Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

TheElement · Post by **TheElement** » Mon May 04, 2015 3:56 pm

Just recently noticed a kick I chopped out of a sample loop which I have been using is slightly forward of the grid. If I chop and line it up on the grid it loses a bit of its top kick. and its attack.

Why is this? I thought kicks should line up on the grid. Is moving a kick slightly forward of the grid a good practice?

Thanks for any wisdom. I am confused but happy with my new kick.

This is the kick: https://soundcloud.com/the-element-stud ... mental-cue

Its got some noise in it. Might try and eq that out but heard recently some producers add noise to their kicks. I have another kick I can use with no noise which sounds good and lines up to the grid. Could always drop that in the KICK vst and tune from there. anyway I'm rambling! lol

Russell Landwehr · Post by **Russell Landwehr** » Mon May 04, 2015 6:15 pm

AHA! my friend, Gavin... you've discovered that super secret sauce of pushing the kick just slightly ahead of the beat... gives it more drive, sticks out from the mix...
this has been talked about (as well as the snare beats either in front of or behind the beat for feel) for decades...

except...
if the kick is ahead of the beat... is it truncated at the beginning of the loop!?!

TheElement · Post by **TheElement** » Mon May 04, 2015 6:33 pm

Cool. Thanks. I could use more drive.

truncated? Nope. However if I was to slice it to the grid then yes I lose some of that nice top kick.

Hey Russell adding noise to a kick..whats that all about?

shorttonpro · Post by **shorttonpro** » Tue May 05, 2015 2:18 am

In addition to slightly altering the feel/drive of the track, the sounds aren't physically all hitting at the same time. When you think about it, having your bass, your kick, snare, claps, cymbals etc... all quantized to the grid, that is alot of elements taking place at the exact same time. This is probably why moving your kick slightly forward, snare slightly back allows each of their attacks to be heard ever so more distinctly without being noticeably offbeat.

TheElement · Post by **TheElement** » Tue May 05, 2015 8:44 am

Thanks Scott, yeah everything usually hitting the same time. Been eqing a lot lately and also found cutting the bass out where the kick hits helps. However sidechaining bass as well to make sure.

Joseph · Post by **Joseph** » Sat May 09, 2015 3:29 pm

Cool technique. Thanks for sharing.

-Joseph

cardell · Post by **cardell** » Sat May 09, 2015 7:47 pm

Russell Landwehr wrote:AHA! my friend, Gavin... you've discovered that super secret sauce of pushing the kick just slightly ahead of the beat... gives it more drive, sticks out from the mix...
this has been talked about (as well as the snare beats either in front of or behind the beat for feel) for decades...

except...
if the kick is ahead of the beat... is it truncated at the beginning of the loop!?!

I agree Russell! 'TheElement' has stumbled on ancient musical knowledge here.

In all seriousness: it's referred to as "pushing the beat". "Dragging the beat" is also very cool in slow songs. It can give a sense of more space.

Stuart

JamesCarvalho · Post by **JamesCarvalho** » Sat May 09, 2015 9:03 pm

another technique is to create a "sub" master bus with a compressor on it thats triggered by the kick which will drop the volume just a bit too let the kick though..
all the while another pumping side chain compressor on the bass also triggered by the kick..
you even do this with yet another sub for say keyboard or a vocal..

Russell Landwehr · Post by **Russell Landwehr** » Sun May 10, 2015 5:24 am

TheElement wrote: adding noise to a kick..whats that all about?

I think we are talking about parallel distortion here?
Andy has posted often about it here in the forums.
I think it would be a great "Ask Andy" Topic.

JamesCarvalho · Post by **JamesCarvalho** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:17 am

ya it a new concept for me .. i would think its more like ducking quack quack

was checking out dave darllington as he expains

https://youtu.be/V6jgMM4H-M8

Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

Re: Having Kick Sample Hit Slightly Forward of Grid

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