Mixing down a clap

[Curfee]

Im having a real tough time getting the clap right in the mix. To get it sounding like I want, it just gobbles up headroom, even going above 0 when I'm trying to keep it at or below -3db. I turned it down to levels consistent with everything else, but by that point the thing is almost inaudible in the mix. I tried using seveal clap samples, but this problem exists in all of them

I read moneyshot, and I know that ears > eyes, and I even used the search, but rt now its no headroom v.s. tiny, baby clap

[SunkLo]

Turn everything down, set the clap level to where it should be. Yay headroom and a loud clap.

[forbidden]

could also be something clashing with the clap that's making it peak so hard, if i'm catching your drift you're kind of looking to eliminate a peak here instead of just "make it loud".

check out s(m)exoscope, a free plugin that gives you a waveform view of what's playing a la soundcloud waveform (kind of). helps a LOT with things like this.

[NinjaEdit]

Transient shaping, compression, EQ and/or reversing the phase.

[Icetickle]

Try sidechaining it through whatever it's sharing freq. with (maybe a lead, pad.. w/e). And please don't mix loud, it will just give you clipping problems. Turn the volume of your DAW on the windows mixer thing. Viola.

[m8son666]

[mthrfnk]

[Sure_Fire]

It may be the sample that's the issue, a lot of the clap samples I have are very greedy when it comes to headroom due to all the attack they have. Compress it, cut the top off with a limiter if you have to, find the area that's peaking with a spectrum analyser and EQ it out a little. If all else fails, sub it out for a better sample.

[nowaysj]

I read moneyshot

You read but didn't understand the moneyshot.

Lemme just spin a yarn for a moment:

I'm looking at maybe a new computer, or at least a new os, and that may mean letting go of hundreds if not thousands of projects over the last 6 or so years.

I just opened up an old project from 2008, and it was a FUCKING DISASTER in there.

After having read, and understood the moneyshot thread, it took me 5 minutes to bring a disaster of a project into a sweetspot, powerful, dynamic, and a full blended mix, rather than a mish mash of elements, some WAY too loud.

The first thing I did was find the most prominent element in the track, in this case it was a snare, so essentially a clap. Then I dropped all mixer faders to -infinity, then I set the snare to PEAK at -12db. I then brought other elements in around that snare, first the kick, then a synth line, then the bass (the bass is still problematic, I didn't totally crack that case, it was more of a voicing rather than level thing). The snare was the tent pole, the thing in the center, about which everything else hung.

If everything is quiet with your most prominent element at -12 db, turn up your speakers.

This is a promise - you will make WAY more progress understanding your mix if you regularly work, and mix like this.

A promise.

Yes though, snares and claps can be tough. I personally push the snare/clap the hardest into the limiter.

[Sharmaji]

what nowaysj said:

start with the clap and mix everything else around it.

and headroom is your key to an easier mix.

[Simulant]

Soft clipping or saturation on the sample can be useful if the clap is peaking really high. You can make it sound louder but peak less.

[mati-b]

for me its smiley face eq centered at 5k and notching out a bit of 1-2k with about 3db compression is usually the setting i end up with, but i mostly use claps for house but im guessing it would be similar for dubstep. I kind of try to copy what calvin harris's claps sound like, love his claps

[SunkLo]

I read moneyshot

You read but didn't understand the moneyshot.

Yeah I was originally just gonna say this but I figured I'd reiterate to save you some page wading. Set your priorities and then set your levels. If after doing a preliminary mix you notice things sound level but the mix is too peaky, go back and compress the problem tracks and remix. Once you've got it gelling you can dip into some master buss compression.