Basics of Mixing Dubstep Percussion

[DJ Void]

Introduction
Hello LMMS community! So I see a lot of newer people struggling with how to properly mix percussion in dubstep and other like genres that are driven by the bass line. I also remember how hard it was to actually figure it out, so I thought I would work out a quick cheat-sheet / tutorial on mixing the percussion because the percussion and really make a song, but they can also break a song too.

Some Explanation, reasoning, and whys
For the Percussion in these styles you dont want the percs to have any low end almost at all, this is one of the biggest mistakes that newer producers make because it muddies your bass line up. so... HIGH PASS EVERYTHING, to a certain degree of course. How do you get that punch without the low ends though? The punch comes from a combination of EQ on the percussion and from the bass-line.

Keep in mind that everything that follows is a very generalized perspective, and can vary depending on the sounds themselves. And also remember that all rules can be broken, if you do something wrong, do it on purpose and everything's
fine.

Kicks
Highpass your kicks at about 110Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound
• 100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
• 5-8kHz ~ Adds high end presence
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss

Snare
Highpass your snares at about 200Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 100-200~ Adds punch
• 200-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds presence

High hats and cymbals
Highpass your high hats and cymbals at around 500hz+.


EQ Cheat-sheet

• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
• 1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

This is my basic guide I go by that I have picked up from various places and pieced together.

Sources:
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... 8&t=190197
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... =8&t=86338

[DJ FlyingPankakez]

Introduction
Hello LMMS community! So I see a lot of newer people struggling with how to properly mix percussion in dubstep and other like genres that are driven by the bass line. I also remember how hard it was to actually figure it out, so I thought I would work out a quick cheat-sheet / tutorial on mixing the percussion because the percussion and really make a song, but they can also break a song too.

Some Explanation, reasoning, and whys
For the Percussion in these styles you dont want the percs to have any low end almost at all, this is one of the biggest mistakes that newer producers make because it muddies your bass line up. so... HIGH PASS EVERYTHING, to a certain degree of course. How do you get that punch without the low ends though? The punch comes from a combination of EQ on the percussion and from the bass-line.

Keep in mind that everything that follows is a very generalized perspective, and can vary depending on the sounds themselves. And also remember that all rules can be broken, if you do something wrong, do it on purpose and everything's
fine.

Kicks
Highpass your kicks at about 110Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound
• 100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
• 5-8kHz ~ Adds high end presence
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss

Snare
Highpass your snares at about 200Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 100-200~ Adds punch
• 200-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds presence

High hats and cymbals
Highpass your high hats and cymbals at around 500hz+.


EQ Cheat-sheet

• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
• 1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

This is my basic guide I go by that I have picked up from various places and pieced together.

Sources:
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... 8&t=190197
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... =8&t=86338

Thanks dude! This will definitely help those who also don't really understand what your Eqing. Such as me.

[brandystarbrite]

Nice tut. It's about time someone put up info like this.

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area

One question, do you mean that this adds muddiness? Or removes /clears the muddiness?

Because in my case, when I use the Lmms EQ plugins.
I use that range, to make my drums stand out and not make it sound muddy.

[DJ Void]

Nice tut. It's about time someone put up info like this.

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area

One question, do you mean that this adds muddiness? Or removes /clears the muddiness?

Because in my case, when I use the Lmms EQ plugins.
I use that range, to make my drums stand out and not make it sound muddy.

Generally in dubstepm that bid-ish range is where most of the muddiness comes from

[DJ Void]

Introduction
Hello LMMS community! So I see a lot of newer people struggling with how to properly mix percussion in dubstep and other like genres that are driven by the bass line. I also remember how hard it was to actually figure it out, so I thought I would work out a quick cheat-sheet / tutorial on mixing the percussion because the percussion and really make a song, but they can also break a song too.

Some Explanation, reasoning, and whys
For the Percussion in these styles you dont want the percs to have any low end almost at all, this is one of the biggest mistakes that newer producers make because it muddies your bass line up. so... HIGH PASS EVERYTHING, to a certain degree of course. How do you get that punch without the low ends though? The punch comes from a combination of EQ on the percussion and from the bass-line.

Keep in mind that everything that follows is a very generalized perspective, and can vary depending on the sounds themselves. And also remember that all rules can be broken, if you do something wrong, do it on purpose and everything's
fine.

Kicks
Highpass your kicks at about 110Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound
• 100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
• 5-8kHz ~ Adds high end presence
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss

Snare
Highpass your snares at about 200Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 100-200~ Adds punch
• 200-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds presence

High hats and cymbals
Highpass your high hats and cymbals at around 500hz+.


EQ Cheat-sheet

• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
• 1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

This is my basic guide I go by that I have picked up from various places and pieced together.

Sources:
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... 8&t=190197
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... =8&t=86338

Thanks dude! This will definitely help those who also don't really understand what your Eqing. Such as me.

Tbh from your tracks you do a pretty good job already tho m8 cx

[DJ Void]

Nice tut. It's about time someone put up info like this.

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area

One question, do you mean that this adds muddiness? Or removes /clears the muddiness?

Because in my case, when I use the Lmms EQ plugins.
I use that range, to make my drums stand out and not make it sound muddy.

The high hats shouldnt have any low end to them in Dubstep and like genres. Other genres are a different story though.

[SV91]

Thanks for the helpful guide DJ Void, I was wondering though which equalizers I should use (and not use?) in the effects chain as there is a handful of them? Sorry, I'm a complete noob with this stuff

[musikbear]

I was wondering though which equalizers I should use (and not use?)

The 10* eq is actually a very good eq.
I like it for making better instruments
Like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mFHDyWGh9c

But when it comes to displaying a freq separated from other frq, the easyQ is a better choice.
Those 2 are my recommendation, because of small cpu usage, and versatility.

[brandystarbrite]

Thanks for the helpful guide DJ Void, I was wondering though which equalizers I should use (and not use?) in the effects chain as there is a handful of them? Sorry, I'm a complete noob with this stuff

The one musikbear suggested, is really good.
But in my case, I use the Lmms equalizer called C Eq2x2.

[Ellay62]

Introduction
Hello LMMS community! So I see a lot of newer people struggling with how to properly mix percussion in dubstep and other like genres that are driven by the bass line. I also remember how hard it was to actually figure it out, so I thought I would work out a quick cheat-sheet / tutorial on mixing the percussion because the percussion and really make a song, but they can also break a song too.

Some Explanation, reasoning, and whys
For the Percussion in these styles you dont want the percs to have any low end almost at all, this is one of the biggest mistakes that newer producers make because it muddies your bass line up. so... HIGH PASS EVERYTHING, to a certain degree of course. How do you get that punch without the low ends though? The punch comes from a combination of EQ on the percussion and from the bass-line.

Keep in mind that everything that follows is a very generalized perspective, and can vary depending on the sounds themselves. And also remember that all rules can be broken, if you do something wrong, do it on purpose and everything's
fine.

Kicks
Highpass your kicks at about 110Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound
• 100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
• 5-8kHz ~ Adds high end presence
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss

Snare
Highpass your snares at about 200Hz.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 100-200~ Adds punch
• 200-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds presence

High hats and cymbals
Highpass your high hats and cymbals at around 500hz+.

EQ Cheat-sheet

• 250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
• 1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
• 6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
• 8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

This is my basic guide I go by that I have picked up from various places and pieced together.

Sources:
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... 8&t=190197
https://www.dubstepforum.com/forum/view ... =8&t=86338

Thank you for posting something like this