Toms with Jeff Sandstrom

Dive into refining tom sounds in your mix with Jeff Sandstrom. The goal is to achieve a rich, organic, and resonant tone. Jeff walks through his process of EQ’ing toms. He emphasizes the importance of removing boxiness. He also emphasizes enhancing both the high and low ends to achieve a hi-fi sound. These techniques add depth and texture to the toms, crafting a vibrant, balanced drum sound.

Key Points:
  • Achieving the desired tom sound can be challenging, requiring patience and precision in EQ adjustments.
  • The process starts with identifying and removing the mid-range 'boxy' sound, often found around 400 to 500 Hz. This sound is common in toms.
  • High-frequency enhancement is crucial for a hi-fi tom sound, focusing on frequencies around 3 to 4 kHz and 7 to 8 kHz to add crispness and definition.
  • It's essential to add some lower frequencies to bring out the 'singing' quality of the toms, creating a full-bodied sound.
  • The EQ settings for toms can be similar to those used for kick drums, typically involving boosting lows and highs while cutting mids.
  • Dynamic EQ, like the F6, can be layered on top of regular EQ adjustments. It allows for more nuanced control and a wider range of frequency adjustments.
  • The dynamic EQ not only adds filters, but also brings a different color to the sound. It is responsive and enhances certain frequencies while reducing others simultaneously.
  • Reverb is strategically used to extend the top-end decay of the toms, adding a sense of space and depth to the drum sound.
  • The right reverb balance is crucial. It maintains the drums' natural quality and enhances stickiness and resonance.

Topics

Mixing

Categories

Audio
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