STYLE DIRECTION

How to Build a Hip-Hop Kick

STARTING POINT

Build a Hip-Hop kick around a characterful body, concise low end, and timing that locks to the sample, pocket, or bass. 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

Transient0.71

Body0.88

Sub0.42

Length410 ms

Punch60%

Tone-0.60

Drive12%

Impact66%

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

Dusty pocket

A softer, warmer version

A softer, warmer version.

Transient0.56

Body0.92

Sub0.43

Length480 ms

Punch52%

Tone-1.20

Drive16%

Impact58%

Hard boom-bap

A firmer, more aggressive version

A firmer, more aggressive version.

Transient0.82

Body0.89

Sub0.48

Length410 ms

Punch70%

Tone0.40

Drive14%

Impact70%

Tight sampled

A shorter version for dense loops

A shorter version for dense loops.

Transient0.72

Body0.78

Sub0.38

Length310 ms

Punch62%

Tone-0.10

Drive8%

Impact62%