Guidelines:

Kick:

Double kick patterns: 105 – 125

Heavy single kick patterns 115 – 127

Fast double bass patterns: 100 – 115

Snare:

Choruses, heavy parts: 120 – 127

Softer verses: 105-120

Breakdown: 127

Blast Beats: 70-85 (Can be slightly lower for faster blasts)

Toms:

Rolls: 90 -120

Heavy hits: 115 – 127

Crashes and China: 100 – 120

Hi Hats/Ride:

Eight notes: Main hits – 95-110, All the hits on the “&” – 70-85

Quarter notes: 95 – 120

If you work on faster paced stuff like thrash or death, you can reduce the velocities slightly in the faster parts, by say 5 to 10 for all kit pieces to make it sound better.

These ranges can alter depending on the VST you are using but they should be a good starting point. And you never have to keep every single hit inside this exact range. Just a general following of this can do wonders in making your drums sound more realistic.

Please Note: These ranges are meant to make midi drums sound more like acoustic drums played by a real drummer. They are not meant to make it sound like a modern metal production. You would see less dynamics, especially in the kick and snare, if you start thinking from a mixing engineer’s point of view.

Guidelines:

Kick:

Double kick patterns: 105 – 125

Heavy single kick patterns 115 – 127

Fast double bass patterns: 100 – 115

Snare:

Choruses, heavy parts: 120 – 127

Softer verses: 105-120

Breakdown: 127

Blast Beats: 70-85 (Can be slightly lower for faster blasts)

Toms:

Rolls: 90 -120

Heavy hits: 115 – 127

Crashes and China: 100 – 120

Hi Hats/Ride:

Eight notes: Main hits – 95-110, All the hits on the “&” – 70-85

Quarter notes: 95 – 120

If you work on faster paced stuff like thrash or death, you can reduce the velocities slightly in the faster parts, by say 5 to 10 for all kit pieces to make it sound better.

These ranges can alter depending on the VST you are using but they should be a good starting point. And you never have to keep every single hit inside this exact range. Just a general following of this can do wonders in making your drums sound more realistic.

Please Note: These ranges are meant to make midi drums sound more like acoustic drums played by a real drummer. They are not meant to make it sound like a modern metal production. You would see less dynamics, especially in the kick and snare, if you start thinking from a mixing engineer’s point of view.

Guidelines:

Kick:

Double kick patterns: 105 – 125

Heavy single kick patterns 115 – 127

Fast double bass patterns: 100 – 115

Snare:

Choruses, heavy parts: 120 – 127

Softer verses: 105-120

Breakdown: 127

Blast Beats: 70-85 (Can be slightly lower for faster blasts)

Toms:

Rolls: 90 -120

Heavy hits: 115 – 127

Crashes and China: 100 – 120

Hi Hats/Ride:

Eight notes: Main hits – 95-110, All the hits on the “&” – 70-85

Quarter notes: 95 – 120

If you work on faster paced stuff like thrash or death, you can reduce the velocities slightly in the faster parts, by say 5 to 10 for all kit pieces to make it sound better.

These ranges can alter depending on the VST you are using but they should be a good starting point. And you never have to keep every single hit inside this exact range. Just a general following of this can do wonders in making your drums sound more realistic.

Please Note: These ranges are meant to make midi drums sound more like acoustic drums played by a real drummer. They are not meant to make it sound like a modern metal production. You would see less dynamics, especially in the kick and snare, if you start thinking from a mixing engineer’s point of view.