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Latest Drum Dynamics . . .
July 22, 2025
Dropbox files cleared-out completely as of this writing.
This thread and all links contained herein should be considered dead and terminated.
Thanks for all the feedback [ERIC] and associates.
I'll start a new one once If get refocused upon further efforts in this endeavor.
Comments
Based upon figuring out the personal email responses from all the non-board-members:
If it [my drums] sound choppy and Corse/unrefined - your midrange lacks definition/dynamics/responsiveness due to lack of sensitivity.
Drumming system's dynamic settings and my playing technique are really close to optimum in this ^ recording.
Just an FYI.
I'm fairly certain that the reason for the lack of feedback here is that you-all have refined your speaker/playback systems to be responsive enough not to have any complaints concerning it.
I shouldn't then, be disappointed by the silence . . .
Another stab at playing this tune as a test track and more adjustments to the kit/pads to improve dynamics - can you spot the wayward Voice/Pad in need of further attenuation/modulation?
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9s30uc20gb6jjqbjgwe6y/Foto-Via-Mo-Horizons-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-9-2024.flac?rlkey=opw459cwosgn56van5c9pd9jl&dl=0
Would like to comment, but can't open Dropbox.
Geoff
Well, that's great feedback, Geoff!
What can you not open with the drobox link, Sir?
Can you post a screen grab of the error screen?
No error message, just a blank screen and the dreaded Windows 11 rotating circle. It's not just your files, but I can't open it for anything else like shared photos.
The drum sound is an important, but sometimes overlooked part of pop/rock music. For example, I always liked Queen, but found the drums to always be too dull and 'thuddy', even though the mix itself was great.
Geoff
The 'Thuddy Sound" of the drums was a fad of the times I'm afraid (70's/80's), then the cocaine fueled 90's arrived and brought energy to the past mellow/thoughtful eras which spawned a resurgence of the similarly alcohol fueled 1920's were, and once again drums became a tonal feature of the percussion instruments employed in contemporary music.
Dual layered/oil filled drums heads were very much in vogue during the 'Queens' Reich'.
I think I've posted something like this before, but I really like the drum sounds on:
I could add scores more, but I think some bands perhaps weren't so well served: Cream, esp. live; Queen; Oasis? Raspberry goes to Phil Collins on Frida's 'I Know Something's Going On': big sound, but manages to make real drums sound fake.
Geoff
Tonight's' dynamics for your enjoyment (worth a listen - long version) . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/84dsl4m3bwvnabweixru6/Foto-Via-Mo-Horizons-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-11-2024-goofing.flac?rlkey=qlqntmfmt65n22l6pypw0dh27&dl=0
bass drum and 2 or 3 toms are still too boomy - needs more work but getting closer . . .
New take/recording after some refinements to the input/mix (and more energy):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nli6fhvpn61q94uw5l4r7/Foto-Via-Mo-Horizons-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-12-2024-goofing.flac?rlkey=xeyv5u01lu1zs3gzns5vgg1kn&dl=0
You should enjoy this one over the last . . .
New song - (I get bored easily) . . .
1st take after listening to it twice - something in this track just invited me in and we partied . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3lyp4ngd73e95ck1zeaae/Spec-of-Gold-Afterlife-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-13-2024.flac?rlkey=blc6i5tb3hwj9uj383o033bcg&dl=0
2nd Take Mix . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vzdqfxjhqozuk0f1tkyv8/Spec-of-Gold-Afterlife-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-15-2024.flac?rlkey=0z80di5ls15pjgc80szwey180&dl=0
Save it if you wish . . .
So I looked up Afterlife, this is a UK producer that I have heard a track or two before; ~ 20 years ago.
You lifted me up with your accompaniment to Spec of Gold, which I have never heard before.
As I am not versed in recording of drums, I can offer no constructive feedback; except to say- it is better than mine! If you love it, keep it up!!!
Are you doing that in one or two takes Steve? Or programming the drums, “in-the-box”, as they call it? I know as a musician we focus on all the mistakes we make, but the listeners don’t. So it’s like that tale of the builder who sees the one wonky brick in the wall. Whereas everyone sees the amazing work.
What did you think of Australian Crawl?
Geoff might be able to tell you some of his favs from this classic band from the golden era of Aussie Rock (IMHO).
My fav is Downhearted …
I've alway thought that the drum recordings on Great White's "Once Bitten Twice Shy" album was really good. Lot's of weight/impact on the kick drum, nice clean crack on the snare and the cymbals are cleanly there but not overly forward.
TK, I am doing most of these songs in a single take and making minor edits to the voices, volumes, dynamic range, etc afterwards. The most important part is to get the MIDI data captured (drums played) with known good drum-brain pad dynamic settings - after that it is all post production work on the PC using a good reference monitoring system - I am using the Steven Slate VSX system for that and getting much better results.
I just upgraded/replaced my studio PC and upgraded all software and starting over from scratch with a fresh mind and rid-of the past outdated equipment/software - it is a process like building a house and I am still working on the foundation of my future drumming skills/recordings.
Hopefully I get better with age/practice - I am finding my groove again and keeping within my limits as much as possible but that little demon want's out to play too and I give him his moments to do so.
I think I have the Dynamic Range of the drums under control, now . . .
