Toot My Horn

observations about music, electronics, and life

Drum Samples

Douglas becomes Recording

May|12|2009

05_2

I spent some time last night going through various drum tracks I’ve recorded as well as some LP’s where I was pulling an individual hit. I loaded all these up into the EXS24 to compare them. Some observations:

  • There are many different snare sounds out there.
  • Your overall drum sound will only be as good as your raw tracks.
  • Rimshots sound trashy in the studio.
  • Sometimes trashy sounds good.
  • Piccolo snares tend to sound thin. (I’ll probably use ONLY piccolo snares in ten years now that I’ve said this)
  • It is cool to line up different sessions on the sampler and play the different kits.
  • Be really careful not to overcompress going in. I found a track or two like that.
  • At the end of the day. No one can tell a $100 dollar drum from a $1000 if it tuned right. Too many other factors at play.
  • I’ve gotten better at recording drums.


5 Responses

  1. Dave

    22|Jul|2009

    Speaking of, I need to buy some new heads (still haven’t done that) for my kit before you come out the next time, so you can tune ‘em up ;-)

  2. Douglas

    22|Jul|2009

    I own a piccolo snare now so go figure. Clear Emperors for the tom batter heads, Aquarian Superkick II for the kick, coated ambassador for the snare. Sweet!

  3. Dave

    24|Jul|2009

    so now that you have the piccolo, you gonna start rockin’ out some Spin Doctors?

  4. Douglas

    24|Jul|2009

    You know, the drummer from that group sounds annoyed that he is known for that snare sound:

    “Aaron: Exactly. I do a lot of session work and jazz gigs, and if I just came in as “Mister drummer from the Spin Doctors,” I’d get fired a lot. [laughs] Now, sometimes people might hire me and say, “I love the way your snare sounds on that Spin Doctors song—that’s what I want.” But a lot of times that’s not what they want, in which case you have to make sure you’ve got the right equipment. You have to make a quick call and know how to find the right sounds. Early on I had people say to me, “Well that sounds great, but it sounds too much like The Spin Doctors.” That was a good wake-up call for me. I was playing a certain way, thinking that was what they wanted. It’s cool if you have a sound and a style, but you have to adapt as well.”

    That’s why I have a piccolo, certain tunes call for it, most don’t.

  5. Dave

    25|Jul|2009

    That’s pretty funny – it is kind of strange that a drummer would get so known for a very specific sound.


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