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5 Tips On How To Make Your Own Drum Kits

 

The first drum kit I made was back in 2010. I had no idea what the hell I was doing lol but I became obsessed.

Since then I released 14 drum kits.

The most important thing I learned?

Experimentation is everything.

I also learned a few key tricks that (when combined with "experimentation" + the right plug ins) the results are straight 🔥

So today I felt like sharing some of those key tricks with you so you can make your own drum kits (either for your own beats, or to sell). And of course, to celebrate the release of Blap-Kit Volume 14
 

1. Layering for Depth and Punch

  • Kicks: Combine a punchy mid-range kick with a sub-heavy low-end layer. Use EQ to cut the low frequencies on the top kick and boost the highs, while keeping the bottom layer focused on the sub frequencies.
  • Snares: Blend a snappy acoustic snare with a white noise layer or a clap for extra texture. Adjust the volume balance to make it feel cohesive.
  • Hi-Hats: Layer closed hi-hats with subtle percussive clicks or short, tonal synth sounds to add complexity.

Blap Tip: Use time-stretching to align transients perfectly when layering. This avoids phasing issues.
Recommended Plugins:

  1. Kickstart 2 (Nicky Romero) – This is sick for shaping low end stuff.
  2. RX950 (Inphonik) – Just a cool vintage sample warmer.
  3. FabFilter Pro-Q 3 – Obviously a sick EQ.

2. Experiment with Foley and Found Sounds

  • Percussion: Record everyday objects like coins, claps, keys, or tapping on glass, then process them. These organic textures can create unique percussion layers.
  • Claps: Record multiple claps at slightly different distances from the mic and stack them. Pan each layer slightly left or right for a wide, natural sound.
  • Hi-Hats: Use sounds like spray cans, cymbal scrapes, or finger snaps for unique hi-hat textures.

Blap Tip: Process foley with EQ, reverb, and transient shapers to shape it into usable drum elements.
Recommended Plugins:

  1. RC-20 Retro Color (XLN Audio) – You already know this one of the goat plug-ins.
  2. Transgressor 2 (Boz Digital Labs) – Sick for advanced transient shaping.

3. Shape and Sculpt with Saturation and Distortion

  • 808 Bass: Use soft clipping or tape saturation to add harmonics and make your 808s punch through a mix. Experiment with overdrive plugins to create distorted 808s for more aggressive tracks.
  • Kicks: Add a touch of saturation to make kicks feel warmer and fuller without overloading the mix.
  • Snares and Rims: Subtle distortion can give snares and rims a gritty, lo-fi feel.

Blap Tip: Use parallel distortion to blend the processed and clean signals. This retains clarity while adding grit.
Recommended Plugins:

  1. Decapitator (Soundtoys) – The analog distortion is sick on this.
  2. FabFilter Saturn 2 – The multiband distortion is super unique.
  3. CamelCrusher – It's free and I been using it for over 10 years.

4. Tuning and Envelope Shaping

  • Kicks and 808s: Always tune your kicks and 808s to the key of your track. Use a pitch shifter or fine-tune them until they lock into the track’s bassline.
  • Hi-Hats: Pitch your hi-hats up or down to match the vibe of the track. Lower-pitched hats feel heavier, while higher-pitched ones add energy.
  • Snares: Use envelope shaping to shorten or lengthen the tail of your snare for tightness or more room-filling impact.

Blap Tip: Use transient shapers to control the attack and sustain of your drum sounds for precise control.
Recommended Plugins:

  1. Xfer OTT – Sick for shaping dynamic transients and adding punch.
  2. SPL Transient Designer – Simple envelope shaping for cool detail.
  3. Melodyne (Celemony) – Pitch correction for kicks and 808s.

5. Design with Effects and Resampling

  • Kicks and Claps: Use reverb with a gated setting to add space, then resample the processed sound for use in your track.
  • Hi-Hats: Apply flangers, delays, or phasers for a more dynamic, evolving hi-hat sound. Automate these effects for even more variation.
  • Snares and Percussion: Layer reverb tails or pitch-shifted effects to create airy, futuristic drum hits.

Blap Tip: After processing your sounds, bounce them out as audio and re-import them. This resampling step often leads to happy accidents and unique results.
Recommended Plugins:

  1. Valhalla Room – You already know.
  2. Soundtoys EchoBoy – Versatile delay to do creative stuff.
  3. ShaperBox 3 (Cableguys) – Good for creating movement with automation.


I hope this quick guide helps.

None of those companies are sponsoring btw. Just wanted to share the good stuff.

If you have any of your own tricks, let me know!

Leave a comment below.

- Illmind
@illmindproducer

54 comments

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