Tom Petty Wildflowers Drum Sound

mml · 28th November 2006

OK, I'm recording a band on Saturday and they reference the Steve Ferrone drum sound on Wildflowers. A great reference for sure. I know they don't have Steve Ferrone, but their drummer is excellent. Do any of you guys know some specifics on this drum sound? Specifically the snare- type, tuning, micing-top and bottom mics, probably. Any EQ/compression tricks applied individually to the snare? Mics used overall? Room? I'd love to hear from someone who knows!

Joe Barresi?
David Bianco?
Richard Dodd?
Steve Holroyd?
Jim Scott?
Jeff Sheehan

Thanks for any info.

u b k · 28th November 2006

there's a pretty wide variety of treatments on that record, sometimes the room is bigger then the direct (you don't know how it feels), sometimes there's very little room at all (honey bee). some snares are dry but ring out (good to be king), some are cranked, tightly gated, and verby (a higher place).

one thing that's pretty consistent is a close mic on hats, they're always very articulated. sm81 would be my guess, but that's all it'd be. i'd also be surprised if 1176's and 33609's weren't all over the place. keep your snares wooden and 6.5", tuned on the punchy side with an sdc pointed across the top head, dynamic fok on the clicky end of the spectrum, spot on ride and hats, close toms, two over, two way back in the room.

tape. you got tape? tom petty reeks of tape.

but there isn't really one drum sound for this record; while there's a relatively consistent production vibe, they massaged a lot of the details to suit the personality, space, and energy of each song. if you've got the ears, time, and budget to do that i think you'll be way more ahead of the game than if you simply replicated any gear choices they made.

enjoy!

gregoire
del
ubk
.

djui5 · 28th November 2006

That would be the work of David Bianco. Haven't seen him around here.

mml · 28th November 2006

Thanks Randy. Maybe I'll Google him. I know I've read an interview before, but I can't seem to find it now. Any more educated guesses? I know it's pretty much down to the tuning and the player. Just curious at this point. It's a great drum sound in general. The "You don't know how it feels" sound is more what they're after. I'll just tell the drummer not to use any crashes!

u b k · 28th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mml

The "You don't know how it feels" sound is more what they're after.

that's easy, just stick a pair of ldc's in the back of the room and squash 'em, then bring those faders up with vigor!

gregoire
del
ubk
.

djui5 · 28th November 2006

Yep, pair of room mic's, and a couple spots on OH's/kick/snare. Most of the sound is the room mic's though.

bpatural · 28th November 2006

I used to assist for Dave a bunch...he always gets great drum sounds....last time I saw him do drums was over at mad dog...he compressed the rooms a good bit and added some high end to the snr, didn't do much other eq tracking...I know when mixing he likes to set up two drum subs, one going to a pair of 160x compressors and one going to some distressors...don't know what the story was on wildflowers though(i think that might have actually been mixed on a 8078)
-brian

Gravity8058 · 29th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpatural

I know when mixing he likes to set up two drum subs, one going to a pair of 160x compressors and one going to some distressors...don't know what the story was on wildflowers though(i think that might have actually been mixed on a 8078)
-brian

Did Dave sell his Neve Compressor lunchbox? That's what he was using when I worked with him as the drum sub comp (along with a pair of distressors). I asked him about Wildflowers when I worked with him in '98 and I seem to remember him saying that it was a Black Beauty snare.... but it was awhile back.

yeloocproducer · 29th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by u b i k

one thing that's pretty consistent is a close mic on hats, they're always very articulated.

"you don't know how it feels"... has a lot, a LOT of hat.

Wiggy Neve Slut · 29th November 2006

Dave Bianco... IS DA MAN!

SOO many great albums...

Wiggy

thumbsup

clearwave · 29th November 2006

They are in mono for much of the record...

84K · 29th November 2006

Petty's albums always sound great. They are perfect sonic depiction of Americana Rock N Roll.

28th November 2006	#1
mml Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: LA Posts: 250 Thread Starter	Tom Petty Wildflowers Drum Sound OK, I'm recording a band on Saturday and they reference the Steve Ferrone drum sound on Wildflowers. A great reference for sure. I know they don't have Steve Ferrone, but their drummer is excellent. Do any of you guys know some specifics on this drum sound? Specifically the snare- type, tuning, micing-top and bottom mics, probably. Any EQ/compression tricks applied individually to the snare? Mics used overall? Room? I'd love to hear from someone who knows! Joe Barresi? David Bianco? Richard Dodd? Steve Holroyd? Jim Scott? Jeff Sheehan Thanks for any info. Last edited by mml; 28th November 2006 at 05:32 AM.. Reason: title missleading

28th November 2006	#2
u b k Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Land of Sunshine Posts: 11,035	there's a pretty wide variety of treatments on that record, sometimes the room is bigger then the direct (you don't know how it feels), sometimes there's very little room at all (honey bee). some snares are dry but ring out (good to be king), some are cranked, tightly gated, and verby (a higher place). one thing that's pretty consistent is a close mic on hats, they're always very articulated. sm81 would be my guess, but that's all it'd be. i'd also be surprised if 1176's and 33609's weren't all over the place. keep your snares wooden and 6.5", tuned on the punchy side with an sdc pointed across the top head, dynamic fok on the clicky end of the spectrum, spot on ride and hats, close toms, two over, two way back in the room. tape. you got tape? tom petty reeks of tape. but there isn't really one drum sound for this record; while there's a relatively consistent production vibe, they massaged a lot of the details to suit the personality, space, and energy of each song. if you've got the ears, time, and budget to do that i think you'll be way more ahead of the game than if you simply replicated any gear choices they made. enjoy! gregoire del ubk . __________________ • Introducing UBK-1: Motion Generating Character Compressor • • Finally... Plugin Compression with Vibe, Color, and Authority • ____________________

28th November 2006	#6
djui5 Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,661	Yep, pair of room mic's, and a couple spots on OH's/kick/snare. Most of the sound is the room mic's though. __________________ _________________ "What is a crossfire hurricane & why wasn't I born in one?" Randy Wright

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28th November 2006	#7
bpatural Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 494	I used to assist for Dave a bunch...he always gets great drum sounds....last time I saw him do drums was over at mad dog...he compressed the rooms a good bit and added some high end to the snr, didn't do much other eq tracking...I know when mixing he likes to set up two drum subs, one going to a pair of 160x compressors and one going to some distressors...don't know what the story was on wildflowers though(i think that might have actually been mixed on a 8078) -brian

29th November 2006	#10
Wiggy Neve Slut Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,194	Dave Bianco... IS DA MAN! SOO many great albums... Wiggy thumbsup

29th November 2006	#11
clearwave Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dirty South Posts: 170	They are in mono for much of the record...

29th November 2006	#12
84K Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: right coast Posts: 3,857	Petty's albums always sound great. They are perfect sonic depiction of Americana Rock N Roll.