I've played drums twice in my life at my friends house. But the way this was explained made perfect sense to me. He Explained this so simply and effectively
The thing about the beater needing to hit centre of the head isn’t always the case. I’ve experimented recording some kicks & sometimes hitting dead centre gives you a ton of attack & very little note. I was surprised. Experiment for yourself, as always, & decide what sound you’re after.
my rule of thumb is to have the beater make contact slightly above center for anything smaller than 22" kick drums, but it does sound best when the beater hits dead center for 22" (and larger)
Yeah the comment about hitting the center is just not accurate. Maybe for lightfooted jazz with a wide open tone but even then it's more about technique.
I’m not particularly into Pearl but these really are an amazing product and I have them on all my kits. Interesting to note that they’re included on all A&F kits
yeah drummers can learn a lot from an experienced recording or live engineer, a lot of drummers neglect the way their technique affects their tone but it's so important
Some of these things make sense to me, as a drummer and engineer/producer. Others, tbh not so much, and I know a lot of drummers would balk at JJP repositioning everything in their kit just to satisfy his particular vision. Another important aspect I didn’t hear him mention was- the drummer needs to be comfortable to play his or her best performance!
Like any musician if adjusting your technique for a particular situation helps get a better result then maybe it’s worth considering adapting rather than having a fixed mindset.
@@ryaneganaus I wasn’t talking about a “fixed mindset” (and I’m speaking from many years as a live and studio drummer and percussionist, and also a recording engineer and producer). The drums are the most physically-dependent instrument that I can think of. No one ever talks about moving guitar strings, or bass strings, or changing the keys on a saxophone to make it easier for the engineer. Nobody that I know of layered one guitar part, one string at a time, back when that was a thing (kick. then snare. then hh. then cymbal overdubs). The only instrument I’ve heard this nonsense about, the most physically-dependent one, mind you, is the drumset. Just saying.
He has all this knowledge and extreme attention to detail about audio recording. Even so detailed as to centering the beater on the kick and putting matchboxes under the floor tom legs but had no solution for the annoying rubbing sound from his lapel microphone rubbing against his clothes the entire video 👍 Everyone just focus on improving your drumming technique and serve the song you're playing and you'll be great. Don't go down unnecessary rabbit holes like this guy has. I guarantee you John Bonham never did. Squeaky pedal and all.
lol I'm pretty sure he's not the engineer who monitored and mixed the audio from this session. blame that guy. not the guy talking. it's not like he has in ears monitoring himself as he's talking. sheesh. I learned some really useful things from this video
I just think he tries to come across like some kind if genius none of this is rocket science. Nothing he talks about makes any significant impact on the quality of a drum kit recording unless you're playing one drum or one cymbal. Drums have many things going on at the same time. Whether or not the toms are angled or you have an impact pad on the kick batter head doesn't matter. Technique, Tuning, and Talent is all that matters. This dude was the engineering genius behind Ashlee Simpsons record.
This guy seems smart and experienced with regards to recording drums, but I don't like all the "never do this", "allways do this" statements. Every recording session is different and has their own needs.
Jack gets wonderful drum sounds, no doubt! But I really would like these techniques “fact checked” in an AB comparison. That would make for a very interesting video.
Great points. By the way your comments about balance during the Al Schmitt memorial was so enlightening and made a huge improvement on my mixing. Thanks Jack!
Centre of the drum is the most attack, the rim of the drum has all the tone/overtones, if you hit just off the centre (as you have to using two sticks at the same time) you get lots of attack and more tone, this includes bass drums. Try it and see.
Hi Jack, bummed I didn't get to work with you when I was in the band Everything. Still playing and recording. Love the matchbook idea. Hope this finds you well. - Jon Kidd
wish i had seen this years ago. they're all things i've learned the hard way, and all things that most people/videos would never mention. well said. but i'm still leaving my patch on my kick drum head XD
Most of what he says is completely ridiculous. He's not a drummer. The only thing I agree with is the stick bag not hanging on the floor tom. If you change the position of drums, the drummer will not be comfortable and will not play well. That's hugely important.
Been playing drums for 23 years. You DO NOT get the most tone in the middle of the head. You get it around the middle of the rim and the center of the head. You get the most attack in the middle of the head. Not tone. Really would expect someone like this to know that.
Yeah, I don't know that I buy that as being effective if indeed there is meaningful phase cancellation going on, which is also kind of a dubious claim. Low-frequency soundwaves are pretty nondirectional to start out with, so changing the orientation of the drum
The standard feet on most floor tom legs tend to choke the drum significantly when on the floor, especially any older kits. It's pretty common to put something between the floor tom feet and the floor, I often use bits of thin but dense foam but I reckon the matchbook will do the job if you have them. It may seem silly, but it makes a massive difference.
