Quick fix cheat sheet

12 must-have equalizer settings for clean drums

Kick drum 1

Probably the most frequently used EQ setting for kick drums: the bass range of the kick drum is raised a little, the muddy 300 Hz mids are lowered and the attack of the kick drum is boosted a little.

Kick drum 2

The classic „smiley face“can shape a kick drum that has too many frequencies in the mids very nicely. The bass range and the treble range are enhanced. As a result, the mids automatically get into the background.

Kick drum 3

If there are too many low frequencies, we reduce them with a low-shelf filter at 20 Hz. The upper bass range is boosted at 150 Hz. The presence is boosted by a highshelf filter at 16 kHz.

Snare 1

Probably the most frequently used snare EQ setting: The belly is boosted. The annoying resonances in the 700 Hz range are lowered strongly in a narrow band. And the attack around 8 kHz is boosted.

Snare 2

In this setting the belly is lowered at 150 Hz. If this range is too loud, the balance to the attack is no longer right. We therefore boost the presence and attack with an additional highshelf filter.

Snare 3

The impact sound is cut off below 80 Hz. Disturbing resonances at 600 Hz are reduced. The attack of the snare is boosted at 2 kHz and the presence is amplified at 12 kHz with a highshelf filter.

Hi-hat 1

Probably the most used hi-hat setting: Below 300 Hz everything is cut off, as this information does not contribute anything positive to the mix. The highs are boosted with a high shelf filter at 7 kHz.

Hi-hat 2

If the hi-hat needs more assertiveness, you can increase it at 3 kHz. Disturbing and chirping resonances in the highs are reduced in a narrow band at 8 kHz. The impact sound is eliminated below 350 Hz.

Hi-hat 3

Everything is cut off again below 300 Hz. At 5.5 kHz, sharp high mids are reduced in a narrow band. The high frequencies are boosted slightly at 16 kHz to make the hi-hat a bit brighter and more present.

Djembe 1

If we EQ a djembe, this can look similar to a snare. The impact sound at 50 Hz is cut off, disturbing resonances at 600 Hz are lowered in a narrow band and the attack of the drum is boosted at 10 kHz.

Bongo 2

If we have a nice stereo recording of bongos, it is worth taking a look at the stereo image. With a high shelf filter at 16 kHz in the “diff” (side) signal, we can spread the stereo image.

Bongo 3

Here we only process the “sum” (middle) signal and cut impact noise below 130 Hz. We increase the tonality in the middle signal at 250 Hz. The stereo image remains unprocessed and natural.