Character of the mix
Phonk was born from 1990s Memphis rap (lo-fi samples, cowbell, pitched and filtered vocals) and evolved into drift phonk: huge distorted 808s, melodic cowbells as leads, trap/house drums, sampled and chopped vocals, extreme loudness. Tempo 120–160 BPM (drift phonk often 130–145). The mix is aggressive and saturated, but the 808 and the cowbell must stay legible.
Typical balance
| Element | Level relative to the mix |
|---|---|
| Distorted 808 | −4/−6 LU (dominant) |
| Melodic cowbell | −6/−8 LU |
| Kick | −8/−10 LU |
| Clap/snare | −8/−10 LU |
| Vocal samples | −8/−11 LU |
| Hi-hats and percussion | −11/−14 LU |
EQ
- 808: fundamental 40–70 Hz mono; distortion generating harmonics at 150 Hz–2 kHz; control 250–500 Hz.
- Cowbell: fundamental and harmonics between 500 Hz and 4 kHz; HP 300–400 Hz, control harshness at 2–4 kHz.
- Vocal samples: filtered (band-pass 300 Hz–5 kHz), lo-fi, pitched down.
- Hi-hats: HP 400–600 Hz.
Dynamics
- 808 with distortion, clipper, and sidechain from the kick (2–4 dB).
- Drums with decisive clipping.
- Master pushed very hard (clipper + limiter).
Space and stereo image
- 808, kick, and clap in the center; cowbell in the center or slightly widened with delay.
- Reverbs and delays on the cowbells and sampled vocals; “nighttime” atmosphere.
- Memphis phonk: narrower, more lo-fi sound (tape saturation, filters).
Layering
- Cowbell: 2 tuned layers (attack and body); sometimes with pitch automation.
- 808 + distorted layer in parallel above 200 Hz.
Reference loudness
Drift phonk −6/−4 LUFS; Memphis phonk −9/−7 LUFS. True peak −1/−0.3 dBTP.
Reference tracks
Kordhell “Murder in My Mind”, INTERWORLD “METAMORPHOSIS”, PlayaPhonk “PHONKY TOWN”, DVRST “Close Eyes”, Three 6 Mafia “Tear da Club Up '97” (Memphis root).
Common mistakes
- Distorted 808 in the stereo part as well: unstable bass.
- Cowbell too harsh at 2–4 kHz.
- Saturation everywhere: nothing stands out.
- Kick and 808 not tuned together.
Starting settings
| Parameter | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 808 | −4/−6 LU, mono below 150 Hz | Dominant element. |
| Cowbell | HP 300–400 Hz, control 2–4 kHz | Legible lead. |
| 808 sidechain | 2–4 dB from the kick | Space for the kick. |
| Sampled vocals | Band-pass 300 Hz–5 kHz | Lo-fi aesthetic. |
| Master loudness | −6/−4 LUFS (Memphis −9/−7) | Level. |
Frequencies to watch
| Range | What to do |
|---|---|
| 40–70 Hz | 808 fundamental, mono. |
| 150 Hz–2 kHz | Harmonics of the distorted 808: audibility. |
| 500 Hz–4 kHz | Melodic cowbell: definition and harshness. |
| 300 Hz–5 kHz | Band of the filtered lo-fi vocal samples. |
Example chain
| Step | Tool | Settings | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 808 | Saturation → distortion → clipper → sidechain | Mono below 150 Hz | Aggressive bass. |
| Cowbell | EQ → saturation → delay | HP 300–400 Hz | Melody. |
| Vocals | Pitch → filter → tape | Band-pass | Atmosphere. |
| Drums | Bus clipper | 2–4 dB | Impact. |
| Master | Clipper → limiter | −6/−4 LUFS | Loudness. |
How to check the result
- Master crest factor 4–6 dB.
- Sub and Bass bands: dominant, Side/Mid at −20 dB or lower.
- Mids band (500 Hz–2 kHz): cowbell and 808 harmonics present without one covering the other.
- High-mids band without narrow peaks more than 6 dB above the neighboring bands.