I'm trying to get a good tom sound using samples but most of them have a strong strike/impact sound. I'd like to know how to get a punchy tom sound while subduing the strike/impact sound. Any help would be appreciated.

COMPRESSOR.
FAST ATTACK, RELEASE, BUT YOU HAVE TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT OF THE IMPACT TIME, VERSUS THE RELEASE TIME

OR, IF YOU WANT THE TOM TO RING OUT LONGER, LENGTHEN THE RELEASE

EVERY SAMPLE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT SETTING

YOU COULD ALSO USE SIDE CHAIN, TRIGGERED OFF OF EQ

CarvinAbuser


I'm trying to get a good tom sound using samples but most of them have a strong strike/impact sound. I'd like to know how to get a punchy tom sound while subduing the strike/impact sound. Any help would be appreciated.

Try using the Transient Shaper in Sonar. This will allow you to custom control how hard you want the tom to strike, how long you want it to resonate and with the "timbre" controls you can literally tweak the sound and impact that the tom will have. It gives you far more control than a compressor does for the actual tone shaping. I'd still recommend a compressor AFTER the transient shaper though to keep the toms at a consistent level but trust me, you'll have far better results and control using a tool of this nature for what you are looking to do instead of a compressor to get these types of effects. I can whip up a 10 minute video to show you what I mean if need be. When using the Transient Shaper, set threshold all the way to the left or you won't get the impact of the other knobs. Try it...it's an amazing tool that you'll use all the time. :)
 
-Danny

not everybody has transient shaper, danny.

that's why i just kept it simple.

batsbrew


not everybody has transient shaper, danny.

that's why i just kept it simple.

Understood...I wasn't going against your advice...your way is one of the best ways....it's just hard if someone isn't experienced with a compressor. The Transient Shaper has been in Sonar since 8.5 I believe (or earlier? Can't remember) so I had assumed he most likely had it in his version of Sonar....and it would be super easy for him to get what he's looking for simply by running the threshold on the TS all the way left, and messing with the attack. Hard right on the attack...more smack, more to the left on the attack, less smack. From there, the decay would control how long he wanted it to resonate and then if he chose to use the timbre to further tweak the sound of how the toms impact, he could do that too. But the attack alone in that plug would soften his hits the way he wants them. One knob is all it would take which is why I offered this advice. :)
 
-Danny

 i knew you'd understand...
i just wanted to make it clear.

i agree with you, tho, the fancier (smarter) plugins like transient shaper are better tools, they were designed just for that kind of duty.


i still think, especially for beginner and aspiring mixers, that learning how to use a basic tool like a basic compressor, to do these kinds of things, gives you a much broader understanding of exactly what it is you are doing to the signal.


i have an unusual distaste for the 'One Knob' style approach, but heck, if it works, it works.

i just think some knowledge is lost in that process, tho.

+11111111 on Transient Shaper. Also 1176 compressors can help the smack of drums when pushed to its limits. IK has one in T-Racks called the Black 76.

P64 percussion strip..   its become a fav of mine.  If you don't have that in your bag of tricks, than there are a few options..  here is a really inexpensive demo to try  http://www.stillwellaudio.com/?page_id=18

I have to tell you that...  Before I started with transient shapers and stuff like that..  I'd probably search my libraries for a different sample...  but nowadays, I am getting lazy, and processing with the P64..

Depending on which vsti you're using, BFD2 (yeah, here I go again) gives you quite a bit of shaping possibilities om all kit pieces, including toms.

Choices are Damp amount, Damp frequency, Dynamics & Tune

you can do an awful lot just by manipulating these controls, and this means your transient shaper & compressor are having less work to do.

Just a reminder that BFD Eco is on sale for $50 right now (until aug 31) and has a TON of cool stuff to shape and effect the samples. It also comes with the Platinum Samples Rock Legends kit which sounds great. If you wanted to use your own samples though you'd have to contact FXpansion to see if they are compatible but the tom sounds I'm getting are superb and and very tweakable. Cheers.