@@phillipemery572 They’re not as directional, but the wavelengths are much longer the lower you go, and if the wave has already reflected before it’s finished being created, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Also, from a drummer's perspective - no i am not repositioning my cymbals, because they are "covering" anything. It's my job to perform and yours to position the mics.
It's good practice to try different cymbal+drum heights and positions when you're practicing drums, It's inevitable that an engineer in a recording situation will ask you to move something and most likely it will be so they can make you sound better. This kind of stubborn mindset some drummers tend to have is just holding you back from sounding as good as you can in a studio situation
Great advice for producers working with male drummers 👍🏼 for those working with female drummers, sadly this video is clearly not aimed at you. "These are very tiny details, but they can make the difference." Jack Joseph Puig
![Recording Drums With Steve Albini [Third Circle Recordings]](/img/n.gif)
Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/jjp-various
I've been playing for 18 years now and I learnt more in 10 minutes than I had in all my drum playing life.
Thanks! 😁
you should have known most of this.
@@morbidmanmusic what a comment
Ditto....but 45 years for me!
I've played drums twice in my life at my friends house. But the way this was explained made perfect sense to me. He Explained this so simply and effectively
The thing about the beater needing to hit centre of the head isn’t always the case. I’ve experimented recording some kicks & sometimes hitting dead centre gives you a ton of attack & very little note. I was surprised. Experiment for yourself, as always, & decide what sound you’re after.
More tone away from the center… like timpani players
@@jadema7434 Spot on.
my rule of thumb is to have the beater make contact slightly above center for anything smaller than 22" kick drums, but it does sound best when the beater hits dead center for 22" (and larger)
Yeah, he's totally wrong with his explanation of where the beater should make contact. Dead center is for attack, not tone.
Yeah the comment about hitting the center is just not accurate. Maybe for lightfooted jazz with a wide open tone but even then it's more about technique.
These are a must have for floor Tom legs. Game changer. The rubber feet Pearl R-40/3 Floor Tom Rubber Tip
I’m not particularly into Pearl but these really are an amazing product and I have them on all my kits. Interesting to note that they’re included on all A&F kits
every drummer needs to watch this video. the things he talks about apply to more than just studio drumming. absolutely genius
yeah drummers can learn a lot from an experienced recording or live engineer, a lot of drummers neglect the way their technique affects their tone but it's so important
Some of these things make sense to me, as a drummer and engineer/producer. Others, tbh not so much, and I know a lot of drummers would balk at JJP repositioning everything in their kit just to satisfy his particular vision. Another important aspect I didn’t hear him mention was- the drummer needs to be comfortable to play his or her best performance!
Yeah this guy wants to be seen as some kind of guru. Technique trumps everything.
Like any musician if adjusting your technique for a particular situation helps get a better result then maybe it’s worth considering adapting rather than having a fixed mindset.
@@ryaneganaus I wasn’t talking about a “fixed mindset” (and I’m speaking from many years as a live and studio drummer and percussionist, and also a recording engineer and producer). The drums are the most physically-dependent instrument that I can think of. No one ever talks about moving guitar strings, or bass strings, or changing the keys on a saxophone to make it easier for the engineer. Nobody that I know of layered one guitar part, one string at a time, back when that was a thing (kick. then snare. then hh. then cymbal overdubs). The only instrument I’ve heard this nonsense about, the most physically-dependent one, mind you, is the drumset. Just saying.
The drum sounds he got on "Amorica" by the Black Crowes and "Spilt Milk" by Jellyfish are absolutely beautiful. Some of the best I've ever heard.
He has all this knowledge and extreme attention to detail about audio recording. Even so detailed as to centering the beater on the kick and putting matchboxes under the floor tom legs but had no solution for the annoying rubbing sound from his lapel microphone rubbing against his clothes the entire video 👍
Everyone just focus on improving your drumming technique and serve the song you're playing and you'll be great. Don't go down unnecessary rabbit holes like this guy has. I guarantee you John Bonham never did. Squeaky pedal and all.
lol I'm pretty sure he's not the engineer who monitored and mixed the audio from this session. blame that guy. not the guy talking. it's not like he has in ears monitoring himself as he's talking. sheesh. I learned some really useful things from this video
I just think he tries to come across like some kind if genius none of this is rocket science. Nothing he talks about makes any significant impact on the quality of a drum kit recording unless you're playing one drum or one cymbal. Drums have many things going on at the same time. Whether or not the toms are angled or you have an impact pad on the kick batter head doesn't matter. Technique, Tuning, and Talent is all that matters.
This dude was the engineering genius behind Ashlee Simpsons record.
Lol this comment cracked me up
This guy seems smart and experienced with regards to recording drums, but I don't like all the "never do this", "allways do this" statements. Every recording session is different and has their own needs.
Jack gets wonderful drum sounds, no doubt! But I really would like these techniques “fact checked” in an AB comparison. That would make for a very interesting video.
