Comments on: Today’s Modern Drums Sound Like ’80s Pop Drums http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/ Modern Recording Studio in Atlanta, GA Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:29:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: MAtt http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/comment-page-1/#comment-2123 MAtt Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:20:51 +0000 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/?p=449#comment-2123 Robert,<br> Thanks for discussing this. I do notice that drums today sound "perfect" (no timing fluxuation or dynamics). But also keep in mind that playing to a click has become the norm in recording, and more importantly, in rehearsal and live playing... so therefore many young drummers' timing have become spot on from an early age. But it even goes back to when these young drummers were first learning how to play by jamming along to their favorite recordings ("perfect" drums). I've seen for my own eyes how perfect and consistent some drummers can play. And Im not talking about "world class drummers" like Kenny Aronoff and Vinnie Colaiuta. But as a result, a lot of young drummers have forgotten all about using ghost notes and swelling a tom fill. But it's not their fault because the loud guitar tones these days make it useless to play anything that isnt a primary hit...because it can't be heard. Therefore very even, consistent strokes is what they get great at. I just want you to believe that near "perfect" drum tracks can be played. But...that being said...I agree that drum editing has gone too far. The problem is that to be competitive in today's top 40 and rock scene, your recording must sound like gold(unless your purposely avoiding that). And to get a mix that's as clear as the ones you mentioned above, it's necessary to have really consistent drumming. If every snare hit is the exact same than you know what frequency it's at so you can make sure the other instruments don't collide with it in the mix. And if the timing of the drums sway away from the guitar on the first note of the big chorus, it will sound mushy. Basically, you're damned if you do edit(cheating)and damned if you don't edit(weak mixes by today's standards). From a drumming standpoint I look at it like this....do your best to always give each note its value and even if you can't hear the ghost notes being played(live or in the studio), keep playing them, but always make sure to smash the primary notes. Dynamic playing makes you a better musician! But ultimately it's the engineers fault. ha ha! Robert,
Thanks for discussing this. I do notice that drums today sound “perfect” (no timing fluxuation or dynamics). But also keep in mind that playing to a click has become the norm in recording, and more importantly, in rehearsal and live playing… so therefore many young drummers' timing have become spot on from an early age. But it even goes back to when these young drummers were first learning how to play by jamming along to their favorite recordings (“perfect” drums). I've seen for my own eyes how perfect and consistent some drummers can play. And Im not talking about “world class drummers” like Kenny Aronoff and Vinnie Colaiuta. But as a result, a lot of young drummers have forgotten all about using ghost notes and swelling a tom fill. But it's not their fault because the loud guitar tones these days make it useless to play anything that isnt a primary hit…because it can't be heard. Therefore very even, consistent strokes is what they get great at. I just want you to believe that near “perfect” drum tracks can be played. But…that being said…I agree that drum editing has gone too far. The problem is that to be competitive in today's top 40 and rock scene, your recording must sound like gold(unless your purposely avoiding that). And to get a mix that's as clear as the ones you mentioned above, it's necessary to have really consistent drumming. If every snare hit is the exact same than you know what frequency it's at so you can make sure the other instruments don't collide with it in the mix. And if the timing of the drums sway away from the guitar on the first note of the big chorus, it will sound mushy. Basically, you're damned if you do edit(cheating)and damned if you don't edit(weak mixes by today's standards). From a drumming standpoint I look at it like this….do your best to always give each note its value and even if you can't hear the ghost notes being played(live or in the studio), keep playing them, but always make sure to smash the primary notes. Dynamic playing makes you a better musician! But ultimately it's the engineers fault. ha ha!

]]> By: Jason K http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/comment-page-1/#comment-2100 Jason K Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:46:34 +0000 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/?p=449#comment-2100 I noticed the trend of users of said modern technologies losing their mind in the idea that uniformity and great are synonymous. But then again thats why the aforementioned records above (Pet Shop Boys), sound REAL dated, because in the minds of their producers the process of using the technologies they used to create them was every bit as important as the music. And clearly as time has shown SO SO many times. Its not. Not that beat detective is a horrid thing, but the concept that you use it on a song you just track because "THATS WHAT YOU DO" is fucking retarded. I noticed the trend of users of said modern technologies losing their mind in the idea that uniformity and great are synonymous. But then again thats why the aforementioned records above (Pet Shop Boys), sound REAL dated, because in the minds of their producers the process of using the technologies they used to create them was every bit as important as the music. And clearly as time has shown SO SO many times. Its not. Not that beat detective is a horrid thing, but the concept that you use it on a song you just track because “THATS WHAT YOU DO” is fucking retarded.

]]> By: Jason K http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/comment-page-1/#comment-2045 Jason K Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:46:34 +0000 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/?p=449#comment-2045 I noticed the trend of users of said modern technologies losing their mind in the idea that uniformity and great are synonymous. But then again thats why the aforementioned records above (Pet Shop Boys), sound REAL dated, because in the minds of their producers the process of using the technologies they used to create them was every bit as important as the music. And clearly as time has shown SO SO many times. Its not. Not that beat detective is a horrid thing, but the concept that you use it on a song you just track because "THATS WHAT YOU DO" is fucking retarded. I noticed the trend of users of said modern technologies losing their mind in the idea that uniformity and great are synonymous. But then again thats why the aforementioned records above (Pet Shop Boys), sound REAL dated, because in the minds of their producers the process of using the technologies they used to create them was every bit as important as the music. And clearly as time has shown SO SO many times. Its not. Not that beat detective is a horrid thing, but the concept that you use it on a song you just track because “THATS WHAT YOU DO” is fucking retarded.

]]> By: Blog 1 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/comment-page-1/#comment-2043 Blog 1 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:50:34 +0000 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/?p=449#comment-2043 great article, i really appreciate it great article, i really appreciate it

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/10/todays-modern-drums-sound-like-80s-pop-drums/comment-page-1/#comment-2039 uberVU - social comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:42:43 +0000 http://wizkidsound.com/blog/?p=449#comment-2039 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by wizkidsound: New blog posts: Nickelback Rocks (http://pea.to/27m) and Do Modern Rock Drums Sound Like 80s Pop Drums? (http://pea.to/80s)... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by wizkidsound: New blog posts: Nickelback Rocks (http://pea.to/27m) and Do Modern Rock Drums Sound Like 80s Pop Drums? (http://pea.to/80s)…

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