sound checking drums

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

Author	Comment
Jglas	sound checking drums	Lead	[-]
Posts: 24 (08/04/09 19:57:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None How many of you have the hardest time sound checking your kit with your wife or son or friend hitting them. Do any of you experience this frustration when trying to eq your kit for recording or simply to play through your p.a.. No, no, hit it like this, don't leave the bass drum beater in the head like that, let it bounce out, hit the tom right in the middle, slower tempo, hit it harder, hit it softer, give me about ten more, o.k. five more, wer'e almost done just five drums left to go! Am I alone here, I'm sure I'm not. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this well when there is not another drummer readily available to help you with your sound check, or eq for recording, or simply listening to your kit in the room. Jason
bbunks		#1	[-]
Posts: 1217 (08/05/09 04:54:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Usually I don't have the chance to have another person whacking at my kit -- often we're too rushed with our gig set up -- so it's a luxury when I can have that happen and I'm happy just to have a reference point. I just want to hear how things sound as a "family" and can get close enough with our guitarist or my wife taking a few swings. happy to be playing drums
Mainely Drummer	Same Thing	#2	[-]
Posts: 2906 (08/05/09 05:49:31) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	as Mr. Bunkers, too rushed to really stand out in front. I have an outdoor gig this week, which may be especially challenging, not a lot of room, on a deck at someones house for a family reunion. Jglas, you are right about non drummers trying to hit the kit, they don't have your touch or your attack , so it is really not a fair representation of how the kit will sound with you behind it. I did recently have the opportunity to hear a person who at least plays semi regularly hit the kit un miked. I was stunned at the sound change (to my ears) from the front. The kick was much louder than I hear it from behind the kit, and the snare needed muffling, but then again this was with concrete reflection. I think it was even a rarity for drummers like John Bonham, although there is a story of how a young Jason played the kit while he listened from the front of house. Clone ourselves?
johncurry		#3	[-]
Posts: 535 (08/05/09 06:46:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That's an interesting question. I have taken this for granted for so long. I actually only have someone else play my kit when the stars align and another drummer (that I've seen play before) happens to be there. Over time I've found what the sound of the drums behind the kit equate to out front, and I re validate with another drummer rarely. It is always fun to hear my kit from a distance, but I can rarely find another drummer who hit's like I do. In the Studio or recording Live In general in my studio I rely on playback to help dial in my kit. That and the use of Metrophones isolating headphones, which I use for live to dial in levels before I switch to in-ears. I don't really apply any EQ to the drums while recording, I save all that for mixdown when I'm in a better listening environment. So any adjustments I make to the sound of the drums will only be to tweak tuning or mic placement. I have my recording rig right next to my kit so it's easy for me to play something then go back and hear it to see what's going on. Live Live is different. Generally if we are running sound, it's going to be a small enough place that we don't need to mic the drums. If we are playing someplace that requires amplifying the drums then, no question, we need a dedicated sound man. It's just too stressful to try to jump back and forth between roles to run sound and prepare for (and play) the show. I actually bite off to much with recording live but that's another story. -john http://www.drumstudio.org Subscribe to the Drum Studio Blog john at drumstudio dot org ---
JeepnDrummer		#4	[-]
Posts: 377 (08/05/09 09:46:38) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	johncurry wrote: Over time I've found what the sound of the drums behind the kit equate to out front. I think this is very important. Knowing the room is also important (when possible). Still, any chance I get I'll have someone I trust play the kit while I listen out front. johncurry wrote: In the Studio or recording Live In general in my studio I rely on playback to help dial in my kit. I don't really apply any EQ to the drums while recording, I save all that for mixdown when I'm in a better listening environment. So any adjustments I make to the sound of the drums will only be to tweak tuning or mic placement. I have my recording rig right next to my kit so it's easy for me to play something then go back and hear it to see what's going on. Agreed....it's really as simple as that.
billy ward		#5	[-]
Posts: 7816 (08/05/09 14:47:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I hit the EQ on kick and snare hard when recording. Everything else remains flat - but I'ma cowboy... on a steel horse I ride... oH! Nevermind. Yeah, if you are dialing in your drums and someone else is playing, it is very difficult. I remember on the Rectum of Sound tour with J Good. He would have to play the drums - the thing is, and he is a horrible drummer, mind you, if they sound good really badly hit, then they will sound great when played well. you DO have to leave a lot of headroom on the mic pres and faders for the difference in volume though.
RickK		#6	[-]
Posts: 705 (08/05/09 15:57:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Billy wrote: I remember on the Rectum of Sound tour with J Good. He would have to play the drums - the thing is, and he is a horrible drummer. Okay now I know there is no hope for me. rick
billy ward		#7	[-]
Posts: 7819 (08/05/09 16:48:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	You mean about John? GREAT drum MAKER... not so good player. He'd be the first to agree. He has teched the best of the best.
Mainely Drummer	How Little Feat Does It	#8	[-]
Posts: 2909 (08/05/09 17:35:29) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I have seen Little Feat allow a fan to soundcheck with the band, I bet Richie is checking out the F.O.H.? Very humble, gracious people: Johannes Kroeher from Germany was invited by Little Feat to play the Soundcheck at the Hirsch, Nuremberg (Nuernberg), Germany, 7-23-2008 ... He did a great job on Cadillac Hotel...
JeepnDrummer		#9	[-]
Posts: 378 (08/06/09 08:40:49) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Man, those cymbals sure are locked down TIGHT!
jazzfanjeff		#10	[-]
Posts: 7 (10/14/09 18:03:43) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nice thread, Jglas! There is no way to substitute for one's own playing, so I never ask anyone to hit my kit for sound reference purposes. At sound check (when there is one), however, I do prefer to have someone else make some noise just to check the microphones--I hate doing that ("Give me some kick please...some more...some more..."). They'll have to retool it anyway when the audience comes into the equation. Just the difference between my hand and stick hitting the cymbal, and one of my students' hand and stick, is striking. Add the whole kit and it's mind-blowing, as the differences go from the tones of each voice to the relative dynamics of the instruments. A Roland Edirol or similar recorder, placed in the middle of the room and not on the floor, recorded with my own playing, gives me a very accurate representation of how I sound on the kit. That being said, I love to have other drummers sit in, especially at a club gig. After some experience, I can now to a degree subtract the other drummer's touch from the equation and hear with my inner ear how the kit, not the drummer, sounds.
JeepnDrummer		#11	[-]
Posts: 407 (10/14/09 20:11:31) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	jazzfanjeff wrote: They'll have to retool it anyway when the audience comes into the equation. While the volume may need to be adjusted, the primary purpose of the sound check is to set gain structure.

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

sound checking drums

sound checking drums

Quick Reply