How can I make my 808 sound better?

Here’s how:

1. Add a compressor to the 808.
2. Route the kick into its sidechain input.
3. Set the attack to its fastest value, so that every time the kick hits, the 808 turns down momentarily. This will shave the transient off the 808.
4. Adjust the release until the 808 returns naturally to full volume after the kick hits.

What DB should my 808 be at?

around -18 dBFS
Make It Loud! Start with all your faders down. Bring up the 808 so it’s at a reasonable level in your DAW (probably somewhere around -18 dBFS).

Why is 808 so popular?

It was one of the earliest programmable drum machines in the industry, and it eventually changed the sound of popular music. What made the 808 different was that the sounds did not resemble real percussion, and were more like a “futuristic” interpretation of common sounds: bass, drums, snare, cymbals, and more.

Should my 808s be mono?

This enables the 808 bass to rumble through, all the way down to the sub frequencies, while bringing up the track level by shifting the limiting to other frequencies. Normally I will put 808s in mono. Lastly, I usually sidechain the 808 to the kick drum.

Can the 808 be louder than the kick?

You’ll want to have one instrument to be louder than the other. It all depends on what each instrument sounds like. Let’s say that the 808 is a more sub based & low-end heavy sample & the kick is punchy & tight. This will be key when it comes to balancing these two instruments & it will greatly help avoid clashing.

Is 808 a bass or kick?

The difference between an 808 and a kick drum is that an 808 refers to just the low-end bass sounds that emanate from the kick, but not the attack of the kick drum. In other words, an 808 is the bass – the sound and frequency – whereas the kick refers to the actual kick drum or VST.

Is 808 a kick or bass?

Do I need to EQ 808’s?

EQ’ing 808’s is not necessary and probably necessary at the same time. This is actually dependent on the sample, song and role you want it to play in the mix. Here are few good questions to ask yourself when deciding on whether you should EQ your 808’s or not.

Should you put a kick on top of an 808?

Many music producers pair their 808’s with a kick. If your composition feels empty or flat layering a kick on top of your 808 can give you the bottom sub, thump and punch. This technique of layering can add the extra oomph you’re looking for.

How do I remove excess low end from 808s?

Remove excess low end on tracks that don’t need it. Common culprits include kicks, basses, and synths. High-pass filters are your friends. Give the 808 room to breathe, and it will often cut through without any processing. You can pull this off by using a technique called “subtractive EQ.” To learn more, watch the video below:

How to mix an 808 with a bass?

Try sidechaining the long sustained bass hit to a separate punchy top kick, so the low end has a slow attack. This space allows the punch of the beater to cut through, before the tail of the bass rings out. Mixing 808s can be tricky.