First move. Before adding an effect, turn the hi-hats and melody down a little. Your kick and snare may already have enough punch.
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Let the kick and snare lead.
Select your drum tracks and group them. That gives you one place to change the whole kit. Keep the 808 separate to start.
Listen to the kick and snare first, then bring the hats back in.
Three Drum Buss knobs worth trying.
Open Drum Buss on your drum group. If your Live edition does not include it, try the saturation or distortion effect you already have.
Add a little Drive.
Listen for a thicker sound. Stop if the hats become harsh.
Try Transients.
This changes the snap and length of the hits. Move it slowly and listen to the snare.
Go easy on Boom.
It adds deep bass. If you already have a big 808, you may not need it.
A flatter snare is your cue to back off.
If you use Compressor or Glue Compressor, start gently. They turn louder parts down, which can help the kit feel more even.
Turn the effect off and on. If the drums feel weaker with it on, use less. A slower Attack setting may help the first hit come through.
More bite. Less scratch.
A little Drive can give a clean kit a rougher edge. Listen to the snare, then the hats.
If the snare feels fuller but the hats hurt, try the effect on the snare track instead of the whole kit.
The whole beat gets the final vote.
A drum sound that is huge on its own can still get lost in the song. Make your final choices with the melody and bass playing.
Compare at a similar volume. Save your effects setup, then adjust it for the next beat.
You’re done when...
0 of 3 checked on your own beat.
Try it on your drums
Grit. Warmth. Punch.
Hear what Drum Breaker does, then try it in your own beat.
Meet Drum Breaker
A few quick answers.
Do I need Drum Buss?
No. Start with the effects in your edition of Live. Getting the volumes right matters more than owning a particular effect.
What does Transients mean?
It refers to the start of a sound, the snap of a snare or the first thump of a kick.
Why do my hats sound harsh?
Try less Drive, or turn the hats down before they reach the group effects.