How to Mix Drums

*****
CONNECT WITH ME:

[waynedeadder]

Ok. I’m a 38 year professional musician

Sideman.

Played on over 100 albums. Played in 14 countries.

Now, in lockdown, I’m recording at home. Mixing drums. I have no fucking clue what I’m doing despite years of playing.

This was the best explanation....concise, quick, articulate, entertaining and exactly what I needed.

I wish you could hear what you showed me dude.

[acevoncruz]

Step 1: Bus all your drums to a drum bus.
Step 2: Spend plenty of time on the balance.
Step 3: Use a stock EQ to tame any ringing.
Step 4: EQ and compress the drum bus.
Step 5: EQ and compress individual tracks.

[danec]

One of the best drum mix tutorials I have ever seen. Good to see someone showing that you don't need 100s of plug ins!

[vineetbhatia]

To the person watching this : Congrats on the new Drum set-up!!

[jessejafrnd]

I love how you explained a bus channel in a way some of us might not already know what it is. Thanks for being helpful to a beginner. Most other videos are too far ahead to understand for a beginner.

[gphillips]

I heard the ringing on the snare and was like "sheesh that is not sounding too hot...bit of a dissonant/hollow ringing..." and as I was asking myself "wait is he not gonna catch this?" I ate my words midway through that question when I realized you were setting it up on purpose for the next step and integrating it into a proper EQ lesson! Superb! Anyway great tutorial for sure. Simple, effective, and not encouraging cooking acoustic drums so much with plugins that they start to sound like a software kit! And a great point about the drums being 1 instrument/performance taboot!

[amitlavon]

Just watched this. Opened up my DAW, removed the trillion plugins on my current track's drums, rebalanced the tracks, added EQ and compression, BAM! They sounded more lively and punchy than ever.

Your approach makes so much sense yet I still needed to hear it. This will definitely help me going forward. Thanks so much for sharing!

[ThatOtherRaccoon]

This is awesome. As someone who is new to mixing, this helps me TREMENDOUSLY.

[daleburie]

I need to respond to this, I've been around the music for 50 years and I truly respect your concept of the drums are ONE INSTRUMENT and your video is well beyond your years.
I mix drums beginning with the overheads and MIX down to each drum with compression and effects to isolate each drum and each attack. I, m not saying it's right, I am saying it has afforded me a career in recording.
Dale Burie, 'Tater Patch Recording Studio

[DewaveProductions]

yow that eq on that snare was clean asf!!

[Mansardian]

If you ever decide to quit making music...go, become an actor. You've got such a nice, warm voice and you are so entertaining!!

[jeffmoppi]

This is a real gamechanger for me. I love these no nonsense, 80/20 style videos.

[michaelmonteiro]

Oh my god... found your tutorials yesterday but I wish I found them 20 years ago.. Sending of stuff to be mixed by a "pro"and have to wait for it to come back like 3 months later. Non of that anymore! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, I am going to watch all the other vids on your channel. Thank you so much again!!

[ShawnJn]

YOUR THE GOAT BRO. I LOVE TEACHERS WHO CAN MAKE COMPLEX THINGS SIMPLIFIED !!

[calebneff]

Awesome video, glad I watched it! If I may suggest a step 6, it's to add some light saturation on the drum bus. It doesn't need to be distorted, but if someone has never done that, it might blow your mind with how much better it can make it sound.

[SimonePhoenix]

Sir is on point. I started my audio training in actual studio locations & I’m so grateful for it. NOT saying that is the “be-all, end-all” but it did help give me a foundation w/regard to mixing. I usually start w/a simple volume & pan mix, bus stuff out & just LISTEN. An engineer’s most EFFECTIVE tools are not plug-ins, it is their EARS! Good luck & much success to EVERYONE out there in musicland in 2022. Bless up. 🙏🏽

[markbeling]

Great vid Joe... I think checking phase should be step one. Starting off with a thin drum sound because of phase issues could prove to be the first step down the rabbit hole

[c-records]

Hi Joe, i actually tried this method today. I have to say it sounds just more natural with less processing than before. Especially when i work with live-tracks it seems to fit way better to the feel i want to create.

Thanks a lot

[lequidbit]

Great technique. This approach to drums and the overall mix has improved my mix quality, speed and enjoyment.

[ku______]

After 2 years of production I’m just starting learn it’s all about the subtlety. Thanks Joe