Mixing The Contortionist Drums: Jamie King’s Frequency Analyzer EQ

The Frequency Analyzer: Your Objective Guide, Not a Crutch

Let's be clear: your ears are, and always will be, your ultimate mixing tool. But as Jamie King demonstrates, a frequency analyzer is an invaluable co-pilot. Why? Because it gives you an objective visual representation of what’s happening with your audio.

Think about it: after hours of listening, ear fatigue can set in, or you might get "used to" a sound that's actually way off. A frequency analyzer helps you stay grounded. It’s not about mixing with your eyes, but about using visual data to speed up your workflow and confirm what your ears think they're hearing, or to quickly identify problem areas you might otherwise chase for hours. It's especially handy for getting sounds into a workable zone quickly, so you can focus on the creative aspects of the mix.

Deconstructing The Contortionist's Drums: Jamie King’s “Proven Curve” Technique

One of the coolest takeaways from Jamie’s approach is his use of "proven EQ curves." This isn't about slapping on a generic preset and calling it a day. It's a far more refined and personalized method.

Crafting Your Own Sonic Fingerprints: Building Reference EQ Curves

So, what’s the deal with these "proven curves"? Over years of mixing, Jamie has identified EQ shapes that consistently work well for specific instruments. He’s developed these by:

• Analyzing his own successful mixes.
• Cross-referencing with pre-processed drum samples that sound killer in a mix.
• Checking out isolated hits from professionally processed records.

The idea is to build a personal library of EQ starting points. When he starts mixing a new track, like one from The Contortionist, he can pull up one of his reference curves for, say, a kick drum, and see how his current track compares. This gives him an immediate, reliable benchmark. You can do this too! Start saving EQ settings that really work for you on different sources.

Kick Drum Dissection: Applying the Reference

Let’s get practical. In the session, Jamie pulls up his tried-and-true EQ curve for a kick drum. He then compares it to the raw kick track he's working on.
He noticed his current kick had a bit more high-end than his reference. More critically, by looking at the analyzer (many EQs like FabFilter Pro-Q or even stock DAW EQs have excellent built-in analyzers), he could quickly spot an area that needed attention. In this case, there was a build-up in the mids, around the 700-740Hz mark. A surgical cut there, guided by the visual, brought the kick closer to his ideal starting point.

The goal here isn't to make the new kick identical to the reference curve. It's about getting it into the right ballpark. Once it's closer, he can then rely on his ears for the final, nuanced adjustments. This initial step just saves a ton of time. For more on EQ strategies, check out our EQ hub page for modern metal.

Snare Rescue Mission: Correcting Issues with Visual Aid

The same principle applies beautifully to snares. Ever received a snare track that just sounds… weird? Maybe it’s boxy, overly ringy, or has a bizarre midrange honk. Jamie explains that if someone sends him a snare that’s, for example, loaded with "crazy mids," he can use his reference snare curve and the analyzer to instantly see the problem.

Instead of spending ages sweeping EQs and guessing, the analyzer points directly to the offending frequencies. A quick cut, and boom – the snare is back in a usable range. This takes the guesswork out of correcting problematic source tones, letting you move on to creative shaping much faster.

Beyond Kick and Snare: Consistency Across the Kit

Naturally, this technique isn’t limited to just kicks and snares. Jamie has reference curves for toms as well, ensuring a cohesive and balanced drum sound across the entire kit. And while he was focusing on drums in this particular segment, he mentioned that this frequency analyzer cross-referencing method is incredibly helpful for guitars too. The core concept is universally applicable.

Level Up: From Conscious Analysis to Mixing Instinct

If you’re starting out, relying on a frequency analyzer like this can feel like a very conscious, deliberate process. And that’s okay! Jamie compares it to learning to type on a keyboard: at first, you’re hunting and pecking, looking at every key. But with practice, it becomes autopilot.

Over time, by consistently using tools like an analyzer and critically listening, you begin to internalize what balanced frequencies look and sound like. You start to develop an intuition. Jamie mentions that he often knows what an instrument needs (like "cut 12k") almost instinctively, without even looking at the analyzer anymore. It becomes part of your audio language. But that intuition is built on a foundation of understanding, and tools like analyzers are key to building that. There's a learning curve, and to truly unlock your sound beyond presets, you need to put in the time.

The Big Picture: Jamie King's "Organized Sound" Philosophy

Underpinning this practical technique is a simple yet profound mixing philosophy Jamie shared: mixing is essentially about organization. It’s about taking all the individual elements of a song and putting them where they’re supposed to be, both in terms of volume and, crucially, frequency.

He uses the analogy of cleaning your room: things have a certain spot, and you put them there. Once you do it over and over, you memorize where everything goes. The frequency analyzer, in this context, is like a map helping you find the right "spot" for each sound in the frequency spectrum.

Mix Like a Pro: Applying These Techniques (And Learning More!)

So, how can you start using this in your own metal productions?

• Embrace the Analyzer: Use a good frequency analyzer (like the one in FabFilter Pro-Q or your DAW’s stock EQ) as a guide.
• Build Your References: Start saving EQ curves that work for your mixes on different instruments.
• Aim for the Ballpark: Use these references to get your tracks close, quickly.
• Ears are Final: Always let your ears make the final decision. The analyzer is a tool, not a dictator.

This peek into Jamie King’s workflow with The Contortionist’s drums is just one small piece of the puzzle. Imagine seeing him apply these principles, and many more, to mix the entire track, explaining every decision, every plugin choice, every subtle tweak. That’s precisely what you get at Nail The Mix.

When you join Nail The Mix, you get access to the original multitracks from massive metal bands (like The Contortionist session with Jamie King), and you watch the actual producers mix them from scratch in detailed, live-streamed sessions. It’s the ultimate way to learn from the best in the business and see how an expert like Jamie King truly crafts those powerful, polished metal mixes. Stop guessing and start learning the techniques that make a real difference.