Recording - January 2018 - 26

RECORDING

DRUMS
a minor or major third. For Jazz or Fusion, the resonant head
should be higher in pitch than the batter by that amount. Having
the resonant head be the same pitch as the batter head is
sometimes best for the song. I use either Moongel or gaff tape
to damp toms and snare when needed.
When tuning the snare drum, I usually have the batter head tight. I
like to use the rebound of a tighter batter head for ghost notes and to
help the groove move along. I tune the resonant head a third above
the batter, so that the resonant head catches the ghost note articulations.
Adjusting the snare strainer to the proper tension is very important.
If the snare strainer is too tight, it will choke the resonance of the
drum; if too loose, the drum will rattle and have more of a tom sound.

Performance
I've recorded hundreds of drummers over my career. One of
the most significant offenses in a less-experienced drummer is
inconsistency in kick and snare hits. I'm referring to backbeat
hits played on snare, not ghost notes or dynamic changes between
song sections-some drummers have wildly varying level
differences from hit to hit. You may be able to play this way
in a live performance, but doing that in the studio won't work.
For the engineer, nothing is more disheartening when mixing
than a snare or kick drum that is hit at different levels from hit
to hit. Not only the level changes, but the tonality of the drum
changes. These types of level changes make it very difficult to
place the snare in the mix. You may have to resort to sample
replacement, limiting the dynamic range, or level automation.
The cure for this problem is practice and more practice! When
playing a groove, most drummers hit the backbeat/snare drum
with their non-dominant hand. Work on the non-dominant hand
over and over again until the strokes are even and sound the
same. While you're playing drums, think of your playing as "mixing"
the drum sound. Maybe the ghost notes you're playing on the
snare need to be reduced in level, or the snare hits need to be
more even. The ride cymbal or hi-hat may need to be hit with
more or less velocity. Record your practices and review your
progress. Use video and check that your stick height is even.

Time/click
As a drummer playing most types of modern music, you will
need to be able to play to a click, because nearly all recording
sessions are tracked to a grid. Here is some helpful advice
when playing with a click.
Pick a click sound that isn't a hi-hat sound; I find it too difficult
to hear against a real hi-hat. Relax when playing, and concentrate
on your drums more than the click. Concentrating only on the
click usually makes your playing slightly behind and lifeless.
Remember, you're playing with the click, not to the click.
Subdividing the click might make playing some grooves easier.
Sometimes it's easier to play with eighth-note clicks as opposed
26

RECORDING January 2018

to quarter-note clicks. If the drummer is having a difficult time
grooving with the click, try giving them a drum loop instead.

ADVICE FOR THE ENGINEER
Working with the client
I encourage all my clients to bring reference material to our
meetings before working on their project. Using reference
material helps an engineer keep their perspective. I listen to
my reference material often during tracking and mixing. If
your client has a specific drum sound in mind, a reference
example will help immensely. Some clients have drum samples
they bring to our meetings, which allows me to get particular
ideas of what microphones and preamps to use.
The client is paying and therefore always right. I may offer
advice, but I don't take it personally if the client doesn't use it.
I just move on and make a great record.

Preparation
Put a plan together for the project. Find as many reference
tracks as you can. Find variations of the style of the music and the
style of recording. If the client is asking me for musician referrals,
I will include a list of musicians that fit that style and their usual
price range. Include every aspect: setup, projected tracking time,
overdub, editing, sample replacement (if any), and mixing time.
Schedule your time wisely-your client will appreciate it.

Setup and miking
When you're close-miking a drum kit, small differences in
mic placement can make significant differences. As an example,
when setting up to record a tom or snare drum, you might usually
place a dynamic microphone on the side of the drum, 2 to 4
inches from the head, pointing at the center of the drum. Instead
of pointing the microphone at the center of the drum, point it
closer to the edge (see Figure 3); you will notice more ring. This
also applies to the hi-hat. Close-mic it with a condenser microphone
from the edge and point the microphone almost straight down.
You will notice significantly more ring.
Experiment with subtle changes in placement. Find the
"sweet spot;" you'll gain big sonic rewards. Make sure you
check every mic for polarity issues with the other mics on the
kit; mismatches can make a big kit sound small.

Headphones and headphone mix
Make sure you have a good set of closed back headphones for
the drummer. I like the Vic Firth SIH1, and the always-superb
beyerdynamic DT-770. The drummer's headphone mix should be
a balance of the entire kit, including the overheads and room.
This helps the drummer's performance to be better balanced and
even-sounding. Make sure you pan the drums to the drummer's
perspective, so they're not hearing the hi-hat in the opposite ear
from where it's set up!

Tracking and overdubs
When tracking a rhythm section, I spot-check individual drum
tracks for unwanted leakage/spill. Here is an example where



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - January 2018

Contents
Recording - January 2018 - Intro
Recording - January 2018 - Cover1
Recording - January 2018 - Cover2
Recording - January 2018 - 1
Recording - January 2018 - 2
Recording - January 2018 - 3
Recording - January 2018 - 4
Recording - January 2018 - 5
Recording - January 2018 - 6
Recording - January 2018 - 7
Recording - January 2018 - Contents
Recording - January 2018 - 9
Recording - January 2018 - 10
Recording - January 2018 - 11
Recording - January 2018 - 12
Recording - January 2018 - 13
Recording - January 2018 - 14
Recording - January 2018 - 15
Recording - January 2018 - 16
Recording - January 2018 - 17
Recording - January 2018 - 18
Recording - January 2018 - 19
Recording - January 2018 - 20
Recording - January 2018 - 21
Recording - January 2018 - 22
Recording - January 2018 - 23
Recording - January 2018 - 24
Recording - January 2018 - 25
Recording - January 2018 - 26
Recording - January 2018 - 27
Recording - January 2018 - 28
Recording - January 2018 - 29
Recording - January 2018 - 30
Recording - January 2018 - 31
Recording - January 2018 - 32
Recording - January 2018 - 33
Recording - January 2018 - 34
Recording - January 2018 - 35
Recording - January 2018 - 36
Recording - January 2018 - 37
Recording - January 2018 - 38
Recording - January 2018 - 39
Recording - January 2018 - 40
Recording - January 2018 - 41
Recording - January 2018 - 42
Recording - January 2018 - 43
Recording - January 2018 - 44
Recording - January 2018 - 45
Recording - January 2018 - 46
Recording - January 2018 - 47
Recording - January 2018 - 48
Recording - January 2018 - 49
Recording - January 2018 - 50
Recording - January 2018 - 51
Recording - January 2018 - 52
Recording - January 2018 - 53
Recording - January 2018 - 54
Recording - January 2018 - 55
Recording - January 2018 - 56
Recording - January 2018 - 57
Recording - January 2018 - 58
Recording - January 2018 - 59
Recording - January 2018 - 60
Recording - January 2018 - 61
Recording - January 2018 - 62
Recording - January 2018 - 63
Recording - January 2018 - 64
Recording - January 2018 - 65
Recording - January 2018 - 66
Recording - January 2018 - 67
Recording - January 2018 - 68
Recording - January 2018 - 69
Recording - January 2018 - 70
Recording - January 2018 - 71
Recording - January 2018 - 72
Recording - January 2018 - Cover3
Recording - January 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com