Variety of drumsticks and non traditional type sticks. The shape and design of them affects things a ton sound wise. Attack and tonality etc plus playability
i agree with all of this! i'm tracking drums right now, and after tracking my Acrolite, Supraphonic, Coliseum, and my (very pitted and not pretty) premier 2000, the snare that's really working for the material right now is a 1984 Tama Imperialstar. far from a top end snare, but with a 42 strand wire, and a clear pinstripe head, it is cutting through in all the right places and i really dig it. new heads, head variety, snare wire variety, and especially cymbals can make or break it. I like to think a low end kit with fresh heads and great cymbals will beat out a higher end kit with bad, cheap cymbals.
I like to have your videos on while soldering cables, they're so tranquil and I always learn something even if it's a topic I'm pretty familiar with. I've gotten so used to hearing your videos in a treated studio, I did a double take at how live the room 'verb is in this one. Looks like a nice cozy space to play in! As for the actual video, list style videos aren't usually my kind of thing, but the way you presented and each item felt like just the right amount of info without padding for time or rushing to get to the next one, the way clickbaity lists do. It was clear you were speaking from your personal experiences and trying to save others from mistakes you've made in the past. I'm more on the live audio side of things but your insights are always appreciated, and more listy videos like this would be great!
i don't have what i would call a studio. i only record my drums in my basement. consequently, i have put a lot of time and effort into my gear over the years. so this doesn't help me out a whole lot, but i agree with everything you covered and it is great advice for someone who is just starting out.... or even someone who has been doing it for a while and could be frustrated occasionally with the drum sounds they're getting.
Best budget snares (under $250) are (in order): Mapex Daisy Cutter, Joey Jordison signature, Ludwig Acrolite. I like the Acrolite as much as the next guy, but the Daisy Cutter beats the effing brakes off the Acrolite. Honorable mention to the Yamaha Musashi 13x6.5
That's a useful list, thanks for the tip. I had a listen to some samples of the Mapex Armoury snare line. That Daisy Cutter is a firecracker. But for me, I really like the smooth, deep hitting Peacemaker. The Joey Jordison does sound really good too.
A really cheap set of drums can sound great and record very nicely simply by upgrading to pro-level heads. Tea towels are also an inexpensive way to get a different vibe and control drum ring. I've also used a stereo guitar EQ pedal to tame mids and overtones from my rack and floor Toms. For a kick drum mic, I'm currently using a Sennheiser MD-421which is very flexible to get the right amount of low-end. This is a great video and could probably be updated to "20 Items Worth Buying if You Record Drums" :)
Damn you for mentioning Acrolites!! I'm still looking for a cheap one!! That said, I did score an early 60's Supra for 200$ and it's my current snare. It's predictable, stays in tune, a must have!! About head choices, here's a cool thing I found out with my stable of snares... I like to switch them up for different tones and I've found that my Ludwig Pioneer sounds great with fresh heads. Only 6 lugs so it really needs something nice and tight to keep things in check but I still get the trashyness that I like from that drum. Conversely, I hate fresh heads on my Vistalite snare! They sound too crisp to my ears and I like it more when it's been played in. So what I do is play the new heads on the Pioneer until they've had a bit of use on them... Not even wear, just use! And then swap them over to the Vistalite and prepare the next set of fresh heads on the Pioneer. That setup has worked wonders for years and I never felt sad about the tone of these drum in the studio!!
Great advice Ryan. Love your video's. I've figured out most of this stuff over time.... would have been a lot quicker if I had seen this video 15 years ago!!! Another thing that has really helped me with a kick drum sound is I made a sub kick mic out of an old 8" speaker I got for free. Total game changer.
Another low budget trick to muffle and get punch (without boomyness) out of a kick drum is to simply try taping a piece of paper on the inside of the batter side in the middle.
I have not clue why YT didn't inform me about other videos you uploaded. I had to come to your channel to discover the last published ones. All the bells are clicked :-) but it doesnt work always as supposed.
Great suggestions & tricks! 👍 Good cymbals are pricey, unfortunately, and even old Ludwig snares have blown up in price with all the internet hype around them. BTW Tama makes some pretty excellent snares in a variety of more accessible prices in the Starphonic range, and so does Mapex in the Black Panther series or Pearl in the Sensitone series. Other super useful studio drum accessories IMHO: a 2 or 3 faced kick beater with different materials, and those hihat and snare backbeat tambourine thingies. Both can liven up a drum performance or change its feel and focus quite a bit.
People sometimes buy gear according to how it sounds to them the player but they really need to also take into account how it sounds in the room and importantly here, on the recording. Its all different! Also people should not buy things for solely how they look or what line a piece is from. Its a big mistake to just buy based on name or reputation.
all I have is a 70's Ludwig acrolyte 14 snare , 60's 20" slingerland kick with missing the resonant head, a sm57 and a 18" Sabian cymbal and hats lol. im a loser
Download all 8 years of free downloads for Creative Sound Lab: www.creativesoundlab.tv/alldownloads
a good drum throne that does not make any squeaking sound that can ruin your takes ;)
Good Point!👍
Yeah true. Saves you the trouble and you have an extra seat
yesss!
Variety of drumsticks and non traditional type sticks. The shape and design of them affects things a ton sound wise. Attack and tonality etc plus playability
i agree with all of this! i'm tracking drums right now, and after tracking my Acrolite, Supraphonic, Coliseum, and my (very pitted and not pretty) premier 2000, the snare that's really working for the material right now is a 1984 Tama Imperialstar. far from a top end snare, but with a 42 strand wire, and a clear pinstripe head, it is cutting through in all the right places and i really dig it. new heads, head variety, snare wire variety, and especially cymbals can make or break it.
