How do I make my kicks and drums louder without turning up the volume?
Q&A
Jan 22, 2026
Using transient shaping on your kicks and drums makes them punch through the mix without touching the volume fader by boosting the attack and shortening the sustain. I use tools like the Kohart transient shaper to push the attack up a little and pull the sustain down, which creates the perception of loudness while actually making room for other elements. In my experience, it's always easier to turn something down than up, so I focus on techniques that add presence and punch without raising levels.
Post adapted from the video below:
I teach this exact top-down mixing approach in my courses at Futureproof Music School, where you can also upload your tracks to Kadence (Futureproof's AI music coach) for instant mixing feedback on balance, EQ, and compression. Start your free trial and get your drums hitting harder today.
What's transient shaping and how does it make kicks louder?
Transient shaping boosts the attack and reduces the sustain of your kick, making it punch through the mix without touching the volume fader. I use the Kohart transient shaper for this, but you can also use Ableton's drum bus.
Should I cut the low end out of all my sounds to make drums louder?
I cut the low end out of everything except my kick and sub bass to make room in the mix. When you get rid of what sounds don't need, other sounds automatically become more present without turning anything up.
Do I need a limiter on my master to get loud drums?
I don't use limiters on my master, just a soft clipper like G-Clip set to 1 for a bit of extra volume. If your drums aren't loud enough, the problem is usually in how you're processing individual channels, not your master. I teach all of this in detail at Futureproof Music School.
Dubstep pioneer and touring artist with millions of streams. Known for his heavy bass drops and intricate sound design, Max has released on major labels and performed at festivals worldwide.