Kick + Snare (Where's the balance?)

I have a problem when I mix my tracks down to a stereo track. The kick and snare sound well balanced, but if I look at the meter on my mixer the snare seems to peak alot lower than the kick. When I turn up the snare to peak at about the same point as the kick, the snare sounds way to loud.

How do I get my Kick and Snare to peak at the same points but still sound well balanced like commercial tracks? (Have tried many kick and snare combinations and still no luck.)

eq it dont jus **** wit the volume

probably cause a snare hits harder then a kick does...so it'll peak higher then a kick does...

do the commercial tracks you are referencing have balanced kicks and snares? sure about that? cos if they don't......

i never have hard and fast rules but do generally get my kicks peaking at between -6 and -3 depending on the song ajnd then build around that- menaing sometimes my snares are louder but sometimes they are softer-

greg

so you're mixing with your eyes????

The kick and snare sound well balanced, but if I look at the meter on my mixer the snare seems to peak alot lower than the kick.

so you're mixing with your eyes?

the kick should be loudest in Dance/Hip hop..you have to use your ears though, or you will f up the whole mix.

Once you get everythin sounding right, then check your self. If the snare is about 2 db lower then the kick, you should be set. The snare should not be equal or louder volume then the kick.

Methlab wrote:the kick should be loudest in Dance/Hip hop..you have to use your ears though, or you will f up the whole mix.

Once you get everythin sounding right, then check your self. If the snare is about 2 db lower then the kick, you should be set. The snare should not be equal or louder volume then the kick.

Tell this to A.N.T. (from Atmosphere)

just a guidline.not a rule...no rules in music

Use your ears and eyes, make up your own
set of rules for what sounds good to you and what doesn't.

i personally use my sense of smell to mix my tracks down. ears and eyes dont give you the proper mix.

I feel you dstruct.......

nothing ruins a song worse than that badussy smell lingering on your kick drum

once the kick is at or around -6db then u mix the snare using your ears to get the proper balance. so it is the kick that is laying to groundwork for the whole mix. the ratio between lousness on the kick to snare will vary depending on material

yea..i always get the kick set up first..that seems to work well forme..if that's poppin, it's easy to just drop in the rest of the drums by ear