How to Mix a Kick Drum for a Live Worship Album in Reaper

Mixing a live worship album comes with challenges, especially when working with raw multitracks that weren’t recorded with studio mixing in mind. In this breakdown, I’ll show you how I processed the kick drum in a live worship recording using Reaper and the Slate Digital Complete Access Bundle.

Even if you don’t mix in the studio, the techniques here will help you build a stronger mix for live sound and livestreams. A clean, powerful kick drum is the foundation of a great worship mix. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Understanding the Raw Kick Drum Tracks

I had two kick drum channels in this session:

• Kick In Mic – Most likely a Sennheiser e901 or something similar inside the drum.
• Kick Out Mic – It didn’t sound great, so I left it out of the mix.

This was recorded at a live conference where the tracking wasn’t the top priority. The recording setup was thrown together last-minute, so I had to work with what was available. The raw tracks weren’t bad, but they needed a lot of shaping.

When working with live recordings, focus on what you have instead of trying to force something that isn’t working.

Step 2: Shaping the Kick Drum with EQ

Virtual Mix Rack Processing

For the basic EQ moves, I:

• Boosted 50Hz for added weight
• Boosted 7kHz for attack and clarity
• Cut 350Hz with a wide Q to remove muddiness

Then I used the Pultec EQ Trick:

• Boosted and attenuated 40Hz at the same time, which naturally scooped some low-mids
• Added 10kHz for extra brightness

These moves shaped the kick into something that sounded tight, punchy, and ready to sit in a worship mix.

Step 3: Adding Compression for Control

I used the Slate Digital FG-401 Compressor with these settings:

✔️ 4:1 Ratio – Enough to smooth transients without over-compressing
✔️ Fast Attack & Release – Kept the punch while controlling peaks
✔️ 4-5dB Gain Reduction – Just enough to tighten things up

Compression should add control without killing the natural dynamics. For a worship mix, the goal is clarity and consistency.

Step 4: Adding Realism with Samples & Room Simulation

A raw multitrack can feel dry and lifeless compared to what the kick sounded like in the actual worship service. Since this was a live recording, I needed to bring back some of the energy that gets lost without a PA system in the room.

I added a sampled kick drum “room” track using the Slate Digital CLA DW 24” Hard Beater Sample. Instead of using the full sample, I only used the overhead and room mics from it.

This helped simulate the way the kick drum sounded in the room during the live event.

If your mix feels too dry, adding room samples or subtle reverb can help recreate the energy of a live setting.

Step 5: Cleaning Up & Final Touches

To tighten the low end and remove unwanted resonance, I used:

✔️ Slate Digital Infinity EQ – Cut problem areas in the low-mids
✔️ Black Salt Audio Silencer – Added sustain and eliminated unwanted ringing

This cleaned up the kick drum and made it sound powerful without unnecessary noise.

Final Mix: Kick Drum in Context

After processing the kick, I brought it back into the full drum mix and checked:

• Low-end balance – The kick had to sit well with the bass guitar
• Clarity & punch – The attack had to cut through without being harsh
• Natural room feel – The added room sound had to blend with the drum kit

These last checks ensured the kick felt right in the full mix.

Want to See This in Action? Watch the Full Breakdown

I recorded a full step-by-step breakdown of this mix in Reaper using Slate Digital plugins on YouTube. Watch it here: Jake Russell Audio Youtube 

If you want to follow along with my exact setup, you can download my Reaper Worship Mixing Template here: Reaper Template