Four Kick Depth Scenarios Learned from Kevin McCloskey

It took me some time to sort out all my notes from Fix-The-Mix events with Kevin to put together my own summary of how Kevin teaches to create kick depth. The main principle is never remove anything from the sound, but always ADD to the sound, which preserves sound integrity. So, here are four scenarios to create depth within the kick:

Situation 1. Kick transient is OK at -5 dBFS, but kick low end is BELOW 0 VU.

Boost the kick’s low frequencies until it reaches 0 on VU meter calibrated to −15.

Situation 2. Kick transient is OK at -5 dBFS, but kick low end is ABOVE 0 VU.

Lower the kick’s gain until the low end reaches 0 on VU meter calibrated to −15. Then, use a transient shaper to exaggerate the transient and bring its peak back to −5 dBFS.

Situation 3. Kick low end is OK at 0 VU, but kick transient is BELOW -5 dBFS

Use a transient shaper to exaggerate the kick’s transient until its peak reaches −5 dBFS, while keeping the low end at 0 on VU meter calibrated at -15.

Situation 4. Kick low end is OK at 0 VU, kick transient is ABOVE - 5dBFS.

Lower the kick’s gain until its transient peaks at −5 dBFS. Then, boost the kick’s low end until it reaches 0 VU on a meter calibrated at −15.

So, always add... add... add.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Always going up... up... up!

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Four Kick Depth Scenarios Learned from Kevin McCloskey