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How to Use EQ on a Drum Kit

You can equalize a drum kit and dramatically change its sound. With equalization, you can make an okay-sounding drum kit sound good and a good-sounding drum set sound great. In order to properly equalize a drum kit, you must understand the frequencies that make up the drum kit. Once you know which frequencies affect which drums, you'll be able to manipulate the EQ of the drum kit to your liking.

Things You'll Need

  • Equalizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert an equalizer onto each drum track you wish to equalize. A hardware or software equalizer can be used. The process for inserting an equalizer onto a drum track will depend on your specific mixing setup.

    • 2

      Boost the gain on your equalizer between 80 and 100 Hz to add more bottom end power to a kick drum. Reduce the gain between 200 Hz and 250 Hz to remove the "boomy" sound of the kick drum. Reduce the gain between 300 and 600 Hz to remove the frequencies that sometimes make a kick drum sound like cardboard. Boost the gain on your equalizer between 2.5 KHz and 4 KHz to increase the attack and presence of the kick drum.

    • 3

      Reduce the gain on your equalizer below 100 Hz to remove unwanted low end frequencies from the snare drum. Boost the gain around 150 Hz to add body to the snare drum. Reduce the gain around 150 Hz to thin out the snare drum. Reduce the gain between 500 Hz and 800 Hz to remove the frequencies in the snare drum that sometimes make it sound like cardboard. Boost the frequencies between 2 and 4 KHz to increase the attack and presence of the snare drum.

    • 4

      Boost the gain on your equalizer between 80 Hz and 400 Hz to add body and fullness to the toms. The frequency range that most effectively adds body to the toms will depend on the size and tuning of the toms you are equalizing. Reduce the gain between 300 and 600 Hz to remove the frequencies that sometimes make the toms sound like cardboard.

    • 5

      Reduce the gain below 200 Hz on your equalizer to remove unwanted low end frequencies from the cymbals. Boost the gain above 7 KHz to add brilliance to the cymbals.

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