The CLAPS!

[Chubs]

Hey Gang, I couldn't really get the claps in the song to sit in the mix right. It isn't a very polished track, semi on purpose. I wanted it to be a bit more raw, like a punky/dance rock tune. Think Eagles of Death Metal. Any ideas on this one? Comments. Otherwise its just a bit of fun.

Here she is:https://www.box.com/s/as85gkkksxm172qdshzd
Its is fake rock project for a friend called Death Boobs

Also, just some basic ideas on recording clapping would be helpful as well. Thanks for your time.

Chubs

[The Elf]

I invariably end up using a lot of distortion on claps. Try a limiter too. The idea is to reduce the dynamics and increase the sustain. A bit of smudgy room or early reflections helps. Mixing in some TR-808 clap can be good too!

[Chubs]

Thanks Elf, I'll mix in the 808 next time. I noticed that If I layered the claps off tempo a bit it sounds more like a group of people clapping. the digital 808 clap may add more solidarity to it. I didn't really think of distortion. I'll give it a shot!

[Jonnypopisical]

I record loads of my own claps with the song on cycle - I move around the room (stereo mics) and play deliberately out of time (early usually) on some of them. I also use different parts of my hands. I can record a long loop and then stack say 20 tracks of 4 bars each - edit out and really bad ones - then add compression etc and crunch to taste!

I usually also had a few sample in there too - just depends on what I'm going for.

PS - you end up with red hands.

[Chubs]

Hahahah, Yeah. I let cubase loop about 5 times. Then I layered them and put them off time. It was effective but not super effective. I love how the cats from QOTSA record that kind of stuff. I like your process though. I never considered moving around the room to accomplish that free sound.

[Andi]

Gate a sin wave behind the claps - frequency to taste.

[Chubs]

Thanks Andi, I'll keep that in mind for next time.

[zinzin]

I record loads of my own claps with the song on cycle - I move around the room (stereo mics) and play deliberately out of time (early usually) on some of them. I also use different parts of my hands. I can record a long loop and then stack say 20 tracks of 4 bars each - edit out and really bad ones - then add compression etc and crunch to taste!

I usually also had a few sample in there too - just depends on what I'm going for.

PS - you end up with red hands.

i do that too. and mostly i use a rather dark reverb for the claps and cut some highs.

[Phil Reynolds]

http://www.rhythmicrobot.com/page0/page23/page54/index.html

[AndyN]

There was a documentary on the beeb a few months ago where they looked at the recording of Michael Jackson's Bad album. There was something in that where they showed some kind of percussion instrument that they used behind the live claps to make them sound better. Might be worth a look if you can still find it.

Andy

[Martin Walker]

Hi Chubs!

All excellent advice above, but if you want all the hard work taken out of finding the perfect clap sound for your particular track, Eddie Bazil (Zukan of this very parish) has an excellent (and very good value at just $10 each) series of NI Kontakt libraries featuring claps available from his Stretch That Note label.

All his drum libraries are renowned for really cutting through the mix

Have a listen here:

If this sounds interesting, you can find out more here:

www.stretchthatnote.com/catalog/drumm-elements-claps-series

Martin