DRUM EDITING
The following sections are a clarification on the well
established rules regarding drum sample triggering / drum shell replacement with samples, and the various possible alternatives.
The reason for this strict rule is based upon the fact that the need for "sample enhancement" is usually very rare, even if "the media world" claims otherwise. It is a "convenience" tool with ready-made presets that has haunted the music industry for many years, and divides opinion as to what is "the right way to mix".
Furthermore, the material provided for the Mix(ing) Challenge is usually anything but "unusable". In many cases, the drum kits are already sample-based from the outset. Finally, "drum replacement" tools are notoriously expensive, not to mention that they would provide an unfair advantage to those without access to such tools - as drum samples can drastically alter the fundamental tone of recordings. And each tool features their own distinct sounds.
There are plenty of alternatives that arguably require more steps or clicks. However, the results can be just as impressive.
NOT ALLOWED - Sample Triggering / Drum Replacement Samples:
- Slate Digital Trigger (any version)
- WaveMachine Labs Drumagog
- UVI Drum Replacer
- SPL Drum Exchanger
- Melda Production MDrumReplacer
- Medal Production MDrumEnhancer
- Cableguys Snapback
...or similar
ALLOWED - Drum Cleanup Tools (Debleed, Gate, Signal Stabiliziers, Transient Designers, Drum Specific Channel Strips)
- Accusonus Drumatom (standalone tool)
- iZotope RX - De-Bleed Module (standalone tool)
- Wilkinson Audio DeBleeder (plugin made for removing drum mic spill/bleed)
- THR deBleed (plugin made for removing drum mic spill/bleed)
- Black Salt Audio Silencer (plugin made for removing drum mic spill/bleed)
- Sonnox Oxford Drum Gate (a combination of a drum-specific gate and signal stabilizer)
- Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack - Gates Bundle (features a drum-specific gate taken from SD Trigger, also offers a "DeBleed" mode)
- Sound Radix Drum Leveler (this is a "target based" special compressor and signal stabilizer)
- Melda Production MDrumLeveler (it is similar to the Sound Radix variant, but offers more "targets" to set)
- Boz Digital Labs Transgressor (a transient designer, originally made specifically for drums, has a built-in EQ per transient section)
- Eventide Physion (a transient designer with additional filter/FX treatment per transient section)
- Wavesfactory Quantum (a transient designer like Eventide's variant, but with more flexible filter/FX treatment per transient section)
...or similar
Clever side-chain triggering of Snares or Kicks to control a gate/expander are also valid techniques.
ALLOWED - Harmonic Exciters, Sub-Bass Synthesizers, Mic Simulators
- Waves MaxxBass (a harmonic exciter)
- Melda Production MBassador (similar to Waves' variant, but more features, offering both a bass enhancer and sub-harmonic generator)
- W.A. Production KSHMR Essentials (a blend of filters, compressors and harmonic exciters)
- Metric Halo MH Thump (a sub-harmonic synthesizer)
- Hitshaper Subkick (sub-harmonic synthesizer)
- Mixland Subloom (a blend of channel strip, harmonic exciter and sub-harmonic synthesizer)
- Brainworx bx_subsynth (sub-harmonic synthesizer, based upon the dbx 510 with additional features)
- Moog Music MF-109S Saturator (a saturator with additional noise generator)
- Wavesfactory SnareBuzz (synthesis based, triggers a white noise / resonator array, simulating "snare buzzing")
- Brainworx bx_subfilter (a low-frequency specific bell EQ, based upon bx_subsynth's filter section)
- Boz Digital Labs Bark of Dog (a resonant high pass filter with the focus on low frequency content)
- Wavesfactory SK10 (mic simulation, using a "Yamaha NS10" as "sub kick microphone")
- Audiothing Speakers (mic and speaker simulator, the "Subkick" microphone is based upon a "Yamaha NS10" speaker)
...or similar
Also see signal generator and gate/ENV follower combos.
QUESTIONABLE: Pitch Correction / "Torquing" of drums (will be permitted
per game, and will be pointed out separately)
- Soundtoys AlterBoy (a monophonic pitch and formant shifter)
- Kilohearts Pitch Shifter (a full spectrum Pitch Shifter)
- Kilohearts Frequency Shifter (a full spectrum Frequency Shifter)
- Waves Torque (a band limited Frequency Shifter, specifically made for drums)
...or similar
Pitch corrections
directly on the drum shells (e.g. by "inserting") are rarely necessary. It is strongly recommended not to use them for this particular task. If there are multi-tracks that do not work in their current form, this is already addressed at the beginning of the game and is part of the rulebook (TL;DR Rules). Or - justify why you think treatment is necessary and this becomes part of the general conversation of the game. (this will have an impact on possible advancement to Mix Round 2)
If you're in doubt, what your go-to-tool is doing, please consult the manual of the software in question for more information.
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UPDATED: 08-OCT-2024 08:00 UTC+2
UPDATED: 12-NOV-2024 08:00 UTC+2 - added "Cableguys Snapback" to "NOT ALLOWED" section
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