Tips for mixing claps

Spatialsound

Member
Aug 18, 2022
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I know I posted a more general thread earlier, but this is something that I've particularly been struggling with: no matter which samples I use it's difficult to get any kick + clap combination to sound 'natural'. Even when using an existing track as a 'guideline' it's difficult to get something that doesn't sound odd. Are there any tips for how clap sounds were processed/mixed back then?
I'd especially be interested in what reverbs to use, for the longest time I've been making do with Reason's RV7000 for just about everything but would love to know if there are any 90s-trance reverbs that would be better suited.

Any advice is greatly appreciated (y)
 

Julian Del Agranda

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Jul 3, 2020
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There's a lot of different clap-styles used in like ~2000. There already wasn't just a standard clap.

For example MIKE used a lot of these long-tailed claps. Sometimes with a clap with reverb and pre-delay (giving a kshh-shh kind of effect).

I've seen video's from Leon Bolier, who dupulicates his clap layer. Then pans them 100% left and 100% right. Then give one of them a little bit of track-delay. Like 0,5 miliseconds. This creates a bit of a stereo-effect. Makes the clap sound richer. Plus, your center stays clear from claps, so more space for other sounds.

Moving the clap a few miliseconds "before" the kick is a good idea regardless of the panning. Specially with handclap-kind-of-claps.
 

Jetflag

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Jul 17, 2020
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Can you give me an example of a specific clap kick combo you’re looking for?

there’s quite the bit of difference between say: Paul van dyk’s avenue, push’s Strange World and the early Above and Beyond remixes
 

Spatialsound

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Aug 18, 2022
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There's a lot of different clap-styles used in like ~2000. There already wasn't just a standard clap.
I hope I don't sound rude but I did know that much, I was wondering if there's anything specific I was missing because I've used many dozens of claps with even more kick drums and yet can rarely make any combo that sound 'good', regardless of what layering, reverb, timeshifting, etc I put on top - and these samples are from contemporary packs (like Vengeance Clubsounds) so it's not like they're not 'professional' samples.
 

LostLegend

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Dec 5, 2020
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Liverpool, UK
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I hope I don't sound rude but I did know that much, I was wondering if there's anything specific I was missing because I've used many dozens of claps with even more kick drums and yet can rarely make any combo that sound 'good', regardless of what layering, reverb, timeshifting, etc I put on top - and these samples are from contemporary packs (like Vengeance Clubsounds) so it's not like they're not 'professional' samples.
Be wary of Vengeance samples. Some of the one shots are OK, but I'd steer clear of using too many of them in one track.
Vengeance are notorious for some of their samples being taken from elsewhere, sometimes at lower bitrates (Even taken from MP3's) so stacking too many can make your drums sound a little rough.

As for your question, it really does depend on the sound you want to achieve. If you are talking about blending the clap with the kick better, then there are a few options.

Once again it comes to picking the right samples, sometimes layering, maybe having a clap that gives you the body of the sound and one that has the 'snap' eq'ing each one so they don't sound too harsh.
Compression can help you get that 'bite' or snap to the sound. Long attack and fast release then adjust the threshold to taste. A transient shaping plug in can provide a similar result.

Reverb, once again depends on what you are trying to achieve. I'd start with a short room style reverb in small amounts. You're going to have a different result depending on whether you use a reverb direct on the chain (This will make the clap sit back in the mix more) or use a send/return channel (Which will keep the clap upfront)
I'll often use the same send/return channel for any reverb I need on my other drums as well - helps keep everything consistent.
You can also stack reverbs on claps as well, it may take a bit of tweaking though. One very short reverb that gives the 'room sound' to the initial snap of the clap. Then a second with a lot of pre-delay (to allow the transient of the clap through) and a longer release time to give it that 'tail'

I also tend to group process all my percussion into one bus channel (except the kick) and apply compression, EQ'ing and sometimes saturation in small amounts just to glue everything together and make it sound more cohesive.