Armus Digital is your go-to platform for distributing music. We give artists more power by offering top-notch distribution services to over 150 platforms around the world. With regular payments, content protection, performance royalties collection, and full label services, our goal is to make sure that your music reaches as many people as possible. We’re going to help you improve your drum mix in five easy steps today.
Step 1: Make sure your levels are correct
Leveling is the first step in making a great drum mix. Setting the levels of the kick, snare, hi-hats, toms, and cymbals is the first thing you should do. The kick and drum should usually stand out more because they are what the beat is built on. Make sure that each part can be heard clearly without drowning out the others. This well-balanced mix is the starting point for more work.
Step 2: Level out each drum part
It’s important to use equalization (EQ) to give each drum the space it needs in the mix. Here are some quick ideas:
- Kick Drum: For thump, boost the low end around 50–100 Hz, and for attack, add a small boost around 3–5 kHz.
- Snare Drum: Boost the body between 150 and 250 Hz and add snap by raising between 5 and 7 kHz.
- Hi-Hats and Cymbals: Cut the low frequencies to keep the sound clear, and boost the high frequencies (8–12 kHz) to make the sound bright.
Tones: Focus on the body and attack by raising between 100 and 300 Hz and 3 to 5 kHz.
Step 2: Level out each drum part
Compression lets you change how your drums sound, which makes them sound tighter and more finished. To join the parts together, apply light compression to the drum bus as a whole. For one or more drums:
- For the kick and snare, use medium attack and release settings to keep the punch but smooth out the highs.
- For hi-hats and cymbals, use light compression to keep their original sound.
- Toms: Use compression to keep their decay under control and keep the sound consistent.
Step 4: Add effects and reverb
Reverb gives your drum mix depth and room, making it sound like it’s in a certain place. For a tight sound, give the snare a short echo. For a bigger sound, give the toms and cymbals a longer reverb. Try adding delay or saturation to your drums to give them more personality and flavor, but don’t use them too much or the mix will get muddy.
Step 5: Final Check and Automation
After checking that everything is okay, it’s time to finish the balance. Adjust the levels and EQ as needed to make sure that each drum part fits well in the mix. To improve rhythm and add interest, use automation. For example, during choruses, turn up the volume on the snare and turn down the volume on the hi-hats.
Final Thoughts
If you follow these five steps, you’ll be well on your way to getting a professional sound when you mix drums. Armus Digital isn’t just about distributing music; we’re here to help you with every step of your musical path. You can easily share your music with people all over the world by uploading your finished tracks and assigning them to work on them. Have fun mixing!
This is about Armus Digital:
Armus Digital is a platform for distributing music that helps artists get their songs heard all over the world. It lets you quickly distribute your music to more than 150 platforms, get paid every month, protect your content, earn performance royalties, and use label services. The platform lets artists upload their music, choose which stores to distribute it in, give collaborators, and make UPC and ISRC codes. Armus Digital makes sure that music can be heard all over the world and is properly made money by forming agreements with many digital service providers.