EQ Your Kick Drum with Confidence
The kick drum is the heartbeat of almost every track. But dialing in its EQ? That’s where many mixes stumble. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody break down the mysteries of shaping your kick drum with EQ—from the thump in the lows to the click in the highs—and everything in between.
If you’ve ever asked yourself why your kick sounds muddy, buried, or lifeless in the mix, this episode has the answers. The guys start at the fundamental low end, explaining how to lock in that deep, chest-thumping weight without overpowering the rest of your track. They move into the low mids, where mud often collects, offering practical recording setup tips for cutting frequencies that don’t serve the groove. Then it’s up to the upper mids and click frequencies, where definition and attack make the difference between a kick that gets lost and a kick that cuts through.
Along the way, Chris and Jody share why sometimes you boost, sometimes you cut, and sometimes you just leave it alone. Think of it as an EQ roadmap for your kick drum—clear, practical, and loaded with real-world advice you can use on your next mix session.
And of course, this wouldn’t be Inside the Recording Studio without some personality. Expect a little banter, a dash of nonsense, and this week’s Friday Finds, where Chris and Jody spotlight tools and ideas that can spark creativity in your studio.
Whether you’re building your first home studio gear setup, polishing your live recording, or deep into pro audio mixing, this episode will help you hear the kick drum in a whole new way. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to reach for the EQ dial, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to make your mix punch, groove, and breathe.
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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – Apollo – UA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com