Drum Mixing: Techniques

- Mixing drums can be a rather daunting task, and a lot of people are initially afraid to really dig in with EQ, compression, and other processing to make the drums sound like a hit record, to really come alive. I'm gonna show you a few techniques I've learned over the last 20 years to really make your drums stand out, and also fit in with the mix. I'm working on an SSL-4000 E Series here at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, but all the techniques and ideas I will show you are applicable to any daw or console. Numbers and knobs are not as important as understanding the how and why of what I'm doing.

An important thing to keep in mind is that all these ideas are merely tools to use in getting your desired sound. There are no hard and fast rules in using them, other than keeping your ears open and listening to what's happening at all times. I love working with drums, and I really love makin' 'em sound punchy and warm and fat, so I hope that you can take these tricks and make 'em part of your arsenal to make amazing-sounding drums on your track. (drumming)