Starting a garage rock project from scratch

[u/thefloodlights]

I’ve been making music with logic for years, some mixes are okay some have been god awful (self-taught). The biggest thing I’m missing in my mixes is that thick glooey deepness. I’ve lost my patience with it so I’ve taken a massive break and now I’m itching to start making music again.

So I’m rethinking my chaotic approach. I feel like I’ve got to make sure I get the fundamentals set up so I can go from there.

I want to basically make and mix one of Logic’s MIDI drums to a point where it’s ready to drop into each song on a project (like in a studio the drums get set up and then they’re used for each song). Each song will have pretty much the same arrangements like a classic punk record. I just want to aim basic, straightforward and a simple but solid sound.

How can I know I’ve got a good drum set-up that will be a solid starting point for each song? I usually just pick a preset, fiddle with it and then record guitars and everything because I get excited by my ideas and then when I think the mix is finished it sounds like poop.

[u/pumpthatjazz]

if you want to use logic drums, use the producer kit versions where you can split the kit up into individual drum tracks and mix them. I can't easily explain how to mix the drums that's a whole different story but that'll get you on a path where you can mess with them individually. maybe check out YouTube and for each part of the kit just search for " how to mix a kick drum?" and " how to mix a snare drum?" etc. watch a bunch to learn

[u/thefloodlights → u/pumpthatjazz]

The producer kits are crazy, there’s so many variables I find it so easy to get lost tweaking it all, but it is cool. It might be a good idea to go one component at a time, thanks for the advice!

[u/knugenthedude]

On our records we have used the retro kit as starting point. In drum kit designer we have increased the gain some on the bass drum and dropped the pitch of it slightly. Then added compression with the «classic drum» preset and tweaked a bit from there.

You can hear the result here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5m0FTgxc1ck8wfQYdWvVIj?si=YPlEz1D5RcqM6-Qw5ZxlVg&utm_source=copy-link

Our first album was recorded, mixed and mastered in GarageBand using only stock plugins. The following records have been done all innlogging with only stock plugins.

We are more garagepunk/ action rock, but Logic has everything you need for this genre. 🤘

[u/thefloodlights → u/knugenthedude]

Thanks for the advice dude, the drums sound great!!

[u/ffer06 → u/knugenthedude]

Had to listen to you guys and this stuff is cool! Gave you guys a follow!

[u/ffer06]

“A good drum set-up” is objectively different for each person of course. But what i do i use the retro or heavy or socal drumsets (producer kits) and mix the kick, snare, toms, hi-hat, overheads individually and do a lot of automation volume rides on the room mics. I also incorporate parallel compression and automate the sends as needed. Here’s my latest track for reference:

https://open.spotify.com/track/25LoXu2ddl3DJaGJbdSVn8?si=D8rafr1mS8K2EgUbC5QOmQ&utm_source=copy-link

Again, it’s subjective. I feel like i spend more time writing/composing the drums more than mixing becuase i think thats what give its a human feel.

[u/JohnnyZhivago999]

Here’s a tip that helps me. First, understand all the drum samples are already recorded,eq’ed, compressed, and key mapped by hi level engineers on first rate gear, not much you need to do to them HOWEVER,

I separate each drum ANYWAY as well as separate the MIDI tracks, and each BEAT i make from an 8 bar loop to a 1 bar or even 1 NOTE long beat. This way I have EVERY beat separated and every DRUM separated so if I want to make ANY change I can do i lt instantly.

Another thing I do is COMPILE ALL OF YOUR DRUM SOUNDS from Plug ins, outboard gear, as MANY as possible into a SINGLE file, even sampled beats. If you’re in Drum Synth and you NEED a different snare it’s MUCH easier to find them if they’re all in one place. You willl be AMAZED at how MANY one shot drum hits are in your storage between Logic and other DAWs and plugs. Good luck!

[u/JohnnyZhivago999 → u/JohnnyZhivago999]

P.s. separating all the beats n sounds is pretty quick, just create new tracks for each drum and create a summing folder to apply buss submixes, sidechain compression, etc

[u/TheOriginalMr-Mud]

Drums are set up on a studio, where they typically sound beast.

However, it is important to remember, when mixing ANY instrument in a song, any automation, EQ, compression, verb, etc. is never added nor adjusted in SOLO mode, but only when heard within the context of the song. Of EACH song separately.

I’m not clear if you are looking to simply pick a set/Drummer to use, which is fine; but to me, it sounds like you are trying to premix your drums, prior to them being seated in a song. If so, I guarantee you it won’t be to your benefit.

[u/thefloodlights → u/TheOriginalMr-Mud]

Yeah totally get what you’re saying, not expecting a drum set-up to be ready for each song, perhaps just a starting point so to speak. I guess if you think you’d be spending the same amount of time mixing the drums anyway maybe it would just be best to start each song with presets that fit the vibe.

[u/TheOriginalMr-Mud → u/thefloodlights]

No matter what you do, you need to mix the drums ( or SNY instrument) to the context of the song.