Incubus' "A kiss to send us off"'s drums.. how the hell??!!!

[nick-the-sax]

i was just listening to "A kiss to send us off" off the "Light Grenades" album, and am noticing how the drum track sounds totally otherworldly.

would anyone have any idea how the drums were recorded / mixed? sounds like there may have been some overdubs on the hi-hats, or is that just really clever mixing?

i think it's amazing and am really curious about this. thanks y'all!

[heisleyamor]

I was actually thinking the same thing about another incubus song awhile ago. I'm not sure about the one you mentioned, but I think they might have a close mic and an overhead/room mic to pick up the hi-hat and it sounds like they gate the softer notes for the overheads so only the soft hits get picked up by the further away mic and have the close mic only pick up the louder transients. strange. maybe i'm wrong. maybe they do overdub. who knows

[nick-the-sax]

i like that concept... so basically you'd set a gate to only react to the softer notes, which would trigger off the OH mic?

love that. gotta try it sometime!

[heisleyamor]

well actually i was kind of thinking to gate the close hi hat mic so it only picks up the loud hits then the rest of the hits will automatically get picked up by the overheads or room mics.

[Mho]

I think they simply overdubbed the HH. Ant lots of room mics, nice!

[Blast9]

Was that recorded at Southern Tracks?

I know Brendan and crew like to use FATSO and distressor on drums for that "crushed glass" crunch. Very distinctive tone.

See louderock's post here http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3598725-post53.html

[nick-the-sax]

Incubus do have a very distinct drum sound, this is true.

i was really surprised to hear how much thought has now gone into the production of the new album. one of those things that when you listen again and again you notice something different every time.

but in that track, the drums are so aggressive and deep and ARGH!!!!

[Blast9]

I love "Dig" - the elec guitar is all Pro Tools/Amp Farm from the demo.

The snare on that track sound augmented with a sample - especially the ghost-notes snare rattle.

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Anyway Hi-hats - Are you talking bout the verses?

Sounds like tambourine + programmed hihat on right channel, fast shaker/egg and maybe programmed hats in the middle, with the "real hats" tucked behind - you can hear the room sound

[nick-the-sax]

yeah, i was talking about the verse..

wow. lot of programmed hats then!

still it's very well done and to me it sounds pretty natural. actually how did you know that? just by listening to it??!!!

[Tom Hakala]

The hihat/shaker/tambourine thing in the verse is very very cool. But I don't think it's programmed.

[picksail]

The recording isn't going to give you much accurate information at this juncture.
It's best to ask about the mix instead, where anything goes.

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by Tom Hakala

The hihat/shaker/tambourine thing in the verse is very very cool. But I don't think it's programmed.

You could be right!

The only reason for me saying programmed is I know that the keyboard player does some programming/sound FX/DJ deck stuff - thats kinda his role.

Also - the centre stuff - damn! it is very well played if it ain't programmed!

@ nick-the-sax

actually how did you know that? just by listening to it??!!!

Just guess work from listening in cans! -

interestingly in verse 2 you can hear the fast closed hats bang in the middle, then the shaker slightly left 1/2 way through the verse

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The album as a whole has that "stick a mic up in a loud rehearsal" vibe to it

[nick-the-sax]

that's great.

i'm gonna try doing a bit of that the next time i record.

i went to see incubus about a year ago and during the verse, Kilmore didn't seem to be doing anything during the verse, just sort of bopping along behind his fort. he seemed to come in during the bridge/chorus...

either way they are rather tight, especially the drummer!