How to make sub drops sound good?

[JayB]

Do you guys do any processing to sub drops? EQ/ compression etc? I can't seem to get them to sound quite right. Also, do you tune them? Seems like some people do and some don't.

 

[RedDog]

Who told you subdrops sounded good?

 

[jarrysopa1984]

Who told you subdrops sounded good?

+1

Since it's very low frequency material you might want to check on a subwoofer if it's not overpowering the bass too much. Also keep in mind that too much low frequency energy might prevent the master too be as loud as it could be. I would generally just highcut at 300 hz and if needed compress it with a short release to make the sustain longer. But it's all about leveling me for really.

 

[FrankTheSmith]

I found if you split the mixed track into two tracks, one being 0-90hz and the other 90-(whatever)khz and have the 0-90hz track sidechained to the sub drop it sounds pretty good. If you set the attack and release time to the compressor right it ducks the low end just for a second for the sub to come in. I'd recommend a linear phase eq for it.

 

[oroinvictus]

Since it's very low frequency material you might want to check on a subwoofer if it's not overpowering the bass too much. Also keep in mind that too much low frequency energy might prevent the master too be as loud as it could be. I would generally just highcut at 300 hz and if needed compress it with a short release to make the sustain longer. But it's all about leveling me for really.

+1

 

[Flow Of Time]

Try pitch-shifting a really hard compressed tom sample. Works best for me!

 

[FrankTheSmith]

I did what I'm talking about on this song at 0:23, 1:37 and 2:01.... I know 3 bass drops in 1 song is kinda "eeeeehhh", but yeah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3h10WZc9K0

 

[Bay Studio]

I did what I'm talking about on this song at 0:23, 1:37 and 2:01.... I know 3 bass drops in 1 song is kinda "eeeeehhh", but yeah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3h10WZc9K0

3 are no big deal. Check out Confessions album The Long Way Home. 15 subs in a song or so haha.

 

[abaga129]

Try using just a little tube saturation. It adds some extra harmonics since it's only a single sine wave to begin with.

 

[Mashreef]

3 are no big deal. Check out Confessions album The Long Way Home. 15 subs in a song or so haha.

holy fuck that would sound like a world war
boom boom everywhere

 

[JayB]

I did what I'm talking about on this song at 0:23, 1:37 and 2:01.... I know 3 bass drops in 1 song is kinda "eeeeehhh", but yeah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3h10WZc9K0

Nice mix dude

 

[~BURNY~]

Hit mute

 

[HRdrummer]

Who told you subdrops sounded good?

Clearly you need to "Alien" by SYL

 

[Wishx]

SD are gay, save your self the humiliation

 

[JayB]

Clearly you need to "Alien" by SYL

Yeah that's an awesome one, also Chimaira has some pretty dope ones in a few tracks.

 

[Sloan]

But seriously, isn't everyone tired of sub drops by now?

 

[RedDog]

Obviously you need to tune them so they fit the key. If you need them that bad, PM this guy and he will make one for you of any length and pitch. I've said it before in many identical threads, treat the stupid thing like an instrument and automate around it for hugeness and for the love of god watch your levels.

 

[plague_rider]

When I dealt with sub drops the first thing I'd do is automate the volume/decay to suit the track... so many tracks where the drop just lingers like a bad fart...

 

[Zento]

I find that gclip really helps prevent it from destroying the master, subdrops tend to have a big spike when they hit.

 

[FrankTheSmith]

Here's a few sub drops/bassdrops/808's/BOOM BOOM POWS! I made.
There's a mediafire download link for them in the video description.