Mixing Drums Like A Pro (15 Mixing Tips)

Wondering how to mix drums? In this video, I'll show you my best drum mixing techniques. Whether you are mixing drums in logic pro x, mixing drums in pro tools, or using any other DAW, these drum mixing tips will put you on the right path! Here's the breakdown:

00:00 Intro to Mixing Drums
00:22 Use Busses
00:54 Check the Phase
01:39 Isolate for Control
02:24 Don't Be Afraid of Samples
03:13 Use Filters for Tightness
03:30 Use Multiple References
04:07 Think Big Picture
04:41 Have a Workflow
05:41 Slow Compression for Punch
06:31 Smash the Room Mics
06:57 Add Character
07:41 Parallel Compression
08:22 Use Limiting for Control
09:13 Use Clipping for Aggression
10:33 Use Reverb for Size
11:58 Free Bonus!

[masteringcom]

What are your favorite drum mixing tips and techniques?

[rett]

Awesome! Just watched about five of these YT pros 'teaching' us how to mix drums looking for new tips. You're the first one to talk about phase alignment. Even Beato omitted this crucial step in his tutorial. So, BRAVO to you! No amount of mixing will overcome phase issues in drum tracks. And with modern ITB mixing, this is easily fixed and no longer necessary to phase align mics when recording. Get the mics where they sound the best and you'll definitely have phasing. Delay all mics to align with the mic furthest from the snare, and voila. Perfect, or near perfect, phase alignment.

[neodyst]

Yep, the parallel compression can make wonders. And usable in almost every genre.

[edsterling]

This is bang-on (forgive the pun) accurate. Took me a long time to learn this. Every tip here is worth experimenting with. -- Middle aged drummer and recordist here.

[ANmusicYT]

You just helped me tremendously with mixing drums thank you !

[danybones]

AWESOME! I always do almost all of them except for limiting the drum bus, but now I'll try out. Thanks so much!!

[emergentform]

This is bloody amazing stuff, much appreciated dude.

[jasoncoffey]

That was very helpful. Thank you for putting this together.

[buhlir]

can you do this again, but doing something like more advanced techs? I learned all these a while ago, which are great! but I want to see some deeper stuff, great vid though!

[RusiruRupasinghe]

Great video! One question though.
Is there anyway to push the snare back and have some space? I tried with a reverb but hard to hear it in the full mix.

[jl]

Very solid tips, very well presented.
Nice work, and thanks for sharing the wisdom.

[james]

What software are you using for this video?

[steveweilhart]

great tips as another comment said I do most if not all except the limiter I also am a big Slate plugins (all access pass) mix with your ears not your eyes -

[marsrajczak]

cant believe this guy was raised in a barn

[Hit]

cuss in a barn guy gives good tips actually..