Thanks for all the great help here.  I definitely don't want the kick to get mushy: just smooth the leading edge a bit: turn it into a bread knife instead of a switch blade.

The "punch" of the kick drum is going to be ~150Hz.
The "tone" of the kick down around 50-100Hz.

Try the Transient Shaper... and/or cutting a bit at 150Hz.

The Sonitus gate works perfectly for what you are asking with the benefit of having low CPU use:
Simply slide the "Attack" time up somewhere from 10 to 30 mS.
Set the depth to "infinite" and the "thresh" so it triggers reliably, "hold" at 20 to 100 and "release" at 50 to 100.
It will take the edge off without changing the EQ.

Jim Roseberry


The "punch" of the kick drum is going to be ~150Hz.
The "tone" of the kick down around 50-100Hz.

Try the Transient Shaper... and/or cutting a bit at 150Hz.

The problem with the Transient Shaper in my experience is that it adds latency whereas the Percussion Strip does not.

The problem with the Transient Shaper in my experience is that it adds latency whereas the Percussion Strip does not.

I'm assuming the OP is talking about working at "mixdown" (not in the midst of tracking).
Since the latent plugin is compensated for... it shouldn't affect anything.
Similar to using UAD plugins at mix...    

Correct--I was talking about at mix time; still good information and options, though.

Thanks.

PS Wasn't OP Ron Howard's character on The Andy Griffith Show?