How to fix a distorted kick with ShaperBox, and when to add harmonics

Received a mix with a distorted kick? There’s a simple fix.

The move: ShaperBox 3

1. Load the Filter module in ShaperBox 3.
2. Enable Audio Trigger.
3. Set the division to 1/4 or 1/8.
4. Draw a downward curve to filter out the unwanted frequencies.

The best part: the filter automation restarts automatically, every single time it detects a kick. Magic.

This one module has saved me on so many occasions.

Why it works

Distortion is usually most noticeable above 200 Hz. Anything below that tends to just read as harmonic content, so if you draw the curve correctly the kick still sounds perfectly fine, and all you have taken out is the distortion you never wanted.

You keep the impact, and you get some dynamics back.

Need some character back? Layer it with white noise or any other sample, either by retriggering it yourself or by using Snapback from the same company.

When should you add harmonics, and how?

This is something I see overlooked all the time.

Don’t start adding harmonics before you’ve checked whether the kick and bass relationship is actually working. Don’t do that.

The first step is always making sure your sidechain is dialed in correctly.

Then listen carefully. And I mean really listen.

“Your ears always make the final decision.”

Meters help. Analyzers help. The ear always wins.

If the sub of the kick starts feeling a little empty next to the bass, that’s when I consider adding harmonics.

My current go-to is Spectre with De-Emphasis enabled. It lets me enhance harmonics in a very controlled, musical way until the kick feels balanced against the bass again.

Spectre vs RBass

RBass is great, but it makes the kick resonate for longer. Sometimes that is exactly what you want, especially if the kick is a little too short. If the length is already perfect, Spectre adds those harmonics while keeping the phase and the kick’s length intact. Both options are valid. Pick whichever works better for the track in front of you.

Huge shoutout to the team at Wavesfactory, a Spanish company that built an absolutely incredible tool.