The foundation of any club track is the relationship between the kick drum and the bass. When they fight for the same space in the low-frequency spectrum, the result is a muddy, powerless mix that won't translate on a large sound system. The solution is to create distinct pockets for each element to occupy, a technique known as frequency carving.

Start by placing a spectrum analyser on your kick drum channel. Play the kick in a loop and look for the most prominent peak in the low end. This is its fundamental frequency, usually sitting somewhere between 50 Hz and 100 Hz. Take note of this exact frequency.