Recording Drums - then the cymbals - then the hiHat

11th April 2004, 06:57 PM

Here's an example.

I did enjoy being able to concentrate on getting just the HiHat sound I was dreaming of for this recording.

And it was fun being able to compress the cymbals to last a long time!

kick Sn & toms were recorded first

then cymbals

Then hiHat

- It was a girl drummer, and she tended to smash the cymbals and not hit the drums hard enough, so I went the "record separate" route with here on this one.

Band was called Twist.

RichT · 11th April 2004, 08:37 PM

This was my favourite song by the Twist girls.

Thanks for posting it here and reminding me of it, still sounds great.

Cheers,
Rich

RichT · 11th April 2004, 08:53 PM

Just for fun:

Here's a pic of the girls:

http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Twist/twist2.jpg

And from the same P.R company web site, a picture of my old band, I'm third from the left:

http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Thirst/thirst.jpg

Enjoy!

Lindell 2nd · 11th April 2004, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichT
a picture of my old band, I'm third from the left:

http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Thirst/thirst.jpg

You should donate some hair to Jules, Rich....

11th April 2004, 11:47 PM

This track suffered at the hands of my own smasherization / loudness plug in nonsence when I mastered it

But none the less, it was recorded using the techniques described...

henge · 12th April 2004, 12:39 AM

it's a real pleasure to finally hear your work jules. that hat seems to stand alone yet still be a natural part of the mix. great idea for a different approach to drums. gotta try it!

jbuntz · 13th April 2004, 05:58 PM

Ouch. Must have been a tedious task to record those drums. Sample replaced kick too?

RichT · 13th April 2004, 07:38 PM

LOL!

Hahahahahahahahaha

Man, I'm crying.

I'm looked like such a dick.

Why?

WHY!?

nelsons · 14th April 2004, 10:03 AM

Rich,

I know the feeling well, about 15 years ago I played the working mens club scene up here for a good while, you should have seen those images...

I looked like a right twat, I can't find any to post forunatley

Mind you now I just look like an old twat !

Cheers

Steve

14th April 2004, 10:20 AM

jbuntz "Ouch. Must have been a tedious task to record those drums. Sample replaced kick too?"

Yes it was rather an epic task. We monkeyed with the verse 'groove' too..moving indevidual beats.

All very Dr Frankenstein / Beat Detective / Pro Tools etc....

picksail · 14th April 2004, 08:09 PM

Jules,

Nice work. Definately, an interesting method you chose to employ.

From my perspective, this is a perfect example of what can be achieved when working with very disciplined talent. Most drummers could never pull this off. While it is pretty well known that Stewart Copeland overdubbed many of his drum tracks, it doesn't appear that too many others have tried it. I am glad you were able to attain these results. Great idea. Although, I would have chosen to squash the cymbals a bit more, it works wonderfully.

What exactly inspired you to utilize this approach?

If you have a moment, I would love to hear your comments on the tune that I posted. I don't want to reiterate what has already been discussed as to the circumstances surrounding this song. Most issues have been documented on that post. Thanks.

14th April 2004, 10:07 PM

The drummer (a very tough and LARGE woman) nearly smashed up the studio during this process. She was so pissed off, (cause it was VERY difficult to do)

It was sheer A-GON-EE to do

I was inspired by the hihat sound on the Deftones album White Pony.

BTW I have done this a few times over the past 20 or so years....

RichT · 14th April 2004, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jules
The drummer (a very tough and LARGE woman) nearly smashed up the studio during this process. She was so pissed off, (cause it was VERY difficult to do)

It was sheer A-GON-EE to do

I was inspired by the hihat sound on the Deftones album White Pony.

BTW I have done this a few times over the past 20 or so years....

Jules,

You were a brave man to try and get Leanne to do anything 'abnormal' with the drums...

She seemed pretty consistent live, studio nerves perhaps?

Cheers,
Rich

15th April 2004, 12:14 AM

It was a wholey unpleasant task I had her undertake.

Devoid of all 'fun' / naturalness & drummer instinct.

She indulged my production technique which was very kind (and brave) of her indeed. I respected her (more than I already did) for doing it.

Any one trying this has to rely on the drummer being a "good sport" or willing to give it a try.

genericperson · 15th April 2004, 03:29 AM

mixed itb?

15th April 2004, 12:37 PM

Yes mixed in the box and pre these purchases:

Fatso
ADAM monitors
Dangerous 2 Buss
DAC - 1

I was at the time still struggling with:

a 'cold' internal sound of the PT mixer (fixed somewhat with Dangerous 2 Buss)
Not digging the Pro Control analog monitor section (fixed somewhat with DAC -1)
"fizzy' top end on gtrs (fixed somewhat with Fatso)
Lack of punch in the kick (fixed somewhat with Dangerous 2 Buss)

I am also totally guilty of overdoing it with L2 maximization when I mastered it (but then I already said that earlier in this thread) - there is no volume boost in the chorus at all really - naughty

But we are here mostly to talk about a drum recording technique..