2nd Take at this like I was going to lay down an album track and chix were checking me out . . . This tune deserves that sort of attention . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2zhbkphwzh9jlz3bdkm79/Spec-of-Gold-Afterlife-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-17-2024.flac?rlkey=7m29d9d57z25h1f94okymmbcd&dl=0
Save a copy of this as it won't be available forever.
Cantoma - Paloma . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pi6c3s5p0dx70kcwf7nq1/Cantona-Paloma-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-19-2024.flac?rlkey=n97zdccsgox095xwy57nskzj4&dl=0
Getting the dynamic settings reconfigured helped along with some practice to build-up muscle memory for each pad/drum.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qgrju7ow33e59p42qtxym/Cantona-Paloma-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-21-2024.flac?rlkey=gxv7rxfxgz0t14sdd6eydhx7p&dl=0
Found my range/dynamics/span of the drums [SPL] tonight . . . [you would not believe the amount of physical control, mental focus and effort it took to do this remix of the above original take by me - same MIDI data from the kit I played ^, just adjusted in mix-down experiments . . . #1 of many more . . . you have speakers . . . can you hear all the detail? . . .
Some interesting and germane information in this review of the Steven Slate VSX system:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/steven-slate-audio-vsx
HRTF explanation:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/head-related-transfer-function
Sounded pretty good to me👍🏻
Final mix/edit of Cantoma - Poloma --> https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r3rwalpk7r14cuyyzay59/Cantona-Paloma-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-23-2024.flac?rlkey=pvxaa1gtdvty2jrqcm8ha2rk1&dl=0
I replaced the hi-hats voice, EQ'd the toms a little, trimmed the velocities of several drums/cymbals and reduced the overall drum mix volume to better fit into the source audio track - you can hear all the instruments well now.
Good earphone mix (IMO).
New tune . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/deh7nvockw9um0lhsuh3n/Fenomenon-Sleepy-Meadows-of-Buxton-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-25-2024_Brushes.flac?rlkey=4v6r9smj3ovdie3llbiot4aml&dl=0
Using brushes on a Ludwig Black Beauty snare and rods on the hi-hats; Mixed to accompany the existing drums.
Keeping the tunes simple allows me the time to focus upon better balance, dynamics and tone while I am both playing and mixing.
Same as your life . . .
😉
Another new tune - really getting used too the settings and far less editing as a result - this sultry track without edits - just as played --> Nobody Loves You - HoneyRoot:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8vq3li0jcn816oivg9v75/Nobody-Loves-You-Honeyroot-SD3-SJL-Drums-9-27-2024_Take2_Mix1.flac?rlkey=eroe976yxoaa6to1q1k07ksh3&dl=0
Little Feat - Two Trains:
Deleted due to sloppy drumming - will redo/repost.
Tonight's remix is much more pleasurable to listen too since I have cut all mic bleed from other instruments and toned down the sharpness/dynamic range of the hi-hats:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gthwkm6xwsd3lcoy5z1g4/Nobody-Loves-You-Honeyroot-SD3-SJL-Drums-10-3-2024_Take2_Mix2.flac?rlkey=ehhoc5v1mjt2nn487xks2qf7p&dl=0
Please keep in mind that I am still working upon the drum settings while playing and that both my mixes and playing will improve once I get my drums and self calibrated to sound natural as I play them - My attention is very split as a result of these efforts.
(Tonight's Remix of the previous post).
Much learning about drum mixing tonight/this morning - This one sounds much more refined and with greater depth:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/39y4wrr2tlkoyen2udso4/Nobody-Loves-You-Honeyroot-SD3-SJL-Drums-10-5-2024_Take2_Mix3.flac?rlkey=tc8hspukm9w0neffllwt5hemp&dl=0
Had to EQ the SOURCE/REF track because the bass was way too hot and the screechy vocals needed suppressing, EQ the toms, bring up the ambient mics on the overheads and many numerous adjustments but this one is worth keeping (IMO).
Remix -- Little Feat - Two Trains:
I'm finding that each and every song I play too has unique acoustic requirements that demand that I remix my drums to better fit-in to the overall sound.
With that said I remixed this song and discovered that my original [take5] drumming wasn't that bad after-all . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c6c2poqgufq8yhsa2p6qi/Two-Trains-Little-Feat-SD3-SJL-Drums-10-6-2024_Take5_Mix2.flac?rlkey=4nmfhwg48neihkdj9a1zhcwx0&dl=0
Tonight's work [and it IS work - just a labor of love . . .].
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g4n1352ly5sp15p946zvp/Easy-Rider-DeeP.Wide-SD3-SJL-Drums-10-18-2024_Take3_Mix1.flac?rlkey=cjvxkvdtvlldwvrlqz242ez7k&dl=0
At this point I'm just working on improving my muscle memory to control my physical dynamics while striking each pad - all the drum brain settings are stable at this point.
I mixed this to push my drums back in the mix to sound more organic in presentation for your ears - both drummers are playing clearly and I am accompanying them.
Repetition - it builds everything . . . . or destroys it . . . .
Enjoy while relaxing.
(Like a restless spirit on an endless night . . .)
Another new tune for the learning/mixing experience . . .
Had to warm-up a bit to get all the possibly needed rhythms/grooves loaded into my body/mind (damn old tired bass foot . . .) . . .
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1wyvad0e2szgw43jo2hxa/CarolynJujuOrchestra-SD3-SJL-Drums-10-24-2024_Take2_Raw.flac?rlkey=9eklmjahjyikv6l3dz82p24j0&dl=0