Kick disappears on phone speakers? Give it a click

Phone and laptop speakers can't play the deep boom of a kick drum, so it vanishes. Layer a short click on top, with its energy around 2 to 4 kHz. Small speakers play the click, your ear hears the kick, and on big speakers the boom is still there.

How to do it

1. Find a short, bright click or a hard kick with a sharp attack.
2. High-pass it so it only adds top end, not more low end.
3. Line it up exactly with the start of your kick.
4. Keep it quiet: just loud enough to hear the kick on a phone.
5. Or boost the kick's own attack with an EQ around 3 kHz.

Why it works

Your ear is very sensitive around 3 kHz, and small speakers play it easily. A click there tells your brain a kick hit, even when the boom is missing.