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11th April 2004, 08:37 PM	#2
RichT Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 1,454	This was my favourite song by the Twist girls. Thanks for posting it here and reminding me of it, still sounds great. Cheers, Rich __________________ www.oldblacksmiths.com www.myspace.com/theoldblacksmiths

11th April 2004, 08:53 PM	#3
RichT Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 1,454	Just for fun: Here's a pic of the girls: http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Twist/twist2.jpg And from the same P.R company web site, a picture of my old band, I'm third from the left: http://www.workhardpr.com/Archive/Thirst/thirst.jpg Enjoy! __________________ www.oldblacksmiths.com www.myspace.com/theoldblacksmiths

13th April 2004, 07:38 PM	#8
RichT Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 1,454	LOL! Hahahahahahahahaha Man, I'm crying. I'm looked like such a dick. Why? WHY!? __________________ www.oldblacksmiths.com www.myspace.com/theoldblacksmiths

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11th April 2004, 11:47 PM	#5
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	This track suffered at the hands of my own smasherization / loudness plug in nonsence when I mastered it But none the less, it was recorded using the techniques described...

12th April 2004, 12:39 AM	#6
henge Gear nut Join Date: May 2003 Location: oshawa,ontario Posts: 102	it's a real pleasure to finally hear your work jules. that hat seems to stand alone yet still be a natural part of the mix. great idea for a different approach to drums. gotta try it!

13th April 2004, 05:58 PM	#7
jbuntz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,651	Ouch. Must have been a tedious task to record those drums. Sample replaced kick too?

14th April 2004, 10:03 AM	#9
nelsons Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: UK Posts: 89	Rich, I know the feeling well, about 15 years ago I played the working mens club scene up here for a good while, you should have seen those images... I looked like a right twat, I can't find any to post forunatley Mind you now I just look like an old twat ! Cheers Steve

14th April 2004, 10:20 AM	#10
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	jbuntz "Ouch. Must have been a tedious task to record those drums. Sample replaced kick too?" Yes it was rather an epic task. We monkeyed with the verse 'groove' too..moving indevidual beats. All very Dr Frankenstein / Beat Detective / Pro Tools etc....

14th April 2004, 08:09 PM	#11
picksail Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 3,308	Jules, Nice work. Definately, an interesting method you chose to employ. From my perspective, this is a perfect example of what can be achieved when working with very disciplined talent. Most drummers could never pull this off. While it is pretty well known that Stewart Copeland overdubbed many of his drum tracks, it doesn't appear that too many others have tried it. I am glad you were able to attain these results. Great idea. Although, I would have chosen to squash the cymbals a bit more, it works wonderfully. What exactly inspired you to utilize this approach? If you have a moment, I would love to hear your comments on the tune that I posted. I don't want to reiterate what has already been discussed as to the circumstances surrounding this song. Most issues have been documented on that post. Thanks.

14th April 2004, 10:07 PM	#12
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	The drummer (a very tough and LARGE woman) nearly smashed up the studio during this process. She was so pissed off, (cause it was VERY difficult to do) It was sheer A-GON-EE to do I was inspired by the hihat sound on the Deftones album White Pony. BTW I have done this a few times over the past 20 or so years....

15th April 2004, 12:14 AM	#14
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	It was a wholey unpleasant task I had her undertake. Devoid of all 'fun' / naturalness & drummer instinct. She indulged my production technique which was very kind (and brave) of her indeed. I respected her (more than I already did) for doing it. Any one trying this has to rely on the drummer being a "good sport" or willing to give it a try.

15th April 2004, 03:29 AM	#15
genericperson Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 522	mixed itb?

15th April 2004, 12:37 PM	#16
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	Yes mixed in the box and pre these purchases: Fatso ADAM monitors Dangerous 2 Buss DAC - 1 I was at the time still struggling with: a 'cold' internal sound of the PT mixer (fixed somewhat with Dangerous 2 Buss) Not digging the Pro Control analog monitor section (fixed somewhat with DAC -1) "fizzy' top end on gtrs (fixed somewhat with Fatso) Lack of punch in the kick (fixed somewhat with Dangerous 2 Buss) I am also totally guilty of overdoing it with L2 maximization when I mastered it (but then I already said that earlier in this thread) - there is no volume boost in the chorus at all really - naughty But we are here mostly to talk about a drum recording technique..