How To Fatten A Kick Drum With A Signal Generator In Pro Tools

Ever notice that your kick drum is missing some low end punch? or it just generally feels small in the mix? This is a very simple way to give more presence to your kick in any mix. The technique involves using an aux track and placing a signal generator to continuously produce a low frequency and a noise gate with a key input to gate the output of the signal generator so that it coincides with the tempo of the kick drum.

1.After deciding that your kick could be beefed up, the first thing to do is create a new mono aux track next to the kick drum track.

2. Next, insert the Signal Generator plug in that comes with Pro Tools. (Warning: when you place it on the track, it will be generating a 1k tone out of its output)

3. Adjust the frequency that is being generated so something lower in the frequency spectrum. Say 40 to 50Hz.

4. On the Insert space below the signal generator, place the Expander/ Gate Dyn 3 plug in.

5. Select the “Simple Gate” preset.

6. Adjust the “Attack” setting to 1.2 ms. Adjust the “Release” setting to 516.7 ms. And adjust the “Threshold” setting to -26.5 dB.

7. After adjusting the settings on the noise gate, go to your kick track and send it to an available bus. (For me, Bus 30)

8. Bring the input to the bus to Unity (0) by Option+Clicking the fader.

9. On the noise gate, select the bussed kick drum output (for me Bus 30) as the “Key Input”

10. Then press the key button in SIDE-CHAIN section of the gate plug in. (By clicking the button you are selecting the input for the gate to be the key input rather than the output of the signal generator. This allows the gate to act independently and use the tempo of the kick drum to open and close itself)