Kick drum big three eq quick chart

More boom (modern) +6dB at 50Hz

More boom (solid, classic) +6dB at 100Hz
More smack (attack) +7dB at 3.5kHz
More click (beater) +6dB at 6.0kHz

Kick drum eq recipes

Start here to get a solid, full kick drum sound with plenty
of click

 Band 1: +6dB at 55Hz

 Band 2: -9dB at 275Hz (narrow)
 Band 3: +7dB at 3.7kHz
 Band 4: +8dB at 6.2kHz shelf

Start here to get a more traditional kick drum sound

 Band 1: +6dB at 100Hz

 Band 2: -10dB at 800Hz (narrow)
 Band 3: +6dB at 1.5kHz
 Band 4: +6dB at 7.0kHz shelf

Start here to get a ringy bottom end with less attack

 Band 1: +6dB at 100Hz

 Band 2: -5dB at 250Hz (narrow)
 Band 3: +3dB at 4.0kHz
 Band 4: +3dB at 10.0kHz shelf

Kick drum compression recipes

Subtle kick drum compression

 Ratio: 3:1 or 4:1

 Attack: 4ms
 Release: 200ms
 Threshold: adjust for about 3-6dB gain reduction
 More “in your face” kick drum compression

 Ratio: 6:1
 Attack: 3ms
 Release: 200ms
 Threshold: adjust for about 8-10dB gain reduction

Snare drum big four quick eq chart

More pulse (body) +4dB at 200Hz

More smack (bang) +3dB at 2kHz
More wires (buzz) +6dB at 5kHz
More head (texture) +6dB at 7kHz
To eliminate kick drum bleed and rumble use a high pass band
at 80Hz

Snare drum eq recipes

Start here for subtle snare drum shaping with mild cut
through

 Band 1: 150Hz high pass

 Band 2: +3dB at 200Hz
 Band 3: +4dB at 4.0kHz
 Band 4: +4dB at 7.0kHz

Start here for a solid, traditional snare drum sound

 Band 1: +5dB at 250Hz

 Band 2: +6dB at 2.0kHz
 Band 3: +4dB at 5.0kHz
 Band 4: +8dB at 10kHz

Start here for a snare drum sound with a thick body and
smooth top

 Band 1: +6dB at 180Hz

 Band 2: +4dB at 250Hz
 Band 3: -4dB at 800Hz (adds clarity)
  Band 4: +6 at 3.0kHz
 Band 5: +8 at 7.0kHz

Start here for a deep and punchy snare drum sound

 Band 1: 80Hz high pass

 Band 2: +9dB at 200Hz
 Band 3: +3dB at 2.5kHz
 Band 4: +1dB at 3.5kHz
 Band 5: +8dB at 8.0kHz

Snare drum compressor recipes

Start here for light snare drum compression

 Ratio: 4:1
 Attack: 4ms
 Release: 200ms
 Threshold: adjust for 3-6dB gain reduction

Start here to increase the sustain for a thicker snare drum

sound

 Ratio: 6:1
 Attack: 1ms
 Release: 200ms
 Threshold: adjust for 6-10dB gain reduction

Start here for eq on a bottom snare drum mic

 Band 1: 50Hz high pass

 Band 2: +6dB at 200Hz
 Band 3: +15dB at 5kHz

Start here for compression on the bottom snare drum mic

 Ratio: 10:1
 Attack: 1ms
 Release: 200ms
  Threshold: adjust for 10-15dB gain reduction

Tom big four quick eq chart

More thump +4 at 200Hz

More attack +4 at 4.5kHz
More stick +6 at 7kHz
More air +2 at 10kHz (high shelf)

Rack tom and floor tom drum eq recipes

Start here for a slick, modern tom sound

Band 1: +6dB at 150Hz
Band 2: -15dB at 800
Band 3: +9dB at 6KHz

Start here for a heavy metal tom sound

Band 1: +4dB at 150Hz
Band 2: -15dB at 600Hz
Band 3: +8dB at 3.5KHz
Band 4: +2dB at 10KHz (high shelf)

Start here for a vintage 70’s tom sound

Band 1: high pass at 90Hz
Band 2: +4dB at 220
Band 3: +4dB at 4.5KHz
Band 4: +6dB at 7KHz

Tom compression recipe

Start here for subtle tom compression

Ratio: 4:1
Attack: 10ms
Release: 400ms (or less for fast tom hits in succession)
Threshold: adjust for about 6dB of gain reduction

Bass big three eq quick chart

More girth +6dB at 80Hz

More definition +8dB at 800Hz
More attack +4dB at 3.0kHz
Less mud -3dB at 220Hz

Bass eq recipes

Start here for a modern slap and pop type sound

 Band 1: +8dB at 60Hz

 Band 2: -3dB at 350Hz
 Band 3: +9dB at 850Hz
 Band 4: +8dB at 5kHz shelf

Start here for a vintage R&B sound

 Band 1: +9dB at 100Hz

 Band 2: +6dB at 1.6kHz (narrow)
 Band 3: +5dB at 2.5kHz
 Band 4: 4kHz low pass

Start here for a very punchy low end with plenty of cut

 Band 1: 60Hz high pass

 Band 2: +6dB at 80Hz
 Band 3: +8dB at 900Hz
 Band 4: +7dB at 3.4kHz

Bass compressor recipes

Punchy bass compression

 Ratio: 4:1
 Attack: 50ms
 Release: 50ms
 Threshold: adjust for 3-6dB gain reduction

Smoothing out dynamics

 Ratio: 6:1
 Attack: 0.3ms
 Release: 660ms
 Threshold: adjust for 3-6dB gain reduction