Cleaning up Amen breaks
- Thread starter kernowdnb
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- amen break drums processing
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- Mar 8, 2007
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- Scotlander
Have a look into "transient shapers" and maybe a bit of "multiband compression"
The break has certainly been pitched up. The 2 channels of the original break have very different qualities so I'm pretty sure this based on the channel that isn't as distorted to start with. I don't hear too much being done to the mids probably a broad subtractive EQ in there since the highs shine so much. The kicks in the Amen are predominantly two frequencies and I think the higher of the two was notched out. Probably a couple key subtractive EQ cuts in the mid-highs and high-highs too. The break was heavily compressed at the end of the processing chain (I can hear distortion on some of the snares). Those are my guesses at least. Some of the real Amen experts would probably know better. 
Transient shapers definitely help tighten the overall break . A bit too much and the beak becomes too tonaly thin tho. So multiband compression could be a good idea to re-gain some weight. Thanks
The break has certainly been pitched up. The 2 channels of the original break have very different qualities so I'm pretty sure this based on the channel that isn't as distorted to start with. I don't hear too much being done to the mids probably a broad subtractive EQ in there since the highs shine so much. The kicks in the Amen are predominantly two frequencies and I think the higher of the two was notched out. Probably a couple key subtractive EQ cuts in the mid-highs and high-highs too. The break was heavily compressed at the end of the processing chain (I can hear distortion on some of the snares). Those are my guesses at least. Some of the real Amen experts would probably know better.
Nice. Yeah I'll have a go at EQing these areas and pitching up. Definitely right about the kick, sounds like he's removed the splashy hat that sits above it. Kick was an area of the break I liked most. Has an 'air'y layer over the top, possibly achieved through sending it to a really small reverb?
I think I know the air'y layer you mean. Almost sounds like a hi-passed crash cymbal that was layered on the break could be achieved with a reverb sent through a high pass too.
Amen experts, would be some of the people in the Beautifully Crafted Jungle fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LongLiveBCJ/
Not all producers but a lot of collectors that know the history and sources of tracks, who traded samples with who, which engineers did what, etc.
Amen experts, would be some of the people in the Beautifully Crafted Jungle fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LongLiveBCJ/
Not all producers but a lot of collectors that know the history and sources of tracks, who traded samples with who, which engineers did what, etc.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2015
- Location
- Frederick, MD, USA
I have it also as well as their remastered worm break and one I other I can't remember the name of
Benreturns
New Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2015
It was the Think break. These guys did a really good job with cleaning up those old breaks.
As far as the Amen goes everything above, but pay some attention to the frequencies around the 1000hz/2khz mark as there is a lot of crunk in there. Scooping some of that out is key to getting it cleaned up. You will have to spend some time playing with it depending on how you pitch it/how gritty you want it to sound.
@fanu did a good tutorial explaining how to use multi-band gating a year ago [ish]. he posted a link in this forum to it. Was a great tutorial, i apply that knowledge almost every time i use a break in a tune now to get things tightened up. Link To Video
EDIT: also link to thread if you wanna take a peek at it
EDIT: also link to thread if you wanna take a peek at it
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2015
- Location
- Frederick, MD, USA
defo snare and kick have been replaced init, but it is quite pleasing to the ears fo sho
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2015
- Location
- Frederick, MD, USA
i use this technique on almost all my drums...
celodnb
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- Oct 8, 2017
- Location
- Aarhus, Denmark
