Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Recreating/recording 70's era Funk drumming/ breakbeats

not_so_new · 30th June 2004

I will second Bernard Purdie!!

I hear that he used to take two signs with him to tracking sessions and would not start the session until they were both in place on either side of the kit..

The first sign said.. "Now you Dun'it" and the second "Now you Dun hired the best drummer in the world Bernard Purdie"

LOL

Anyway lots of good (and some conflicting) comments. Tuning is a must, low tuning is the deal for toms and snare. Snare and toms are lower than you hear now. Kick drums tend to be more woody if you know what I mean, slightly higher than now. Not so 50 60 hz more 100 or 150, maybe even 200 hz creeping in.

One of the biggest things to remember is NO resonance from the drums, toms and snare use dead ringers, kick with lots-o pillows. Especially important I think no front head on the kick and no resonance heads on the toms. I would tend to lean in the real real dead room with lots of close mics vibe. Might want to look for a drummer that plays without rims shots on the snare as well.

Now I know this is the simple answer but, use your own ears. Go get some Stevie Wonder, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Aja from Steely Dan (not really disco or straight up funk but the production is the same and it could be the single best production of all time, at least in some peoples eyes

and as a bonus pretty Purdie plays on a few tracks, can’t go wrong)

Hope this helps. I would love to hear what you come up with, post some stuff if you get time..

30th June 2004	#8
not_so_new Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,695	I will second Bernard Purdie!! I hear that he used to take two signs with him to tracking sessions and would not start the session until they were both in place on either side of the kit.. The first sign said.. "Now you Dun'it" and the second "Now you Dun hired the best drummer in the world Bernard Purdie" LOL Anyway lots of good (and some conflicting) comments. Tuning is a must, low tuning is the deal for toms and snare. Snare and toms are lower than you hear now. Kick drums tend to be more woody if you know what I mean, slightly higher than now. Not so 50 60 hz more 100 or 150, maybe even 200 hz creeping in. One of the biggest things to remember is NO resonance from the drums, toms and snare use dead ringers, kick with lots-o pillows. Especially important I think no front head on the kick and no resonance heads on the toms. I would tend to lean in the real real dead room with lots of close mics vibe. Might want to look for a drummer that plays without rims shots on the snare as well. Now I know this is the simple answer but, use your own ears. Go get some Stevie Wonder, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Aja from Steely Dan (not really disco or straight up funk but the production is the same and it could be the single best production of all time, at least in some peoples eyes and as a bonus pretty Purdie plays on a few tracks, can’t go wrong) Hope this helps. I would love to hear what you come up with, post some stuff if you get time..