I like to think a low end kit with fresh heads and great cymbals will beat out a higher end kit with bad, cheap cymbals.
I like to have your videos on while soldering cables, they're so tranquil and I always learn something even if it's a topic I'm pretty familiar with. I've gotten so used to hearing your videos in a treated studio, I did a double take at how live the room 'verb is in this one. Looks like a nice cozy space to play in!
As for the actual video, list style videos aren't usually my kind of thing, but the way you presented and each item felt like just the right amount of info without padding for time or rushing to get to the next one, the way clickbaity lists do. It was clear you were speaking from your personal experiences and trying to save others from mistakes you've made in the past. I'm more on the live audio side of things but your insights are always appreciated, and more listy videos like this would be great!
i don't have what i would call a studio. i only record my drums in my basement. consequently, i have put a lot of time and effort into my gear over the years. so this doesn't help me out a whole lot, but i agree with everything you covered and it is great advice for someone who is just starting out.... or even someone who has been doing it for a while and could be frustrated occasionally with the drum sounds they're getting.
Some bookmarks for me:
Snare 0:24 0:31
Thin ride 1:45
Great content as always!
Always learning from you and your content. Thanks dude!
Best budget snares (under $250) are (in order): Mapex Daisy Cutter, Joey Jordison signature, Ludwig Acrolite. I like the Acrolite as much as the next guy, but the Daisy Cutter beats the effing brakes off the Acrolite. Honorable mention to the Yamaha Musashi 13x6.5
Never heard of the daisy cutter. Will check it out. Great comment!
That's a useful list, thanks for the tip. I had a listen to some samples of the Mapex Armoury snare line. That Daisy Cutter is a firecracker. But for me, I really like the smooth, deep hitting Peacemaker. The Joey Jordison does sound really good too.
@@compucorder64 You will be real damn happy getting any of those snares.
A really cheap set of drums can sound great and record very nicely simply by upgrading to pro-level heads. Tea towels are also an inexpensive way to get a different vibe and control drum ring. I've also used a stereo guitar EQ pedal to tame mids and overtones from my rack and floor Toms. For a kick drum mic, I'm currently using a Sennheiser MD-421which is very flexible to get the right amount of low-end. This is a great video and could probably be updated to "20 Items Worth Buying if You Record Drums" :)
Great idea, thanks!
Damn you for mentioning Acrolites!! I'm still looking for a cheap one!! That said, I did score an early 60's Supra for 200$ and it's my current snare. It's predictable, stays in tune, a must have!! About head choices, here's a cool thing I found out with my stable of snares... I like to switch them up for different tones and I've found that my Ludwig Pioneer sounds great with fresh heads. Only 6 lugs so it really needs something nice and tight to keep things in check but I still get the trashyness that I like from that drum. Conversely, I hate fresh heads on my Vistalite snare! They sound too crisp to my ears and I like it more when it's been played in. So what I do is play the new heads on the Pioneer until they've had a bit of use on them... Not even wear, just use! And then swap them over to the Vistalite and prepare the next set of fresh heads on the Pioneer. That setup has worked wonders for years and I never felt sad about the tone of these drum in the studio!!
I’ve been building a studio kit but missing some of these pieces. Thanks for the video :)
This condensed list format is so enjoyable
Great advice Ryan. Love your video's. I've figured out most of this stuff over time.... would have been a lot quicker if I had seen this video 15 years ago!!! Another thing that has really helped me with a kick drum sound is I made a sub kick mic out of an old 8" speaker I got for free. Total game changer.
Another low budget trick to muffle and get punch (without boomyness) out of a kick drum is to simply try taping a piece of paper on the inside of the batter side in the middle.
Thanks for the great tips
fireplace adds a nice warm homey vibe!
Good video, Buddy! Important info, people will appreciate when they start trying to record well.
Your opinion on Evans hydraulic for 1. Snare 2. Toms 3. Kick?
Hey Ryan, long time I haven´t seen one of you videos! I guess UA-cam algorithm is strange. Hope to watch more content from your channel!
Thanks and glad to connect again!
Some good tips there!
Thanks Nils!
Thanx for your nice Tips :)
You're welcome :)
Great advice.
Thanks!
a good pair of hi-hats too !!!
Sound Samples?
I have not clue why YT didn't inform me about other videos you uploaded. I had to come to your channel to discover the last published ones. All the bells are clicked :-) but it doesnt work always as supposed.
Great suggestions & tricks!
👍
Good cymbals are pricey, unfortunately, and even old Ludwig snares have blown up in price with all the internet hype around them.
BTW Tama makes some pretty excellent snares in a variety of more accessible prices in the Starphonic range, and so does Mapex in the Black Panther series or Pearl in the Sensitone series.
Other super useful studio drum accessories IMHO: a 2 or 3 faced kick beater with different materials, and those hihat and snare backbeat tambourine thingies. Both can liven up a drum performance or change its feel and focus quite a bit.
Is that bass drum head from 2013?
Yep
People sometimes buy gear according to how it sounds to them the player but they really need to also take into account how it sounds in the room and importantly here, on the recording. Its all different! Also people should not buy things for solely how they look or what line a piece is from. Its a big mistake to just buy based on name or reputation.
Totally. It's about how it records, and how well it mixes. Kicks and low toms always sound way different and hard to judge - as an example.
This was a great one! Always love your videos! Thanks for doing this one!
all I have is a 70's Ludwig acrolyte 14 snare , 60's 20" slingerland kick with missing the resonant head, a sm57 and a 18" Sabian cymbal and hats lol. im a loser
Sounds like you have some nice drums. A good snare is half the battle.
First1 Let's Gooooo
What do you think of the Evans EQ 4 kick drum batter head