How Metro Boomin gets dark 808s
Sub-shaking lows, distorted mids, and the saturation chain behind half of modern trap.
If you've ever wondered why Metro's 808s feel like they're going to swallow your speakers whole, it's not the sample. It's the chain. Most producers over-EQ and under-distort. Metro does the opposite — clean, focused EQ moves, then layered saturation that adds harmonics across the entire spectrum so the bass reads on every system from a phone speaker to a club rig.
Step by step
- Step 1FabFilterPro-Q 4View plugin →
1. Surgical EQ
Carve out mud at 200–400 Hz
High-pass everything below 30 Hz so the sub doesn't fight the kick. Pull a tight 4–6 dB notch around 250 Hz to make room for the snare. Boost gently at 60–80 Hz for the chest hit.
- Step 2SoundtoysDecapitatorView plugin →
2. Saturation (mids)
Add harmonic grit so the 808 reads on small speakers
Style 'A' or 'E', drive around 4–6 o'clock, mix at 30–40%. The harmonics added at 1–3 kHz are what makes the 808 audible on a phone — without these, the bass disappears the second it leaves a club.
- Step 3FabFilterPro-C 2View plugin →
3. Glue compression
Tame transient peaks, preserve sustain
'Punch' style, slow attack (~30 ms), fast release (~80 ms), 3–4 dB of gain reduction. Keeps the 808 sitting in the pocket without choking the tail.
- Step 4Xfer RecordsOTTView plugin →
4. Multiband upward
Loud-finish for streaming
Dial OTT depth to 25–35% on the 808 bus only. Adds perceived loudness without crushing dynamics. Don't go past 40% — it'll start to sound 'EDM' instead of 'trap'.
Same shape, less money
Budget version: Pro-Q 4 → free Camel Crusher (saturation) → free Klanghelm DC1A (compression) → OTT. Same shape, ~$0 of plugins.
Songs using this processing
- ♪Future — Mask Off
- ♪21 Savage — A Lot
- ♪The Weeknd — Heartless
- ♪Travis Scott — SICKO MODE