we’ve had an interesting couple of weeks. some new gear, mixed with getting other gear fixed has made recording interesting to say the least. we’ve had to try some slightly unconventional tactics, but the result’s been good so far. more on that later…

the may 30 show went really well, thanks for everyone that came out. we tried a lot of new songs, new ideas, and new setups which seemed to go over very well. it’s exciting to start playing live again. you get in the mindset of recording, and then to take these new songs out into the live world is something special.

sorry for the giant post/rambling…

some filmmaker friends of ours shot the last show, we’re editing film right now. surprises for everyone soon…

ben.

ps. spent some time at the DeCordova museum recently…

When I record myself playing the drums, i usually try to record what i feel are 8 to 10 good performances, and then listen back to them to see which take actually feels and sounds the best.  The take I’ve included here is one of the first ones I recorded of this song.

The final drum sound will most likely be a little different than what you’re hearing, in that once I start mixing the song, the drums will be mixed properly (I’ll probably use less room sound) as well as I’ll be adding compression, EQ, maybe a little reverb here and there, and maybe a few other tricks. Once all the other tracks (bass, guitars, keys, vocals, etc…) are added, then the drums will be finessed so everything works together. What you’re hearing is the foundation to the song, and where it all starts.

Without further ado:

Now on to the details of the recording if anyone is curious.

Drums:

DW collectors series kit:

• Bass Drum: 16″ x 23″ (yes, 23″ – not 22 or 24.  I don’t know if they still do, but DW made a small group of limited edition sets with that bass drum size.  It sounds and plays great, but is near impossible to find heads for, but that story is for another time)
• Rack Tom: 8″ x 12″ w/Evans EC2 coated head (which i don’t like at all, but it’s all i had at the time.  that’s what i get for trying something new in the middle of vermont and having no backup – you live and you learn)
• Floor Tom: 14″ x 16″ w/Evans EC2 coated (same as above)
• Snare: 6 1/2″ x 14″ Dunnett Titanium w/Evans Genera Dry

Microphones:

As far as microphones go, we had a pretty motley collection, but they all worked out pretty well.  Most of the mics we used are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that simply sticking a $3,000 Neumann in front of something will turn something that sounds crappy into gold – but i’ve tried and it doesn’t work.  As surprising as it might seem, those mics don’t have any magical properties.  And unless you’re dealing with a pristine signal path, with top of the line Preamps, DAC’s, etc… you reach a point where the difference will get negated; besides, isn’t it all about performance anyway?  In the end, we decided to save the cash, and use what mics we had (for the most part – we rented the 414’s).

• Overheads: matched pair AKG c 414 – about 3′ above cymbals, about 6′ apart, aimed at, and equidistant to the center of snare, about 1′ in front of snare
• Room Mics: Shure KSM27, Groove Tubes Large Condensor (model number escaping me at the moment) – about 15′ in front of drums, about 12′ apart
• Bass Drum inside: Audix D6 – mounted to shell, about 4″ from batter head, centered between the beater and the shell
• Bass Drum outside: AKG D112 with Earthworks KickPad – 1″ off resonant head, 1/2 way between center and edge
• Snare Top: Shure SM57
• Snare Bottom: Shure SM57
• Hi-hat: Rode NT5
• Ride: Rode NT5
• 12″ Tom: Audix D2
• 14″ Tom: Audix D4

The signal went from microphone into Presonus DigiMax FS’s for pres, then into Presonus Firestudio, and finally into Logic.  I use Logic for all our recordings because it’s a great program (though a little buggy at times), and makes comping tracks a breeze.  Besides, you can assign a pretty little icon on each track for whatever instrument it is – what more can you ask for?

Once we start to add other instruments on top of the drums, I’ll post more samples of this songs as it comes together.

-Pietro