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How to Boost a Drum Kit EQ

Over the last two decades, digital audio technology has become a viable and powerful alternative to analog hardware recorders and effects processors. Commercial music producers often use audio mastering equipment -- such as compressors and equalizers -- to refine their products. Due to the loud, percussive nature of drum kits, producers often manipulate the high and low frequencies of their drum recordings in order to fit the drum set into the overall audio mix.

Things You'll Need

  • Digital audio workstation
  • Multi-track recorder
  • Graphic equalizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open your drum track in your preferred DAW. Programs such as Logic, ProTools and Cubase include graphic equalizers that allow users to observe changes to the waveform aurally and visually. If you prefer not to use a DAW, load your drum track into your hardware multi-track recorder and connect your equalizer device using line cables.

    • 2

      Adjust the overall volume and intensity of your drum track -- raising all of the equalizer's parameters the same amount. The result of total EQ gain is equatable to that of increasing the volume of the track: all of the harmonic frequencies within the drum sound will be augmented by the identical increment.

    • 3

      Increase the strength of kick and bass drums using the low frequency parameter on your equalizer. Raising frequencies in the 30 to 80 Hz range will produce a more audible thump when kick and bass drum hits occur.

    • 4

      Augment the presence of snare drums and tom-toms by raising the mid frequency parameter. Any modifications you make in the 1200 to 3500 Hz range should noticeably impact these drums.

    • 5

      Add a vibrant, shimmering quality to your crash and ride cymbals by raising the high frequency parameter on the equalizer. Gently strengthen frequencies in the 9000 to 1700 Hz range, until you find your desired results. Keep in mind however, that excessive high frequencies can easily become abrasive.

Recording Music

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