Kick beater expansion with Ableton Multiband Dynamics

a specific plugin

◢ the move

5 steps

Load Multiband Dynamics on kick, then add Saturator after it with Output Clip enabled.
Solo the top band and adjust crossover points to isolate the beater/click region.
In the Above section, drag the ratio down until it shows 1:0.5 (upward expansion at ~2:1).
Shorten the attack: from the default 5 ms, drag it shorter until the transient snap is fully caught.
If the top gets harsh, ease the ratio to 1:0.7 for a smoother beater lift.

stock path

lull

why it works

Upward expansion boosts signals above threshold; shortenin attack lets the expander react to the very start of the transient, so your kick's own click becomes prominent.

ran in the 2026-10-18 issueall techniques →

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