This might end up being a long reply... this is all with FL plug-ins...
1. Start by putting the Multiband compressor on the master channel but set all the bands to BYPASS, now turn on the limiter and set the o/p to 0 (zero)... this will help you avoid clipping from your main mix...
Keep in mind the signal flow on the mixer... if you put a compressor in SLOT 1 of a mixer channel and then an EQ in SLOT 2, the signal will be Compressed first and then EQed... I recommend EQ first, then compress, that way you'll boost the improved signal coming out of your EQ (if you EQ right)...
2. Normalize your samples... and don't use MP3 samples please...
3. Route each section of the drums to an individual mixer channel... Kick, Snare, Hi hats, Cymbals, Toms, Percussion, etc... imagine you are recording a real drum set... panning is up to you, whatever sound good to you...
4. Layer your drums... if that snare is drowning, layer 2 more snares on top of it, send them all to the same channel, EQ/Compress and you'll have a nice sounding snare... same w/ kick drums, hats and everything else...
5. BUS your drum mix... take the signals from your drum channels out of the master and send them to a single bus... now you have overall control of your drum mix and the possibility to add another layer of compression and/or EQ to make the drums jump out... maybe a lil' reverb too... not to wet, short decay... boom, your have real sounding drums...
I'm tired of typing, hope that helps...
Peace.
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