Snare/clap trouble

ms500 · Post by **ms500** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:41 pm

I'm having a few problem creating a clap to tie the groove together. I've got the pitch of it working with the hats ok but it just ends up standing out of the mix and sounding too thin. I tried layering it with a snare to fill it out a bit but it is not really working.

Has anyone got any tips or tricks to help?

kristofason · Post by **kristofason** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:57 pm

have u tried turning it down in the mix and maybe taking off a bit of the mid-high frequencies?

patrick bateman · Post by **patrick bateman** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:24 pm

maybe post a short example?

miro pajic · Post by **miro pajic** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:17 pm

the snare/clap problem is a typical thing. The only solution is to either

1) use a different sample
2) try saturation (if you insist on keeping your sound, this will probably be the best solution) and/or
3) limiter or clipper and of course
4) try EQing things

but in the end it's just about looking at your peaking master channel and if the snare/clap sticks out alot.

It CAN be that your kickdrum has a very sharp transient and adds to much peak with the snare/clap. Replacing the kick with another could eventually help aswell.

IF and only IF you think of layering, then use a sample that appears loud without having a strong peak. (But IMO not a real solution because the original sound probably needs a certain ammount of loudness to be heard which results in too high peaking, again)

If a sound peaks very strong but barely cuts through a mix, and you can't solve by using saturation/dist, it's best to replace it.

Compression will mostly not help IME.

::BLM:: · Post by **::BLM::** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:13 pm

For me claps and hats are the hardest thing to do. I could spend all day going through clap samples and not find the right one. The clap is prob the last thing I add in a track.

Ingemar · Post by **Ingemar** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:56 pm

I agree with all the above tips, what you can also do is to either add a bit of attack on the volume envelope or edit away the characteristical pre-sounds (that make the clap sound like 'crack', if it is a synthesised one)

generally I find sampled 'real life' claps a lot better and more easy to use than synthesised ones.

tone-def · Post by **tone-def** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:30 pm

try rolling off the top end a bit.

get some analog distortion in your track. your got a desk so drive some of your drums through it. that will glue it together.

some reverb with either a gate or envelope shaper to cut the decay time might help too.

sound examples would be good.

XIII NRV · Post by **XIII NRV** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:57 pm

Hey, maybe give this a try...It helped me sometimes...and it's free

http://www.delamancha.co.uk/imperfection.htm