Nick Launay demonstrates his approach to parallel processing on kick and snare drums.
For the kick, he uses parallel distortion via a Sansamp PSA-1, adding weight and thickness to the sound. To prevent muddiness, he gates the kick in the parallel chain before applying distortion. Additionally, he fine-tunes this distorted signal with EQ adjustments, such as enhancing the low-end, cutting the high-end, or reducing mid-range muddiness.
For the snare, Launay applies a similar concept but with aggressive compression using an analog Distressor instead of distortion. He also gates and EQs the parallel snare signal, ensuring it enhances the drum's weight and sustain without introducing unwanted artifacts, like excessive hi-hat or cymbal bleed.