Definition
A synthesized kick is built from an oscillator (usually a sine wave) with a very fast pitch envelope that falls from a high frequency to the fundamental, plus an amplitude envelope and a transient (click). This is the principle of analog drum machines (the TR-808 uses a bridged-T oscillator excited by a pulse; the TR-909 kick is analog with a wave and an attack noise) and of plugins such as Sonic Academy Kick 2; in FL Studio, Fruity Kick, Fruity DrumSynth Live, 3x Osc and Sytrus.
Anatomy of the kick
| Part | Duration | Frequencies | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Click / transient | 1–15 ms | 2–8 kHz | definition, audible on small speakers |
| Punch (pitch drop) | 10–60 ms | 100–300 Hz → fundamental | the “punch” in the chest |
| Body / tail | 100–800 ms | 40–80 Hz | weight, pitch |
Parameters
- Pitch start: 150–300 Hz (higher = more “hit”; beyond that it sounds like a tom/laser).
- Pitch end (fundamental): 40–65 Hz; tune it to the key: A1 = 55 Hz, G1 = 49 Hz, F1 = 43.7 Hz, C2 = 65.4 Hz.
- Pitch decay: 20–80 ms; exponential curves sound more natural than linear ones.
- Amp decay: house/techno 150–400 ms; trap with a separate 808 100–200 ms; “boom” 808 500 ms–2 s.
- Click: filtered noise (HP 2–4 kHz) or a small sample, 3–10 ms.
- Saturation / distortion: adds harmonics to the body (audible on phones) and tightens the tail.
- Starting phase: starting at phase 0 or 90° changes the attack; some synths let you choose.
Kicks by genre (approximate)
- House: pitch 180 → 50 Hz in 40 ms, amp decay 250 ms, light click, little distortion.
- Techno: shorter and drier, or longer and distorted with “rumble” (kick → reverb → distortion → LP filter at 150 Hz in parallel).
- Hardstyle: distorted kick with a long tonal pitch (the “tail” plays the note), multiple stages of distortion and EQ.
- Trap/drill: short kick + separate 808, or an 808 that also acts as the kick (reinforced attack).
- Drum and bass: short, punchy kick, fundamental 50–60 Hz, decay 150–250 ms.
Recipe in FL Studio (3x Osc or Sytrus)
- Sine oscillator; in the channel settings set a pitch envelope (Channel settings → instrument properties tab, Envelope/LFO section → Pitch) with a high amount (+2/+3 octaves) and 40 ms decay.
- Volume envelope: attack 0, decay 300 ms, sustain 0.
- Add a second “noise” oscillator with 8 ms decay and an HP filter for the click (or use a sample).
- On the mixer insert: Fruity Soft Clipper (light), Parametric EQ 2 (HP 25 Hz, boost 1–2 dB at the fundamental, optional cut at 300 Hz), Fruity Limiter as a compressor if needed.
Alternatively Fruity Kick already has pitch and decay controls.
Kick and bass
The synthesized kick lets you choose the fundamental: tune it to the root or fifth of the key and decide whether the kick's fundamental sits below or above the bass's (see “Slotting and interlocking”). With a sub playing A1 (55 Hz), a kick with a tail at 50 Hz and a short decay leaves room; a kick at 55 Hz with a long tail requires firm sidechain.
Example in A minor
Techno at 132 BPM: sine kick 220 → 55 Hz (A1) in 35 ms, amp decay 280 ms, 5 ms click at 4 kHz, soft clip 3 dB. Rumble: send to a reverb with 2 s decay, distortion on the return, LP 160 Hz, sidechain of the return from the kick itself: the “rumble” sounds between hits, in tune.
Common mistakes
- Kick not tuned to the bass: beating and “mud”.
- Pitch start too high: it sounds like a “pew”.
- Long tail under a long bass: constant overlap at 40–80 Hz.
- Excessive click: it becomes annoying at high volume.
Exercise
- Create three kicks (house, techno, DnB) from the same sine wave by varying only pitch and decay.
- Tune the kick to three different notes against the same bass and choose the one that locks in best.
Related topics
“Layering sounds: sub, body, top”, “Designing 808s and basses”, “Slotting and interlocking”, “Drum design: snare and hi-hat”, “Distortion as sound design”.