STYLE DIRECTION
How to Build a Trance Kick
STARTING POINT
Build a Trance kick around a clear pitch-defined Transient, a controlled tonal body, and a tail short enough to interlock with rolling or offbeat 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
Transient0.99
Body0.78
Sub0.52
Length410 ms
Punch76%
Tone1.60
Drive10%
Impact76%
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
Classic energetic
A bright, clear trance foundationA bright, clear trance foundation.
Transient1.00
Body0.76
Sub0.54
Length450 ms
Punch78%
Tone1.80
Drive9%
Impact74%
Progressive
A smoother, rounder versionA smoother, rounder version.
Transient0.86
Body0.83
Sub0.59
Length560 ms
Punch68%
Tone1.00
Drive6%
Impact69%
Modern peak-time
A shorter and denser versionA shorter and denser version.
Transient1.09
Body0.70
Sub0.48
Length370 ms
Punch86%
Tone2.20
Drive18%
Impact78%