Rich Keller Mixing Hip Hop 808s TUTORIAL

808s are a staple of hip hop productions and can be exciting yet challenging to mix. They often do the kick drum and bass line’s job to fill out the bottom of your mix and take up their fair share of space. When mixed properly, they can shake the block like an earthquake.

But how do you make them slam on small speakers? How much is too much?

In this puremix.net exclusive, Hip Hop mixing guru, Rich Keller, breaks down his approach to making massive sounding 808s and the low end he is known for. Hip hop moguls like Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Nipsey Hussle, Swizz Beats, Jadakiss, Nas, DMX, The Notorious B.I.G. and many many more call on Rich to make sure their tracks have the low-end power they need, and now Rich is here to teach you how to make your mixes thump like his.

See how Rich Keller:

Explains the history of the track

Dissects the low-end elements

Explains his process for dealing with a two-track loop that is slightly diffuse and out of phase

Discusses the issues that come with having multiple instruments occupying the low end

Shows his process for making an 808 that will shake the floor even through tiny speakers

Uses stock logic compressors to extend the length of the 808 to fit the groove of the track

Uses a resonant subfilter to clean up the bottom of the mix, keep the 808 contained, and add some distortion to soak up the transient

Software

Brainworks bx_2098 EQ

Brainworks bx_subfilter

Channel EQ

Compressor

UAD Oxford Envolution