STYLE DIRECTION
How to Build a Drum and Bass Kick
STARTING POINT
Build a Drum and Bass kick around a very short, highly readable onset with restrained Sub level plus Length and Fade so the kick survives fast tempo and dense bass design. Start with the ILLUSTRATIVE KX1000 STARTING VALUES below, then choose a direction only when the arrangement needs a different amount of length, density, or attack.
ILLUSTRATIVE KX1000 STARTING VALUES
Build the style foundation
Transient1.08
Body0.59
Sub0.28
Length200 ms
Punch86%
Tone2.60
Drive17%
Impact74%
METHOD
How to shape it
- Set the kick envelope for the tempo and groove.
- Balance Transient, Body, and Sub as one event.
- Use Length to protect the bass and next rhythmic hit.
- Add Punch, Tone, Drive, and Impact only for a specific audible need.
- Check the result in mono, at low level, and in the full arrangement.
ARRANGEMENT DIRECTIONS
Choose the version your track needs
Clean liquid
A smoother, lighter DnB versionA smoother, lighter DnB version.
Transient0.97
Body0.58
Sub0.24
Length270 ms
Punch76%
Tone1.70
Drive8%
Impact64%
Dancefloor punch
A firmer, brighter versionA firmer, brighter version.
Transient1.11
Body0.62
Sub0.28
Length220 ms
Punch88%
Tone2.90
Drive14%
Impact78%
Neuro compact
A dense, very short versionA dense, very short version.
Transient1.17
Body0.54
Sub0.22
Length180 ms
Punch90%
Tone3.20
Drive24%
Impact78%