Getting To The Gate

I'm no 'blogger' but I do love mixing techniques, sharing techniques, and especially trying new techniques! Always feel free to email me if you’d like to discuss any techniques you find on this website, or have any to share! One of my favorite techniques that I find most interesting is....

USING ‘NO SAMPLE TRIGGERS' TO GATE MY DRUMS:

WHY I USE THIS TECHNIQUE

I have a hard hitting drummer with low cymbals and some dynamic tom playing. By using a 'plain jane' drum trigger with no brain or ’samples', I can open and close the gates the way I intend to. With this technique, no matter how hard the drums or cymbals directly above the microphones are hit, the tom gates are significantly more accurate.

HOW IT WORKS:

I put triggers at the end of my input list as additional channels. Then the trigger is inserted into the side-chain of the tom-channel gate, it's as simple as that! The channel strip Pre Fader Listen will sound like you're inside the drum. Any hit will come close to peaking and sound like your ear is against the head…because it kinda is... Now that you have them engaged you can get more detailed by cutting out any unnecessary low and hi-end in the trigger channel with a Hight Pass Filter and/or Low Pass Filter. Followed by enabling the key filter on the tom-channel gate. This will ensure perfect action in the way your tom/drum gates open and close.

LET'S MIX!

This is not only a tom/drum technique, but can also be used on anything else your imagination can think up. Any good ideas?? There are NO rules.

Now let's gate started!

I love my job,

Jam