Any secrets to recording real drums?

[ernstinen]

Here's one of my favorite post-Beatles John Lennon songs. I just love the drum sound on "Watching The Wheels." It's a pretty tight studio sound, but is expertly miked and played perfectly, with a great stereo spectrum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp9dc9im ... re=related

There's a bunch of versions of this on YouTube, but I think this one "sounded" the best.

Of course, with Andy Newmark on drums, you can't miss! The groove and sound is impeccable. If you google Andy Newmark, it's amazing how many great artists he's played with. Wow, what a fantastic musician!

Ern

[billg1]

Here's one of my favorite post-Beatles John Lennon songs. I just love the drum sound on "Watching The Wheels." It's a pretty tight studio sound, but is expertly miked and played perfectly, with a great stereo spectrum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp9dc9im ... re=related

There's a bunch of versions of this on YouTube, but I think this one "sounded" the best.

Of course, with Andy Newmark on drums, you can't miss! The groove and sound is impeccable. If you google Andy Newmark, it's amazing how many great artists he's played with. Wow, what a fantastic musician!

Ern

you know, once again this has that something in the low mids that's just so cool. Just a real round "girth" without mud. I just don't hear that much on digital recordings these days. Maybe I'm just crazy. (+1 from my wife!)

[ernstinen]

you know, once again this has that something in the low mids that's just so cool. Just a real round "girth" without mud. I just don't hear that much on digital recordings these days. Maybe I'm just crazy. (+1 from my wife!)

Well, once again, we get into "analog vs. digital" discussions. Of course, "Watching The Wheels" was done analog, in 1980 or so. Slamming tape, especially drums & bass, sounds better analog, IMHO. Everything else is a toss-up. Most real experienced engineers mix analog and digital in creative ways. --- If I couldn't rent a George Massenburg analog EQ here in L.A., I'd throw myself in the L.A. River --- (Uh, I just drove by it today, and there's about 1/2" of water in it, so nevermind!).

But the point is, mix and match! Use your ears to find what you want. Neither analog or digital media are perfect; there's something to be said for both. Please don't close your mind as an either/or. Cripes, I've got a 1/4 inch 15ips reel-to-reel that I could mix to, and I chose a $2000 Empirical Labs Fatso Jr. for my analog pass. Maybe I'm just crazy (+1 from my wife) to abandon the richness of analog tape. --- Yea, I AM crazy! Why the hell don't I mix to my damn reel-to-reel? At proper levels, there is NO hiss, no problems, and adds a richness to any digital recording.

EMPIRICAL LABS FATSO JR. FOR SALE! $1850 OBO! --- P.M me!

Ern

[billg1]

I think that maybe it's hard to avoid the digital/analog discussions when talking about good drums sounds because the vibe you might be trying to create in your DAW could be from slamming tape!

I have used drums in my songs that were recorded to tape originally and there is a different vibe for sure (to my ears) . . . not saying better or worse, but different. Here's one where the original drums were recorded to tape . . . it's not a great recording, but I consider all of my recordings to be just demos anyway! see if there's a difference to you http://www.billgaunce.com/song/3