Metal Drum Sounds

[holdfasthope]

Could anyone recommend me some good EQ settings for a metal drum sound? I particularly like the drums on Ashes of the Wake by Lamb of God and The Oncoming Storm by Unearth, the kick drum sounds brutal on both of those recordings and I really Lamb of God's snare sound in particular.

I know it has more to do with the drummer, the drums, and all that sort of stuff (and I'm probably going to get bashed to some degree), but I'm looking for suggestions regarding the things that I actually have control over at the moment (mic placement, eq/effect settings, misc. techniques, etc.)

I figure that these bands probably use triggers and samples, to some degree. If getting into that sort of stuff would help me get where I'm trying to get, could anyone recommend me some good triggers/sound modules for a decent price, or maybe provide me with some samples similar to the sound I'm looking for?

Thanks

[biggator6]

I figure that these bands probably use triggers and samples, to some degree.

If by 'some degree' you mean completely, then yes. Most of those metal drums you hear now are 100% triggered. With the speed and precision that most modern metal employs, real drums with ANY sort of resonance or decay just create mud - so the choice is try to make real drums sound like gunshots, or just use samples.

(Hint: samples are easier).

[holdfasthope]

If that's the case, I suppose I should familiarize myself with the world of triggers and samples. Could anyone recommend me some good sites or books with information on that stuff?

Better still, could someone provide me with some samples or point me towards some nice samples available for purchase?

Apologies for asking so much of this forum, I'm pretty new to this stuff and I feel like I'm in over my head a bit.

[Goliath|Audio]

Drum Kit From Hell.

If you like Messhugga's sound, this is it.

[blarg]

Originally Posted by Goliath|Audio

Drum Kit From Hell.

If you like Messhugga's sound, this is it.

Only on Catch 33, which was programmed. The only Meshuggah album I didn't get into. The samples sound good though.

[blarg]

Originally Posted by holdfasthope

If that's the case, I suppose I should familiarize myself with the world of triggers and samples. Could anyone recommend me some good sites or books with information on that stuff?

Better still, could someone provide me with some samples or point me towards some nice samples available for purchase?

Apologies for asking so much of this forum, I'm pretty new to this stuff and I feel like I'm in over my head a bit.

Triggers normally hook up to a sound module. Most sound modules have a midi out which you can (for example) hook up to a usb interface going to the midi in of your daw, reason, etc. Whatever you have set to receive midi (a sampler loaded with drumkit from hell) will sound the notes you play. Same as a keyboard.

If you want the just-add metal than make sure you set it to play maximum velocity all the time. Unearth uses (or used to) a blend of the triggers with the live kit. Pantera and others did/do as well. This ensures that the impact of the samples are also accompanied with the dynamics of the drummer. Raymond from Fear Factory used ddrum triggers going to an mpc 2000 back in the day.

+1 drumkit from hell. BFD is nice too.

[arrogantt]

Originally Posted by blarg

Only on Catch 33, which was programmed. The only Meshuggah album I didn't get into. The samples sound good though.

Actually, Tomas from Meshuggah triggered his drums via DFH on Obzen as well. Room mics & OHs were the only live sound used, and he said in an interview that they mixed the live drum sound from the room mics pretty low.

Also, Chris Adler doesn't use triggers live, and his drums (specifically basses) sound like cannons. I'd love to know what he's using.

Even Derek Roddy stopped using triggers, as he prefers an actual live sound for his speed metal work (circa 240bpm), so it can definitely be done... How though? I have no idea

[Nutmeg II.]

Originally Posted by arrogantt

Also, Chris Adler doesn't use triggers live, and his drums (specifically basses) sound like cannons. I'd love to know what he's using.

Aquarian Force II Bass Drum Batter Heads (with Kick Pads)

[PhilR]

Originally Posted by arrogantt

Even Derek Roddy stopped using triggers, as he prefers an actual live sound for his speed metal work (circa 240bpm), so it can definitely be done... How though? I have no idea

Good drummer + Good drums = Good sound. when the player has the chops it's almost hard to make them sound bad.