What sounds should I avoid using OTT on?
Q&A
Jan 26, 2026
Avoid using OTT on sub bass, vocals, kick drums, and snare drums because OTT aggressively compresses and brings sounds forward in the mix, which will ruin the low-end weight of your sub bass and make drums sound overly processed. I especially warn against using my Max rack (which is three OTTs stacked) on anything with reverb or delay already in it, because the OTT will amplify those time-based effects and create a muddy, over-compressed mess. Once you understand these rules, you can break them creatively—I've made entire drops from violins with reverb by deliberately adding OTT to create interesting artifacts.
Post adapted from the video below:
My complete course on bass sound design at Futureproof Music School shows you exactly when to push effects like OTT to the limit and when to hold back. You'll learn the signal flow principles that separate amateur sound design from professional bass music production.
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.