What plugin do you run your drum loops through to make them punch and sparkle? Any one particular plugin that really brings drum loops to life?

 

Effectrix, Geist, Rc-20, are the first that come to mind. Geist V1 was really the GOAT of it's time, but was abandoned after reaching about 80% of what would have made it the best today. Geist v2 was equivalent to a GPT hallucination...it seemed smarter, but didnt make sense in the end.

 

try dbx160 , 1176 rev a , api 2500 , ssl e channel strip comes to my mind. but if only one plugin : uad ssl4000e

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2024

iZotope Trash 2 is the one if you want to push it to the extremes.

 

Most everything by Kush.

 

• Adjusting ADSR of drums (release / decay in particular, use logarithmic fade if possible)
• use ghost notes do add alternation
• No strict quantize, add groove
• Waves RBass on kicks
• new Cableguys Snapback with phase adjusted transient layer to add more substance to kicks and / or snares
• alternatively / additionally: Wavesfactory SK10 on kicks
  
• TDR Slick EQ GE low-band "phase-lag" option (works sometimes, but not always)
• flipping phase (works sometimes)
  
• making low to lower mid-frequencies mono
• Decap Knock or Outobugi Refire (use modules sparingly)
• Free Sonic Anomaly Transpire or Sleep-Time Transient OR Wavesfactory Flash (the latter doesn't work well on single hits, but on full drum buss)
  
• free Fuse Audio VPre-72 Preamp
• Variety of Sound plugins (if you are on Windows)

 

Cramit or OTT https://sixthsample.com/cramit/

 

I bulk delete any "full drum mix" loop samples along with all sorts of other nuisance files like artwork, "demo.mp3", etc. I do it periodically across my sample library disk. So I rarely end up using drum loops with multiple different drum hits inside them. I prefer loops with just 1 drum.

But you can really treat a drum loop as you would your drums bus. I will frequently use Fabfilter Pro-MB there, maybe Wavesfactory Spectre, Cradle Orion, etc. I sometimes will use Bluecat's MB-7 multiband with different insert plugins for each band, or Fuse Audio Labs DrumsSSX for separating them.

The processors I use on individual drum hits looks more like this for the basics:

Spoiler

EQ & Dynamics Processing

1. FabFilter Pro-Q 3
   • Versatile EQ for surgical adjustments. Great for removing mud or enhancing punch.
2. Waves SSL G-Channel
   • Emulates SSL channel strips, adding punch and analog warmth.
3. Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack (VMR)
   • Modular channel strip with EQ, compression, and preamp emulations.

Compression

1. UAD 1176 (or Waves CLA-76)
   • Perfect for adding punch and controlling dynamics on drum transients.
2. FabFilter Pro-C 2
   • Highly transparent and versatile compressor for both glue and transient shaping.
3. Soundtoys Devil-Loc
   • Adds a heavy, aggressive, and saturated sound for gnarly drum loops.

Saturation & Distortion

1. Softube Saturation Knob
   • Free plugin to add subtle or aggressive harmonic distortion.
2. RC-20 Retro Color
   • Adds lo-fi warmth, texture, and unique color to drum loops.
3. Decapitator by Soundtoys
   • Highly regarded for analog-style saturation and drive.

Transient Shapers

1. SPL Transient Designer

• Enhance or soften the attack and sustain of drum hits.

1. Waves Smack Attack

• Fine-tune transient shaping with intuitive controls.

Reverb & Delay

1. Valhalla Room

• Smooth and versatile reverb for adding space without overpowering.

1. FabFilter Pro-R

• Tailor-made reverb with precise control over decay and tonal shaping.

1. Soundtoys EchoBoy

• Creative delay options to add groove or rhythmic complexity.

Glitch & Creative FX

1. Sugar Bytes Effectrix

• Sequencer-based effects for stutters, glitches, and creative loops.

1. iZotope Stutter Edit 2

• Powerful tool for glitch effects, rhythmic edits, and drops.

1. Output Movement

• Rhythmic effects processor to add motion and texture.

Loop Manipulation

1. Serato Sample

• Slice and rearrange loops easily with pitch and time-stretching.

1. Loopcloud or Splice

• Integrate with your DAW for additional processing and manipulation tools.

Limiter/Maximizer

1. FabFilter Pro-L 2

• Transparent limiting to control peaks and polish drum loops.

 

Compressor appart (assuming the drum already have the right groove/movement), I like the Slate Virtual Tape Machine if I need more life in the low, if I need more life in the high I'll go with Clariphinc from Kush (using mostly the focus knob set on tight/open). For more "analog depth", I like Black Guru by Acustica (I don't remember which preamp I prefer, cause it set by default on that one in my plugin list so I never touch it), or sometime the IK Tape Machine 440 (set on "analog dimension" preset I think it's call, don't forget to gain stage this one, it's always a bit louder).

That's my main choice to add more life (not just to drum). Other than that I would use saturation (usually Saturn), SSL4000e for more snap, the Decap Knock plugin or Acustica ASH for clippin, Split EQ from Eventide for transient control (or sometime just the one from NI if I need simple setting), The Glue or ElRey for bus compression, but all that are more technical mixing things rather than "giving life" things so not sure if that's relevent to the question

 

to much variables there...i mean you kind asked 3 different questions imo
but rawly seen old version analog obsession buster imo best vca vst for drum loops and lot more..
and for shizzle sonic charge permut can do wonders but in the very most cases not but when .....
i guess you want something like trash,rc20,sketchcassette and the others in that realm...

 

for some one of the best drum seq ,do you kno similar ?

hm ,ok ...nice
substance is where ,between tok and thump bottom ?
just kidding...thanx for that detailed comment...

 

RoughRider3 also good for the arsenal