sidechaining the snare

[MrMush]

Currently doin some T&E on a new project
The snare is made from 6 different samples including a tom to push some punch.
but it still dont sound to full in the mix.
it pushes through. But just doesnt sound full.
think sidechain will help or resolve???
Do u think its nessesary automatically

[ehbes]

check the mix before anything else

[Italus]

I agree with ehbrums, check the mix and EQ to make sure no frequencies are clashing. If you are on Fl you can sidechain the EQ around where the snare is hitting and that might help. Sometimes sidechain can sound good, while other times it can sound really bad. That might help a little. I've also noticed putting a tad of stereo separation on a snare widens it a bit and make it sound fuller.

[MrMush]

I agree.. ive been checkin the mix like i said. And my spectrum shows that im pushin through hittin -14 db. Ill try the stereo idea.. i use ableton. So maybe a idea of how to go about doin that

[hasezwei]

6 layers for a snare?
chances are good that you'll end up with a better result by choosing 1 or 2 more suitable samples and a bit of eq'ing

are you compressing the layered snare?

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

sidechain is mostly for that breathing feel, but subtile it can help too. so yeah why not

[constrobuz]

6 layers for a snare?
chances are good that you'll end up with a better result by choosing 1 or 2 more suitable samples and a bit of eq'ing?

this. people go way overboard with layering drum samples. 90% of my shit has only 1 snare sample. the other 10% is either 2 or 3.

[Italus]

Yeah 6 layers is quite a bit. I usually don't layer that much, and my snares are still punchy. You're problem might be that. Just try to a get a good, full, source sample then compress it to hell and back (ok maybe not that much.) and you will be good.

[MrMush]

6 layers for a snare?
chances are good that you'll end up with a better result by choosing 1 or 2 more suitable samples and a bit of eq'ing

are you compressing the layered snare?

Compressed and resampled..
Everytime i try just two samples im never pleased with the outcome.
Im tryin for a very snappy yet pushy snare

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

909 snare sample at the bottom and whatever floats your boat at the top

[MrMush]

And im not sayin ur all wrong about what were talkin about. But my experiance with just one or two samples just sounded like it had no life even after eq and compression.
But i will take this information and give it a try.
Also ill post the wip so u can get a ear view

[wub]

The snare is made from 6 different samples including a tom to push some punch.
but it still dont sound to full in the mix.
it pushes through. But just doesnt sound full.
think sidechain will help or resolve???

TBH, if you're having to use 6 snare samples and it still doesn't sound good, you're picking the wrong samples.

[MrMush]

The snare is made from 6 different samples including a tom to push some punch.
but it still dont sound to full in the mix.
it pushes through. But just doesnt sound full.
think sidechain will help or resolve???

TBH, if you're having to use 6 snare samples and it still doesn't sound good, you're picking the wrong samples.[/quote

I like the sound of the snare.. i just dont think its full enough.. such as feelin that punch in your chest

[deadly_habit]

Sidechaining your snare for effect can be great, hell look at Current Value.
Doing it as a substitute for a proper mixdown is just lazyness.

[MrMush]

Sidechaining your snare for effect can be great, hell look at Current Value.
Doing it as a substitute for a proper mixdown is just lazyness.

I agree. And im not tryin to go about it that way.
But if the effect is gonna make it more full then thats what i want

[deadly_habit]

If you can't gain the same sound via equing and a proper mixdown, then by all means abuse sidechaining.
I'm just saying that too many people who know fuck all about audio abuse sidechaining instead of properly mixing their stuff.
That whole buzzword thing that is prevalent here.

[MrMush]

Ahhh i c.. thanks for the wisdom

[mthrfnk]

I'd recommend finding the frequencies you think make your snare punchy e.g. 200Hz.

Now automate an EQ on your basses/mids/pads... whatever to dip at this (or maybe multiple) frequencies whenever the snare hits. FL has Peak Controller to do this but in Ableton you may have to draw in some automation manually on the EQ duck.

[deadly_habit]

I'd recommend finding the frequencies you think make your snare punchy e.g. 200Hz.

Now automate an EQ on your basses/mids/pads... whatever to dip at this (or maybe multiple) frequencies whenever the snare hits. FL has Peak Controller to do this but in Ableton you may have to draw in some automation manually on the EQ duck.

This again is just laziness and a substitute for a proper mixing.

[skwiggo]

one thing to note is it's as much about the other elements in your mix as it is the snare. if you have lots of massive loud mid range synths occupying the same frequency as your snare and loads of other stuff (vocals etc.) it's going to dampen the impact of your snare. IMO mixing is usually a compromise, especially in dance music where your trying to emphasise the percussion and bass without drowning out the other elements of the track.

You could:

1. use a spectrum analyser to find where the snare and the other parts of your track are clashing and use subtractive eq to make small cuts in those sections (don't completely cut them out just cut them by a few db) and then maybe boost the snare a little bit in the same areas. you could also cut frequencies out of your snare samples that are not needed - like below 90hz where the sub bass sits. Don't cut out too much though as you'll lose more impact that way - you could try using a shelf cut on your EQ. it's a balancing act with this sort of stuff and trial and error until you get it to sound good.

2. cut out synth parts that are unneccessary or even make sure the offending part isn't playing at the same time as your synth. Manually automating volume faders is also something i think people forget to do in busy mixes which is important - mix engineers for rock/pop music do this a lot but i think dance/electronic music producers are discouraged from doing it - i think my mixes have improved since i started automating volume faders to accent or decrease certain parts of the mix at different points in a track.

3. give your snare better eq/compression settings - keep changing it until it sounds good! might take a while but you'll learn more about how to get stuff to sit in the mix. also maybe a different sample selection would help - like someone else said a 909 snare is a good backbone as it cuts through the mix well IMO. unless it's a crazy stereo experimental snare your using i agree with others in this thread that 6 samples might be overkill, but then again if your getting results you like with it then its cool