Give the kick and the bass their own moments. Duck the bass each time the kick hits, so the two never peak in the low end together. To keep the bass line audible, duck only its low band. Then use EQ so each one owns a range: decide which carries the sub, and let the kick's click cut through above the bass.
Why the kick and bass clash
Both live in the lowest octaves. When two sounds share a range, the louder one hides the quieter one. So on every kick hit, the bass either swallows the punch or the kick blurs the bass note. Add the two together and the low end peaks higher than either part alone, which eats headroom on the master.
Quick test: mute the bass for a bar. If the kick suddenly hits harder, they're masking each other.
Duck the bass on each kick
Put Pumpit on the bass and set Trigger mode to Sidechain, then route the kick to its sidechain input. Each kick now turns the bass down for a moment and lets it swell back. Amount sets how deep the duck goes.
Set SC HP, the sidechain's high-pass, around 80 to 120 Hz. The duck then fires on the kick's click, and the kick's sustained sub can't hold it down.
Duck only the low band
Ducking the whole bass makes it pump. If you want the bass line to stay steady and only the sub to move, turn on MULTI. Pumpit splits the sound at XOVER and ducks only the low band. The high band passes through unprocessed.
Around 100 Hz moves only the lowest notes' fundamentals. Around 200 to 300 Hz ducks the whole low end. Pick the lowest setting that clears the kick.
Give each one its own range with EQ
Ducking separates them in time. EQ separates them in frequency, so they work together.
- Decide which part carries the sub. In a lot of dance music the kick owns the very bottom and the bass sits just above it. Or the other way round. Either works, but not both at full weight.
- Let the kick's click through. A small Prismate Mid boost on the kick somewhere between 2 and 6 kHz brings out its attack, so you hear the kick even under a loud bass.
- If the bass hides the click, try the opposite: a small Mid cut on the bass at the same frequency. Set Q narrow so you only take out that spot.
Every kick and bass pair is different. Sweep by ear and keep the cuts and boosts small.
How do I sidechain the bass to the kick with Pumpit?
- Insert Pumpit on the bass. Put Pumpit on the bass track.
- Set the trigger to Sidechain. Set Trigger mode to Sidechain, then route the kick to Pumpit's sidechain input in your DAW.
- Filter the trigger. Set SC HP around 80 to 120 Hz so the duck fires on the kick, not its sub.
- Turn on MULTI. Turn MULTI on so only the low band ducks, and set XOVER just above the bass's sub.
- Set the depth. Start Amount around 40% and raise it until the kick comes through clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sidechain only the low end of a sound?
Yes. With MULTI on, Pumpit splits the sound at XOVER and ducks only the low band, and the high band passes through unprocessed.
Do I need a sidechain route to duck the bass?
No. Pumpit's Auto trigger mode ducks on its own in time with your project, and the Pumpit manual FAQ explains when to choose Auto or Sidechain.
Should the kick or the bass have the sub?
One of them, not both. Pick by the track: a long, boomy kick usually takes the sub and the bass sits above it. A short, clicky kick leaves the sub to the bass.
How deep should the duck be?
Only as deep as it takes for the kick to come through. Start around 40% and raise Amount until the kick is clear. Deeper than that becomes an audible pump, which is a style choice.
Plugins in this post
- PumpitFree: ducks the bass on each kick, the whole signal or only the low bandManual: Trigger mode · Amount · MULTI · XOVER · Two-band split
- PrismateFree: a mid bell (Mid, Q) to bring out the kick's click or cut it a spot in the bassManual: Mid · Q · Drum EQ zones
This tip uses Pumpit 1.0.1 and Prismate 1.1.3. Some steps may differ, or not apply, if you're on a different version. Tried this workflow, or got stuck along the way? We'd love to hear from you: contact us.