Great points. By the way your comments about balance during the Al Schmitt memorial was so enlightening and made a huge improvement on my mixing. Thanks Jack!
Centre of the drum is the most attack, the rim of the drum has all the tone/overtones, if you hit just off the centre (as you have to using two sticks at the same time) you get lots of attack and more tone, this includes bass drums. Try it and see.
Genius advice! Would love to hear more from him. Good hat too.
JPP got me nodding my head. All of this! Great instruction for getting the most out of a set of drums.
never heard of aligning snare wires to the mic, angling floor tom and loose cradling snare stand....great tips! thanks!
Years of experience condensed down to 5 mins , awesome!
Chatting about covering the bass drum and cymbal placement. 🔥 👏 The little things. 👌
Really great stuff, this is so elusive that you kinda need a lifetime to figure it out, so thanks for sharing!
Hi Jack, bummed I didn't get to work with you when I was in the band Everything. Still playing and recording. Love the matchbook idea. Hope this finds you well. - Jon Kidd
Lots of good info packed in this video, thanks!
Do you mind explaining why you suggest that the snare mic is aligned with the direction of
the snares?
I’m aslo curious to know the answer!
Moon Gels on floor tom legs work great on hard floors. Night and day difference in resonance. Pearl Air Suspension feet are great too.
For a guy just starting to record, these are some great tips
Jack is the man.
The guy’s a mad genius.
Fuck, I love this guy. Just an amazing engineer.
Wow! That was enlightening!
wish i had seen this years ago. they're all things i've learned the hard way, and all things that most people/videos would never mention.
well said. but i'm still leaving my patch on my kick drum head XD
Whatever it takes to make it sound like you want it to sound. Tastes, styles & recording techniques can be widely different...
Wow, good shit!
TY sir. Noted
Most of what he says is completely ridiculous. He's not a drummer. The only thing I agree with is the stick bag not hanging on the floor tom. If you change the position of drums, the drummer will not be comfortable and will not play well. That's hugely important.
Listen to the drums across Jellyfish’s “Spilt Milk,” recorded and mixed by Jack. His drums sound great. Period.
The records speak for themselves 🤷🏾
As a professional drummer and a recording engineer, he’s 1000% right.
The man!!!
Just setup my drum mics so this is perfect lol
Perfect
Not true about tone being in the middle of drums. The centre is the driest sound (least overtone) and off centre has the most tone.
Some next level shit
he resembles Alan Rickman
what a knowledgeable leprechaun
Been playing drums for 23 years. You DO NOT get the most tone in the middle of the head. You get it around the middle of the rim and the center of the head. You get the most attack in the middle of the head. Not tone. Really would expect someone like this to know that.
the snare alignment was worth its weight in gold.
Professor Snape
Pretty sure the matchbook thing is a troll.
Yeah, I don't know that I buy that as being effective if indeed there is meaningful phase cancellation going on, which is also kind of a dubious claim. Low-frequency soundwaves are pretty nondirectional to start out with, so changing the orientation of the drum
The standard feet on most floor tom legs tend to choke the drum significantly when on the floor, especially any older kits. It's pretty common to put something between the floor tom feet and the floor, I often use bits of thin but dense foam but I reckon the matchbook will do the job if you have them. It may seem silly, but it makes a massive difference.
@@phillipemery572 Yeah that claim didn't sit right with me at all either
@@phillipemery572 They’re not as directional, but the wavelengths are much longer the lower you go, and if the wave has already reflected before it’s finished being created, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Do you think he describes phase cancellation to his blind dates?
Extra, anyone?
Mucho hablar
Yo quería escuchar!!!
dear algorhythm, please show me all drum recording videos on earth that have less than a hundred mics
Please, translate to spanish.
The audio in this is terrible haha 😂
Also, from a drummer's perspective - no i am not repositioning my cymbals, because they are "covering" anything. It's my job to perform and yours to position the mics.
I would say that if you’re recording you want to get best out of it. But it’s up to you
It's good practice to try different cymbal+drum heights and positions when you're practicing drums, It's inevitable that an engineer in a recording situation will ask you to move something and most likely it will be so they can make you sound better. This kind of stubborn mindset some drummers tend to have is just holding you back from sounding as good as you can in a studio situation
Just know that you're wrong.
Never say never. Recording is a collaboration, not 'my way or the highway'. A lot of major studio drummers have higher cymbal positions.
Thats the shitty attitude that keeps you from getting gigs🤘🤘🤘
Great advice for producers working with male drummers 👍🏼 for those working with female drummers, sadly this video is clearly not aimed at you.
"These are very tiny details, but they can make the difference." Jack Joseph Puig
Anyone who produced Jellyfish is alright by me! 'Bellybutton' is one of the greatest sounding albums of all time IMHO.