400 Hz and then turn up the channel level until you can clearly hear the 808's high component. Now turn it down a little. Here, perfect. If you want to overdo it add a stereo maker (I often use Joey Sturges), but do it very carefully and check in mono that not too much damage is done.
Tip # 5
Now you could send 808 and kick in only one bus and put a nice compressor to “unite” the two sounds and sculpt their timbre. Tube compressors enhance even harmonics (so you'll have soft, warm tones), while solid state ones enhance odd harmonics (guess what? Yeah, you'll get more aggressive, metallic tones).
Very little compression should be needed, few dB… In short, I would use them in a delicate way, or, as they say in Sweden, “Doce Doce”.
Tip # 6
The things you have read and seen here are only indications: try them, scramble them, ignore them, in short, you understand, do what you want with them. What matters is investing in the only asset you have: yourself. Listen to all the music and sounds you find and try to figure out what you like, don't follow a path just because everyone goes there.
Ad Maiora
Luca “NooN” de Gregorio BA (Hons) - SAE
